577: Chapter 577 It's Terrifying to Be Uncultured

The seminar process for la la land was no different from any other seminar.

First, the host opened by introducing the important guests, including members of the la la land creative team, renowned film research experts, and veteran filmmakers.

Next, the Vice Dean of the Beijing Film Academy and the Vice Chairman of the Film Association spoke one after another, elaborating on the significance of this seminar for film academic research, briefly introducing the status and value of the film la la land in Chinese and even world film history, and officially kicking off the seminar.

Subsequently, it was time for Lin Chuyan to speak.

He spoke at great length, from "Film Narrative Structure and Character Building" to "The Artistic Expression of Music and Dance in Film"; from "The Lens Language and Visual Aesthetics of Film" to "Film Communication Strategies for the International Market."

He even invited several international friends to participate.

For example, the choreographer of la la land introduced the film's Dance design concepts via video link, as well as the role Dance played in creating the film's atmosphere and shaping the characters.

There were also the Director of Photography, Sand, and Art Director, David. Both of these two had just won Academy Awards, and they also shared their insights during the filming of la la land via video call.

Sincere, so sincere.

The students sitting in the audience area listening silently never expected Lin Chuyan to be so well-prepared: No wonder la la land was filmed so well. Director Lin really has substance, and he is truly willing to share. Director Lin is awesome; coming to this seminar was the right choice.

The people from the film circle in attendance finally relaxed: Great, Lin Chuyan didn't cause any trouble this time!

Everyone present knew Lin Chuyan's personality more or less. This person was indeed talented and capable, but he also really liked to "stir up trouble."

An hour and a half passed.

The seminar was gradually drawing to a close in an atmosphere of lively academic exchange.

The host first invited a senior film research expert to summarize the day's seminar, sort out the research results, emphasize the important value of the film la la land in the field of film academic research, and the inspiration of this seminar for future film creation and research.

Finally, Lin Chuyan was invited to speak again.

"Director Lin, is there anything else you would like to add?"

"Yes, there is."

Lin Chuyan put away his manuscript.

The seminar was only just truly beginning.

"The total global box office of la la land is over 8 billion, but the film market will not improve just because of one la la land."

"There is a question I've been curious about for a long time and couldn't figure out, so I'd like to take this opportunity to ask everyone: When problems arise in other industries, people in the industry think, 'Oh, how can I solve this problem to improve my competitiveness and win user approval?' But what about our industry? The number of moviegoers entering cinemas has decreased in the past two years, and many cinema chains have closed down. In the face of this phenomenon, what do those so-called industry insiders say? You can find it by searching online. They say: 'Audiences don't love watching movies anymore!'"

Lin Chuyan was so angry he laughed: "I just want to ask, what does it mean that audiences don't love watching movies anymore? Then how did the box office for my film come about? I think many people should reflect on whether it is really that the audience doesn't love watching movies, or if they simply don't love watching your crappy movies?"

Everyone in attendance looked at each other: Was it finally happening?

The students in the audience area were excited and took out their phones to start recording.

Lin Chuyan continued: "Note, I am not talking about the views of a few individuals. The belief that audiences 'don't love watching movies' has even become a consensus for many people in this industry! One minute they say everyone has run off to watch short videos, the next they say the film industry has entered a cold winter... In short, they are particularly good at making excuses for themselves and shifting the blame onto the audience. Some people are also exceptionally good at playing the victim. Do you expect the audience to be considerate of you? The audience spends two hours sitting in a movie theater chair without moving, just to watch your crappy movie. Who do you think you are?"

"There are also some people who, after making a bad film, insist on getting their peers to praise it. They are doing things that are self-deceptive and burying their heads in the sand. How can anyone do something that is destined to be nailed to the pillar of shame?"

Director Deng Yu was dead, and Director Deng Yu was being whipped post-mortem.

The entire academic lecture hall was quiet, with only Lin Chuyan's voice echoing.

"In today's film market, there are all kinds of films. Suspense, historical, martial arts, fantasy, war... But what is most baffling? It's those heroes and generals who, instead of doing their proper jobs, spend all day thinking about 'that' kind of stuff. I didn't even go that far when I shot a romance film, yet they have no scruples at all."

"I just want to ask, when two armies are at war, how can you, a so-called hero, be fretting over a love triangle? When two nations are at war, how can you, a leader burdened with a blood feud, have the face to fall in love with the enemy's female general?"

First scolding Director Deng Yu, and now scolding Director Yu Jin, right? The students in the audience area were all energized.

"I have been thinking these days why these directors film movies this way. Now I have my own answer. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. It's a seminar, so everyone can just listen, and I welcome discussion."

"Personally, I think there are two main reasons."

Lin Chuyan held up a finger, his words shocking: "First, matters between men and women, or more bluntly, sex, is likely the only content many directors are good at expressing."

"The worship of sex and the desire for sexual resources are deeply imprinted in the bones of some people. Once you understand this, it is not hard to understand why these people can produce works that audiences find absurd, while they themselves are completely unaware. The directors themselves are full of thoughts about matters between men and women, so they unconsciously beautify this behavior and let the characters in the film get deeply involved in it. In their works, this sexual impulse can even override everything else."

Lin Chuyan held up a second finger: "Second, lack of culture. The main contradiction in today's domestic film market is the contradiction between the audience's increasingly improved cultural quality and the directors' lagging cultural level."

"Because they lack culture, their works are filled with all kinds of dross ideas. The values of many works run counter to the public. We often see some works get torn to shreds by the audience as soon as they are released. This also explains why, from project initiation to the completion of filming, no one in the entire creative team notices the problem. That's right, it's because they lack culture."

"Because they lack culture, they don't know how to respect history at all, and naturally, they can't film historical subjects well. That's why we see many so-called fantasy blockbusters and historical epics filled with all kinds of bizarre plots. The audience can spot the problem at a glance, but the creative team is completely unaware."

"Because they lack culture, they also develop an inexplicable sense of superiority. The ignorant are fearless. This sense of superiority makes them unable to listen to the audience's opinions at all, and they still feel good about themselves, thinking that the crappy movies they made are masterpieces. This also explains why many directors' works get worse with each one, yet they never make any progress. The audience thinks they will learn their lessons and make changes, but in reality, they think it's the audience who doesn't know how to appreciate art."

"What to do if you lack culture? It's very simple: If I can't film history well, and I can't film patriotism well, can't I at least film that stuff between men and women well? Look, it's a closed loop! However, in fact, they can't even film that stuff between men and women well. Because there is still a difference between sexual impulse and love."

The students in the audience area couldn't help but laugh out loud.

However, they laughed too soon. Lin Chuyan changed the subject and aimed his fire at the students.

"This phenomenon of lacking culture is not just a problem for directors. Well, actors also lack culture."

"The prevalence of illiterate celebrities in the entertainment industry is no longer a secret, right? You check, oh, it turns out they graduated from such-and-such art academy. Is the threshold for these art academies so low? Could it be that they are just places for people who couldn't do well in their academic studies and just needed a place to slack off?"

"I know one shouldn't generalize, and this doesn't represent all students of art academies, but this phenomenon does exist. And in an entertainment industry full of various temptations, the result of not valuing cultural education and moral education is the creation of various illiterates and scandals, and some even end up being sent off to prison."

"In short, the four words 'lacking culture' are enough to explain too many phenomena that confuse the audience."

"To give another example, audiences are often confused: Why did the older generation of actors in the past each have their own unique temperament, while the so-called 'little fresh meat' today are all the same? Their faces look similar, their temperaments are cut from the same cloth, and even their gender characteristics are starting to become blurred."

"It's the same thing: too many uncultured people have mixed into this circle, so their film-making has zero innovative ability, they never know how to reflect, and they only have path dependence in their minds."

"Whoever has traffic uses them, because traffic stars have many fans, and fans can support the box office. Once this trick works, everyone will form a path dependence and go after traffic stars, never focusing on improving the quality of the film itself. Later, when they find this trick doesn't work, they start complaining again that the audience doesn't love watching movies — you see, it's a closed loop again!"

The scene was silent. Lin Chuyan ignored it and began his final concluding remarks.

"The simplest truth is right in front of us, but everyone tries to turn a blind eye. That is: It's not that the audience doesn't love watching movies, but that there are too few good movies we produce! The so-called film market dilemma is not caused by the audience, but because the low cultural level of the entire film circle has reached a point that cannot be ignored!"

"If you lack ability, just admit you lack ability. Why is it that wherever you go, the general environment is bad? Are you the one destroying the general environment?"

"Finally, returning to the theme of this seminar, the film market will not improve just because of one la la land. Everyone, keep it up! A great cause requires our joint efforts and dedication."

The seminar hadn't ended yet, but Lin Chuyan's speech had already been spread by the students in the audience area.

An Oscar-winning director really has the confidence; there is no need to show mercy to anyone. If it needs to be scolded, scold it, and scold it thoroughly.