Who are you calling "little fresh meat"? I'm the king.

Chapter 992 Review of Korean Films
This recording of "Back to Field" didn't seem particularly outstanding...

That's normal. Given Shen Yan's status, even Huang Lei has always been very careful around him...

Shen Yan is the only director in film history to win the Golden Lion Award twice, and he has also won the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Director!
Their status is frighteningly high!

Furthermore, he also directed science fiction films such as *The Martian*, *The Wandering Earth*, *Ex Machina*, and *Say Goodbye to Yang*.

It can be said that he single-handedly opened up the field of domestic science fiction films...

They own the Spark Studio, which is known as the "concentration camp of hit shows in the Chinese entertainment industry"!
Most importantly, he's only thirty this year!
Anyone in the entertainment industry, who would dare to argue with him to his face?
Didn't you see that Huang Lei didn't prepare any unique new dishes?
I made a few casual meals...

This shows that he was aware that his innovative dishes were not tasty, but he couldn't resist the power of habit. Over time, he became accustomed to them and thought that he was a really good cook. He even thought that no one would refute him if he thought they were not tasty. He had become so arrogant that he no longer knew his true level.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to create such a terrible show like "Midnight Diner"!
Huang Lei's car crashed...

The main problem is that their eating manners were too unsightly!

The influx of hot money into the entertainment industry once caused an unprecedented boom in the film and television market.

Seeing their peers making a fortune every day, which person in the film and television industry isn't anxious and impatient?
Huang Lei is a prime example!

However, he does have some talent and luck – the variety show "Back to Field" has become Hunan TV's flagship program for attracting young stars.

The young people who go there to show their faces and praise Chef Huang are essentially just trying to curry favor, build connections, and network. Who really cares about Chef Huang's actual culinary skills?

Actually, as long as he remains humble, there won't be much of a problem...

The problem is that while making easy money by doing variety shows, he also insists on creating a persona: a good father and husband, friends all over the world, students all over the world, and friends of learned people. When he meets younger people, he has to lecture them with a fatherly attitude and act like "I don't know you and I don't want to know you. If I say something to you, it's a huge favor to you."

When they encounter someone with seniority or a big shot, they put on a smug, self-important act, as if to say, "I may call you by your nickname, but you know I respect you. I just want others to see that I'm doing pretty well."

You're an actor, you need to produce some work to show me when you're all hanging around in front of me. What are you pretending to be, acting like a little Zhuge Liang or a food god?

Why pretend to be a mentor?

Everyone dislikes people who are overly paternalistic and know a little about everything but are mediocre at everything.

He's a perfect match!
Shen Yan continued, "...The script for 'Project Gutenberg' is very well written. It uses the narrative structure of 'The Usual Suspects', including the twist at the end, which is almost exactly the same."

"The Usual Suspects?"

"Bryan Singer's movies...starring Kevin Spacey..."

"Does that count as plagiarism?"

"At most, it's a tribute!" Shen Yan waved his hand: "The plot, the character development, and the core theme are completely different. If you think you can make a great movie just by using a framework, that's just wishful thinking on the part of an outsider."

At this point, Shen Yan suddenly said, "I'm quite jealous of Kevin Spacey. He starred in a script that was practically perfect, 'L.A. Confidential'!"

"L.A. Confidential?"

"Yes, it's my favorite Hollywood crime thriller!"

Released in 97, *L.A. Confidential* possesses almost all the classic elements of crime films, both old and new: a case within a case reminiscent of *The Usual Suspects*; evidence-based and interrogation-based police like in *Memories of Murder*; an inside job reminiscent of *Infernal Affairs*; and even exciting, realistic gunfights like in *Heat*. All your fantasies about crime films can be fulfilled in this movie. Add to that an excellent script and three distinct yet charismatic male leads, and in terms of entertainment value, few films of its kind can rival it.

Oh, L.A. Confidential is Roro Tomasi—a highlight of TikTok's best acting: Guy Pearce's performance, through changes in his pupils and subtle facial expressions, powerfully portrays the character's transition from a calm state to an emotional breakdown, making it one of the most memorable moments in the film.

Unfortunately, L.A. Confidential was released in 1997, just in time for the sweeping success of Titanic…

It only grossed $6100 million in North America and $1.2 million worldwide!
Huang Lei suddenly exclaimed, "Hollywood hasn't produced any truly eye-opening works in a long time!"

Shen Yan wholeheartedly agreed: "Hollywood in recent years has become too formulaic, constantly making sequels..."

What about Korean movies?

Shen Yan shook his head: "I don't have a good opinion of Korean movies!"
The biggest problem for South Korean films is that the market is too small… The most fundamental reliance for a film to survive is the market, not copyright. Only a handful of directors can sell their rights globally. Only when the market is large enough can the film industry develop!

"Furthermore, South Korean cinema itself lacks a foundation; it merely adapts Hong Kong and Hollywood films. It lacks the innovative cinematic language and exploration of local cinematic movements that characterized the French New Wave, the New Hollywood, the Japanese New Wave, the Hong Kong New Wave, the Taiwan New Wave, and the Fifth Generation cinema in mainland China—movies that aimed to solidify the foundation of local cinema..."

"They also have a bald head movement..."

"The bald head movement is a market-driven behavior aimed at making more money, without any consideration for the localization of Korean films."

Huang Lei disagreed with Shen Yan: "Korean films have made rapid progress in the last two years..."

Shen Yan smiled: "What's the fastest way to expand the market? It's not through trial and error from scratch, but by adopting what's readily available. This certainly has short-term effects; Korean films have indeed made rapid progress. But the downsides are sown the moment you prioritize marketability..."

"South Korea has many types of movies!"

"Give me an example!"

"My Sassy Girl... New World, The Attorney, The Spy..."

"In the South Korean film market, romance films have basically disappeared; what's left are mostly crime films... They've also tried science fiction, but it wasn't very successful, so they haven't dared to try again... The South Korean film market is too small; it basically doesn't allow for trial and error. One failure can be crippling..."

After a pause, Shen Yan concluded: "Daring to film and being sensational are only the most insignificant aspects of evaluating a film. It doesn't mean that a film that dares to film is a good film!"

"Behind the daring to film, there is a common stereotypical portrayal of negative forces and high-level power, even to the point of a huge distortion of existence and reality. At the same time, this 'daring to film' often falls into the morbid curiosity of elements such as sex and violence... Artistic creation has never been limited to just direct expression; increasingly direct expression can easily fall into extremes!"

……

Uh… this broadcast is sure to cause controversy…

After all, praising South Korean films is politically correct these days!
The production team consulted Shen Yan's opinion, and then...

Shen Yan said, "It doesn't matter!"

Since Brother Yan has no objections, then... broadcast the whole thing.

The outcome was somewhat different from what Shen Yan had anticipated…

(End of this chapter)