Reshaping the landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry

Just as He Yi'an was methodically arranging the follow-up work and advancing his plan.

Finally, a keen reporter spotted a name on the shortlist released by Venice.

"Hot Soup Noodles and Father's Poem"

The name itself is unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, one notices the following: the shortlisted country, China, and the director's name, Heyian.

Although it was hard to believe, these media outlets and journalists almost immediately recalled the hot topics of public opinion at the beginning of that year, more than half a year ago.

He Yi'an's movie-making incident and his verbal altercation with a senior figure in the industry.

Could this be the movie directed by He Yi'an?

Some reporters were unsure and called China Film Group, who gave them the correct answer: the shortlisted film was indeed directed by He Yi'an.

When they announced this news, it was like a thunderbolt to the otherwise quiet film industry.

This has essentially continued the verbal battle that started at the beginning of the year.

Moreover, a tabloid published an article titled "Director He Yi'an's Response to Insults, Bans, and Boycotts!"

To be honest, this article is poorly written and can't even be called an article. It's just a compilation of events from the beginning of the year, especially some of the hot topics and controversies, and then a list of news about the film being nominated for Venice at the end.

Well, this rather unprofessional article has started again.

After all, that's the current trend; everything needs the approval of others, especially after the film industry fully embraced and learned from Europe, particularly in the realm of art films.

Those obsessed Five Dynasties even regarded the three great European cities as their ideal pilgrimage sites.

Especially after seeing that Zhang Yimou won an award directly for his film "Red Sorghum" in 87.

On a side note: Although He Yi'an has a close relationship with Zhang Yimou, he has always avoided commenting on his films, especially "Red Sorghum".

Well, let's ignore all the lofty comments that followed.

For example: "Celebrating the national spirit with primal vitality", "rich national style and visual poetics", and "the modern breakthrough of narrative and characters".

Is this statement correct?

From an artistic point of view, it is definitely correct, and these are all very official terms.

But it's definitely not comprehensive.

Why is there another interpretation in later generations, saying that the poverty and vulgarity shown by Zhang Yimou in the film are the true historical background, the impression of China in the eyes of Westerners, and the China they want to see?

Even the core of its films, which praise the dignity and resistance of the lower classes, can be interpreted as mere bravado and moral depravity.

They say he's pandering to foreigners and showcasing backwardness and ignorance!

There has been a lot of criticism, but Zhang Yimou's original words were: "I want to praise life through the shaping of characters' personalities... Love is true love, hate is true hate, great life and great death, great hate and great love."

For those of us who have systematically studied the materialist worldview, we certainly cannot view problems in a binary way.

Everything has two sides; everything should be viewed dialectically.

All development is limited by the times, by the limitations of human thought and ideas, and by various influences from the environment and experiences.

To analyze these things clearly, we need to understand not only the era in which they took place, but also Zhang Yimou's experiences, as well as the works of other directors of the same era and what they wanted to express.

This could all be a systematic research topic. If you really want He Yi'an to study these things, please spare me.

Because of the complexity of human beings, He Yi'an never took the initiative to mention any of Zhang Yimou's films when communicating and interacting with him.

At most, I would consult him on professional matters, especially in terms of color.

Because their thoughts and ways of thinking are completely different, people with different underlying viewpoints will find that communicating on fundamental issues is meaningless except for arguing.

He Yi'an was able to understand these things because he viewed the issues from a longer historical and developmental perspective.

Those who have personally experienced or witnessed Zhang Yimou's success see things differently.

What many of them probably see is like Zhang Yimou, showcasing China's poverty, ignorance, and various problems, making films for their white masters to see, and in return, the masters will reward them.

However, even being a dog can be done in different ways.

Those who eagerly come to us are likely to receive different treatment than those who are actively recruited.

Therefore, many of these films became increasingly outrageous and went further and further underground.

It can only be said that Zhang Yimou played a significant role in influencing the fifth and sixth generations of the dynasty, but this role was not positive.

……

Having said that, let's return to the commotion caused by He Yi'an's nomination.

Many fifth and sixth generation directors have genuinely lost their nerve.

They all want to replicate Zhang Yimou's path.

I've always wanted to make a movie, get nominated, and then become famous.

But after so many years of hard work, only a handful of people make it to the finals, and many veteran directors have given up completely.

However, a freshman in the photography department has now been nominated for a film he made.

And that's not the most important thing.

Most importantly, just six months ago, many of them were fiercely criticizing He Yi'an.

Although He Yi'an didn't hold back, he retorted without hesitation.

But it caused quite a stir at the time; many people still remember the big drama that started the year in the entertainment industry, which even got teachers from the Beijing Film Academy involved.

In addition to the parties at the very center of the verbal battle, many media outlets also offered their own sarcastic remarks, mockery, incitement, and attacks against He Yi'an.

But these media outlets have become so ignorant. Just six months ago, they mocked and slandered He Yi'an, thinking he was arrogant and ignorant. But now...

If this news were reported truthfully, wouldn't that be a slap in the face?

However, entertainment media outlets don't have high standards to begin with. After only a moment's hesitation, regardless of whether it backfired, generating buzz was the most important thing.

As smaller media outlets continued to break the news and amplify their reports, major media outlets, after a brief period of silence, quickly forgot their mistake and began vying to report on it.

This made the entertainment media in August seem to have returned to the beginning of the year, with He Yi'an's name once again dominating the front pages and headlines.

Of course, some media outlets seem unwilling to admit their failure and have started to interpret this nomination from various angles.

18-year-old director He Yi'an makes history with his debut film nominated for the Venice Film Festival's main competition.

Why was the youngest Chinese director in history able to conquer Venice so easily? Could jury chairwoman Gong Li be the key?

From being boycotted by the film industry to proving himself in Venice, He Yi'an only needed six months.

……

These news hit them like a ton of bricks, leaving the directors and industry insiders who had clashed with He Yi'an last year and clamored for his banning completely stunned.

They never expected that He Yi'an would be shortlisted for the Venice Film Festival!

No!

What gives him the right?!

He, a young man who had just come of age, actually accomplished what they had tried for so many years but failed to do?

The group was completely on the defensive, but faced with a barrage of questions from the reporters who rushed up to interview them, they had no choice but to shut their mouths in frustration.

But if you shut your mouth, will you stop the media from talking nonsense?

At this moment, they finally understood what it felt like to be fabricated by the media, and as a result, they were even more vulnerable.

Many even couldn't resist the reporters' provocations and persistent questioning, and started hurling insults.

As these media outlets began their counterattack, they also started praising Ho Yi-an.

The overwhelming praise and media hype seemed to come from a completely different group of people, as if the same media outlets that had been kicking someone when they were down and constantly clamoring for help just six months ago had changed.

But He Yi'an didn't pay much attention to it at all, because he was busy joking around with Xiao Liu.

Perhaps it was because she was too busy filming, or perhaps He Yi'an always told her to go to bed early, but in any case, Xiao Liu hadn't contacted him at all during this period.

He refrained from asking the question.

Today, Xiao Liu surprisingly took the initiative to contact him, and He Yi'an no longer cared about the barking of other dogs outside.

Nothing is more important than what we're talking about right now!

……

As they chatted, He Yi'an also tried to guess the emotions revealed in Xiao Liu's words.

The young woman was probably upset by something that happened on set, or perhaps she was feeling isolated and her mental state was about to collapse.

With the film crew about to finish shooting, and having also seen the news that He Yi'an's film had been nominated, I still managed to suppress my bitterness and congratulate him, even after a slight reminder from Liu Xiaoli.

He Yi'an was certainly aware of Liu Yifei's experiences on set.

Despite some of his influence, and with the support of the director and producer, her treatment was much better than in her previous life.

However, she still couldn't completely escape the actors' targeting.

After all, some people have plenty of ways to trip someone up.

Therefore, He Yi'an did not say anything irrelevant, but directly stated his attitude.

"Are you having a bad time on set? How about I come visit you on set? As an investor, I'll be here to support you again?"

"don't want!"

"Why wouldn't I want to? I don't think anyone would dare say anything if I came to visit the set, right?"

"No means no!" Liu Yifei didn't want He Yi'an to back her up.

She had heard too many people say that she was a "connected" person and that her lack of ability was due to having powerful backers. It made her feel terrible.

If He Yi'an really goes there now, wouldn't that confirm that she has powerful backers?

This is something that the strong-willed Liu Yifei absolutely cannot accept.

She could sense that many people around her didn't seem to like her.

The baby is suffering inside, but the baby won't say it!

--------