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With the general public’s awakening interest and the huge market as the momentum, Chinese movie business is booming, stimulating tourism and culture industry to flourish, said renowned professionals in a forum on Sept. 10.
With the theme of "Creative youth, Innovative Asia: Joining Hands for a Better Future", this year's BOAO Youth Forum (Hong Kong) explored the situation of Asia from the perspectives of Asian economic trends, education, culture and the remodeling of Asian economy.
In the “Booming of Asian Cultures: National Style and International Style section, Chinese filmmaker, Lu Chuan, whose representative works includes The Missing Gun, Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, and City of Life and Death, said that a good movie could drive both the development of the film industry and the relative industries, like tourism and food.
Lam Kin Ngok, Chairman of Lai Sun Group, further explained that there is a growing recognition of the significance of film as a motivator for tourism. “People go to film locations because they want an on-site experience which will arouse their emotions and tell them stories," he concluded after citing two examples from films Cape No. 7 and If You Are the One. "Association with these two films offers Taiwan and Hokkaido wider opportunities to enhance their international profile as unique places, and as great places to travel, make films and do business," Lam added.
He urged Hong Kong government to actively support and provide funding to the whole entertainment industry. "The Avenue of Stars, for example, is paying tribute to the names that helps make Hong Kong the 'Hollywood of the East' and a lot of famous international filmmakers have been here before," he said.
"This is a golden opportunity for Chinese film to rush out of Asia," said Zhang Yiwu, Professor of Chinese Department of Peking University. He added that China, now the world's second-largest film market after the U.S, has great growth potential in the near future.
Zhang explained the reason for the change. In the past, Chinese people’s budget for films was small as people cared more about whether they had enough for food or other daily necessities. But nowadays movie theaters are in large supply in more and more second- and third- tier cities and cultural transformation is happening in an unprecedented speed, he said.
Talking about cultural competition, Japan is famous for its animation, while Korean drama is storming the world, but Zhang believed that innovation begins with copying. "There's no problem knowing why and how others are better than you," Zhang said, "But copying is just the first step. And we need to change, be creative and make it better."
He also said that Chinese movies are changing themselves for Hollywood style, and in return, more and more foreign movies kowtow to huge Chinese markets.
Entering its fourth year, the forum has attracted nearly 1,000 leaders from professional and youth organizations, professors, educators and students.
