Hu Mei
Encyclopedia
Hu Mei is a Chinese
director
and producer
. Usually classed as a Fifth Generation director, since she graduated from the Directors' class of the 1982 Beijing Film Academy
cohort, she is a classmate of more famous Fifth Generation directors like Chen Kaige
and Tian Zhuangzhuang
.
In 1997, she directed the TV historical drama series Yongzheng Dynasty
(Yongzheng Wangchao) which became a phenomenal hit in Mainland China
. She has since directed a number of high-profile TV series, including Han Wu Da Di
(2005) and Qiao's Grand Courtyard
(2006).
In 2007 she was originally selected to direct a TV adaptation
of A Dream of the Red Chamber but withdrew from the job (she was replaced by Li Shaohong
). Her 2010 film Confucius, starring Chow Yun-fat
in the title role, was released in Beijing
on 14 January 2010.
. Her father was a conductor and mother was a singer, and Hu Mei was trained to play the piano from a very young age. When the Beijing Film Academy reopened in 1978, she enrolled for the directing class under her father's encouragement.
After graduation in 1982, she was assigned to the Bayi Film Studio. In 1984, she made her first film Women's Chamber (女儿楼, Nü'er Lou). Two years later, her film Times Away from War (远离战争的年代, Yuanli Zhanzheng de Niandai), said to be the first psychological film in the PRC, won her a number of international awards.
Hu Mei very nearly went to France
to pursue a doctorate
in film, but abandoned the idea in the last minute. She spent nearly ten years shooting TV commercials. She also started directing more commercialized films. Yongzheng Dynasty was her first major success on TV. Since then, she is considered a top-tiered TV series director in China.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. Usually classed as a Fifth Generation director, since she graduated from the Directors' class of the 1982 Beijing Film Academy
Beijing Film Academy
Beijing Film Academy is a coeducational state-run higher education institution in Beijing, China. The film school is the largest institution specialised in the tertiary education for film and television production in Asia...
cohort, she is a classmate of more famous Fifth Generation directors like Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema. His films are known for their visual flair and epic storytelling.-Early life:...
and Tian Zhuangzhuang
Tian Zhuangzhuang
Tian Zhuangzhuang is a Chinese film director and producer.Tian was born to an influential actor and actress in China. Following a short stint in the military, Tian began his artistic career first as an amateur photographer and then as an assistant cinematographer at the Beijing Agricultural Film...
.
In 1997, she directed the TV historical drama series Yongzheng Dynasty
Yongzheng Dynasty
Yongzheng Dynasty is a Chinese television series based on the novel Yongzheng Huangdi by Eryue He. The series was followed by a 2001 prequel, Kangxi Dynasty, and a 2002 sequel, Qianlong Dynasty, both of which were also based on Eryue He's novels.-Plot:In 1722 during the Qing Dynasty, the Kangxi...
(Yongzheng Wangchao) which became a phenomenal hit in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. She has since directed a number of high-profile TV series, including Han Wu Da Di
Han Wu Da Di
Han Wu Dadi, also known as The Emperor Han Wu, is a 2005 Chinese television series based on the life story of Emperor Wu of Han, the seventh ruler of the Han Dynasty.-Plot:...
(2005) and Qiao's Grand Courtyard
Qiao's Grand Courtyard (2006 TV series)
Qiao's Grand Courtyard is a 2006 Chinese historical drama television series. The TV series is set during the late Qing Dynasty and chronicles the life of Shanxi financier, businessman and philanthropist Qiao Zhiyong , with artistic license applied...
(2006).
In 2007 she was originally selected to direct a TV adaptation
A Dream in Red Mansions (2010 TV series)
The Dream of Red Mansions is a 2010 Chinese television series, produced by Han Sanping and directed by Fifth Generation director Li Shaohong. One of the most expensive Chinese TV series ever made at RMB118 million , it is a new adaptation of the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber...
of A Dream of the Red Chamber but withdrew from the job (she was replaced by Li Shaohong
Li Shaohong
Li Shaohong is a Chinese film director. She graduated from the Beijing Film Academy and is a member of the Fifth Generation of Chinese film directors.Li has directed nine films since 1988 and may be China's best-known woman director.-External links:...
). Her 2010 film Confucius, starring Chow Yun-fat
Chow Yun-Fat
Chow Yun-fat, SBS is an actor from Hong Kong. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
in the title role, was released in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
on 14 January 2010.
Biography
Hu Mei used to be an actress in the Modern Drama Troupe of the General Political Division of People's Liberation ArmyPeople's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
. Her father was a conductor and mother was a singer, and Hu Mei was trained to play the piano from a very young age. When the Beijing Film Academy reopened in 1978, she enrolled for the directing class under her father's encouragement.
After graduation in 1982, she was assigned to the Bayi Film Studio. In 1984, she made her first film Women's Chamber (女儿楼, Nü'er Lou). Two years later, her film Times Away from War (远离战争的年代, Yuanli Zhanzheng de Niandai), said to be the first psychological film in the PRC, won her a number of international awards.
Hu Mei very nearly went to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to pursue a doctorate
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in film, but abandoned the idea in the last minute. She spent nearly ten years shooting TV commercials. She also started directing more commercialized films. Yongzheng Dynasty was her first major success on TV. Since then, she is considered a top-tiered TV series director in China.