Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 641 The Debate on Cultural Invasion
Eleven hours later, Zhang Chen finally arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. The "Crimson Storm" was slowing down and taxiing, and finally came to a steady stop. The cabin door opened, and Zhang Chen appeared at the gangway.

"Zhang, you've really launched a huge surprise!"

Upon arrival, Zhang Chen was spotted by David, who had been waiting for him, and David came up to give Zhang Chen a big hug.

"Did you know that Global's stock price dropped by 1% because of one of your tweets?" David excitedly chattered on.

They deserved it!

After the group got into the stretch Lincoln parked by the roadside, Zhang Chen finally had a chance to ask, "How's the situation?"

"This is very advantageous for us. Everyone is condemning the MPAA and Universal, but they quickly managed their crisis management."

"What?" Zhang Chen became interested.

Fox News has publicly invited you to host a live broadcast.

Fox News?

Zhang Chen knew that Fox was the producer of Avatar. Although there was no evidence that Fox was involved in the matter, it was almost certain.

Fox News is a notoriously right-wing media outlet.

What were they thinking?

"We have emails showing their internal transactions, and they can't deny it, so I think they might be trying to find a breakthrough from other angles."

"for example?"

"Cultural invasion".

When will the live stream start?

"Tomorrow night, wait, Zhang, you're not really going to accept, are you? Listen, you might not understand the key point here, but 'culture invasion' is a very sensitive topic. No matter how you answer it, it's easy to offend North American audiences. So I suggest you decline this live interview."

"No, agree to their request!"

Zhang Chen had his own thoughts. He had realized that this incident was not accidental. As Chinese films grew stronger, such clashes were bound to happen sooner or later.

Since that's the case, why not take this opportunity to eliminate them once and for all?

Moreover, live streaming is a great way to do things, and he doesn't believe the other party can pull off anything too shady during a live stream.

……

The following afternoon, at the Fox News Center.

At 5 p.m., an hour before the prime-time live broadcast, the air in the Fox News studio was already like a tightly wound spring, every vibration carrying a tense quality.

The studio lights are all on; soon, it will become a battlefield.

The debate table in the center of the stage was neatly arranged, its black surface gleaming, with a white microphone and a transparent water glass on either side.

The staff moved between the cameras and lighting rigs, and the tense atmosphere was palpable.

"All staff, conduct one last check before the live broadcast!"

The director's orders came through the microphone, and the various departments carried them out.

Some people squatted on the ground to check the cable interfaces, some held up the script and whispered to check the process, and others used walkie-talkies to repeatedly confirm the satellite signal, making sure that there would be no mistakes in the upcoming live broadcast.

The host, Jack Thompson, stood in front of the main camera with his back to the backdrop.

The backdrop was entirely themed around Pacific Rim, with "Crimson Storm" on the left and "Primordial Chaos" on the right. The two ferocious beasts actually brought a sense of oppression to the studio.

Jack, head bowed, adjusted his tie. He was Fox News's star right-wing commentator, a seasoned moderator of countless heated debates on everything from political issues to social controversies, never showing any stage fright. But today, however, he felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on his heart.

"Jack, are you ready?" The director's voice came through the earpiece, with a slight static.

Jack took a deep breath, raised his hand and pressed the headset. His voice, processed by the microphone, sounded calm and firm: "We can start anytime."

Even so, his gaze unconsciously swept across the opposite guest seats, which were still empty, but he seemed to already see Zhang Chen sitting there.

This name has become a "frequently used word" in Hollywood in the past 24 hours.

Zhang Chen, a director who rose to prominence from mainland China, caused an unprecedented stir in the North American film industry with a single blog post.

Freedom and democracy have always been the image of the United States in its external propaganda, but everyone knows that in the shadows where the sun doesn't shine, there are countless dirty deals. This is a fact that everyone knows.

Everyone takes it for granted that this is how the world works, but Zhang Chen deliberately exposed these transactions to the light of day.

Moreover, the "global united front against the enemy" setting in the movies he was involved in contradicted Hollywood's "America saves the world" narrative. Ordinary people might not think much of it, but Hollywood people knew that this was a challenge to America's cultural hegemony.

Human thinking has inertia. In movies, people are used to the idea that America saves the world, and in reality, they will subconsciously develop a mindset that prioritizes America.

This is part of the US cultural strategy, a wall that the US has built around the world's minds, and what Pacific Rim promotes is tantamount to undermining that wall.

Therefore, Jack is well aware that today's debate is essentially a "battle of offense and defense".

Jack's task is to question the cultural intentions of "Pacific Rim 2" from the perspective of "cultural invasion," while Zhang Chen is to defend the cultural expression of Chinese films.

Jack touched the notebook in his pocket, which was filled with numerous points of doubt:

"Excessive use of Chinese elements"

"Deliberately catering to the Chinese market"

"Weakening the dominant position of Western culture"...

Each point has been carefully crafted and is sufficient to withstand conventional rebuttals.

But he knew in his heart that Zhang Chen was an unpredictable guy, and these preparations might not be enough.

Jack had done a background check on Zhang Chen and knew that this guy was a troublemaker in China, notoriously difficult to deal with.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the busy debugging, and in the blink of an eye, the clock on the wall pointed to 5:30 p.m.

In the audience, the invited attendees took their seats one after another. Most of them were Hollywood professionals and media reporters, their faces filled with curiosity and scrutiny, clearly anticipating the clash of this debate.

At 5:50 p.m., Zhang Chen finally appeared.

He wore a well-tailored black suit without a tie, and the top two buttons of his white shirt were casually undone, giving him a look that was both formal and relaxed.

The most eye-catching thing was the badge pinned to his collar—a miniature chainsaw model with fine lines engraved on its silver metal shell, a miniature version of the "Chainsaw Sword," the weapon used by the Jaegers in Pacific Rim 2.

He carried a black briefcase and walked steadily toward the guest seats. As he passed Jack, he nodded slightly in greeting, his eyes as calm as a deep pool, showing no sign of nervousness.

As Jack watched him sit down, his tension increased even more.

He noticed that after Zhang Chen put down the briefcase, he took out two things from it:
One is a palm-sized model of mecha parts, with the words "Made in California" printed on its gray plastic shell; the other is a larger chainsaw model, made of metal, and looks quite heavy.

Zhang Chen gently placed the two items on the table, then picked up his water glass and took a sip, his movements unhurried, as if he were not there to participate in a heated debate, but rather to enjoy an ordinary afternoon tea.

The live stream officially started at 6:00 PM.

"Welcome, everyone. I'm Jack Thompson."

Jack's voice was transmitted around the world via satellite signal, and his expression instantly switched to a professional look, his sharp eyes scanning the camera.

"Today, we will discuss a controversial topic—does Chinese mecha constitute cultural invasion?"

"In recent years, China's film industry has risen rapidly. As a representative work, Pacific Rim 2 not only incorporates a large number of Chinese elements, but also sparked widespread discussion around the world."

Some believe this is a manifestation of Chinese culture 'invading' through film, while others believe it is simply normal cultural exchange.

Today, we are honored to have with us Mr. Zhang Chen, the director of *Pacific Rim 2*. Let's welcome him with applause.

Applause erupted, Zhang Chen stood up, bowed slightly, and gave the camera a warm smile: "Thank you, host, thank you, viewers. It's a pleasure to be here at Fox News to discuss this topic with you all."

His English had a slight accent, but his pronunciation was clear and his tone was calm, a stark contrast to Jack's sharpness.

Jack wasted no time and went straight to the first question: "Director Zhang, first of all, I want to ask you, many Western viewers and media believe that the Chinese elements in 'Pacific Rim 2' are too prominent, and some have even called it 'cultural invasion.' What do you think of this statement?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's smile did not disappear. He leaned forward slightly and looked at Jack sincerely: "Jack, I would first like to correct a misunderstanding—the term 'cultural invasion' itself carries a confrontational connotation, but film is not war; it should be a bridge."

"The core story of Pacific Rim 2 is that Jaeger pilots from all over the world unite to fight against the Kaiju, monsters from the deep sea."

In this story, the Chinese mech "Crimson Storm" is just one example. Like the American "Gipsy Danger" and the Russian "Cherno Alpha," it represents humanity's weapons in the fight against crisis and symbolizes global cooperation.

He paused, picked up a model of a mecha part from the table, and held it up to the camera: "Like this part, it's a component of a mecha model from Pacific Rim 2, and it has 'Made in California' printed on it."

If someone were to say that the appearance of this California-made part in a movie represents America's 'industrial invasion' of other countries, would you think that's reasonable? Obviously not.

The Chinese elements in the film are the same; they are not meant to 'invade' any culture, but rather to enrich the story and make it more authentic.

After all, in the face of a global crisis, the culture and strength of every nation should be part of the story, not something to be excluded.

Jack frowned. He hadn't expected Zhang Chen to use "parts" as an analogy. The metaphor was simple yet powerful, instantly rendering his prepared rebuttal ineffective.

But he quickly adjusted his approach and continued to press: "But Zhang, you can't deny that there are indeed a lot of Chinese elements in Pacific Rim 2—'Primordial' is based on China's giant panda, the protagonist 'Crimson Storm' is a Chinese Jaeger, and the background is China's landscape. These elements are unfamiliar to Western audiences. Won't they feel uncomfortable?"
Could it even make them feel that Chinese culture is being forcibly exported through film?

“Jack, you must have read Harry Potter, right?” Zhang Chen didn’t answer directly, but asked another question instead.

Jack nodded.

The magical world of Harry Potter, the rules of Hogwarts, the English castle and costumes are unfamiliar to non-Western audiences, but that does not prevent audiences around the world from liking it.

Why? "

Because good stories can always transcend cultural differences.

“There are pandas in Pacific Rim 2, and you think it’s about ‘showcasing Chinese culture,’ but why don’t you think about King Kong as well?”

What does Vajra represent?
American culture?
Please, neither monsters nor mechs exist in isolation; they are necessary for the story's logic.

He put down the model parts, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and continued:
"I once said in an interview that cultural elements in movies should be like salt—the right amount of salt can make a dish more delicious, but if you add salt for the sake of adding salt, the dish will become unpalatable."

The Chinese elements in Pacific Rim 2 all serve the story; we didn't deliberately pile them up, nor did we 'force them out'.

On the contrary, we hope that through these elements, a global audience can see that Chinese culture also expresses themes of 'protection,' 'cooperation,' and 'courage,' emotions that are universal to all humankind.

Jack's expression stiffened; it was the first time he'd ever found a guest so difficult to deal with.

Zhang Chen's response neither evaded the question nor led him into a framework of "confrontation." Instead, he kept emphasizing "commonality," which made his prepared "questions" seem somewhat sharp.

Just then, the director's urgent voice suddenly came through the headset: "Jack, pay attention to the Fox.com live stream, the chat is exploding!"

Jack was startled. He instinctively looked at the monitor screen in the corner of the studio—it showed the live feed from Fox.com. The sparse comments that had been there were now as dense as a downpour, almost covering the entire screen.

He squinted, barely managing to make out some of the comments: "Chinese netizens: Director Zhang is absolutely right! Culture is not a weapon, it's a bridge!"

"Comparing frames from 'Pacific Rim 1' and 'Pacific Rim 2', the Chinese mechs are clearly undergoing reasonable upgrades, so where is the invasion?"

Why does this Fox News host keep bringing up the topic of "invasion"? Is he afraid of the rise of Chinese films?

"Director Zhang's chainsaw badge is so cool! I want the same one!"

"The barrage army reports! Support Director Zhang, support cultural exchange!"

Most of these comments came from Chinese netizens, and many were from overseas Chinese. Their tone was a mix of support and rebuttal. Some even started the hashtag "#AgainstCulturalDifference" in the live stream, which quickly became a trending topic.

Jack's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. He hadn't expected the live stream to elicit such a strong reaction from Chinese netizens.

In his previous understanding, Western media live broadcasts were mostly dominated by Western audiences, and the voices of Chinese netizens were rarely so concentrated, let alone forming such a "bullet screen storm".

He composed himself, trying to remain calm, and said to the camera, "It seems our live stream has received a lot of attention from Chinese netizens."

"Director Zhang, what do you think of these comments?"
Don't you feel that these voices of support confirm your claim of 'cultural exchange'?

His tone carried a subtle provocation, attempting to steer the conversation toward whether he was deliberately misleading netizens.

Zhang Chen glanced at the monitor screen and a relieved smile appeared on his face: "I am very happy to see so much support from Chinese netizens, and I am also very grateful for their attention to the film."

But more importantly, these bullet comments themselves are a manifestation of cultural exchange.

Chinese netizens express their opinions through bullet comments, and Western viewers understand the thoughts of Chinese viewers through bullet comments. Isn't this real-time interaction the best proof of overcoming cultural and language barriers?

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, during the film's preparation stage, we considered how to make the story understandable to audiences from different cultural backgrounds."

We conducted extensive research and consulted with cultural scholars from different countries before finally identifying 'global cooperation' as the core theme.

Because we believe that only shared emotions and themes can truly connect different groups of people.

The comments on this screen today prove this point—whether Chinese or Western audiences, everyone is concerned about the question of whether cultures should be in opposition, and everyone is looking forward to more equal cultural exchanges.

This isn't just my personal confirmation, but a consensus among all viewers.

Jack's throat moved; he wanted to argue, but found himself unable to find the right angle.

As he watched the scrolling comments on the screen and listened to Zhang Chen's gentle yet firm words, he felt for the first time that his previously held belief in "Western cultural dominance" was being shattered.

He took a deep breath and decided to ask the last "bombshell" question: "Director Zhang, we have to admit that Pacific Rim 2 is very popular, especially in the Chinese market, where the pre-sale data is very impressive."

"Some people worry that the rise of Chinese films will threaten Hollywood's dominance and may even change the landscape of the global film industry."

What's your take on this issue?

Do you think the rise of Chinese films is a 'challenge' to Hollywood?

This question hits the nail on the head—Hollywood believes that the global film market share is limited, and the rise of Chinese films inevitably means that Hollywood's interests will be harmed.

Jack expected Zhang Chen to avoid the question or use platitudes like "cooperation" to brush it off, but Zhang Chen's reaction once again exceeded his expectations.

Zhang Chen picked up the chainsaw model on the table, gently ran his fingers along the texture on the metal casing, and then pulled the starter rope hard—a crisp "click" of the starter rang out in the studio. Although there was no actual power, the sound carried a firm strength.

He put down the model, looked at Jack, and said with sincerity in his eyes: "Jack, I don't think 'rising' means 'challenge,' and I don't think the global film industry is a 'zero-sum game.'"

"Hollywood has a history of over a hundred years. It has created countless classic films and established a mature industrial system, all of which are worth learning from for Chinese films."

But this doesn't mean that Chinese films can only follow in Hollywood's footsteps. We can also have our own innovations and our own stories.

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "Film is a global art form, and it should not be 'monopolized' by any one country or region."

The rise of Chinese cinema is not about 'replacing' Hollywood, but about making the global film industry more diversified.

Just like in Pacific Rim 2, the Jaegers from different countries each have their own advantages, and only by working together can they unleash their greatest power.

The same applies to the global film industry. Hollywood has its advantage in commercial blockbusters, Chinese films have their cultural heritage, and Indian films have their song and dance characteristics. These different styles and characteristics together constitute the richness of global cinema.

It would be a tragedy for the film industry if there were only one voice and one style.

What I hope to see is that Chinese films and Hollywood can learn from and cooperate with each other.

For example, we can collaborate with Hollywood teams to develop special effects technology, and we can present Chinese stories to global audiences using Hollywood's narrative style. Hollywood can also draw inspiration from Chinese culture to create works that resonate more globally.

This kind of cooperation is not about one party 'dominating' the other, but about equality and mutual benefit.

Ultimately, the purpose of film is to bring joy and food for thought to the audience, not to vie for 'dominance'.

Zhang Chen's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing a slight commotion in the studio.

Some audience members spontaneously clapped, while others took out their phones to record the words.

Jack glanced at the reaction and knew that he probably wouldn't be able to achieve his goal today.

Zhang Chen was like a seasoned hunter, seemingly having foreseen his purpose beforehand, and he countered each move perfectly, neutralizing all of Zhang Chen's attacks.

……

A group of MPAA members were also watching the Fox News live broadcast.

But now everyone is certain that their hopes of turning the tide in this live stream have not achieved their original purpose.

Based on the evidence in Zhang Chen's possession, their behind-the-scenes manipulation of the rating is undeniable.

They only hoped that Fox News could use this live broadcast to label Zhang Chen as a 'cultural invader,' putting him on the opposite side of the American public, so that naturally no one would pay attention to their little affair anymore.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Instead of ruining Zhang Chen's reputation, it actually boosted his fame.

Just by looking at the constant stream of messages on Twitter, you can tell just how popular Zhang Chen is among young people right now.

MMPA President Holland felt a headache coming on and thought it best to settle things privately as soon as possible.

Soon, Zhang Chen received a secret invitation from MMPA Holland: "Come alone, without lawyers, without media, no public, no live broadcast, no recording."

Upon seeing this message, a smile appeared on Zhang Chen's lips. He knew that he was about to win.

(End of this chapter)