2018年CRI QA: Challenges and opportunities in film co-productions

 

"The Chinese market is probably a little bit different and more complicated, so if they really want to make a movie for the Chinese market, they have to study the Chinese culture. They have to know the Chinese people, and they also need to know the background of the people, what they want. Fundamentally, they have to remember that they need to make a good film that tells good stories to meet this market."

                                                                    ------------ Geng Ling, CEO of China Film Assist

Film industry insiders and filmmakers from around the world have also met on the sidelines of the 8th Beijing International Film Festival to discuss co-production.

As the world's second largest film market, China has become an attractive place that overseas filmmakers have been striving to enter.

However, it's widely believed the incorporation² of "Chinese elements" into foreign films or co-productions with China hasn't seemed to work as studios have hoped.

The panelists say to ensure the quality of Sino-foreign co-productions, especially those featuring a Chinese story, overseas filmmakers should try to collaborate³ with their Chinese counterparts to bring out "the authenticity⁴ of the story."

Our reporter Su Yi earlier spoke⁵ with Geng Ling, CEO of China Film Assist.

Q: For some listeners who might not be that familiar with the film industry, how can we tell if a film is co-production?

A: Co-production, normally, I refer to a film that co- produced by two or more than two countries or regions, normally there are two or more than two- language versions when it is released in the relevant countries or regions.

Q: After all these years of booming market here in China, how would you describe the real picture, the real situation, of co- productions with China, or for the Chinese market?

A: There are plenty of co-productions each year, but there are not so many that are so successful, you know, when we are talking about co-production, it's not an easy job. You have at least two countries, or more than two countries, and then you have a larger audiences to please, and also on the production phase, it's already quite difficult because you have people from, crew and cast, from different countries, different locations to shoot; and on the distribution side, it is also very hard, because you have so many audiences, you know, they might have different cultural, political, even religious background. It's not easy. In Chinese term, we have a term saying "double-edged sword". You think you are trying to please both sides, but you may end up getting both sides unsatisfied. So that's the reality.

Q: So for you what is the formula, the secret, or the key, to the success of the co-production films, especially in China?

A: Well, I don't think there is any production formula that can work for any film. Film co-production is only different in the way it is produced. It is still a film to start with, that means you still have to make a good film, especially in China. Chinese audiences are sane⁶, and also different from the other areas, and China is quite big, it is huge actually, and we have first tier, second tier, third tier, fourth tier cities where there are films. So you can't say that a specific region is always the same as the other region, and have the same taste, same demand for films. So it's quite complicated.

Q: So we know China is very attractive to international film makers¹, for example, to Hollywood producers. So today considering all the changes over the years to the Chinese film market, like the screen number, and maybe overseas investment. What would you tell a Hollywood producer if he or she wants to invest in a movie targeting the Chinese market?

A: Like we said, the Chinese market is probably a little bit different and more complicated, so if they really want to make a movie for the Chinese market, they have to study the Chinese culture. They have to know the Chinese people, and they also need to know the background of the people, what they want. Fundamentally, they have to remember that they need to make a good film that tells good stories to meet this market.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 incorporation   

n.设立，合并，法人组织

参考例句：

• The incorporation of air bubbles in the glass spoiled it.玻璃含有气泡，使它质量降低。
• The company will be retooled after the incorporation.合并之后的公司要进行重组。

3 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。

4 authenticity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
• The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 sane   

adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的

参考例句：

• He was sane at the time of the murder.在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。
• He is a very sane person.他是一个很有头脑的人。