Reshaping the landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry

Some reporters even waited for Han Sanping at the entrance of China Film Group as he was arriving for work, asking him what he thought about the matter.

Han Sanping stood at the entrance of the China Film Building, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, but he still suppressed his anger and answered some questions from reporters about He Ye.

"I've read He Ye's script; it's very well written..."

"...China Film Group invested in his film because of its good script, not for any other reason..."

"As for those who have doubts, wait until the movie is made and see for yourselves; I believe that will shut them up!"

Han Sanping's answer was brief, consisting of only a few words about He Ye's film.

He didn't respond to any of the arguments about himself.

In Han Sanping's capacity, it wouldn't really matter if he didn't speak or answer.

But he still spoke, and he said it in a way that was neither too strong nor too weak, and everyone could tell that Han Sanping was strongly supporting He Ye.

This made the old guys even angrier, but they couldn't do anything about Han Sanping.

Although Han Sanping is only the vice chairman and vice president of China Film Group, he is now in charge of approving approvals. Although they are angry, they really don't dare to offend him too much.

After all, they had just tried it out not long ago, and Han Sanping was someone who really dared to overturn the table, and was truly capable of doing so.

So they focused all their firepower on He Ye.

As a result of this operation, these entertainment reporters disregarded whether it was the Chinese New Year or not and flocked to Tianjin.

They are now eager to know how they, as the other party involved, would respond to these questions and controversies.

……

One day in early February, He Ye was filming a major scene on set, which was the ending scene where Lao Zhou chased after the tricycle that the naughty child had ridden away, running on the dock.

This scene is the core of the film and the emotional climax.

Old Zhou's life's hopes were all on that tricycle; everything he needed to open his noodle shop was inside.

He chased after the car, and as he ran, he collapsed.

He also squatted by the viewfinder, watching Li Baotian's performance on the screen again and again.

Li Baotian had already run it five times, and was covered in sweat and panting heavily.

He was still a little dissatisfied, but he didn't dare to be too harsh on someone who was getting on in years.

After all, if the standards were lower, Li Baotian's scene could have been completely cut short.

However, He also wants to try to do better.

"Teacher Li, take a break."

He took a bottle of water, walked over to Li Baotian, and handed it to him.

Li Baotian took the water, panting heavily, but instead of drinking it directly, he sat down heavily on the ground, catching his breath.

After a while, he recovered and asked, "Director He, where in that last take do we need to make further adjustments?"

Since we've been working together for over a month, there's no need to be polite. He said directly, "That last one, the beginning was fine, but when you got to the corner, something was missing in your eyes."

"What is it?" Li Baotian wiped his sweat, his breathing gradually calming down.

"Despair." After saying that, He Ye squatted down and began to explain his views to Li Baotian, "Teacher Li, this is what I think..."

The crew was already used to He Ye having to explain the plot and acting methods to the lead actors whenever they met.

Over the past month, more than one member of the crew has experienced He Ye's analysis of the actors' performances on more than one occasion, and most of them are now completely convinced.

Therefore, these people don't actually believe the rumors and news from the outside world.

As colleagues who have personally experienced this, don't they know whether the director is capable or not?

Li Baotian, Yan Danchen, Dong Yong, and Chen Chuang were all very clear about this, since they were all people that He Ye was taking good care of.

Especially Yan Danchen.

Yan Danchen was scolded by He Ye quite a bit during filming this time. At first, she even started to doubt her life after being scolded so much.

She even went to Yu Feihong secretly more than once to cry and ask He Ye if he had a problem with her and why he was targeting her like this.

When Yu Feihong relayed this to He Ye, He Ye was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

However, after this incident, He Ye swore much less.

However, he changed his style and would take people aside to break down the plot in detail.

For example, He Ye has now started to analyze the meaning and expression of the last shot for Li Baotian.

"Teacher Li, you must hold onto this thought in your heart: what you are chasing is not a car, but a lifelong dream."

"With the car gone, your hopes and dreams are gone too."

"So you have to run, run for your life."

"But you know in your heart that you can't outrun him... That feeling of 'knowing you can't outrun him, but still having to run,' that feeling of helplessness and despair, is the core of this scene."

Li Baotian thought for a moment and nodded: "Director, I understand. Let's do one more take."

"No rush, take a break first, otherwise your body won't be able to take it if you keep running like this."

After giving his instructions, He turned around and called on the others to readjust the equipment in preparation for the next shoot, when he heard a commotion outside the set.

A group of reporters rushed onto the film set without warning.

If Zhang Jing and Liu Miao hadn't noticed early on and done their best to stop them, the group of reporters probably would have rushed into the filming area.

Zhang Jing quickly arranged for someone to come in and tell He Ye, and asked him what to do.

"Director He, a lot of reporters have arrived outside, saying they want to interview you!"

"Director He, we can't stop them anymore!"

"Huh? What?" He was momentarily stunned, unsure why reporters had come, and judging from the words, it seemed quite a few people had arrived.

Seeing that he genuinely didn't know, Yu Feihong took his phone and went to the side to make a call to inquire.

A moment later, her expression changed, and she hung up the phone. She walked over and whispered a few words in his ear: "It's still about the same thing... supporting... some people are signing a petition to boycott you..."

Ok!

After listening to Yu Feihong's detailed explanation of the changes in public opinion, He Ye finally understood what had happened.

When the news about this matter first broke, Liu Guonan and Yu Feihong had spoken to him about it, but at that time he was focused on the film and didn't pay attention.

Let them scold me, it won't hurt me.

He thought that if he ignored it, those veteran directors would stop criticizing him after a few days.

But he underestimated the shamelessness of these people.

Furthermore, it underestimated the extent to which such naked self-interest could lead to unforeseen consequences.

Cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents.

He then truly felt the weight of those words.

At the same time, He, who also recognized the importance of this matter, was very clear that if this matter was not handled well, or if Han Sanping really cut off their supply, then they would not dare to provoke Han Sanping and would definitely vent all their anger on him.

He immediately thought of those who had been subjected to cyberbullying and stigmatization.

I immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.

At the same time, he also realized that in this situation, there was no way out by proving himself!

It will only lead to an endless self-justification trap and a vortex of public opinion, not only consuming one's own energy, but also subjecting one to scrutiny in everything one does in the future.

We need to find a way to divert firepower!

……

"Director He! Director He!"

"Why! Come out and say something!"

"Why? What are your thoughts on those criticisms?"

While He Ye was still thinking of a solution on set, the reporters outside, seeing that no one was coming out, started shouting and yelling.

He frowned and looked at Liu Guonan.

Liu Guonan immediately understood, quickly walked to the entrance of the film set, took a look, and returned a few minutes later, but his expression was even more unpleasant.

He approached He Ye and lowered his voice: "He Ye, I just roughly counted, there are dozens of reporters outside, blocking the entire entrance."

He paused for two seconds, frowned, and picked up the walkie-talkie: "Everyone, stop filming today, pack up your equipment, and move inside. No one is allowed to leave without my permission."

After arranging things for the film crew, He Ye stood up and prepared to walk outside.

Seeing this, Liu Guonan quickly grabbed him: "He Ye, you can't go. These people are here for you. If you go out now, you'll definitely be surrounded. If they find a loophole, you won't be able to explain yourself. It's better to let Yu Feihong deal with it..."

Yu Feihong, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement: "Director He, let me go. I'm more familiar with dealing with reporters."

"No need. I'm the director. Since they've already named names, if I don't speak up, they'll really think I'm a pushover. Wait a minute, I'll go make a phone call."

As he spoke, He Ye took the phone that Yu Feihong handed him, then walked to the side and dialed his father's number.

Without knowing the full picture of a situation, the most appropriate thing to do is to ask your father for the details and any things that are not suitable to be revealed to others.

I answered the phone after it rang three times.

"Dad, there are dozens of reporters outside my film set, and those old men are attacking me. What's going on?"

"They've come, just as I expected!" He Changlin didn't seem surprised that reporters were looking for him. "Hey, something's happened."

"What's wrong?"

"Some people in the industry are saying that you're just a young upstart, so why are you getting funding from China Film Group to make movies? They're even saying that President Han is giving you preferential treatment and transferring benefits to you."

He frowned. "Who said that?"

"Several veteran directors who have been relying on this subsidy for their livelihood applied to Mr. Han for funding to support art films. Mr. Han said that this year's quota had already been used up... Then they checked and found that the money had been given to you, which is why they are so dissatisfied."

He listened with a furrowed brow.

When Han Sanping gave it to him, he was happy to take it, but he didn't expect that it would be so hot to handle.

He also didn't expect these guys' opposition to come so quickly.

However, what he had already swallowed could not be spat out: "Dad, let them say what they want, I'll film what I want."

"It's not that simple." He Changlin's voice was somewhat urgent. "These people are not to be trifled with. They have already colluded with the media and want to put constant pressure on you through public opinion. They will definitely continue to harass you. You need to be mentally prepared."

"That's all?"

Hearing what He Changlin said, He Ye felt more relaxed.

I thought there would be some new and unfamiliar methods, but it turns out to be just these primitive and rudimentary methods.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. The internet is just emerging now, and these guys are still stuck in the past, when print media could completely destroy someone and lavish praise on them.

"Not only that." He Changlin sighed on the phone. "Someone dug up our family background, including the fact that your father and I worked at Emei Film Studio for twenty years, and even said that President Han's approval of your funding was a 'transfer of benefits'."

"President Han was even summoned by the Film Bureau for questioning because of this. Now the public opinion has taken hold, and you are the headline on all the major portal websites."

Even Han Sanping was implicated?

He Ye was truly silenced this time.

Ultimately, it all comes down to money!

"How's Uncle Han doing?"

"Although President Han has been dragged into this, he's fine. After all, everything is legal and compliant. And given his status, those people don't dare to openly criticize him, so they're focusing all their firepower on you."

"I understand." He Ye's voice gradually became calm and indifferent.

Only those who know him well understand that this is a prelude to his anger.

"Dad, I'll respond personally!"

"Hey, don't be impulsive." He Changlin's voice turned serious. "This kind of thing will pass if you just bear with it. The more you respond, the more they'll take it."

"Dad, I'm not acting impulsively, but I don't want to just sit here and wait." He Ye's voice grew calmer. "I'll throw a few stones and see how many dogs bark!"

"I just want to know how many people are cursing me, how many people dislike me."

------

P.S.: If this kind of verbal battle is forcibly separated, it will be very disjointed to read, so I've tried to keep it connected as much as possible. This chapter is also 3500 words, and today's update is still around 7000 words. Please vote! The protagonist isn't the type to tolerate things; he'll directly retaliate! He doesn't care about seniority or anything like that.