China Entertainment: I have been a director since 05

If you had to describe just how good and amazing "Your Name" is in one sentence, you would say it's absolutely incredible!
That phrase is: tears turned into a vast ocean.

Since the release of "Your Name", countless film reviews have bombarded the animation industry around the world.

Hollywood's Lee Unkrich, a close confidant, commented on Guan's new film, saying, "Missed opportunities and hard work are the epitaphs of love and youth."

Furthermore, it was claimed that Guan Ling redefined Chinese animated love stories.

Just as there was Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai in ancient times, now there is your name.

Furthermore, it was claimed that "Chinese animated films finally have their own animation masters, albeit wallpaper masters."

Although there was a hint of humor in Leon Krich's words, they still caused a huge stir among animators around the world.

As Hollywood, they naturally wouldn't give high marks to this kind of wallpaper-like, flat Japanese-style work, but from a storytelling perspective, it's really hard for Leon Krich to give Guan a low score.

Subsequently, many people in the Japanese animation industry also gradually released related reviews.
"In an interview, Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki talked about Guan Ling's new film 'Your Name,' claiming that the film 'touched humanity's eternal pursuit of hope.' When the reporter pressed him further about what 'Even When the Wind Rises' touched him about, Suzuki gave a wry smile..."

"In an interview, Miyazaki Hayao claimed that he had not yet seen the film, but when talking about Guan Ling, he said that it would not be surprising what works Guan Ling made, because he is already one of the most influential directors in the world."

In an interview, Japanese director Shunji Iwai claimed that Guan Ling's "Your Name" is a kind of surrealism, praising the film for reconstructing the boundary between reality and fantasy from a unique perspective. He said it is actually a very well-written "Love Letter".

The Guardian reported on the phenomenal success of the Chinese film "Your Name" in China, claiming that the film's modern and vibrant visual language has redefined the paradigm of youthful love stories.

"Guan Ling's new film breaks through the traditional framework of Chinese animated films. In addition to its delicate emotions, it has the imagination of a modern narrative style that interweaves time and space. This style has never appeared in China before, and it has not even appeared in neighboring Japan."

It must be said that Guan Ling created a collective memory symbol belonging to the era of Chinese animation.

This is the filmmakers' assessment, and the sensation this film caused goes far beyond that.

It grossed 2.7 million yuan in its first three days of release.

Guan Ling's animated film, released outside of prime time, swept through everyone's mental defenses with overwhelming force, leaving the vast majority of moviegoers in tears.

"Watching Director Kwan's movies always brings a bittersweet feeling, keeping you in a state of pain where you want to cry but can't."

You know the stunning scenery is real, you know the fleeting cruelty is real, you know that what you hold dear will eventually come true, but you will always be lost in the crowd.

Unless you find each other, even your dreams will drown you in a profound sense of loneliness.

This time, "Your Name" is an example, just like "Even When the Wind Rises" was.

One is the personal pain caused by the memory of disaster, and the other is the collective pain caused by the threat of suffering.

In the original "Even When the Wind Rises", the deaths of countless people were exchanged for the soaring of fighter jets in the sky, and for the most beautiful footnote after the loneliness and despair of individuals.

In contrast, Guan Ling has given the protagonist a good description in "Your Name".

He learned her name, but it seemed she didn't offer him a perfect future.

Guan Ling showed the protagonist gentleness, but this gentleness was still not very humane…

There's a saying that love is the god of postmodernism. Guan Ling's film actually has a very Japanese style, even a very Makoto Shinkai style. Whether it's the crowded people in the subway station, the trams going in opposite directions, the empty street corner at dusk, or the white-collar workers buying cigarettes in the convenience store, these empty shots that seem to have no meaning to the development of the main plot have always been the trademark of Makoto Shinkai's animations.

Makoto Shinkai has always been a typical practitioner of 'urban empty shots'.
This time, Guan Ling slapped Makoto Shinkai in the face, in the very place he excels at.

I don't know if Director Guan did this intentionally, but if it was intentional, think back to the sensation caused when Japan forced Director Guan to say that "Inception" plagiarized, and then Director Guan said he wanted to compete with Japanese animated films.

All I can say is,

Cool!
It was so much fun!
It's like they're completely slapping Makoto Shinkai!

You think you're so great? You love playing with empty shots? You're a master of empty shots?
Compared to your grandfather Guan Ling, you're nothing but trash!

A gentleman's revenge is never too late.

Some say that the love story in this movie is an incurable Eastern romance, a love that transcends lifetimes, like the Peony Pavilion.

However, I feel that Director Guan's romanticism has been even more fully demonstrated from "Even When the Wind Rises" to the current "Your Name".

A feud spanning centuries can be broken in a single day!
We will not only remember the blood feud of that year, but also the oppression in the movies today, and we will defeat you in the fastest way possible, with your strongest weapon.

Director Guan accomplished this feat with just two out of five films!

"Director Guan became famous for both live-action and anime films. He doesn't really direct many romance films, but when he does, you're all no match for him..."

Blasted!

These passionate words flowed silently across the internet late at night.

They converge into a scorching undercurrent, washing away all the stereotypical definitions of animated films from the past.

This also sparked more discussion about Guan Ling's new movie.

And they started going to theaters and began to support it.

"A slap in the face to Japanese animated films, Director Guan is restoring the glory of Chinese cinema!"

"To fully fulfill his promise, Director Kwan doesn't need five movies at all! Two will suffice!"

"I'm looking forward to Director Kwan's remaining three animated films. To be honest, I'm a little anxious."

"Some people say that Director Guan's movie is very sentimental, very Japanese, and disgusting, but I don't think so. I only feel moved. For everyone, if they could be reborn or travel through time, I believe that many people would rather die than not speak out and save countless lives!"

This is human nature!
Unfortunately, we can only save that small group of people through movies, animations, and fantasies.

But that's enough, isn't it?

Senseless!

The entire industry was actually a bit bewildered!
No one expected that the explosion would happen so quickly.

Moreover, this movie really rarely receives negative reviews.

…………

China Film Group

In that conference room overlooking the glazed tile roof of the Forbidden City.

Lai Peikang gently pushed a newly released box office forecast report for "Your Name" on the center of the conference table.

The figure, measured in "hundreds of millions," was so striking that it left several executives, accustomed to the logic of live-action blockbuster films, speechless.

Outside the window, the autumn sky was a clear, deep blue.

Lai Peikang picked up his celadon cup, took a sip of the warm Longjing tea, and glanced at the lingering shock and doubt on everyone's faces. He spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying immense power:

"You all saw it? An animated film, 69 million in a single day, and in its first weekend... it's heading towards 400 million."

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the delicate crackles on the glass.
“We used to say that animation is for children, a niche market, a small-scale celebration. Guan Ling used this 2450 billion yuan capital, plus this movie, to completely overturn this ceiling... no, to completely overturn the self-righteous dome above our heads.”

As he said this, Lai Peikang's lips trembled slightly.

Damn it.

He suddenly felt that his back wasn't as strong as it used to be!
As the saying goes, where are people?

The more you lack something, the more you want it.

However, for Lai Peikang, he and Han Sanpin were not quite the same.

At least, his power to mobilize resources is not as great as Han Sanpin's.

In Han Sanpin's era, he had to compete with Hong Kong films and Hollywood, so he could be said to have mobilized the entire cultural field. Everyone listened to him, and he had that power.

However, Lai Peikang no longer has that capability because Chinese films have developed too rapidly compared to 2005.

There's been too much development.

The number of cinemas, films, and total box office revenue in China have been increasing year by year.

Compared to Hollywood blockbusters, although most of them are completely outclassed.

However, in terms of total box office revenue, there is not much difference between domestic and foreign films, because Guan Ling's "The Mighty Ones" even has a significantly higher total box office revenue than imported films.

The original intention was that a new broom sweeps clean.

Lai Peikang wanted to establish his authority. But the first thing Guan Ling did was slap him several times.

Over the past few months, from losing its share of China Film Group to its 2450 billion yuan IPO, and now to the embarrassing setbacks of animated films,

I'm really losing confidence in Peikang.

Fight against Guan Ling?
Is he sick?!
Lai Peikang had a general idea of ​​what was going on. Others might worry about his status and screen time at China Film Group, but Guan Ling had nothing to fear...

He wished he could beat up those Hollywood blockbusters!
Thinking of this, Lai Peikang gave a wry smile.

He stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

In the distance, the golden rooftops of the Forbidden City, bathed in sunlight, exude a sense of historical weight and silence.

Closer still, on the city's giant electronic screens, the breathtaking image of the sky shattering in "Your Name" and its central theme line are playing in rotation:

"Excuse me, have I seen you somewhere before?"

Lai Peikang was helpless.

This confrontation seems pointless.

Just for that reputation?
What about the reputation of the former chairman of China Film Group?
However, Lingyun's market value is almost more than a dozen times that of China Film Group, and that doesn't even include Hollywood.

What the hell is this?
Inside the room, there was also a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion/reflection).

"From 'Havoc in Heaven' to 'Nezha Conquers the Dragon King,' we had our glory days. Later... we narrowed our path, or perhaps we simply got lost."

Lai Peikang's voice wasn't loud, but it resonated clearly in the quiet conference room. "Your Name proves several things: China's rich cultural heritage and unique aesthetics are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for animation, eliminating the need to rigidly apply foreign frameworks; the audience for animation should never be defined by age; the emotional depth and philosophical reflection it can convey far exceed imagination; and most importantly..."

He turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally settling on the box office report.

"It proves that in this market and in this era, as long as the story is good enough and the expression is sincere enough, genre and medium are never limitations, but rather wings."

Guan Ling used capital and talent to give animation wings. And we…”

He paused slightly, his tone carrying a complex sigh yet an undeniable resolve.

"It's time to consider how to let more stars belonging to China rise in this illuminated sky."

The new era of Chinese animation is not in the future; its opening gong has already sounded.

The conference room was silent except for the low hum of the air conditioner.

On the electronic screen outside the window, the shattered sky continued to silently streak across, like the imprint of a new era bursting forth, clearly etched into the eyes of every filmmaker, never to be erased.

On the skyline reshaped by capital and light and shadow, the stars of animation are rising.

In the evening, Lai Peikang called Guan Ling.

"Director Guan, congratulations!"

"I was a bit too loud before. China Film Group is definitely willing to participate in Director Guan's various projects."

"Trying to trip me up? Impossible, impossible."

"Who said that? I admit it. The achievement of 'The Martian' is definitely on Chairman Han's head, but we can strengthen our cooperation and communication more."

"What kind of help can China Film Group offer you? Well... Director Guan doesn't care about the screening schedule. And then there's distribution. Lingyun Group can handle the distribution themselves. As for the license... the license, I'll help Director Guan get that license, how about that?"

Lai Peikang made a phone call and almost choked on his own words.

Choked.

No matter what I said, Guan Ling would retort.

When he hung up the phone, Lai Peikang was covered in sweat.

To be honest, he hadn't thought things through before making that call.

For Guan Ling, China Film Group is now dispensable.
As long as the censorship passes, China Film Group is indeed not very meaningful to Guan Ling now.

After going public, funds are just a number to Guan Ling.

Even if Guan Ling wanted to make a billion-dollar movie now, she could easily come up with the money.

This is even more impressive than China Film Group.

The conversation eventually led to discussions about license plates.

After hanging up the phone, Lai Peikang was so angry that he wanted to slap himself a few times.

Take good care of Lao Dong.

Now he feels ashamed and worthless.

However, at their level, everyone considered saving face for each other.

If you communicate well in private and show a good attitude, everyone will get along.

If a real competition were to take place, and the competition were to be brought to a head, then it would be impossible to back down.

Lai Peikang now suspects that even if Han Sanpin were to produce another "The Great Cause," he still wouldn't be able to beat Guan Ling. At most, he could just push Guan Ling aside in terms of time so that he could have more time for himself.

Of course, you can do the same thing at Pei Kang now.

But after this phone call, we'll have to discuss things before doing anything in the future.

We can't let Director Guan have any ideas.

……

In the darkness of night.

Through the gap in Mr. Hou's black curtains, Yang Mi was quietly eating something.

Even when she was on the phone just now, Yang Mi didn't stop.

After hanging up the phone, Yang Mi finally raised her two big eyes.

"President Lai? Is this the President Lai I'm thinking of?"

"Have you heard of anyone else coming to be the general manager?"

"The one in Dalian."

"That's President Hou!" Guan Ling exclaimed. "This is 'lai,' the 'lai' in 'come and go'!"

"Weibo CEO Lai Qu Zhijian?"

"The chairman of China Film Group." Guan Ling felt that Yang Mi was talking too much nonsense, so he pressed Yang Mi down a few times.

Yang Mi wiped the delicious food from the corner of her mouth, looked up, and rolled her eyes.

"If you want to die, you should at least say so beforehand. Pressing down like this, are you going to choke me to death?"

"I don't care, you hurt me, I'm going to put you on the wanted list, I'm going to punish you, and I'm going to make you work at double speed today."

Guan Ling said, "You think I'll just do it because you want me to? I'm tired. You have to do it automatically."

Yang Mi suddenly realized, "Holy crap, it's Dong from China Film Group?"

Guan Ling nodded.

Yang Mi clung to Guan Ling and refused to let go.

He was still in shock as he moved.
"Holy crap, has Mr. Lai come to surrender to Director Guan?"

"Wow, honey, that's awesome!"

Da Mimi jumped up in shock like a spring, wiping the delicious food from her mouth, and said, "I have to respect myself. My husband's decision is final."

As she moved, Yang Mi's eyes lit up! (End of Chapter)