Guo Degang, 47, is a grassroots crosstalk comedian who is very popular in Beijing and its neighboring city of Tianjin.

The founder of Deyunshe - a xiangsheng (comic crosstalk) organization - Guo rose to national fame in 2005 after numerous performances in teahouses.

The film The Love of Three Smiles, which he directed and starred in, is a hit in cinemas nationwide.

Guo talks about crosstalk and the film.

Q: Have you ever wondered why your performances are so popular?

A: I perform real crosstalk. Audiences are clever and if they think the performance is not worthy, they will not come a second time. If a comedian always flatters the authorities through his performance, how can he still expect audiences to like him?

But it is also related to the system. If a comedian receives a salary from the government and even needs that money, how can he not praise officials in charge? I am telling the truth.

Q: There are many small crosstalk theaters in Beijing now. As a pioneer, what do you want to say to them?

A: Beijing has about 30 small crosstalk theaters and most give free tickets to attract audiences. They should stop this. Even with free tickets given out, the shows are not well patronized. Don't they feel embarrassed? For a theater with 300 seats, they'll send out 700 free tickets and only about 100 will come.

What I said may anger someone, but I am telling the truth. Please stop.

Q: Have you heard it said that in the past five years, all crosstalk commercial performances in China have been monopolized by Deyunshe (Guo's folk performance company)?

A: From 2005, no others have commercial performances with more than 1,000 seats.

We monopolize all crosstalk performances. You can go and search. If there is any, I will apologize. There are none.

Q: How does it feel to be a film director?

A: I feel I did not get enough sleep. I have to get up early everyday and be there for the whole day. If I was just an actor, I could come in at 3 pm.

Q: Do you swear and shout at your actors?

A: Never. I have been an actor since I was a child. I understand them. No one wants to act against the director. It is the director's responsibility if the actors do not do well.

Q: You feel it was easy to be a director. Why do many directors complain about their work?

A: If the job is so terrible, why do they do it? Why do they want to suffer? I urge them to quit. They must get some unsaid secret satisfaction working as a director.

Q: The film The Love of Three Smiles is the first film you've directed. Are you concerned if someone does not like it?

A: It is impossible for everyone to come and see it. And not everyone will like it. Life is about being criticized and to criticize others. The people who criticized me have been criticized, too.

Whatever the criticism is, I will just enjoy my life.