China is trying to stifle celebrities as it seeks to dictate the values the nation's youth should embrace.
It's part of the most ambitious effort in years to shape the country's booming entertainment industry.
Instead of selfish, rich stars, the state is promoting performers who are all about patriotism, purity and other values that support the ruling Communist Party's legitimacy, whether in movies about revolutionary heroes or through rap music.
The results have at best been mixed and at worst ham-fisted and out of touch.
According to social commentator Hung Huang, the problem is that the party's values often clash with what young Chinese want to watch.
The government has demanded that broadcasters "resist celebrity worship" and limit the air time dedicated to film and TV stars.
When the propaganda film, The Founding of an Army, hit theatres in China recently, the reaction wasn't quite what the ruling Communist Party hoped for.
Instead of inspiring an outpouring of nationalism and self-sacrifice for the state, it was roundly mocked for trying to lure a younger audience by casting teen idols as revolutionary party leaders.
Viewers more used to seeing the idols play love interests in light-hearted soap operas responded to the film by projecting "modern-day romantic narratives on the founding fathers of the nation", said Hung.
"It was hilarious."
Willy Lam, an expert on Chinese politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong said Chinese people were increasingly ignoring party propaganda and were "much more interested in movie stars, who represent a new lifestyle and more exciting aspirations".
President Xi Jinping wants to stamp out too much Western influence in Chinese society in part so the party can dictate the values the youth should embrace.
