The very highly anticipated C-movie The Murderer starring Zhang Zi Yi and directed by award winning and commercially popular HK-director Peter Chan wrapped filming last month in February 2024. The movie is based on a true story in 1940’s Shanghai when an abused wife of a gambling addict killed and dismembered him and her tale became a feminist call for women to fight back against their abusers. The project has been in the works for over 10 years before landing Zhang Zi Yi who also picked this as her first project after her divorce in what some see as rather ironic, and no there was no abuse allegations haha just that Zhang Zi Yi seems to be on a woman empowerment path right now.
Two top C-drama actresses Zhao Li Ying and Yang Mi are both in this movie which has a sprawling cast and the two camps have been jostling and fighting opening and behind-the-scenes for who who be the second billed lead in the movie. It’s a big deal because if successful this could be the entree for either or both into the more rarified and prestigious Chinese film circles. The production is reportedly letting this fight continue because it’s generating publicity and because the inside scoop is that Zhang Zi Yi is going to give an incredible performance as the female lead so all the accolades if any will go to her and no one will care about the supporting leads when she’s in the limelight.
Acting wise, no one can touch ZZY in this cast. For me, ZYL is a much better actress than Yangmi, but this drama will do good for both YM and ZYL. If Oppenheimer is any indication, they are there to support the story of this incredible lady with no way out.
I’ll never understand China’s obsession with top billing. Its unfortunate people can’t work together just because they can’t decide on this. What happened to auditions? Should be whoever fits the right role.
@Voo
I would think top billing gets more money and also it’s an eagle/status thing for that person. He/she thinks that he/she is more important than the other person. The easiest thing to do is the top two leads just get pay equally (equal billing) – their names listed @ the same level. The problem solved. 🤔🤔🤔
I don’t understand the hype with movies….
If you want acting recognition, drama series can satisfy that. For an actor, movies might be more lucrative (since it’s shorter timeframe of acting, and potentially higher pay), but TV dramas are catching up to that, if not already exceeding those numbers (for great dramas, that is, although there’s longer acting commitment.)
I barely watch 10 movies in a year, but I would’ve digested more than 10 dramas. So my question remains, what’s the deal with movie prestige?
I think one of the prestige for movies is the direct, measurable action from its viewers. That is, people move and actually go to the cinema to pay and watch the movie. The amount of viewers directly translate to revenue. While dramas get money through ads placed, the revenue is much more indirect.
Yep, Exactly my thought too, at the end of the day we all looking for good acting, directing and storytelling in both side of the spectrum to enjoy them and be recognised but I guess it is what it is. Actors put value more on movies than dramas.
I read someone’s take of this in C-ent that a successful movie means you got the interest of the general public and reach outside your fandom circle. Fans cannot manipulate movie success the same way they do dramas so the recognition from being in a known movie is different.
@Snails @Guest Interesting take, and does make sense. In this day and age, though, it’s also pretty easy to manipulate box office tickets when fandoms can purchase hundreds to thousands of movie tickets online. And I can’t credit huge box office hits to just any one person in a movie, unlike in dramas where you usually see an actor more consistently. But I can see why it’s appealing to target movies due to measurable results (not ratings-dependent), and bigger reach on different audiences. Thanks!
Equal billing? Billing following appearance? Billing alphabetically?
Zhao Liying won this fight, this was settled a while ago.
Dont let stupid billing fight overshadow the movie. This is stupid and it will just turn off many top movie producers.
@Coralie
Your comment on manipulation of cinema’s box office tickets reminded me of fans and actors renting cinema’s rooms for their films. This is a very common practice.