Guo Jingming (L) promotes his new film "Tiny Time" in Wuhan, July 3, 2013. [hunantv.com]

Harsh criticism for "Tiny Times" may be hurtful to Chinese films in the future, said the film's producer in a recent interview.

An Xiaofen, a well-known Chinese producer who has produced such critically lauded films as "Full Circle" and "Ip Man 2," said she believes the critical reaction to her most recent project, which was directed by "Tiny Times" author, Guo Jingming, is counterproductive.

"A film's influence is limited nowadays, a nation will not have any changes due to a movie," An said. "We asked a writer to direct a heavily-invested blockbuster, which is a risky but positive attempt, but we found the people who worked in and around the film industry have been the harshest critics. What good will this do for the future of the Chinese film industry?"

"Tiny Times" has raked in 273 million yuan (about US$44.5 million) since its debut last Thursday, according to China Film News on Wednesday. The film is an adaptation of a young adult novel of the same name. The book trilogy, which some have compared to "Twilight," has sold 6.7 million copies, according to its publisher. Though its box office haul has been enormous, the film has been critically panned.

"The record of a super rubbish film with super box office result, which was held by the 'Switch' starring Andy Lau, was broken by 'Tiny Times' in less than a month. It's sickening to see the film show off the wealth and mashup nonsense to another level," wrote famous critic Raymond Zhou on the film's opening day.

Screenwriter and scholar Shi Hang also mocked the film on his website. "Thanks to the director, there are no real actors in the film, and their acting abilities are more or less the same," Shi wrote on June 28.

Both men's blogs were flooded with protestations from diehard Guo Jingming fans, even as more and more film critics attacked the film's quality.

An has continued to defend her film, saying that its critics are overreacting. "We just made a film which kids love, however, those people who have big social influences now have started a barbaric smear campaign. We accept well-intentioned critics, but the vicious vilification just reflected their character. Kids are not that complicated, they love the actors, music and scenes, which is enough. This film is not to destroy a nation. It is just a film."

Chen Lizhi, whose company is responsible for marketing "Tiny Times," echoed An's sentiments. "Why can't we stand a new director and his debut film when he achieves commercial success? I saw many directors, film critics, screenwriters, film executives all join in the debate. I also saw slander, name-calling, irony and insult and humiliation in their comments. I cannot see tolerance, help and advice."

But, Zhou says, even Guo's directorial inexperience cannot excuse "Tiny Times." "Before I saw 'Tiny Times,' I told myself to be tolerant [because this was Guo's first film]... After I finished the film, I couldn't stand it anymore. The flaunting of beauty and wealth in the film is sick. Like a man who was a hungry kid in the past and saw a full table of abundant food when he grows up. There was never a steady and spontaneous joy, only the sick greed. And now he sells the sickness to audiences as an art."

Guo Jingming, a controversial figure in China since his plagiarism conviction, is, above all, a savvy businessman. "He clearly knows what his audiences and readers want. He gave them exactly what they want," said an observer.

During a recent talk show appearance, Guo responded to the controversy. "I felt the film was a medium to make dreams. This is my directorial debut. I can discuss it with people and improve my artistry, approaches, vision and value in the film. I can do better in the future," said Guo.

"But when a critic doesn't talk about your film itself, but instead talks about the moral and value of the film , I ask how a film can bear such big questions."

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