Wang Xiaoshuai
Liu's second film and the first under government approval, "Two Great Sheep" can be located as part of a broader trend of independent Chinese filmmakers switching their focuses to state-approved productions during the early years of the 21st century. Besides Liu, these years saw many of the leading figures of the "sixth-generation" turning in their first SARFT-approved productions, including Jia Zhangke (2004's "The World"), Zhu Wen (2004's "South of the Clouds"), and Wang Xiaoshuai (2005's "Shanghai Dreams").