Chinese film market ‘to dwarf’ Hollywood
Print Edition
TAIWAN-BORN filmmaker Ang Lee says the Chinese film market is about to explode, not only overtaking but dwarfing the American box office in a matter of years.
The two-time Oscar winner said Chinese executives used to rely on him as a bridge to Hollywood, but the newly confident Chinese film industry no longer finds it necessary.
“It’s huge, it’s going to be bigger in a few years,” Lee told reporters on the red carpet at the glitzy BAFTA Britannia Awards in Beverly Hills. “In a few years it’s probably going to be bigger (than the US) and then in the years to come a lot bigger. They’ve got many people and, most importantly, film has been lacking in the past in the culture, so it’s still fresh.”
PricewaterhouseCoopers projects China’s box office will rise from US$4.3 billion in 2014 to US$8.9 billion in 2019, outstripping the United States.
Hollywood studios have been looking to capitalize on the burgeoning market through partnerships with Chinese companies.
Real estate developer turned media conglomerate Wanda bought “Jurassic World” creator Legendary Entertainment for US$3.5 billion this year.
Last month Wanda, which bought the US movie theatre chain AMC in 2012 for US$2.6 billion, announced it would invest in movies produced by Sony Pictures, its first deal with one of Hollywood’s so-called “Big Six” studios.
Lee was the first Asian to win an Oscar for directing, in 2006 for the gay cowboy movie “Brokeback Mountain.” He went on to win again for 2012’s “Life of Pi.”
He was at the BAFTA LA ceremony last Friday, which celebrates the contribution of Hollywood talent and British entertainers, to receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for excellence in directing.
Americans Jodie Foster, 53, and Samuel L. Jackson, 67, were also honored at the gala while Tom Hanks, Jake Gyllenhaal, Brie Larson and Christopher Guest presented awards.
Among the Britons being recognized were Ewan McGregor, who starred in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy, and Felicity Jones, the lead in the upcoming spin-off, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
Three-time Golden Globe winner Ricky Gervais, 55, received the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for excellence in comedy.
American actor Simon Helberg appeared to reference Britain’s “Brexit” vote to leave the European Union and the US presidential election when he said comedy in the two countries was becoming similar — as was politics.
“I think the Brits seem to manage to be very intellectual and cerebral at times while masquerading as being very silly,” said the 35-year-old, best known for the US hit comedy “The Big Bang Theory.” “So there’s this depth to it, but it can also work on a silly level. Sometimes I think Americans can lean very heavily into the silly, so you get a little less of the wit on occasion.
“But you know what? It’s all evening out. Our countries are both in a dangerous moment right now, so we’ll see. The comedy and the political environment are all mirroring each other.”
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