By Zoey Zha and Andrew Chin
This month sees releases by two of China’s most polarizing and successful writer-turned-filmmakers. Guo Jingming returns with the third chapter of the coming-of-age Tiny Times saga, while perpetual smartass Han Han debuts with Never Meet Again. The two are inextricably linked as prodigious writing talents that define the post-1980s sensibility. But how do they compare?
Guo Jingming
Title: China’s richest writer
Weibo Stats: 32 million followers
Style: A celebration of all things commercial and cosmopolitan. Why does he fetishize luxury brands? Because he can.
Image: Pop star. The diminutive one is impeccably dressed – a teen idol that’s image obsessed and proud of it.
Doogie Howser cred: At 14, lands a poem in a national magazine. In high school, he wins first prize at the national New Concept Writing competition two years in a row.
First book: At 20, publishes City of Fantasy. It sells 1.5 million copies and remains beloved even by Guo-haters.
Highlights: Routinely tops China’s Richest Writers list, and made Forbes’ Richest Chinese List in 2012 with an annual income of RMB27.6 million. First two Tiny Times films were released last year and collectively made over USD100 million.
Lowlights: Voted Most Hated Male Celebrity three years in a row on the popular online forum Tianya.com. Was found guilty of plagiarizing in 2006. Despite being nicknamed ‘Super Plagiarism Boy’ and paying the RMB200,000 fine, Guo refuses to apologize or admit fault.
On Han Han: "To be honest, I am not fond of talking about him since we are, after all, not that familiar."
New project: Tiny Times 3.0 continues the saga of four upper-class Shanghai girls trying to have it all... and succeeding! Out July 17.
Han Han
Title: China’s most popular blogger
Weibo Stats: 38 million followers
Style: Outspoken, sardonic and blunt. He’s mocked everything from modern poetry to Super Girl.
Image: Too cool to care. The slender one dresses sloppily in raggedy clothes. Recently honored on Weibo as “the head of laborers.”
Doogie Howser cred: Publishes first essay Unhappy Days in middle school. Wins the New Concept Writing Competition in his freshman year in high school. Still fails seven classes.
First book: At 18, publishes Triple Door. Over 20 million copies are printed.
Highlights: Leverages writing fame into a professional rally driving career and wins three national championships. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010. Posted photos of his adorable daughter recently, has been designated the “National Father-in-law.”
Lowlights: Popular blogger calls out Han’s success saying that all credit should go to his father and PR team that actually wrote all Han’s blogs. Other Weibo celebrities like science writer Fang Zhouzi join in. Han files a lawsuit. Last year, more doubt is cast as people buzz about whether he made a writing competition’s awards list.
On Guo Jingming: “I don’t have an opinion on him but on his fans. I might be unfortunate to step on shit, but they place their heads in it.”
New project: We Won’t Meet Sooner is a coming-of-age road trip movie. In the preview, a man gives a lengthy lecture to one of the kids, only to be told to “Shut up!” Out July 24.
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