Chinese director Feng Xiaogang recently blasted popular TV show movies when making a TV program, saying the genre was "extremely" harmful to China's movie industry.
During a recording of the TV show "Hidden Energy" last week, Feng said variety TV shows have "had an extremely bad influence on the development of the Chinese film industry." He pointed out that if the trend goes on in the future, no movie producers would invest in any serious films by filmmakers.
He Ping, producer and former secretary-general of the China Film Directors' Guild, also tweeted a post on Feb. 6, agreeing with Feng, "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 attacks on TV show movies are due to a recent hit movie based on the TV show "Running Man," which is sweeping Chinese box offices and has collected more than 380 million yuan (US$60.76 million) since its debut on Jan. 30. The "movie" was produced in only six days and was hit by widespread negative reviews which commonly branded it as a TV show on the big screen with no story - the essential element of a movie. But the bad reviews didn't prevent it from making money.
As Feng Xiaogang's comments resonate with some fellow filmmakers, some Internet users also blasted Feng as being jealous of TV show productions, and pointed out that Feng hasn’t made convincingly good films for years.
The People's Daily published an opinion piece on Feb. 9, saying TV show movies are recognized by the market and audiences, and criticized some big name directors, stars and their blockbusters, including Feng and some of his worst films, saying they are not good or creative at all. "Don't underestimate audiences' intelligence and aesthetics on films, and good films are recognized by audiences."
Last year's "Dad, Where Are We Going?" – also a movie version of a popular TV show – started the trend of making TV shows a new movie genre in China. It made an astonishing 699 million yuan (US$111.66 million) during the Spring Festival season.
"If you say the attitude defined everything, then a film is made in five or six days, so it already lost its sincerity. So don't say that they 'respect' audiences, they respect the money," Feng told Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly in response to the People's Daily.
"If someone thinks pleasing the audiences is the rule, I say, if the NBA allowed two football stars on the basketball court to play, I believe many audiences would love it. But, that would not be a basketball match," he added.
Feng Xiaogang also said in an interview with Sina.com.cn that allowing TV show movies is like suicide for the film industry.
Interestingly, Feng's collaborating studio Huayi Brothers Media Group is one of the producers of "Running Man," but he still pointed the finger.
"Huayi Brothers should not do such movies but they did." Feng said. "They are doing wrong. If we cannot reach a consensus on this issue, I'm afraid we will not collaborate on future projects."
Feng said that in the United States and South Korea, the filmmakers would never make such movies in several days and make big money, which would discourage filmmakers to do high-quality works. "This kind of money they make comes easy but is disgustingly malformed."
But Feng may not be entirely right. "Jackass: The Movie," is one example. The film is a continuation of the stunts and pranks by the various characters of the MTV television series Jackass. It was a success at the box office, grossing US$64.25 million in the United States.
The savage milking of money from TV fans offended and challenged serious film art, the director said, and the actors and directors involved don't have to be talented at all. "This is so cheap, and the actors in those films disgraced themselves."
Feng appealed to the whole industry to realize this is pure commercial speculation and to refrain from making such films. He also said the authorities who gave green light to those films were doing a wrong thing, but he would love the whole industry to agree with him before taking it to authorities.
As public debate divided opinions and most movie critics have aligned to Feng, movie critics and fans are giving TV show film a sound verbal lashing and low ratings.
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.
Chen Hongwei, co-producer of the film, told CE.cn that wherever there is an audience, there are films. And audiences have the say and choice. Filmmakers should respect audiences' choices and not point the finger.
"This is an era of diversity,” he said. "We should allow diversity and do our best."
A sequel to "Dad, Where Are We Going?" (based on its Season 2) and the film "Emperor's Holidays" – which is yet another adaptation of the "Dad, Where Are We Going?" franchise (using the cast from Season 1) – will hit Chinese theaters during China's Spring Festival, which starts on Feb. 19, 2015, milking even more money from TV fans.
However, not all TV shows can be transformed into box office triumphs. "I Want You" (2013), a movie based on the very popular singing contest show "The Voice of China," made just 1.75 million yuan (US$279,600) in its three day cinema run. "No Zuo No Die" (2014), another documentary based on a TV reality singing show, "Super Boy," made only 4.9 million yuan (US$782,900).