Is China good? I only know when I go! Famous American TV Producer: Ten Things I Like About China
Xinhua News Agency, New York, October 18 (Reporter Yang Shilong) "Only by seeing China in person can we truly understand this unique country." This is the insight of the famous American TV producer Josh Seliger for 30 years in China.
Selig is very active in the American film and television production industry. He has won the highest award in the American TV industry-the Emmy Award 10 times.
He founded the "Small Airplane Production" studio in 1999, which is famous for children's animation production. The office is located in the historic district on the southern end of Manhattan Island, New York.
Seliger visited China for the first time in the 1990s and participated in the American children's educational TV program "Sesame Street".
He said that this trip to China was an inspiration to himself, "I realized for the first time that Western culture is just one form of life and art, while Chinese culture provides another equally infectious form."
Nowadays, Selig travels to China every year and cooperates with many media companies, toy companies, and theme parks.
"Small Aircraft Production" and its Chinese partners have jointly produced many excellent animation programs, such as "Super Flying Man" in cooperation with "Aofei Entertainment", "Bean Duckling" in cooperation with "Youyang Media", etc. Broadcasting on the Disney Children’s Channel in the US and CCTV in China.
In recent years, Sino-U.S. relations have encountered a "countercurrent", and Selig sighed.
He does not approve of the United States launching a trade war against China, and believes that there are not many Chinese who come to the United States relative to the size of the Chinese population, and there are even fewer Americans who have been to China. It is necessary for both sides to strengthen exchanges and deepen understanding.
Recently, Seliger published an article "Ten Things I Like China" in the American "Animation Magazine", which was inspired by a conversation with a friend.
This friend rarely travels, and most of the news he heard about China is negative. He decided to write down five reasons for his friend to fall in love with China.
Before he knew it, ten things were written on his list.
Selig hopes to share this list with colleagues in the animation industry, and takes this opportunity to encourage people to visit China.
So, what are the ten things that make Selig a soft spot for China?
Seliger ranked first in "trust".
He didn't understand at first that he would be able to hold meetings remotely. Why did his Chinese colleagues want him to fly to China for a meeting for 14 hours?
"I understand now. You can't make eye contact online. You need to sit opposite them and have dinner with them... Only in this way can trust be established, and only trust can ensure a long-term business relationship."
The second is "patient".
Selig said that he was a quick-witted person and wanted to finish everything as soon as possible.
"China taught me that waiting is a good thing. In the process of waiting, you can really understand colleagues, new companies or opportunities... Things that come gradually over time are more lasting, and any real value takes time to realize ."
The third is "humility."
Selig found that most Chinese people are very humble, and few Chinese show off their achievements to others.
He asked his wife from Harbin about this.
His wife told him: "Although personal achievements are important to Chinese people, we hope that these achievements can also help our family, community, country and the world."
The fourth is "discipline."
Selig said that the concentration and determination of the Chinese are something he has never experienced anywhere else.
They built their country into the world's second largest economy in decades, and they quickly and effectively controlled the spread of the new crown virus.
"When the Chinese are determined to do something, they will do it very hard and witty, and usually succeed."
The fifth is "progress".
From education to the rule of law to respect for intellectual property rights, everything in China is making rapid progress.
"There is no doubt that China is gradually moving towards a more open society, and international business standards have become part of people's daily lives. If not, would small planes, Disney, Lego and Universal Pictures still enter China?"
The sixth is "travel".
In Seliger's view, China's infrastructure is second to none in the world.
“China’s high-speed rail runs quickly and on time. China’s bridges are a modern architectural marvel. China’s subways are spotless.” He also specifically mentioned that Beijing Daxing International Airport, designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, is “inspiring Amazing artwork".
The seventh is "poverty alleviation."
He said that in the past few decades, hundreds of millions of people in China have been lifted out of poverty, more than twice the population of the United States.
"As a Chinese reporter in New York said to me recently:'Some people think that the Chinese want to occupy the world. But we don't have this idea. We just want to make sure to feed and take care of 1.4 billion Chinese.'"
The eighth is "respect for the elderly".
Speaking of Chinese respecting the old and loving the young, Selig said: “In any town in China, you can see old people flying kites, singing, and proudly talking about their younger generation in the park.” In contrast, Most elderly people in many countries live in nursing homes and have little contact with their families.
The Chinese culture of respect for the elderly has had a strong and positive impact on society.
The ninth is "safety".
Selig said that he feels safer in China than in any other country in the world. There is almost no street crime, gun violence or illegal drug use in China.
He must always be vigilant when jogging in New York, while in China he can enjoy the sunrise.
The tenth is "innovation".
Speaking of this, Selig mentioned one of his favorite places in Beijing-798 Art District.
"There are many galleries and cafes, and the graffiti on the walls is as artistic as the graffiti on Wynwood in Miami." He also said that the Chinese team he has worked with includes screenwriters, directors, designers and animators. He is as talented and up-to-date as his European and American counterparts.
Seliger finally said that in this era of Internet noise, distortion and misinformation, the only thing he can believe in is his "personal, direct" experience.
"Based on my experience over the past 30 years, China is impressive. I am not saying that China is perfect — no country is perfect — but what I want to say is that China is a great and worthy of our respect. ."