Extracting skills from movies

"Blaming Du Sheng for the poor box office performance is just ridiculous logic, isn't it?"

"So, according to you, the high box office of Hollywood blockbusters is also Du Sheng's fault?"

"What does the poor sales of 'Dark Matter' have to do with 'Taken'?"

There are already many people who support Du Sheng.

This time, everyone mobilized, and the comment section became a battlefield to "besiege Chen Shizheng."

That small group of netizens who originally supported him were instantly rendered speechless by the rebuttal, losing even the courage to refute him.

Chen Shizheng couldn't sit still any longer and immediately gave another round of interviews.

This time, not only domestic media but also foreign journalists from Sundance came.

He decided to go all out and made some harsh remarks in front of both Chinese and foreign reporters:

"Du Sheng was given special treatment!"
Look at his company's "The Man from Nowhere," it's incredibly bloody and violent.
The film captured everything: gangsters, official corruption, drug trafficking...

Any other director would have had their film rejected eight hundred times over, only his film managed to pass censorship!
Isn't that because he's good at flattery?
He gets resources without lifting a finger and doesn't want others to talk about it?

We don't even have the same standards of measurement. The environment is so unfair, how can we compete with him at the box office?

These words caused an uproar.

On the one hand, this aspect has been criticized for many years in China.

It has its own inherent flaws, and many people in the arts and culture circle habitually use "strict release rules" as an excuse.

Regardless of whether the work is good or bad, the first thing to do is shift the blame.

So as soon as someone stands up and says "the rules are unfair", a bunch of people immediately follow suit and join in the commotion.

On the other hand, Chen Shizheng made these remarks in front of foreign reporters, which is tantamount to airing his dirty laundry in public.

Once the news spread, overseas media also reported on it.

The headlines are all titled "Chinese director slams down colleagues, questioning double standards in rules and regulations."

However, foreign netizens had a lukewarm reaction to the "preferential treatment of Du Sheng".

In their view, the fact that a film can be successfully released is a skill in itself.
This shows that Du Sheng understands the rules and knows how to communicate, which is quite normal and there's nothing to criticize.

But it's different in the country.

Public opinion quickly escalated, with some taking the opportunity to launch a massive attack on rules and regulations, and incidentally dragging Du Sheng into the fray as well:

"Rules are a lump of mud, completely obliterating artistic creation!"

"We need to standardize things quickly, so that people like Du Sheng who know how to use connections can't exploit loopholes!"

"This circle is a society based on personal connections. Whoever has strong connections can get ahead, while those who are truly dedicated to art are suppressed."

"This has been the case in China for thousands of years. It's better abroad. They talk about contracts and rules, and there aren't so many complicated things."

"in the country, even Beethoven and Newton would have to smile and fawn over them. That's the culture of cliques!"
Art?

It doesn't exist!

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that someone is orchestrating this situation from behind the scenes, and doing so quickly and ruthlessly.

The topic's popularity soared.

This is nothing more than an attempt to establish a persona of a "Chinese director who dares to speak the truth" on the international stage, paving the way for a complete international expansion in the future.

What was about to escalate from a war of words between directors into a nationwide discussion on industry regulations.

Du Sheng initially had no intention of getting involved in this matter.
After all, it's Chinese New Year, who would want to argue with a mad dog while eating dumplings?
But Chen Shizheng not only didn't stop, but his statements became increasingly outrageous, even bringing in foreign reporters.
His words also subtly criticized the entire industry system.
Consequently, many people within the industry have labeled him as a beneficiary who "rose to power by groveling."

If we don't speak up now, people will really think we're guilty, or that we're too afraid to respond because we have powerful backers.

So, Du Sheng posted a long article on his Renren account:
"To be honest, I'm still completely confused."
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, while I was making dumplings at home, someone suddenly appeared and accused me of monopolizing the discourse and suppressing independent films, as if I were the emperor of the film industry.

I initially thought that arguing with this kind of person was like falling into a pile of shit and rolling around in it; it wasn't worth it.

But the person shouted louder and louder, probably because someone behind him was handing him a microphone, thinking that my silence meant I was afraid.

Okay, I'll get to the bottom of this today!

He then presented a set of data:
"Let me first talk about those films of mine that were described as 'bloody and violent':"

The original version of "SPL" was 113 minutes long, but it was submitted for review seven times before it was approved. The final version was 93 minutes long, with a full 20 minutes cut.

The original version of "The Man from Nowhere" was 110 minutes long, and it was submitted for review five times. The theatrical version was 96 minutes long, with 14 minutes cut.

The original version of "Taken" was 115 minutes long, but it was submitted for review four times. The final version was 98 minutes long, with 17 minutes cut.

These films, the versions released domestically and the versions released overseas are completely identical; there are no "special editions" or double standards.

Then he changed the subject:
"Look at 'Dark Matter' again. The original film was 96 minutes long, and it was approved after only two submissions. The domestic release was 88 minutes long, with only 8 minutes cut."

Ironically, the version screened at the Sundance Film Festival was the complete 96-minute original!
Is this operation compliant with regulations?

The extra 8 minutes, I don't need to explain, everyone knows what's going on.

It's nothing more than reinforcing the stereotypes of "Chinese students studying abroad having distorted minds" and "domestic education suppressing humanity," which cater to Western stereotypes.

The authorities didn't pursue your violation of the screening rules, yet you turn around and criticize the nuclear program for being unfair?
They exploited loopholes themselves, then turned around and blamed others for being too strict?
Who the hell are you?!

He refuted them point by point:

"My film was able to be released not because of any 'privileges,' but because of repeated revisions, cuts, and persistent efforts to argue my case."

Some people cry "art is dead" the moment they get stuck, never bothering to discuss or refine their own ideas. They resort to veiled criticism at the slightest setback.
Or they could simply make films that are "popular abroad but difficult to get released in China," and then call them "profound" and "daring to speak out."

"You've got guts! Why don't you go make historical epics?"

Then, he turned his attention to those arguments that were "obsequious to foreigners":

"Some people say that I rely on bribery and personal connections, saying that the East has a 'drinking culture,' and by the way, they praise how advanced the system of the United States is."

Then I would like to ask, is political bribery a bad practice in the United States?
Getting into an Ivy League school requires a letter of recommendation and gifts given under various pretexts. Isn't that a favor?
They package all of this as a 'system,' do it openly and honestly, and no one criticizes them, yet you praise them for being 'fair'?
Is this what you call 'advanced'?

He finally named Chen Shizheng:

"As for some directors who complain about the strictness of censorship in the country,

Once abroad, he's busy attending cocktail parties, currying favor with judges, and fawning over foreigners, as if afraid others won't know how 'international' he is.

You say you have backbone, then why don't you show the original version of "Dark Matter" in China as well?
"If you're so capable, why don't you try something else?"

This statement caused an uproar online.

The comment section immediately became the domain of Sheng's fans and the "sober-minded" faction:

"So even Sheng Ge's movies were cut so much!"
I thought only 'realistic' films like *Dark Matter* were difficult to watch, but it turns out action movies are cut even more drastically!

"I always thought Brother Sheng was so easygoing, but it turned out he had to revise it seven or eight times before it was approved. It wasn't easy at all."

"Please release the uncut version, Sheng-ge! We want to see the complete 'The Man from Nowhere'!"

"Shouldn't the organizers investigate Chen Shih-Cheng for taking the original version to Sundance for screening?"
What kind of system is it to show the censored version to domestic audiences and the full version to international audiences?

"Students studying at Lighthouse said that Lighthouse's donation is just a routine procedure."

It's not that they don't have rules; rather, they've institutionalized them and act with complete righteous indignation!

"How can a system composed of people not consider human relationships?"
We can criticize problems, but there's no need to glorify foreign countries as paradise while condemning ourselves as hell!

Overseas media reported that Chen Shizheng said Du Sheng had special privileges.

I checked out some comments on foreign websites and found that foreigners don't see anything wrong with it at all. They think that for an international superstar of Du Sheng's caliber, having some resources and influence is only natural, isn't it?

"I am from South Korea, and I don't understand why Chinese people are so obsessed with 'privileges'."

What's wrong with giving someone as talented as Du Sheng some conveniences?
His movie was cut by almost 20 minutes, and you call that 'preferential treatment'?

Du Sheng's response directly turned public opinion around.

Most netizens began to realize that it wasn't that Du Sheng was too domineering, but rather that Chen Shizheng was too good at acting.

Guan Fang took notice of this media storm.

As the topic heated up, even touching on sensitive issues such as nuclear power systems and comparisons between China and other countries,

Relevant departments acted swiftly, starting to clean up inflammatory remarks and suppress trending topics, attempting to handle the matter discreetly.

Two days later, an actress who played the third female lead in "Dark Matter" posted a long article on Renren.com, which reignited the discussion:

"Hello everyone, I used to be Chen Shizheng's girlfriend."

However, they broke up today.

At the same time, I also want to apologize to Du Sheng!

This incident not only damaged our relationship but also dragged him down with it.

A few days ago, "How to Train Your Dragon" was released simultaneously in 19 countries and regions overseas.
As a loyal fan of Du Sheng, I originally wanted to ask Chen Shizheng to go and see it with me.

But he said he was busy with the film festival and didn't have time to go with me.

Although I was a little annoyed, I still went by myself.

After watching the movie and returning to the hotel, I waited and waited, but he didn't come back. I couldn't get through to him on the phone either. It was as if he had disappeared.

Being in an unfamiliar place abroad, I was worried something might happen to him, so I called the police.

The police eventually found him in Sundance's red-light district.

He was adventuring there!
At that moment, I felt both exhausted and ridiculous.

We've been together for five years, and I've forgiven him for cheating before, but I really can't accept this.

He still disagreed when I suggested breaking up.

In a fit of anger, I said:
'You don't have Du Sheng's skills, yet you insist on trying to be a playboy!'

In terms of looks and talent, in what way can you compare to Brother Sheng?

This sentence seemed to have touched a nerve with him.

Ever since Thief Run went to the United States last year, he has always felt superior to others, but in reality he has not made any name for himself.

Seeing Du Sheng, a Chinese man, becoming increasingly popular in North America, he felt increasingly resentful, which is why he began to attack Du Sheng without cause.

The purpose of writing this article is to tell everyone that this controversy is entirely Chen Shizheng's own problem and has nothing to do with Du Sheng.

I will be more careful about my words and actions in the future, and I apologize to Du Sheng again!

As soon as Luo Zhenni's article was published, it immediately became a hot topic of discussion across the internet.

The terms "Chen Shizheng's Piaochang", "Chen Shizheng's Runren", and "Luo Zhenni's Idol Du Sheng" quickly rose to the top of the trending search list.

Among them, the phrase "lacking in ability, but a master at piggybacking on Du Sheng's fame" topped the list, receiving over 200,000 comments in just one hour.

"I really feel sorry for Du Sheng. He was just sitting at home when trouble came out of nowhere and he became the focus of public opinion for no reason."

Du Sheng's inner monologue: WTF?

What does your breakup have to do with me?

"I've discovered that being handsome has its troubles too!"

With so many female fans, if everyone uses him as an excuse to break up, he's going to get a lot of flak.

"This is outrageous. Is Luo Zhenni just trying to gain attention by making excuses?"

"She is indeed a die-hard fan; she frequently mentioned Du Sheng in previous interviews."

However, this move was a bit of a stunt for his idol, putting Du Sheng in the spotlight.

"'He didn't have Du Sheng's life, but he got the disease of being a womanizer.' That's quite accurate."

"Precise what?"

Du Sheng never does anything illegal, while Chen Shizheng is a prostitute; there's simply no comparison.

"If we're really going to argue about this, Chen Shizheng's actions aren't illegal in the local area; the Sundance red-light district is legal."

Is this what some people are touting as "the grass is always greener on the other side"?

"They make tears by filming domestic suffering while seeking happiness abroad. It's disgusting."

"If you're so capable, why don't you make a movie and properly depict the suffering of the sex workers in Sundance's red-light district?"

Would he dare to film it?
"If we filmed it there, they definitely wouldn't let it air. Let them see what 'double standards' really mean."

After Luo Zhenni posted her article, Chen Shizheng was completely ostracized in the country, but this matter is not over yet.

Even more bizarre events followed.

A girl with the online name "Little Kitten" directly revealed herself on Renren.com:

She claimed that she had previously "hosted" Chen Shizheng and posted photos taken secretly, unique video clips, and even YY chat logs.

This revelation was like pouring oil on a fire, and public opinion was in an uproar.

This girl's account gained over 30 followers overnight, and the comment section was buzzing with activity:

"Sister, you're such a brave woman! This is so good, I love it, please show me more!"

"It's amazing that they dared to expose the dirty secrets of a director who wins awards by filming the ugly side of China, letting everyone see the filth in his heart."

"Sister, you're really brave! You must hold on until the very end!"
I must say, your homepage content is quite refreshing; I've already followed you!

"Little Kitten" graduated from a university here. She had been arrested before for something else, and her reputation was ruined.

I suspect she had been keeping evidence to blackmail him, and now she's taking this opportunity to expose it.

"Regardless of her reasons, she deserves support for daring to expose Chen Shizheng!"

And this beautiful woman is so generous, she's practically a goddess, I absolutely have to be her fan!

It's clear that this girl is quite intelligent.

When I first learned that Chen Shizheng was a director, I deliberately kept something under wraps.

Now that the hype has exploded, they might as well ride on Chen Shizheng's popularity to come forward and expose the truth, thus becoming internet celebrities through traffic.

Even if you become a Bodhisattva-themed content creator on YouTube, you can still make a lot of money.

Clearly, she made the right bet; her fan base exploded, and she reaped huge profits from this surge in popularity.

Chen Shizheng was completely dumbfounded.

Domestic police issued a statement saying they take the online allegations of "Chen Shizheng's suspected illegal activities" very seriously and are conducting an investigation in accordance with the law.

This completely terrified him.

This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this; how could he withstand such scrutiny?
…(End of this chapter)