Goodbye Hollywood, Hello Beijing?

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Bruce Willis’s mob hit-man travels to the future in next year’s movie “Looper.” Thanks to backing from Beijing’s DMG Entertainment, that future is in China.

DMG funded the production on condition the location was moved from France and a role was included for Chinese star Xu Qing. The requirements weren’t just to tap China’s burgeoning cinema audience. With the changes, the movie now qualifies as a Chinese co-production, exempting it from the nation’s 20-film- per year import quota and allowing backers to keep three times as much in box office receipts.

“We are trying to be relevant to a significant market,” said DMG Chief Executive Officer Dan Mintz by telephone from Beijing. “The industry is growing like a rocket ship.”

Looper is one of a rising wave of Sino-U.S. productions as Hollywood looks to expand in a market that’s adding more than 1,400 cinema screens a year. The 2010 remake of “Karate Kid,” starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, was produced by Sony’s Columbia Tristar and state-owned China Film Group. Fox Searchlight and Beijing-based IDG China Media teamed up for “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” which lists Wendi Deng Murdoch as an executive producer. Walt Disney Co. (DIS) and Universal Studios Inc. have made Chinese co-productions. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-21/bruce-willis-sees-future-in-china-as-1-000-screens-a-year-lure-hollywood.html

[Shandris]

1. While I think the Chinese might want to keep an eye out on just how much...

...American culture is being exported to them (let's face it, not everything about our pop culture is WORTH exporting, just as no other country's culture is ENTIRELY worth importing), it's good to see more movie choices for Chinese moviegoers and more exposure in US-Sino partnerships for us (instead of Chinese-only arrangements like those that dominate our trade sector). This also allows for some more cultural cross-pollination, and I don't see that as being bad overall.

[madrchsod]

2. china built an entire city for a film set.

http://english.ctrip.com/destinations/sight.asp?resource=1561

they have the largest film production facilities in the world. there is a full scale set of the forbidden city

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20110523000025&cid=1304&MainCatID=13

[SoCalDem]

3. "...growing like a rocket ship..." Mixed Metaphors for $400, Alex"

:rofl: