Filmmakers and critics agree that TV show movies like "Running Man" are harmful to the movie industry. (Photo : www.chinaentertainmentnews.com)
Director Feng Xiaogang said last week that TV show movies are harmful to China's film industry.
While on recording for the TV show "Hidden Energy," the Chinese director said that the new trend where variety TV shows are converted into movies for the big screen will have a bad influence on the development of Chinese movies. The director stated that if the trend became a new genre, movie producers would no longer be interested in real movies by serious filmmakers.
In total agreement with Feng, producer and former secretary-general of the China Film Directors' Guild He Ping posted on his Twitter account: "This is a serious topic. And the problem has become very serious. The directors' guild must notify the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT). Don't lose your professionalism in silence."
The lambasting of the new movie trend was triggered by the recent box-office success of the movie "Running Man," which is based on the popular TV show of the same title. The movie was produced in six days, and despite negative criticisms coming from critics and other professionals in the industry, earned more than 380 million yuan ($60.76 million) since its first day of screening.
Feng's position on the issue of the new film trend is supported by many of his fellow directors. However, not everyone is agreeing with him. Fans of the movie are accusing Feng of being jealous of the success of "Running Man." Supporters of the TV show films, mostly audiences who watch the movie, said that Feng has not made a good film in years.
A major Chinese newspaper published an editorial last week criticizing Feng and some major directors who support him. The newspaper's contention is that the TV show movies are recognized by the market, and that directors like Feng must not underestimate the intelligence of movie audiences.
The paper further said that movie audiences are very much capable in recognizing which ones are bad films and which ones are good.
The trend of making TV show movies started last year with the film "Dad, Where Are We Going?" The film was also based on a then popular TV show. The movie was a box-office success, garnering almost 700 million yuan ($111.66 million) on the Spring Festival season.
Feng said that producers of the TV show movies do not respect the audiences, only the audiences' money. With regard to the TV show movies' sincerity, Feng said that there is none, indicating that a film cannot be made in six days.
In a separate interview, Feng said that the proliferation of TV show movies is a suicide for the entire film industry.
The fact that Huayi Brothers Media Group, Feng's collaborating studio, is one of those who produced "Running Man" did not faze the director from lambasting his own studio, stating that Huayi Brothers should stop doing such movies. The unfazed director stated that if his own studio and him cannot find a solid consensus on the issue, he will no longer collaborate with them in his future projects.
Feng is appealing to the entire movie industry to realize that TV show movies are wrong and their box-office success will only discourage other filmmakers and studios to produce serious films and just go with the trending bandwagon.
The producers of the "Running Man" movie shot back on Feb. 7, saying that the TV show film is actually a family movie production which attracts both young and old viewers and makes them happy.
In response to Feng's statements, "Running Man" producer Chen Hongwei said: "Wherever there is an audience, there are films. Filmmakers should respect audiences' choices for this is an era of diversity."
