Slick: Posh settings distinguish Tiny Times 3. Photo provided to Shanghai Star

Whatever critics or the intellectual community may say about Guo, his films have enjoyed certain commercial success. He has been a successful entrepreneur even before he turned to films and he owns a culture development company that represents a large number of young writers in China.

Tiny Times 2 generated box office revenue of more than 800 million yuan ($128.9 million).

Guo recently said that he expected the last installment of the trilogy to capture at least 500 million yuan from cinema audiences. The Tiny Times series is also being adapted for television.

The trilogy traces the life of four young women from high school to early adulthood.

They are best friends and competitors both in love and work, and have to deal with loss and betrayal and the ups and downs of financial loss and gain.

Han's film is about three young men from an island and their journeys of self-discovery to the continent and adulthood.

In contrast to the chic costumes and posh settings of Tiny Times, The Continent is a road movie filled with sweat, sand, wind and the smell of gasoline, according to the trailers and publicity stills.

The film may be partly autobiographical, judging from the fact that Han himself is an award-winning auto rally racer from suburban Shanghai’s Jinshan district.

In June at the film event in Beijing, both Han and Guo spoke about filmmaking and their appreciation of fans.

"I am so grateful to my audiences … for them, I have nothing but gratitude," Guo said. In contrast, Han expressed his reluctance to "please" the audience, saying they tend to evolve quickly even during the shooting of a film.

"After all, we are doing a film, not boot-licking," he says.

IF YOU GO

Tiny Times 3

In cinemas from Jul 17. Written and directed by Guo Jingming, starring Yang Mi, Ko Chen-tung; Amber Kuo, Chen Xuedong and Bea Hayden Kuo

The Continent

In cinemas from Jul 24. Written and directed by Han Han, starring Feng Shaofeng, Chen Bo-lin, Wallace Chung (Han-Liang), and Wang Luodan.