Shadow of Chinese Entertainment

Chapter 260 Theme and Implications

The film "Become Yourself" is like a sharp scalpel, precisely dissecting the complex reality of the Chinese entertainment industry.

It also reflects the realities of the global entertainment industry, like a stirring symphony that resonates with the dreams and struggles in people's hearts.

From its shooting techniques to its artistic expression, from its shooting skills to its thematic connotations, everything about it demonstrates its excellence and extraordinary nature.

This will undoubtedly be a masterpiece that any film festival would covet.

Hu Xiaobei departs from convention and uses a timeline as the framework to divide Liu Qianqian's acting career into three chapters, progressing step by step and delving deeper into the story.

From the initial confusion upon entering the entertainment industry, to the bewilderment during the low points, to the determination after breaking free from the cocoon and being reborn.

With this narrative rhythm, the audience feels as if they have accompanied Liu Qianqian through the first half of her life.

The transitions between each stage in the film are extremely natural and smooth, without any abruptness, making the audience immerse themselves in the story and unable to tear themselves away.

The cinematic language in the film is truly exceptional.

When Liu Qianqian first experienced the malice of the entertainment industry, being ostracized by her colleagues and groped by the crew, close-up shots locked onto her terrified and helpless eyes.

The vulnerability and helplessness in those pure eyes seemed to shine through the screen, striking the softest corner of the audience's hearts.

When showing Liu Qianqian's arduous training for "Mulan", a long shot followed her all the way, showing every tremor of her muscles and every drop of sweat that hit the ground, allowing the audience to deeply feel her tenacity and perseverance.

Furthermore, the film's set design, prop presentation, and depiction of future life are all unparalleled.

With its extraordinary imagination and exquisite production techniques, it opened up a visual feast that took viewers through time, vividly presenting future life between 2006 and 2025 on the big screen.

Stepping into the early film set, the old, dim lights cast their glow, and yellowed, curled scripts were piled up all around, with props scattered haphazardly.

The air was filled with a busy and uncertain atmosphere, truly reflecting the simplicity and vibrant energy of the entertainment industry today.

When the camera switches to the next scene, the futuristic home environment comes into view, which is refreshing.

Everyday mobile phone screens are ultra-thin and foldable, and when unfolded, they are about the size of a small tablet. The images on the flexible screen are clear and dynamic, and the colors are so vibrant that they seem to jump off the screen.

People can perform a variety of complex functions with simple gestures, and information flows rapidly at their fingertips.

The tablet is also lightweight and portable, and can be easily attached to a wall or desktop, instantly transforming into a smart control center.

It can not only control all smart home devices in the house, but also display various information and entertainment content in real time.

Various home electronic devices are interconnected, and smart speakers can accurately play melodious music according to the owner's voice commands.

Even the lights will automatically adjust their brightness and color to create a comfortable atmosphere.

In the restaurant's smart kitchen, the appliances operate fully automatically, requiring minimal human intervention during cooking. Ingredients are automatically stir-fried and stewed in high-tech kitchen equipment, filling the air with aroma.

However, behind this seemingly convenient and technologically advanced facade lies a hidden emptiness and restlessness stemming from an over-reliance on electronic devices.

(PS: As mentioned before, electronic products only need to resemble the original in appearance. Similar smart home appliances and cooking robots are just models.)

By using special shooting methods to hide manual control, automated and intelligent performance can be presented.

For example, smart devices automatically turn lights on and off, and use voice-activated TVs and curtains, all of which are manually controlled during filming.

Therefore, there is no need to worry about the production time or cost of making such props being too long.
As people immerse themselves in the social and entertainment aspects of the virtual world, face-to-face communication becomes increasingly rare, and emotional bonds gradually become fragile amidst the interweaving of electronic signals.

The streets were no longer bustling with people; everywhere was a scene of prosperity yet desolation.

Like a skyscraper built out of thin air, it appears prosperous and beautiful, but in reality, it's a castle in the air without a foundation, always in danger of collapsing. Of course, this part of the scene is not extensive, just a few brief shots.

However, it left a deep impression on the audience, as if it were telling them about the future and subtly reminding them.

It also seems to be a metaphor for Liu Qianqian, the female protagonist who has reached the peak of her career—reminding her that everything before her is nothing but an illusion, and that she must remember the fundamentals and adhere to the bottom line.

Every detail in the film, from the posters on the wall to the electronic devices in the actors' hands, can withstand close scrutiny.

It made the audience feel as if they had traveled through time and space and saw a real future world.

The use of lighting in the film is also extremely exquisite, like a stroke of genius.

When Liu Qianqian was in a slump, surrounded by rumors and malice, the dim, yellowish light made it hard to breathe, highlighting her despair and helplessness to the fullest extent.

When she stepped onto the international stage with "Mulan," dazzling white light poured down from all directions, illuminating her resolute yet beautiful face, symbolizing the dawn of her life.

The interplay of light and shadow not only propels the plot forward but also conveys the emotional changes deep within the character of Liu Qianqian.

This film has profound and diverse themes, and is far more than just a simple biography.

It exposes the dark secrets of the entertainment industry—complex interpersonal relationships, manipulation by capital, and malicious competition—to the audience without reservation, opening their eyes to a whole new world.

At the same time, it also profoundly reflects the blindness and terrible nature of public opinion.

The rampant cyberbullying is like a mirror, reflecting various problems in society today and in the future.

It sparked deep reflection among viewers on human nature and society.

Foreigners might not care much about this part, but Chinese people who know about Hu Xiaobei's college entrance exam essay will not take this part of the movie so simply.

It's worth noting that these are all situations that Hu Xiaobei described in his perfect score college entrance exam essay.

Almost all high school students have carefully read and analyzed this article, and have written a reflection at the request of their teachers...

As for the officials, it goes without saying that it would be truly strange if they couldn't see the problems revealed here.

In terms of artistic expression, the film "Become Yourself" cleverly intertwines elements of dreams, growth, perseverance, and struggle.

Liu Qianqian's dedication to her acting dream has never wavered, even after countless setbacks. It is her original dream—the purest form of it.

Liu Qianqian's struggles and transformation in adversity allowed the audience to see the cruelty and beauty of growing up.

Faced with overwhelming rumors and injustice, she always held fast to her inner purity and refused to bow to the forces of darkness. It was a spirit of resistance that moved everyone.

This fusion of diverse themes endows the film with rich layers and profound connotations, leaving the viewer with a lingering and delightful aftertaste.

(PS: I originally intended to present this content in segments during the Cannes Film Festival, through the perspectives of different audiences and industry professionals, but after much consideration, I decided to write it all at once.)

Since I've already written about a film festival before, repeating the same content would be quite boring.

I know that winning awards is the highlight, and I also know that describing the glory of winning awards and returning home would be more popular, but these are not the focus of this book, so I decided to gloss over them.

Furthermore, presenting too much film analysis would seem redundant, but I still wrote it this way.

Because my writing skills are not good, I can only use this intuitive explanation to let everyone know the theme and meaning of this movie.

And... what I want to express!

Although she can't see this book that's at the very bottom of the list, it's still a kind of... well... you know... way I feel about Sisi in real life!
(End of this chapter)