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| Zhou Yiwei Says Actors Are Becoming ‘Intangible Heritage’ as Industry Changes at BJIFF. (Credits: Sohu) |
Chinese actor Zhou Yiwei has gone viral after delivering one of the sharpest and funniest comments of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival. Speaking during an acting masterclass on 19 April, the respected performer joked that actors are now “almost entering the ranks of intangible cultural heritage inheritors” — a line that drew laughter in the room, then immediate discussion online.
Behind the humour, many felt there was a serious truth about how quickly the entertainment business is shifting. The remark came during a panel with Pan Binlong, Liu Xiaoxu and Liu Tianchi, where the group discussed how actors should respond to constant changes in media, audience habits and the wider screen industry.
Rather than offer a polished industry slogan, Zhou Yiwei went straight for wit, and it landed because it sounded painfully honest.
He explained that acting has long been taught as a craft built on discipline, technique and values passed from one generation to another.
In his view, those foundations should not be casually thrown aside every time trends change. At the same time, he stressed that performers cannot ignore reality either.
Markets evolve, platforms evolve, audiences evolve — and actors must adapt where necessary. In short: keep the soul, update the packaging.
That balance, according to Zhou Yiwei, depends on the individual. Some moments call for standing firm on principles, while others require flexibility.
His phrasing was playful, but the point was serious: survival in entertainment now often means knowing when to bend and when not to.
He also spoke about the difference between stage acting and screen acting, offering a blunt reality check. On stage, he said, actors have greater control over timing, rhythm and delivery. In film and television, however, performance becomes part of a much larger machine.
Editing, music, direction and post-production can completely reshape a scene. Sometimes a punchline dies after editing, and there is nothing the actor can do about it. Not exactly glamorous, but very true.
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| Sohu |
Fellow guest Pan Binlong turned the conversation towards new technology, saying modern tools are becoming increasingly powerful.
He suggested that live, in-person performance may remain one of the few areas where actors can still fully prove their raw ability. It was a subtle reminder that presence cannot always be manufactured.
Liu Xiaoxu added that taste and aesthetic judgement may be the hardest things to replace.
He argued that technology still depends on human choices, human standards and human imagination. Stories may be generated in many forms, but the instinct to find meaning in them remains deeply human.
Online reaction has been mixed, lively and exactly what you would expect. Many viewers praised Zhou Yiwei for saying what others in the business avoid saying aloud. Some called his words “funny but accurate”, while others said the profession is becoming harder for trained actors as trends move faster than craft.
Another group felt he was being overly dramatic, arguing that acting is not disappearing, only changing shape. Social media, naturally, managed to turn one thoughtful quote into a full-scale debate by lunchtime.
Others pointed out that his comment reflects a wider anxiety in entertainment: whether long-term skill still matters in an era obsessed with instant buzz.
Can years of training compete with speed, virality and short attention spans? That question may explain why his joke struck such a nerve.
What made the moment stand out was that Zhou Yiwei did not sound bitter or nostalgic. He sounded realistic.
He acknowledged change, accepted progress and still defended the value of proper craft. In an industry often full of rehearsed answers, that alone felt refreshing.
Do you think Zhou Yiwei is spot on about the future of acting, or was he simply being cheeky? The comments section is waiting.