Interface News Reporter | Intern Reporter Li Yanhui Reporter Huangyue
Interface News Editor | Huangyue
Every Saturday, "Cultural Weekly" summarizes and presents to you the major and minor events worth knowing about in the foreign literary and art circles, publishing industry, and bookstore industry in the past week. This week we're looking at the Cannes International Film Festival, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's upcoming memoir, Taylor Swift's impact on children's book publishing, and more.
01 Cannes International Film Festival: Support female film workers, labor disputes are still brewing
5 May 14-25, the 77th Cannes International Film Festival was held in Cannes, France. Greta Gerwig, the director of the movie " Barbie ", serves as the chairman of the jury. The jury members also include Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and French actor Eva Green.
Gerwig said she was still shocked by coming to Cannes, "One of my favorite things to do is watch movies and talk about movies - and now I get to spend ten days with the best people working in film... This is simply a dream come true." She also said that in the 20 years she has been making movies, how to increase the number of female directors has been a problem. "In my career, this problem has gradually improved. We all celebrate the fact that there are more female directors, but our work is still not done, but in the long-term historical trajectory, we are definitely moving in the right direction.”
Gerwig is the first judge to serve on the Cannes International Film Festival. The American female director who is the chairman of the festival is also the second female jury president of the film festival. Her career began in the independent film movement "mumblecore" that emerged in the United States after 2000. Her films "Lady Bird" and "Little Women" were also widely praised. Last year, Gerwig directed "Mumblecore" After the success of the movie "Barbie", she was regarded as the "unofficial spokesperson" for female workers in Hollywood and the entire film industry.
On May 14, 2024 local time, Cannes, France, the 77th Cannes Film Festival Jury Press Conference.
's invitation to Gerwig to serve as jury president is seen as an important symbol of progress for this year's Cannes International Film Festival. In the past, the Cannes International Film Festival has been criticized for its lack of support for female filmmakers. According to Iris Knobloch, a senior producer who serves as the general president of Cannes, defending the cause of female film workers is an important part of her responsibility. "If there is anything different from last year, it is We can see progress happening, with more and more films [directed by women] being released, and more and more women speaking out," Knobloch said. "That's why having Gerwig as jury president is so important. Meaning, she is the future of the film industry. Of course, we still have a long way to go.”
’s praise of Gerwig and the praise of the participating films almost drowned out the discordant voices at this Cannes International Film Festival. ——In fact, this grand film screening opened in the shadow of labor disputes and rumors of sexual assault in the industry.
According to reports, a week before the opening of the film festival, some film festival practitioners, including projectionists and box office staff, called for a strike to protest the French government's treatment of freelancers at the film festival. Protesters said that the French government is expected to implement reforms to the unemployment system in July, which will threaten the survival of many film festival staff, put them in a more difficult situation, and the threshold for applying for relief funds will also become higher. Although they said the strike would not threaten the opening of the Cannes International Film Festival, it could cause disruption during the festival. The Cannes International Film Festival acknowledged that some staff were facing difficult situations and encouraged all parties to "come to the negotiating table."
In addition, there are also rumors that with the advancement of a new wave of anti-sexual harassment movement in French films, a report accusing several famous directors and actors of sexual assault will be released soon. Knobloch responded: "Remember, these are just rumors and, personally, I believe these are just rumors - we'll see.”
02 The memoirs of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be published in November
German publisher Kiepenheuer & Witsch recently announced that former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s memoir "Freedom: Memories 1954-2021" (freedom: memories 1954 -2021) will be published in November and will be released simultaneously in more than thirty countries.
It is reported that the book will be written by Merkel and her long-term political adviser Beate Baumann, from Merkel. It begins with Merkel's childhood life in East Germany and ends with Merkel stepping down as chancellor after 16 years in 2020.
"Freedom: Memories 1954-2021"
In July this year, Merkel will celebrate her 70th year. birthday. Pan Macmillan, the British publisher of the memoir, said that Merkel’s life experience can be neatly divided into “two German stages – 35 years in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)” years and 35 years living in unified Germany." Merkel was born in 1954. She served as German Chancellor from 2005 until leaving office in 2021. After leaving office, she has maintained a low profile. Merkel has been listed by Forbes for 10 consecutive years Magazine voted her "the most powerful woman in the world" and she is seen as a global symbol of liberal values and a role model for girls.
Merkel said the book would ask and answer the question: "Freedom." What does it mean for me? Her answer is: "Freedom has taken over my life... To me, freedom is to discover where your limits are and push yourself to them; freedom is to never stop learning and never stand still, even if The same is true after leaving politics.
The publisher also said in a statement that the memoir will present Merkel's "memories and insights from meetings with the most powerful people in the world, often the only woman in the room" and recount the events that shaped the times. "How was the important turning point in Germany, Europe and even the world determined?"
During her tenure as German Chancellor, Merkel led Germany through a series of crises, including the global financial crisis and the European debt crisis. In the two and a half years since she left politics, her political legacy has continued to face criticism, including on refugee issues, Russia issues, etc. Critics believe that although Merkel has publicly discussed her political legacy many times, she has not considered these policies subsequently.
03 Taylor Swift craze affects children's book publishing industry
American musician Taylor Swift's influence has reached new heights in the past year, with her global concert tour "Era" The "eras tour" brought economic prosperity, and some universities even opened special courses to study her lyrics creation and commercial value.
Taylor Swift's influence also extends to the children's book publishing industry. For example , "taylor swift: a little golden book biography" written by author wendy loggia (taylor swift: a little golden book biography) is in the 2023 children's book rankings of "publishersweekly" Ranked third.
"Taylor Swift: A Golden Biography"
Children's book publisher little, brown books for young readers announced that it will publish two books exclusively about Taylor Swift this year. Editor Lisa Yo. "A key part of children's publishing is making sure our books are interesting to children, and there is no doubt that millions of children around the world are interested in them," said Lisa Yoskowitz Taylor Swift's music is interesting and passionate. She added that there are many Taylor Swift fans on staff, not just children, and these "old fans" also provide valuable insights for these books. Another editor Li-Kate Gaudet ( Mary-Kate Gaudet also mentioned: "Taylor Swift is everywhere, and a new generation of young fans crave anything related to their idol. "
American publisher Scholastic also plans to launch two biographies about Taylor Swift this fall, targeting young readers aged 6-8 and 7-10 respectively.Editor Beth Dunfey said they had always wanted to publish books on contemporary themes relevant to children, and Taylor Swift was the "obvious choice." "We've always felt that for kids, Taylor She is an inspiring idol - she believes in herself and her own voice, which is what we always hope for our children to do."
In order to meet the "special needs" of young readers, Dunfei said that they are designing these two books. The book adopts a smaller size and the text content is relatively simple, "because we know that Taylor has many first-grade and second-grade fans, and we hope that they can read Taylor's story by themselves."
In addition to biographical works, information and question-and-answer books It also attracts children's attention. According to statistics, "96 facts about Taylor Swift" (96 facts about Taylor Swift) published by the publisher grosset&dunlap last year has sold 95,000 copies so far.
Although publishers have difficulty predicting when Taylor Swift's popularity will subside, her fans of all ages can still read books about her, such as the children's book author and Penguin Random House editor Andrea posner-sanchez said: "Taylor isn't just having a moment. she is the moment."
References ：
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/13/angela-merkel-memoirs-freedom-to-be-published-in-november
https://www.dw.com/en/germany -angela-merkels-memoirs-to-be-published-in-november/a-69067437
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/94900-children-s -publishers-embrace-the-taylor-swift-factor.html
https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/14/greta-gerwig-cannes-film-festival-female-directors-jury-president
