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February 27, 2015

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China aims higher in films’ artistry, creativity

CHINA’S film industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, but more doesn’t necessarily mean better. Officials in Shanghai are calling for much more originality to go into productions that will offer distinctive flavor and compelling stories.

An array of homegrown film projects are now in various stages of production or will start shooting this year, aiming to improve the artistry and creativity of Chinese cinema.

One highly anticipated production is “The Lost Tomb,” a fantasy adventure adapted from the hit online novel series “The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles” by Xu Lei. As one of the most popular novel series in China since 2007, it has been translated into English, making it possible for the film to aim at a large global audience.

Xu, who is also the scriptwriter of the film, says the movie is the first installment of a franchise with eight planned productions.

“We will shoot the movie from the perspectives of young people,” Xu says. “Traditional Chinese culture and supernatural legends will be merged into the script. But the film may offer new interpretations of them.”

The film revolves around the grave-robbing adventures of Wu Xie, a young man hailing from a family that has been raiding tombs for centuries. It will start shooting this year and hit the screens worldwide during next year’s summer vacation.

Another film project expected to create a craze is “Hua Xuyin,” which is based on a popular online fantasy romance novel. It will start shooting later this year.

Hong Kong filmmaker Gordon Chan, known for the thriller “Painted Skin,” will produce the movie, a love story of a fallen country’s princess. This time he will cooperate with a young Chinese team. Many poetic scenes and Chinese aesthetic elements will be featured.

“We have spent months discussing the script,” says Chan. “Although we still lag behind Hollywood in technique and imagination when making fantasy movies, we will try our best to present domestic audiences a Chinese fantasy film rather than a Hollywood-style one.”

Award-winning director Jia Zhangke is cooperating with Shanghai Film Group Corporation on a film to be called “Mountains May Depart.” About three years have already been spent on writing an inspiring and compelling script, he says.

The film is a story about love, life and emotional bond that jumps through place and time from contemporary China in the late 1990s to a futuristic version of Australia in 2025.

In another upcoming movie, mainland filmmaker Gu Changwei will explore the living condition of elderly people living without their children in “Empty Nest.” The film about the emerging social problem in China will boast strong realistic elements and aim to arouse public awareness of this special group of people. It will start shooting in September this year.

Shanghai-born film director Sherwood Hu, known for “Lani Loa — The Passage” and “Warrior Lanling,” is now doing post-production on his new film “Lord of Shanghai.”

Set during a chaotic time of the early 20th century, the film is about a legendary woman who rose from a victimized brothel girl to become the lord of the Shanghai triads. Hu hopes the film shot in Shanghai can appeal to a global audience.

Celebrated Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai will make a new film set in Shanghai called “Blossoms.” The film is an adaptation of short stories by Jin Yucheng. During a recent forum held by the Shanghai Film Group Corporation, Wong said the film decodes the spirit and charm of the city.

He compared the movie to a panoramic painting of Shanghai, which enables people from all over the world to learn about the unique culture and characteristics of the city.




 

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