Producers, writers talk of storytelling in modern age
Print Edition
THE producers and writers of popular titles including the “Game of Thrones” and “Prison Break” discussed storytelling in the modern age and co-production between Chinese and Hollywood studios at a forum during the 2016 Shanghai International Film and TV Festival.
Vince Gerardis, co-executive producer of the “Game of Thrones,” Zack Estrin, producer of “Prison Break,” and David U Lee, an experienced producer on some of Sino-US co-productions, were among the speakers at “Hollywood Creative Panel: Screenwriting for a Global Audience.”
They highlighted the fact that stories and moods connecting people were still the top priority. The subject had to touch global audiences across different regions and cultures, they pointed out.
But writers and producers had the liberty to adjust the plot lines for commercial reasons, special scenes and regulatory approval, Estrin said.
The characters, dark or bright, like those in the “Game of Thrones,” or magic or fantasy, can touch the hearts of a global audience and establish strong connection with them, said Gerardis.
This month, the “Game of Thrones” was aired on local TV channels for the first time.
The HBO stories have created lots of opportunities for co-production, covering the United States, Europe and China, said Lee, president of the film entertainment company Leeding, which he founded in 2008.
Speakers also touched on about superhero characters in China, who use chopsticks, are masters of martial arts and live in the Forbidden City or a famous Chinese mountain.
China has a long history with narratives like the “Journey to the West,” which offers a lot of scope for rewriting the popular tale for modern audiences in the way Shakespeare does for modern writers, said Gerardis.
Lee also echoed similar thoughts based on his experience of co-producing “The Forbidden Kingdom,” a popular kung fu film that is heavily influenced by “Journey to the West.”
The IP strategy is the latest trend and covers games, books, TV and film products with the “Game of Thrones” being the prime example of it. Even with the same IP, they have different structures and rhythms of storytelling. But products based on same IPs can interact and innovate for marketing and promotion.
When pressed on censorship, most speakers agreed “you have to obey the local rules, just like you watch a football match or enter a no-smoking restaurant.
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