Yu Zheng

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Yu.
Yu Zheng
Native name 于正
Born (1978-02-28) February 28, 1978
Haining, Zhejiang
Residence Beijing
Alma mater Shanghai Theatre Academy
Occupation Screenwriter, producer
Years active 2003 - present
Agent Yu Zheng Studio
Notable work Palace
Swordsman
The Romance of the Condor Heroes
Yu Zheng
Traditional Chinese 于正
Simplified Chinese 于正

Yu Zheng (born 28 February 1978) is a Chinese screenwriter and producer.[1][2] Yu is noted for Palace, which earned him a Best Writing at the 16th Asian Television Award.[3]

Life

Early life

Yu was born and raised in Haining, Zhejiang, after high school, he moved to Shanghai, he became an auditor at Shanghai Theatre Academy.[4]

Career

In August 1998, Yu signed with TVB. One year later, he signed with Li Huimin Studio (Chinese: 李惠民工作室). In July 2003, Yu transferred to Taiwan Star International Entertainment Company (Chinese: 台湾星之国际娱乐公司), he also founded his company, Yu Zheng Studio (Chinese: 于正工作室). In June 2009, Yu founded the Quansheng Time Film and Television Company (Chinese: 全盛时代影视公司).[5][6][7]

Controversies

Authorship controversy

In December 2004, many news media reported that Yu Zheng—then a total unknown[8]—was threatening to sue director Raymond Lee and the production company for the drama Assassinator Jing Ke, because his name did not appear in the credits under either "story by" or "writer(s)".[9] Lee did not respond, but writer Wang Qiuyu (Chinese: 王秋雨) published a long blog entry demanding Yu's apology, adding "Finally some sincere advices to Yu Zheng, a creator is not a businessman. Spend more time creating, less energy on gaining exposures." At the end Yu never followed up on his legal threats.[8]

Discussing this incident in 2014, Lee said, "Yu Zheng is very smart, he knows how to make himself known."[8]

Veiled attacks against rivals

In 2010, actress Ruby Lin who starred in the Yu Zheng production Beauty's Rival in Palace, refused to star in Yu Zheng's next project Beauty World, choosing to become a producer herself instead. Subsequently, many fellow actors from Beauty's Rival in Palace chose to join Lin's debut project The Glamorous Imperial Concubine over Beauty World. On December 12, Yu posted a message on his Sina Weibo account insinuating "someone" as "shanzhaiing" his production. Lin responded by writing "so-called friend has lost even the most basic respect... really disappointed." Yu then denied he was referring to Lin, saying that he wished to collaborate with Lin again, adding "Why would Ruby be agitated?"[10] Later, after Lin kept her silence, he continued his veiled attacks, writing on Sina Weibo: "What are the benefits for an actress to become a producer?... Correct answer is, for a chance to make out with all the young, hot guys!"[11]

On October 30, 2012, Yu Zheng wrote on his Sina Weibo microblog alleging that a "certain director" fired an actress because she refused his sexual advances. On November 6, television director and producer Xi Xin (Chinese: 习辛) made a public statement accusing Yu Zheng of defamation.[12] Since Yu refused to apologize, Xi filed a lawsuit claim. A year later in November 2013, Beijing First Intermediate People's Court ruled in Xi's favor.[13]

Battery case

On March 18, 2013, Yu Zheng was physically beaten by a man, later identified as actor Shen Tai (Chinese: 沈泰), in a coffee shop. Shen served 3 days in detention but refused to apologize.[14] Yu claimed he was beaten because he refused Shen's demands of a role in his drama. Shen called it a lie, and wrote the following on his Sina Weibo microblog: "Everybody has a bottom line. I can just say that knowing such a person can only be described as disgusting. If he does stupid things again I will slap him just the same."[15]

Plagiarism allegations

Yu's 2006 drama Concubines of the Qing Emperor (Chinese: 《大清后宫》) had been suspected of plagiarizing the Hong Kong drama War and Beauty (2004). Yu denied it, but stated that his drama "contained the successful parts of classic dramas like War and Beauty, Dae Jang Geum, and Winter Sonata".[16]

On April 2, 2014, a newspaper quoted actress Shirley Dai as claiming that the Yu Zheng TV drama she participated in, Palace 3: The Lost Daughter, was actually based on Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao's 1992 novel Plum Blossom Scar (Chinese: 《梅花烙》). Yu Zheng then unleashed a rant on his Sina Weibo microblog calling "a certain actress" an attention whore.[17]

Shortly after the drama aired in China on April 7, Chiung Yao released an open letter to China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television on April 15 accusing Yu Zheng of blatant plagiarism "unprecedented and beyond my endurance," seeking the immediate suspension of the broadcast of the TV series. Yu denied the claim, saying he was a fan of Chiung Yao with no intention of angering her. On April 28, a team led by Wang Jun from Beijing-based Yingke Law Firm filed a plagiarism lawsuit against Yu.[18]

On April 17, novelist Meiyuzhe (Chinese: 寐语者) claimed that Palace 3: The Lost Daughter not only plagiarized Chiung Yao's work but also stole an important part from her novel The Imperial Enterprise (Chinese: 《帝王业》). She claimed that it was not the first time Yu Zheng plagiarized from her novels.[19]

Writers Fu Xing (Chinese: 傅星) and He Zizhuang (Chinese: 贺子壮) have claimed that in 2003, Yu Zheng and Fu Xing co-wrote a script for the drama Take Me to Fly, Take Me for a Walk (Chinese: 《带我飞，带我走》). Whereas Fu came up with all the characters and relationships, Yu claimed all the credits when he published the script as a book. Yu later wrote an apology letter to Fu, who forgave him.[20] Yu also offered to compensate Fu ¥30,000 but never did.[8]

On May 6, writer Li Yaling (Chinese: 李亚玲), who co-wrote 2 Yu Zheng dramas Pretty Maid (2010) and Spell of the Fragrance (2010), offered to be a witness to support Chiung Yao's lawsuit. She claimed that back in 2008 Yu had asked her to "borrow" Plum Blossom Scar's story for a new script, but she refused. Li Yaling further claimed that Yu had copied scenes from the Singaporean drama The Little Nyonya (2009) for Pretty Maid, an action that also damaged her reputation because she was listed as the writer.[21] She also claimed that Yu Zheng once told her that as long as plagiarism does not exceed 20% then the courts would have no case. Another writer Zou Yue (Chinese: 邹越) also claimed to have heard the "20% rule" from Yu Zheng.[19][21]

On June 3, writer Tong Hua accused Yu of not only consistently "consulting" her work but also telling the public that others were plagiarizing him. Tong Hua threatened legal actions if Yu continued his false claims.[22]

On July 14, Yu Zheng's objections to the jurisdiction of the Chiung Yao lawsuit were denied by Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court.[23]

On December 5, Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court convened the case. Wang Hailin (Chinese: 汪海林), executive director of Chinese Television Series Screenwriter Association, testified as expert witness for Chiung Yao's camp.[24]

On December 12, 109 Chinese screenwriters published a joint statement supporting Chiung Yao's lawsuit against Yu Zheng.[25] A day later, an additional 30 Chinese screenwriters made their support of Chiung Yao known.[26]

On December 25, the court ruled in Chiung Yao's favor, ordering 4 companies to stop distributing and broadcasting The Palace: The Lost Daughter, also demanding Yu Zheng to publicly apologize, and pay Chiung Yao ¥5 million (around $800,000). China Radio International called it a "landmark ruling".[27]

On March 12, 2015, Yangzhou Intermediate People's Court accepted a plagiarism lawsuit filed by author Zhou Haohui (Chinese: 周浩晖) against Yu Zheng and others, for allegedly plagiarizing from his novel The Evil Hypnotist (Chinese: 《邪恶催眠师》) for their 2014 TV series Cosmetology High (Chinese: 《美人制造》).[28]

Works

Film

Year Title Chinese Title Post Notes
《老虎肉》 Screenwriter
2013 The Palace Lock Sinensis 《宫锁沉香》 Screenwriter [29]

Television

Year Title Chinese Title Role Notes
2003 Carry Me Fly and Walk Off 《带我飞带我走》 Screenwriter
2004 Assassinator Jing Ke 《荆轲传奇》 Screenwriter
2005 Misty Love in the Palace 《烟花三月》 Screenwriter, Producer
2006 《我爱河东狮》 Screenwriter
Concubines of the Qing Emperor 《大清后宫》 Screenwriter, Producer
《金色年华》 Screenwriter
2007 The Legend of Chu Liuxiang 《楚留香传奇》 Screenwriter
2008 The Last Princess 《最后的格格》 Screenwriter, Producer
Rouge Snow 《胭脂雪》 Screenwriter
A Thousand Teardrops 《一千滴眼泪》 Screenwriter, Producer
2009 Rose Martial World 《玫瑰江湖》 Screenwriter, Producer
Love Tribulations 《锁清秋》 Screenwriter, Producer
《贤妻良母》 Screenwriter
2010 Beauty's Rival in Palace 《美人心计》 Screenwriter, Producer
Pretty Maid 《大丫鬟》 Screenwriter, Producer
Happy Mother-in-Law, Pretty Daughter-in-Law 《欢喜婆婆俏媳妇》 Screenwriter, Producer
Spell of the Fragrance 《国色天香》 Producer
2010 Palace 《宫》 Screenwriter, Producer
Hidden Intention 《被遗弃的秘密》 Producer
Beauty World 《唐宫美人天下》 Screenwriter, Producer
2012 Palace II 《宫锁珠帘》 Producer
Bounty Hunter 《赏金猎人》 Producer
Allure Snow 《倾城雪》 Producer
Beauties of the Emperor 《王的女人》 Screenwriter, Producer
In Love with Power 《山河恋·美人无泪》 Screenwriter, Producer
2013 Swordsman 《笑傲江湖》 Producer
Legend of Lu Zhen 《陆贞传奇》 Producer
Old Days In Shanghai 《像火花像蝴蝶》 Producer
Crazy for Palace 《我为宫狂》 Screenwriter, Producer
2014 Palace 3: The Lost Daughter 《宫锁连城》 Screenwriter, Producer
Crazy for Palace 2 《我为宫狂2》 Screenwriter, Producer
The Romance of the Condor Heroes 《神雕侠侣》 Screenwriter, Producer [30]
2015 Love Yunge from the Desert 《大汉情缘之云中歌》 Producer
Legend of Ban Shu 《班淑传奇》 Producer

Awards

Year Work Award Result Notes
2008 The Last Princess Annual Golden TVS Award for Best Writing Won
2009 Shanghai Modern Award for Best Writing Won
2011 Palace New Artists Festival- Favorite Best Writing Won
16th Asian Television Award for Best Writing Won
2011 Youku Film and Television Award for Best Writing Won
2012 2012 Qiyi Festival - TV Producer of the Year Won

References

  1. ↑ "Yu Zheng wants to revive Chinese film industry: my goal is to become another Ang Lee". 2013.
  2. ↑ "Yu Zheng Changes Yun Zhong Ge From Han Dynasty to Wuxia Premise". 2012.
  3. ↑ "Confident amid controversy". 2013.
  4. ↑ 著名编辑于正作客QQ 畅谈《烟花三月》创作灵感 (in Chinese). Tencent. 2005-04-30. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  5. ↑ 于正：编剧制片人"一肩挑" (in Chinese). 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  6. ↑ 于正档案 (in Chinese). 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  7. ↑ 资料：于正个人档案 (in Chinese). Sina. 2005. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  8. 1 2 3 4 (Chinese) 于正称借鉴不是问题 琼瑶打压晚辈
  9. ↑ (Chinese) 《荆轲传奇》刚播就惹官司 编剧要告“编剧”
  10. ↑ (Chinese) 林心如与制作人于正微博交火
  11. ↑ (Chinese) 于正微博大骂林心如 借老板之名泡帅哥
  12. ↑ 习辛指于正借机炒作 称杨蓉耍大牌才将其辞退 (in Chinese). Xinmin News. 2012.
  13. ↑ 于正诽谤案尘埃落定：习辛胜诉 导演也有职业操守 (in Chinese). Netease. 2013.
  14. ↑ 沈泰掌掴于正被拘留三天 坚决不道歉 (in Chinese). Sina. 2013.
  15. ↑ 沈泰承认打于正怒骂其恶心:胡来还抽他 (in Chinese). Sina. 2013.
  16. ↑ (Chinese) 《大清后宫》抄袭《金枝欲孽》？
  17. ↑ 于正与主演戴娇倩"互黑" "禁止"对方出席发布会 (in Chinese). 2014.
  18. ↑ Chiung Yao Sues Yu Zheng for Plagiarism
  19. 1 2 (Chinese) 于正，他们忍你很久了
  20. ↑ "于正涉嫌抄袭已十年 "惯犯"竟成荧屏"赢家"" (in Chinese). 2014.
  21. 1 2 琼瑶诉于正抄袭 编剧李亚玲：愿协助作证 (in Chinese). 2014.
  22. ↑ (Chinese) 于正桐华互指抄袭 圈内人士一边倒支持桐华
  23. ↑ (Chinese) 琼瑶著作权案 法院驳回于正管辖异议申请
  24. ↑ 琼瑶告于正案首现"专家辅助" 行业内先于法律管理
  25. ↑ 琼瑶诉于正抄袭 109名编剧联名支持
  26. ↑ 继续声援! 又有30余位编剧支持琼瑶诉于正
  27. ↑ "Court Supports Chiung Yao's Plagiarism Charges". 2014-12-25.
  28. ↑ 作家周浩晖起诉于正侵害其著作权扬州中院已受理
  29. ↑ "Yu Zheng Adapts Successful "Palace" Series with Movie Spin-off". 2013.
  30. ↑ "Yu Zheng Pardons Rapist Character in Upcoming "The Condor Heroes"". 2013.

External links

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