From Shanghaiist:
This is the question that Bing Feng Tea House asks about the wave of e gao (ÊÅ∂ÊêûÔºâsatires that use existing materials (mostly audiovisual ” photographs, movie clips, commercials, TV shows) and strings together with voice-overs. The idea isn’t new ” we’re reminded of Woody Allen’s What’s Up, Tigerlily? (OK, that’s kind of different, but similar techniques are used) ” but it’s become a recent hit in China thanks to DVDs, video cameras, nonlinear editing programs and internet video sharing sites. The thing really took off with Shanghainese spoofer Hu Ge(ËÉ°Êàà)’s parody of Chen Kaige‘s film The Promise (Êó†ÊûÅ), which you can view here. Of course, Chen Kaige was not pleased and intended to sue Hu Ge for defamation and copyright infringement and whatever else he could think of. We think that the matter was cleared up with a public apology ” as far as we know Hu didn’t have to cough up much money (he didn’t have a regular job at the time anyway), though Hu did manage to become nationally famous and get some gigs because of his spoof. [Full Text] [E’gao Video of “The Banquet” with higher speed]