Editor’s note: the following was translated from an article that appeared on Wenxuecity. The article discusses the recent events surrounding a screenwriter who, after being harassed via SMS by the director of a film she was working on, decided to post the conversation online.

 

In mid-December, a blog post entitled "A Certain Famous Director Sent Me 'Unwritten Rules' Text Messages" went viral across China's social media websites. The post and accompanying screenshots of the conversation were uploaded by a woman named Gang Gang (港港), who just so happens to be the writer of several widely-read novels. And the “unwritten rule” (qianguize 潜规则) that she’s referring to is that women of all professions can only get ahead in China by  HYPERLINK "http://news.echinacities.com/detail/7570-The-Not-So-Glamorous-World-of-Chinese-Beauty-Pageants" sleeping around with their male superiors.

On her blog, Gang Gang very frankly wrote that she was recently a victim of China’s unwritten rules. According to her post, several months back, the director of a film she was working on sent her a series of harassing text messages, requesting that she come over to his apartment late at night to "talk about the project". As she continued to turn down his advances, the director became increasingly threatening, finally issuing an ultimatum—if she wishes to ever work with him again, she’d better come over now. She refused.

Despite her headstrong attitude, in her posts Gang Gang chose to not disclose the identity of the director, explaining that she "still holds a single thread of respect for him". However, someone close to Gang Gang was quick to divulge that the director is quite famous and is surnamed "Zhang" (the person was unwilling to give his first name for fear of getting Gang Gang blacklisted from the film industry).

After first finding fame as an author several years ago, Gang Gang has since turned her attention to working as a screenwriter. However, she’s expressed that even though she hopes that her books will be well received and read by many, and that she hopes to work in the film industry, she's absolutely resolute in only "selling her words, not her body".

Below is a translation of the screenshots uploaded by Gang Gang illustrating the director’s harassment.

October 3, 23:11 - 23:32

Director: Gang Gang, what are you doing?

Gang Gang: I'm getting read for bed! How about you?

Director: Just got back from drinking with Li Zong. Are you busy right now? You should come over so we can talk about the script.

Gang Gang: It's too late. I'm already lying down!

Director: It's been so busy lately, the film crew wasn't even able to take a break for National Day and they'll be too busy later. Let's meet tonight. It's more convenient for me.

Gang Gang: Tomorrow. You should go to bed early!

October 4, 22:02

Director: Great writer, you should call a cab and come over here! Li Zong is quite interested in that idea you mentioned the last time we all talked. We should meet up.

Director: I'm too busy during the day. Anyway, I live alone, so we can just meet here.

Gang Gang: In that case, I'll just wait until you're not busy tomorrow. Or we can talk about it on the phone or computer. I was just dozing off. I'm feeling a bit groggy right now anyway. I'd probably be speaking gibberish. Ha ha. Go to sleep!

Director: If you really don't want to come over, we'll just talk later. But don't say that I didn't think of you.

Director: Gang, are you coming?

Gang Gang: Where?

Oct 4, 22:30

Director: I'm just kidding, come over and let's talk. All of the other screenwriters today were saying that your writing style didn't fit the project. I was the only one still insisting on keeping you.

Gang Gang: Don't make things so difficult for yourself. We'll just work together sometime later when there's a more suitable project!

Director: Are you coming over?

Gang Gang: I'm not going out, it's too late!

Director: Since when do young people go to bed so early?

Gang Gang: People sleep at night, they don't go out.

Director: There's a lot work stuff to discuss. If you don't come over now, I'm afraid this movie won't have time to wait for you. You should think it over clearly.

Gang Gang: Aren't you considering several screenwriters right now? Moreover, you just said that I wasn't cut out for this project.

Director: I'll wait for you until midnight. If you don't come over tonight, then you can forget about working together in the future.

Source:  HYPERLINK "http://tieba.baidu.com/p/2057279313" tieba.baidu.com

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Keywords: harassing director China Chinese film industry unwritten rules China