Zhang Yimou: China provides profits for Hollywood, but what do Chinese movies get?

it is important to open channels-- as well as our minds-- to achieve mutual understanding of culture, policy and economy. In order to get to know each other better and explore the possibility of a better future, both sides need to go further on this road than expected.

Note: on December 4th, the New York Times published Zhang Yimou's article What Hollywood Looks Like From China (what does China think of Hollywood? ). In the article, he said bluntly: Chinese audiences have provided huge profits to Hollywood, but in turn, Chinese films have to struggle to survive in the shadow of Hollywood.

A person who is not even satisfied with his film poster will not even mention it on his own initiative, but comments at the end of the year that the film industry has been almost crushed by Hollywood at the end of the year. One of the specific reasons can not be tested.

when it comes to the integration of Hollywood and the Chinese film industry, the Great Wall directed by Zhang Yimou cannot but be mentioned. If the overseas popularity of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero is unintentional, then the Great Wall, led by Legend and Universal Pictures, is the first time that a Chinese heavy industrial film has officially entered the world. However, before the film was released, Universal Pictures Chairman Donald Langley publicly called it a "problem film." in the end, the Chinese and foreign co-production, which invested as much as $150 million, lost $75 million, of which the North American box office was only $34.8 million, much lower than expected. The film also gives a new excuse to those who criticize Zhang Yimou for "running out of talent" and "only doing work".

the process of cooperation between China and the United States is not pleasant either. Zhang Yimou had to review the daily shooting results to the producers and investors, and even completed the first set of make-up shots of his career at the request of the management. In the following, Zhang Yimou said: "in view of the differences in technology and management between the Chinese and American film industries, what is learned in one place often cannot be easily applied to another environment." Efforts to make improvements often end up causing more trouble. "

Zhang Yimou seems to be in no mood to continue his attempt at co-production. During the 2018 Spring Festival, the three Kingdoms film "Shadow" directed by Zhang Yimou will be released. Can this 100% local story and the work of local actors prove that Zhang Yimou is still good at eating? Bless him.

< strong > the following is the original article published in the New York Times: < / strong >

someone had a dream and learned that there was innumerable wealth in a faraway place. When he woke up, he immediately set off to look for the place. After a long and bumpy journey full of thorns, he came to the place of his dream. When a local heard about the purpose of his visit, he laughed and said that he had dreamed three times that there was a large treasure buried under the fountain of a house. The man woke up like a dream: what the local was talking about was his own yard. So he went home and found the treasure.

like the people in the story, the Chinese film industry has gone a long way to find a place in the world. In 1994, The Fugitive became the first Hollywood blockbuster to be released in China in decades. Audiences are attracted by the fast pace and sound effects of the film, and the result of the film has been a great success. Since then, the Chinese film industry has been balancing its complex relationship with Hollywood.

although China's box office figures have fallen sharply-compared with an average annual growth rate of 35% between 2011 and 2015 and only 3.7% in 2016-the film market is still huge. Cinemas are expanding into more remote rural areas, and audiences are showing a strong demand for Hollywood action movies. So recently, Hollywood even keeps China in mind when filming. They use Chinese movie stars who can bring huge box office influence when casting, and do not hesitate to adjust the plot and change the film aesthetics in order to win the hearts of Chinese fans.

whether they are young screenwriters or experienced film critics, many people in the Chinese film industry are well aware of Hollywood's theatrical structure and advocate Hollywood's means and skills of expression. Many American films introduced into the Chinese market, for better or worse, continue to be popular with Chinese audiences, especially among young people whose tastes and viewing habits are developed by Hollywood films and American TV shows. Like audiences in other developing countries, Chinese audiences tend to have a world view with American filters and focus on the United States-even if the United States does not mean the world, and Hollywood is not the only film industry in the world.

the sea accepts all rivers, but tolerance is great. China's film industry affects and is willing to be influenced by its international counterparts. China needs the United States, and the United States needs China. But at present, there is a huge difference, that is, only a very small number of Chinese films can enter the American market and can attract a large audience. Chinese audiences provide huge profits for Hollywood, but what does the Chinese film industry get in turn?

also, in the shadow of Hollywood blockbusters, Chinese domestic films often face great challenges. We should consider the inheritance of Chinese film tradition, as well as the potential risk of losing unique values and aesthetics.

although we are worried, we will push the boat along the river and recognize the benefits of such cultural exchanges while continuing our efforts to preserve our uniqueness. Think of foreign corn, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. They bear fruit everywhere in China, but they also provide nutrition for people.

I have worked with Hollywood before, and my experience has given me a better understanding of both worlds. In view of the differences in technology and management between the Chinese and American film industries, what is learned in one place cannot be easily applied to another environment. Efforts to make improvements often end up causing more trouble. But in any case, self-reflection and correction are very important. If you hesitate for fear of making mistakes, the creation of art will not be able to achieve the growth and change you need.

We realize that even if the treasure is close at hand, this journey is indispensable. It is important to open channels-- as well as our minds-- to achieve mutual understanding of culture, policy and economy. In order to get to know each other better and explore the possibility of a better future, both sides need to go further on this road than expected.

Zhang Yimou: an Oscar-nominated director whose works include "Ju Dou", "raising the Red Lantern", "Hero", "ambush on all sides" and so on.

Edit: mary