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Director shares behind-the-scenes stories of hot film Her Story

China

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China

Director shares behind-the-scenes stories of hot film Her Story

2024-11-28 06:03 Last Updated At:06:17

Director and screenwriter Shao Yihui Monday shared experiences behind the scenes and sincerely appreciated the audience's encouragement and recognition for Her Story, the new Chinese comedy film which earned rave reviews by telling authentic stories from a largely female perspective.

Her Story unfolds around the life and growth of the fiercely independent single mom Wang Tiemei and her new neighbor Xiao Ye, the "romantic fool". They are completely different in personality yet accompany each other through various relationship challenges. The movie breaks away from the conventional romance or self-help narration and stands out from the rest of the genre by bringing out exquisite, multidimensional portrayal of women via sharp, humorous lines.

Its broad and thrilling resonance partly attributes to location shooting. Shao made big efforts in finding and negotiating for perfect real-life sites.

"I think the architectural style of Shanghai decides the unique lifestyle there. Like many modern tenants in those old villas, they share some activity space and have close ties with their neighbors," Shao said.

Shao devoted the same strictness and responsibility to the casting process. Wang Tiemei is designed to be a warm, positive and chill single mom. And Chinese actress Song Jia popped up into her mind when she was still writing the script.

"She's a perfect match. She is refreshing and elegant in daily life. Although she later told me that she was a bit worried during acting because she was used to portraying roles that are quite different from her own. When the role is very similar to herself, she felt unsure," said Shao.

And she chose Chinese actress Elaine Zhong Chuxi to be the moon-struck but rational Xiao Ye because she saw their similarities.

"I did not know her very well at the beginning. Her past TV shows gave me an independent and mature impression. And she has a bright and beautiful face. But after chatting with her, I found that she's kind and delicate, considerate to the mood of others, bearing some resemblance to Xiao Ye. So I hope to dig out and display that part of her, in contrast to her past," Shao said.

So far, Her Story is rated at 9.1 out of 10 points on Douban, China's leading film-rating platform. Over 140,000 audience have commented on the movie.

While some have compared Her Story to a Chinese counterpart to Barbie, a 2023 global hit from Warner Bros., for its whimsical yet incisive tone, many argue that it presents a distinctly Chinese perspective on gender issues.

Shao remains modest about her great success.

"I know there is still room for improvement, but the audience have been tolerant to us. I think it's because my movie delivers something different from others, showing some novelty, so people like it. That makes up for our shortcomings. I think there's also good luck in the movie's success," Shao said.

Her Story is set to hit the big screens in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and other countries and regions on Wednesday.

Director shares behind-the-scenes stories of hot film Her Story

Director shares behind-the-scenes stories of hot film Her Story

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Hit animated film Ne Zha 2 drives massive merchandise sales

2025-02-11 22:39 Last Updated At:23:07

Merchandise for the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 is in high demand, with collector items selling at "unprecedented" rates following its blockbuster release.

In Shanghai, fans of the movie have packed into toy stores to buy collector figurines that come in "blind boxes". The items have sold out quickly, but that has not stopped customers from waiting for stocks to replenish.

"The pre-sale has already started, so I came here especially to queue for the pre-sale registration. I'd be willing to wait even if it takes two to three months to get the products. I love to buy the blind boxes because the movie is quite good and I have a hobby of collection," said a consumer.

According to salespeople, one of the most popular Ne Zha 2 items are collector cards.

"Yesterday, we just replenished seven boxes of 'Ne Zha 2' cards. By now, we've sold around four boxes. This is quite unprecedented, as 'Ne Zha 2' is, so far, the only IP (intellectual property) that has sold for four boxes of cards in one day," said Lin, a staff member at a collectible card store.

Meanwhile, online shoppers have also been eager to purchase publications, stuffed toys and even snacks related to the film.

"Our e-commerce platform has set up a special section for 'Ne Zha 2' merchandise. In the first 10 days since the movie's release, its co-branded products have sold for over 12 million yuan (about 1.64 million U.S. dollars), with the sales of its figurines and blind boxes growing by nearly 50 times. The sales volume of its three co-branded dairy products has also surpassed five million yuan since its screening," said Jaidar Tabus, a staff member of the purchase and sales department with an e-commerce platform.

Ne Zha 2's success suggests that the Chinese market still contains untapped potential for capitalizing on future hits, with industry insiders pointing out that merchandising may comprise up to 70 percent of the total revenue.

Hit animated film Ne Zha 2 drives massive merchandise sales

Hit animated film Ne Zha 2 drives massive merchandise sales

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