Posted on 09/13/2010 9:34:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
China is on course to build a record number of cinemas this year in a burst of movie infrastructure development that is partly aimed at rivalling the "soft power" of Hollywood.
Following the state-backed expansion of China's TV and newspaper industries since 2009, the government is promoting a major push of film production and distribution.
The state council, China's cabinet, has issued new guidelines for the booming industry that have helped film-makers secure bank loans and reach a wider audience.
Qiang Zhongyuan, a director with Beijing Forbidden City Film Company, says the measures have helped him to double his budget this year, which means more films and higher quality work.
"In the past we normally invested 4m-5m yuan on one movie, but now we can go for big productions costing 30m or sometimes even over 100m."
Despite the widespread piracy of films – which means illegal DVDs often go on sale within days of a new cinema release – the authorities are ramping up cinema construction to draw more audiences to screenings.
"So far this year, we have already matched the number of total theatres built last year, but we still have yet to meet the increasing demand," Zhao Shi, deputy director of the state administration of radio, film and television, said at recent press conference.
Industry analysts says the speed of growth – a reflection of wider economic boom as much as state policy – is so fast that China could start to overtake the US in key benchmarks.
"I am forecasting the day when China will catch up with the US in box office takings. It may happen in my lifetime, faster than we expect because of the appreciation of the yuan against the dollar," wrote Raymond Zhou, the author of a book on the economics of Hollywood
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
How many ways are there to write a movie starring a tractor?
Yeah, sure—good luck with that.
“China is on course to build a record number of cinemas this year in a burst of movie infrastructure development that is partly aimed at rivalling the “soft power” of Hollywood.”
After watching Hollywood movies, the Chinese can hate and be more suspicious of America, too.
Wait. China has a leftist communist government and Holywood is full of leftists. Where’s the competition here?
Works for me. I mean, it’s hard to picture a way a bunch of Chinese could do any WORSE than hollywood...
Hong Kong had a pretty vibrant movie industry at one time (think Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, etc...) There’s no reason to think the Chinese can’t produce movies on a large scale.
More importantly, there is nothing that says Hollywood is the annointed capital of worldwide movie making. The fact is the quality of Hollywood movies has gone down pretty steeply in the last 25 years. Now to often dominated by special-effect, action, sex, and juvinile humor.
When is the last time you saw a Hollywood movie and thought “that was a great story with great character”?
China is disturbed by “Western cultural dominance” in films?
Good Lord!
Every European or USA film I watch portrays white Westerners as greedy, violent, racist buffoons.
The “good guys,” more often than not, are people of color who embrace Hard Left Socialism.
Why create a Chinese film industry?
Just buy a couple of American film studios and don’t change a thing.
Other than the US, there have been many other countries whose film industry has excelled.
Just to name a few are Great Britain, Italy and Japan.
Wait, but we have Jacki Chan!
Honestly, I have no desire to even join Netflix because of the utter garbage 99% of the stuff coming out of Hollywood.
Having said that, I think as affluence grows around the world you will see more and more of this. India’s Bollywood and movies such as Slumdog Millionaire come to mind.
The music, posters, and products were all 100% USA. Nike ball caps, Nirvana posters, American movie posters, American music musical interludes or playing in the background.
Cultural domination achieved! Good luck China! Not!
And that is the apogee of the debate.
Films, like all art, should serve to inspire and point to the sublime, but today the plot and focus of most films are simply about "hooking up" sexually. End of story.
Braveheart is a movie that inspired. "Rocky" inspired. The first three Star Wars movies told a good story. The Sound of Music was inspirational.
Nope, today it's all about the 20-somethings highest achievement in life -- hooking up with someone.
I used to have some Chinese channels on my cable. Watched some excellent movies! But the game shows were hilarious! There was one in which the contestants had to eat hot foods. The one who could last, won.
Hollywood already promotes immorality in this society in addition to socialism and communism. What would be different?
Name me 5 movies that were recently made that showed the tens of millions that died at the hands of communist since Marx and Engels.
There is something oddly attractive about the Chinese taking over the film making business and causing Hollywood and American actors to adjust to the new pay scale.
That is one industry they can have, imo.
garbage 99% of the stuff coming out of Hollywood.
Much of the new stuff coming out of liberal left wing commie Hollywood is liberal godawful tripe.
garbage 99% of the stuff coming out of Hollywood.
Much of the new stuff coming out of liberal left wing commie Hollywood is liberal godawful tripe.
garbage 99% of the stuff coming out of Hollywood.
Much of the new stuff coming out of liberal left wing commie Hollywood is liberal godawful tripe.
Hollywood already promotes immorality in this society in addition to socialism and communism. What would be different?
Name me 5 movies that were recently made that showed the tens of millions that died at the hands of communists since Marx and Engels.
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