Global superstars gather at US-China Arts Forum

16-time Academy Award-nominee Meryl Streep and Chinese actors Ge You and Liu Ye brought culture to the fore in Beijing. The event was part of a four-day long US-China Forum on the Arts and Culture, which brought together artists of all backgrounds, to promote better dialogue between the two countries. Old-time partners Liu Ye and Meryl Streep quickly renewed their aquaintance before a lively audience -- four years after they both starred in the film "Dark Matter." Ms. Streep seemed to enjoy Chinese actor Ge You’s eccentric sense of humor. Both are seasoned film and stage veterans -- but Ge You showed plenty of humility in front of his Yale Drama School trained counterpart. Ge You said, "I applied to both the China Central Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Beijing Film School. Of course, I got rejected on the grounds of my looks." Boasting 16 Academy Award nominations and 25 Golden Globe nominations, Meryl Streep is one of the most widely respected actresses in contemporary cinema. Her talent with different accents and languages reflects her passion for other cultures -- gaining her much respect from actor Liu Ye. Liu Ye said, "She really loves to come and film here in China. There are a lot of co-productions now. Many countries like the US are turning to this growing market." Liu believes the biggest challenge for Chinese actors in the global market is "language." He hopes forums such as this will provide a platform for better communication and cooperation between China and the US.