logo
Lu Chuan on U.S.-China Tensions, New Projects ‘Puffer Fish Girl' and ‘You Are My Daughter,' Plus ‘Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park' Doc (EXCLUSIVE)

Lu Chuan on U.S.-China Tensions, New Projects ‘Puffer Fish Girl' and ‘You Are My Daughter,' Plus ‘Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park' Doc (EXCLUSIVE)

Yahoo24-05-2025

Chinese filmmaker Lu Chuan is feeling the strain of deteriorating U.S.-China relations on his latest project, a cross-border custody drama titled 'You Are My Daughter' based on the real-life case of Anna Mae He, a Chinese girl whose custody battle between her biological parents and white foster parents lasted seven years.
'In the beginning, that project goes very smoothly, but all of a sudden, you know, there's a lot of conflicts between these two countries,' Lu Chuan tells Variety during the Cannes Film Festival, where he was promoting his wildlife documentary about the Tibetan Plateau. 'You need all the connection between the two film industries, and cooperation. The situation is really hard now.'
More from Variety
Iranian Director Saeed Roustayee on Making 'Woman and Child' With a Government Permit and Hijabs: I Wouldn't 'Have Been Able to Make a Film of This Scale Underground'
Elle Fanning Declares 'Joachim Trier Summer' at Cannes Amid 'Sentimental Value' Raves, Says She's 'Grown in My Autonomy and Speaking Up' as an Actor
'The Six Billion Dollar Man' Review: Straight-Ahead Julian Assange Doc Looks Pessimistically Toward a Post-Truth World
The director of acclaimed films including 'Mountain Patrol' (2004), 'City of Life and Death' (2009), and 'The Missing Gun' (2002), Lu Chuan has completed the script for 'You Are My Daughter,' which follows two Chinese international students who have a baby in the U.S. but become embroiled in an eight-year lawsuit. The film is based on the book 'Go Home' by Luo Qin, the mother who lived through the real custody battle.
'There's a lawsuit between the Chinese family and the local American family. They're fighting for the baby,' Lu Chuan explains. 'I think there's a lot of misunderstanding between people from two nations. We need to have more communication, more cultural exchange. The movies are the best way to help people understand each other.'
Despite the challenges, Lu Chuan remains committed to 'You Are My Daughter' and is seeking an English-language writer to collaborate on an international version. He's even turned to AI technology as a starting point, using Grok and ChatGPT to create a first draft English adaptation.
Beyond 'You Are My Daughter,' Lu Chuan is developing 'Puffer Fish Girl,' a crime drama that marks a return to his character-driven roots reminiscent of 'Mountain Patrol.'
'It's not a big sci-fi movie. It's not an action movie,' he says of the project, which explores the relationship between a middle-aged man and a girl. 'I'm trying to explore human nature and the relationship between man and woman.'
The filmmaker is also working on an international version of his 2023 sci-fi film 'Bureau 749,' with plans to make it 'more character driven' for global audiences after receiving feedback from international friends through private screenings.
'Sometimes it's really hard for [international audiences] to understand a Chinese story,' Lu Chuan acknowledges. 'I spent quite a long time to digest all the notes. I think most of them are fabulous, so I think it's very necessary for me to polish the content.' The film is being sold by All Rights Entertainment.
Lu Chuan has also directed the iQIYI series 'A Life For a Life,' adapted by Xiong Yuzhen from the novel by Shi Yifeng. The 1992-set series follows two mechanical repairmen detained on theft charges who become prime suspects in a gruesome dismemberment case at a machinery factory in Tiandu City. The story spans 20 years as survivors work to clear one suspect's name and uncover the real culprit.
At Cannes, Lu Chuan was screening 'Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park,' his wildlife documentary about scientists working to protect animals in the Tibetan Plateau's Xining Wildlife Zoo – a two-year passion project that aligns with his environmental interests.
Looking ahead, the director reveals his desire to explore new genres, particularly horror films and road movies. He cites 'Misery' and Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' as inspirations, noting that 'Puffer Fish Girl' incorporates horror elements.
Lu Chuan is also developing a road movie script about a couple traveling to the woman's hometown for a wedding ceremony, but the woman has lost her memory. The psychological thriller follows a doctor trying to help her recover her past, only to uncover disturbing secrets.
When asked about his filmmaking philosophy, Lu Chuan offers a surprisingly existential response rooted in childhood fears about mortality. 'I should say the fear of death,' he says. 'When I was maybe 13 or 14 years old, one day at midnight, I suddenly realized all people will die. I was so scared. The curiosity about the truth of life and death – this kind of thought is maybe the true motivation for me to explore in the journey of movies.'
This philosophical approach has guided his choice of projects, with Lu Chuan selecting stories he can personally relate to, including 'Bureau 749,' which was inspired by his son's wish to fly away from academic pressures.
'Unfortunately, most kids, the wings in their heart have been cut off when they grow up,' Lu Chuan reflects. 'They become very practical, very realistic, thinking about money, living, food, and payment. I'm trying to encourage myself to still have the freedom to fly freely.'
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Top Drama TV Showrunners on Killing Off Beloved Characters, Mapping Out Multiple Seasons and the Trick to Not Becoming Overwhelmed
Top Drama TV Showrunners on Killing Off Beloved Characters, Mapping Out Multiple Seasons and the Trick to Not Becoming Overwhelmed

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Top Drama TV Showrunners on Killing Off Beloved Characters, Mapping Out Multiple Seasons and the Trick to Not Becoming Overwhelmed

No, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann didn't kill Pedro Pascal. That was just one key messaging point delivered during Variety's A Night in the Writers' Room on Thursday night. Although this was the drama panel, many hilarious conversations came out of the discussion moderated by Variety's senior TV features editor Emily Longeretta. In addition to 'The Last of Us' creators, panelists included 'Severance' creator Dan Erickson, 'Paradise' creator Dan Fogelman, 'The Pitt' creator R. Scott Gemmill, 'Doc' creator Barbie Kligman, 'Yellowjackets' co-creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson and 'Cross' creator Ben Watkins. More from Variety Don't Forget 'Severance' Star Tramell Tillman This Emmy Season Why Nicola Coughlan Is the Soul of 'Bridgerton' and Deserves an Emmy Nomination 'Severance' Creator Dan Erickson Discusses the 'Depressing' Lumon Industries - While Touring Lumen, the Actual Name for Variety's Office Building While discussing the pressures of following a stellar first season with a second one — Mazin and Druckmann shed light on the ups and downs. 'There's this thing that happens when you're making the first season of something where you truly are just rolling down a hill on fire. If you stay alive, that's a huge achievement. If a show comes out, that's amazing,' Mazin said. 'The second season comes with so many expectations, and we did learn a lot of lessons. And the problem with learning lessons is then you have to be accountable to those lessons. And you're not allowed to make those mistakes anymore, which is tragic. You do feel pressure to somehow fulfill what people want but also surprise them. You're now a topic of discussion, whereas before you were just new and surprising. I mean, the bar for video game adaptations was pretty low. We had that going for us in Season 1 — now we kind of fucked ourselves.' Druckmann added that it 'can feel very scary' doing a second season, just like it did when creating a second chapter of the video game. 'People had very strong reactions to whatever controversial story decision we made,' he said, referring to the death of Pedro Pascal's Joel Miller in Season 2. 'He did a thing. Everyone lost their shit, and then I had to do that same thing, because he did the thing. I loved doing the thing, I thought it was great,' Mazin says of the death. 'The big complaint that I've gotten is, 'Why did you kill Pedro Pascal?' And I keep explaining, we didn't kill him! He's a man, he's alive. He's fine. And he's in literally everything else. So I don't know what the problem is!' The group also discussed planning ahead when pitching a season and knowing how many seasons their shows will last. Fogelman said he pitched 'Paradise' as a three-season show since he has a three-year plan — and always does that in the room — but the plans could always change. 'I know, generally, how many episodes I want to do, but then once you have those markers, you say, 'that's act one, that's act 2, that's act 3,' he said. 'If you set that, it's a really lucky place to be, but it can be really helpful, even if it's 10 seasons.' One of the bigger themes that the writers dove into was just how difficult it is to launch a successful show, continue a successful show and not become overwhelmed. However, Gemmill, who worked on 'ER' and showran 'NCIS: Los Angeles' before creating 'The Pitt' seemed to have it all figured out — much to the others' chagrin.'I've been doing it a long time, and I also think, at the end of the day, I'm not saving kids' lives. I'm making a fucking TV show. It's 'Gilligan's Island.' If it's still on the air 50 years after I'm dead, wonderful,' said Gemmill. 'I'm just so damn lucky to get paid not to have people shoot at me or run into a burning building.' When Nickerson noted that of Gemmill is right, he also had a follow up question: 'The thing that we need to know is how you hold onto that perspective and frame when the void that lives inside you is threatening to eat everything you ever thought you could be, would be or should be.' Gemmill had the perfect response: 'You've never tried ketamine?' Watch the full panel above. Best of Variety Emmy Predictions: Documentary Programs — Nonfiction Races Spotlight Pee-wee Herman, Simone Biles and YouTube Creators 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week

‘The Day of the Jackal' Star Eddie Redmayne on Tackling Iconic Characters, Loving ‘The White Lotus' and the How Acting Is the Perfect Front for a Spy
‘The Day of the Jackal' Star Eddie Redmayne on Tackling Iconic Characters, Loving ‘The White Lotus' and the How Acting Is the Perfect Front for a Spy

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

‘The Day of the Jackal' Star Eddie Redmayne on Tackling Iconic Characters, Loving ‘The White Lotus' and the How Acting Is the Perfect Front for a Spy

Though Eddie Redmayne currently stars in 'The Day of the Jackal,' one of the most acclaimed new shows of the year, he still has time to check out other television programs – including the buzzy HBO hit 'The White Lotus.' But the Oscar winner isn't throwing his hat into the casting ring for an upcoming season. 'I'm too paranoid about butchering the things I love,' he tells Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast. 'There are some things you don't want to see yourself in because you don't want to ruin it.' Even the fact that the show shoots in beautiful locations isn't enough to convince the actor. 'You say that, but also you have to be topless for the entire thing. And if you're pasty and moley like me…I just don't think the world needs to see my pallid body.' More from Variety YouTube Star Michelle Khare Successfully Petitions to Join Primetime Emmys With 'Challenge Accepted' (EXCLUSIVE) Julianne Hough on 'Dancing With the Stars,' Her Return to Dance and Why She's Hungrier Than Ever 'The Daily Show's' Ronny Chieng on Recently Becoming a U.S. Citizen: 'It's a Weird Time to Do It' On this episode, Redmayne discusses what drew him to that Peacock series. Also, the Roundtable is coming from New York, as Mike and Clayton recount the week's worth of TV upfront presentations – including Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to reinstate the 'HBO Max' name to Max, and also what was Lady Gaga doing at the YouTube upfront event? Listen below! 'Jackal' has already netted Redmayne nominations from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and SAG Awards. The spy thriller based on the Frederick Forsyth novel was previously adapted into a 1973 film starring Edward Fox as the titular assassin. Redmayne had grown up watching the film and, as previously noted, was hesitant to take on something he loved. But when he was sent the first three scripts by showrunner Ronan Bennett, he was quickly actor notes that having come up in the theater, he was somewhat accustomed to taking on roles previously played by others – such as in the film adaptation of 'Les Misérables' or his recent, Olivier Award-winning, Tony-nominated turn as the Emcee in 'Cabaret,' which he cites as the role that 'got me into acting.' In fact, recreating a role is part of a long tradition in the theater. 'But that's the same whenever you play Shakespeare part, you know?' he notes. 'I did 'Richard II' at the Donmar Warehouse and there was literally the Richard II seat where all the other actors who had played Richard – Ian McKellan, Derek Jacobi, Ben Whishaw – would come and sit in the seat. It was always, 'Oh Christ, there's another icon!''Redmayne finds himself in that position now as a producer on 'Cabaret,' which is continuing runs both on Broadway and the West End. He often returns to see the other actors, from Billy Porter to Mason Alexander Park. 'I've taken such joy going back and watching them all,' he said. 'Seeing how every different Emcee and Sally brings their own individuality and own kind of charisma to the part.' Redmayne himself garnered quite the response when he performed the opening number on last year's Tony Awards, as viewers got the see the sinister, marionette-like Emcee in close-up. One comment referred to him as 'my sleep paralysis demon,' which is a testament to how unsettling the character is supposed to be. 'I don't know if that was meant to be taken as a positive, but I took it as a positive,' Redmayne reveals. 'I saw him as a grotesque, and he's meant to make you feel uncanny and uncomfortable. There was a sort of puppeteering quality to him – was he the puppet or was he the puppeteer?'It was actually when Redmayne was doing 'Cabaret' in London that 'Jackal' came to him – and the timing was impeccable, as the actor had been toying with an idea for a series. 'One of the weird things about doing theater is every night, someone extraordinary would come and see the show – politicians or the Royal Family or actors – and you'd meet them,' he recalls. 'And I thought, Wouldn't it be interesting if you had a sort of actor who was sort of a spy, but living in plain sight? And had access to all these people. It was an idea that was germinating. And then this arrived.' Redmayne calls the role 'an actor's dream,' noting 'all the stuff that we all love -getting to change your voice and do accents and do languages and change the way you look – it had everything.' Of all the people who visited Redmayne backstage, he was most caught off guard by Janet Jackson coming to his dressing room, noting that he and the cast were 'completely obsessed.' He adds, 'I think she's such an inspiring performer, and I just couldn't get over the fact that she loved the show and kept coming back.' Variety's 'Awards Circuit' podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, who also produces, is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode, 'Awards Circuit' features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Apple Holds Strong for Top Series Races With 'Severance' and 'The Studio'; Netflix and FX Could Dominate Doc and Writing Races Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz

2025 Emmys Documentary Series/Special Predictions
2025 Emmys Documentary Series/Special Predictions

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

2025 Emmys Documentary Series/Special Predictions

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. More from Variety Emmy Voters: Don't Forget About Zahn McClarnon and 'Dark Winds': He's Your Next Leading Man Short and Sweet: From 'Adolescence' to 'Sirens,' This Season's Best New Shows Are Barely Longer Than a Movie Limited Series Writers on the Impact of Casting, Writing Emotional Journeys, and Finding a Tonal Balance Nonfiction Categories Commentary (Updated: June 5, 2025): This year's races for documentary series, documentary special and hosted nonfiction program showcase an extraordinary range — from athletic greatness to musical legends, from political satire to culinary adventure. The diversity of content is sure to engage and excite our audience. In the documentary series race, the blend of investigative grit and cinematic flair is on full display. FX's 'Social Studies' may be the category's most socially urgent contender, using teenagers to unpack American divisions with intelligence and heart. At the same time, Netflix's 'Simone Biles: Rising' delivers a strikingly intimate look at the Olympic champion's path back to greatness, directed by Katie Walsh. Beyond that, Peacock's 'SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night', a sleek, multi-part retrospective directed by Bao Nguyen, could ride both nostalgia and NBC's campaign muscle into the conversation. Similarly, NBC's 'The Americas,' narrated by Tom Hanks and directed by Alex Burr, blends the grandeur of a nature documentary with a distinctly American perspective. In the documentary special category, HBO Max's 'Pee-Wee as Himself,' directed by Matt Wolf, is a moving tribute to the late actor and artist Paul Reubens. Netflix's 'Will and Harper,' which follows Will Ferrell and his close friend Harper Steele on a road trip after her gender transition, offers a timely and deeply human portrait of friendship and identity. Although it fell short in its Oscar run, the Emmys are more likely to embrace this type of narrative. Meanwhile, Apple TV+ has two major entries: 'Number One on the Call Sheet,' a celebration of Black excellence in Hollywood executive produced by Jamie Foxx and Kevin Hart, and 'Bono: Stories of Surrender,' a theatrical and lyrical one-man show that could resonate with voters who love musical experimentation. Disney+ makes a splash with 'Beatles '64', a fresh take on the Fab Four's first visit to America, and 'Music by John Williams,' a masterfully composed tribute to the cinematic maestro, which could tap into love for the 92-year-old legend. Hulu's 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' hits the sweet spot of rock doc and personal reflection, offering rare behind-the-scenes moments from the Boss himself. The hosted nonfiction race sees familiar faces and fresh perspectives vying for attention. HBO Max's 'Conan O'Brien Must Go' marks the comedian's triumphant return to the Emmy conversation. O'Brien will take on last year's winner, 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman' from Netflix, which remains a mainstay. PBS' 'Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr' could earn its usual acclaim for bringing personal ancestry to public consciousness. Also in the mix is CNN's 'Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain,' which mixes cultural pride with culinary exploration. Longoria is a warm and inquisitive host, giving the series crossover appeal. National Geographic's 'Tucci in Italy' does similar work, with actor and Emmy darling Stanley Tucci's refined palette and effortless charm guiding viewers through regional delicacies. And you can never count out Oprah. ABC's 'An Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution' is both educational and socially relevant, advocating for women's health in a format Oprah has long mastered. YouTube's 'Challenged Accepted' is vying for a spot in the Primetime lineup, hosted by former professional cyclist Michelle Khare, which could appeal to younger voters seeking adrenaline and empowerment. Worth noting: Prime Video's documentary 'I Am Celine Dion,' directed by Irene Taylor, will compete in the exceptional merit in documentary filmmaking category, which is expected to have four films in the running, along with 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' from Netflix, and 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' and 'Quad Gods' from HBO Max. However, this is a juried category, so it won't be revealed on nomination ballots who is officially in the running. The Emmys eligibility period ends on May 31. Nomination voting runs from June 12 to June 23, with official nominations set to be announced on July 15. Awards Circuit: Emmys!function(){'use strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= !function(){'use strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= !function(){'use strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence; the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship; and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy hosts the Emmys and has over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives. Best of Variety Emmy Predictions: With One Week Until Voting Opens, Declining Submissions Create Tight Acting and Series Races Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?' 2025 Tony Winners Predictions: A Starry, Stacked Broadway Season Sets the Stage for an Unpredictable Ceremony

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store