Reshaping the landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry

Reporters were still waiting outside the film set.

Upon seeing He Ye emerge, they immediately surrounded him.

"Director He, those directors have responded to your answer again!"

"Director He! What's your opinion on the fact that your name is being insulted?"

"Director He, some people say that the character '也' in your name means 'Master' or 'Grandpa'. Do you agree?"

"Director He, will you change your name?"

He stood at the entrance of the film set, looking at the reporters with no expression on his face.

"We'll discuss everything once we get to the warehouse. I don't want to repeat myself!"

Without paying them any attention, He walked directly toward the area that Liu Guonan had prepared.

Seeing this, the reporters also rushed towards that direction.

……

With the help of the film crew, the abandoned warehouse at the dock was cleaned up in an hour.

Several tables were put together in a row, and a red cloth was stretched behind them with several large characters written on it in calligraphy: "Briefing Session of the Crew of 'Fireworks in the Human World'".

I originally wanted to use a white cloth, but Yu Feihong disagreed, saying that it would look like something out of a dollop, so I used a red one instead.

Actually, He Ye didn't care about red or white, as long as he didn't turn it green like Liu Xing did.

He stood behind the table, facing the dozens of reporters present.

Long lenses and short lenses, flashes of light everywhere.

Yu Feihong stood in a corner and was not in the frame, while Liu Guonan maintained order offstage.

"Everyone, please be quiet." He Ye picked up the microphone, his voice not loud, but very clear.

"We all know why you've come here. There are people outside who are insulting me, saying some very hurtful things. Since everyone is here today and wants to hear how I respond to those people, I'd like to take this opportunity to say a few words to you all."

Such a direct and undisguised opening statement immediately silenced the reporters.

Many people took out their recording pens and pointed their cameras at him.

They had a feeling that they might actually be hit hard today!

After all, they had already experienced He Ye's personality before; he was a director who generated a lot of buzz.

Sure enough, after everyone quieted down, He Ye didn't ramble on about anything else, but directly answered a question that a reporter had asked him not long ago.

"Someone just asked me my name. You and those old fogies wanted to know what my name means, right? I'll tell you today."

"My name was given to me by my father. The two characters '何也' have two sources. One is from the Analects of Confucius, which says, 'Confucius, in his village, was respectful and unassuming, as if he could not speak.'"

"The character '也' is a modal particle in classical Chinese and has no actual meaning. My father named me this in the hope that I would be a humble person and not show off."

"Secondly, it is the biography of Tao Kan in the Book of Jin, Chapter 36: 'You are a beautiful woman, why do you follow him?' It is meant to remind me to always maintain the original intention of being a good person."

At this point, He suddenly thought of some of his past actions. It seemed that his father wanted him to be low-key and unassuming, and to always maintain a good heart, but it seemed that he would find it difficult to achieve this!

However, this thought only lasted for a moment. He paused for a moment, looked at the many reporters, and then smiled.

"But if you and them insist on interpreting 'also' as 'master,' then there's nothing I can do. If you want to treat me like a master, can I stop you?"

He spread his hands and shrugged: "Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is our traditional virtue. As a junior, if you want to call me 'Grandpa,' I'll definitely agree. After all, I'm easy to talk to and respectful of elders."

These sarcastic and infuriating remarks caused the reporters present to exchange bewildered glances, with some unable to suppress their laughter.

"Director He, are you making fun of those who criticize you?" a reporter asked, raising his hand.

"Teasing?" He shook his head. "You know I'm not one to lie. I'm just stating the facts."

"My father named me, and I don't see anything wrong with it. But since some people think there's a problem, I'm not an unreasonable person."

"From today onwards, I'm going to adopt a stage name, and I'd also appreciate it if you could help me spread the word. I'll be called He Yi'an from now on. 'Yi' is a homophone for 'ye' and 'an' means peace."

"I hope I stay safe and sound, and I also hope that everything goes smoothly for me from now on and for all my future films."

"Of course," He Ye, no, He Yi'an, smiled warmly, "If you still want to call me He Ye, I don't mind. If you want to call me 'Master,' I don't mind either."

"Like I said before, I'm someone who speaks the truth and respects the elderly and cares for the young... Don't believe me? Haven't you heard me change my name already?"

Another burst of laughter erupted from the audience.

But the laughter was quickly interrupted by the next question.

"Director Ho, some senior figures have said that your taking the support funds from Central Motion Picture Corporation is 'transfer of benefits.' What do you think?" A male reporter wearing glasses stood up, his tone very aggressive.

He Yi'an's smile faded.

"Which senior figure are you referring to?"

"Director Wang, Director Li, and several others."

"Have they read my script?"

The reporter paused for a moment, then said, "It seems...there isn't."

"Do they even know what my movie is about?"

The reporter paused for a moment, then said, "I... I don't think I know either."

He Yi'an's smile remained bright, but everyone could sense that the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Someone who hasn't read my script and doesn't know what my movie is about says I don't deserve the money; someone who has made movies all his life but doesn't even have a decent representative work says I'm 'transferring benefits'."

He paused, looking at the reporter.

Do you think they have the right to say these things?

The reporter was speechless, opening his mouth but unable to utter a word. However, the people next to him became excited and began to write furiously, frantically recording what He Yi'an had said.

At this moment, another reporter stood up: "Director He, Director Wang said your film 'exploits suffering and panders to the audience with cheap sentimentality.' How do you respond?"

Has he seen my movies?

"Probably not."

"How did he know my film was about 'exploiting suffering'?"

It just goes to show that entertainment reporters at the beginning of the century weren't very good; they were rendered speechless by just a few words from him.

However, He Yi'an didn't have time to engage in any pleasantries with these reporters. He leaned against the table, his tone turning cold.

"Some people have spent their whole lives making movies and haven't produced anything worthwhile, all they know is how to ask for money; now that the money has been given to people they think need it more by the leaders, they can't stand it and want to jump out and bite people? Such people don't deserve to be called directors; they should be crushed by the wheels of history and eliminated."

"They say I exploit suffering? Then let me ask them, how many viewers have seen any of the films they've made? How many viewers remember them?"

"They don't even give the audience a chance to see them, so what right do they have to criticize me?"

The reporters were surprised by how harsh and unforgiving He Yi'an's words were.

"Director He, as a junior, aren't you afraid of insulting those senior figures like this...?"

"I'm not insulting anyone," He Yi'an said, looking at the reporter. "I'm just stating a fact."

"The truth is, some people are incompetent themselves, but they won't let others succeed! They'll bite anyone who touches their interests."

"This kind of person is not a filmmaker, but a parasite."

"These kinds of people say that art should not be defiled and film should not be desecrated; but what they really think about is how to make money and engage in despicable acts of profit-seeking."

Well, Han Sanping told He Yi'an to watch his words and not to escalate the situation.

Upon hearing this, He Yi'an realized that he had indeed not broadened the scope of the attack, but had only targeted those few who had jumped out to actively attack.

But his output was too fierce, and he showed no mercy at all!

That's He Yi'an's personality.

Since we've already offended them, we must go all out to destroy them. Who are we trying to impress by being nice to each other?

Is it rare since ancient times for someone to be bitten by a snake after trying to kill it?

He spoke with gusto, and the reporters were so excited their faces turned red.

Then they asked questions one after another, and He Yi'an answered them one by one.

These reporters absolutely adore him!

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