The last picture show? Licensing woes bring down curtain on projectionist
Print Edition
LUO Yanzong, a 63-year-old farmer and movie projectionist, has shown free films to his fellow villagers in Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, for over a decade. But recently he was told by local officials that he was “disqualified” from staging any further screenings.
Since 2007, Luo, a resident of Bancheng Town, has offered more than 2,000 movie showings in his own town as well as traveled to neighboring villages like Xiaodong and Taiping towns.
Ten years ago, he spent 500 yuan (US$73.53) on a second-hand film projector, the first of his seven projectors. All screenings were offered free to the villagers. Luo was formerly praised by local authorities for his efforts to entertain and enlighten the public, receiving titles such as “Good Man of Bancheng” and “The Most Beautiful Projectionist.”
Everything changed on December 26, when Luo was told by the administration authority in his town that he couldn’t show movies starting in 2017, as he lacked the proper film-projection license.
Officials from the Qinbei District Administration Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Film and Television told Beijing News reporters that Luo’s charitable spirit is truly appreciated, but he still has to apply for the license before any future screenings and also receive professional training.
According to the authority, the prohibition of Luo’s film projections is based on China’s regulations on the administration of movies, which are meant to protect intellectual property rights and prevent pubic displays of violent or sexual content.
Li Rongliang, director of the local administration bureau, noted that public movie screenings in villages will be more strictly regulated. This means that licensed movie projectionists will be limited to fixed locations out of safety and copyright concerns. They will also need to file their screening venue and movie list in advance with administrators. But Li was quick to add that local officials will offer to help Luo if he applies for the license.
However, Luo told reporters that his screenings are not commercial, and if he were confined to a fixed screening place, he would rather quit.
“I hope the screenings can reach a wider audience,” Luo explained. “They should not be restricted to a fixed venue or a single village.”
He added that he has not only shown movies, but also educational videos on the dangers of drugs and gambling, AIDS prevention and rural sanitation.
‘Film magnate’
Luo’s affinity with film started in the 1960s when he was a child. He recalled that he would peek through the windows whenever a film was shown in his village’s screening hall. Seeing that many people couldn’t afford tickets, he made up his mind to show movies for free when he grew up.
Luo learned about film projection from village projectionist Liu Xinxing in the 1990s. He used to have about 100 films in his collection. Those about China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) were among his favorites.
News about Luo’s licensing troubles have also stirred controversies among his fellow villagers. Luo is a celebrity in Bancheng Town, where people affectionately call him a “film magnate.”
A villager named Luo Nihuai told The Paper that Luo Yanzong would come to show movies as soon as he received a phone call from someone.
“In the early 1980s, I invited a movie projectionist to show films for my wedding ceremony,” Luo Nihuai recalled. “It was not until 2015, when Luo came to our village with his film projector, that I had another chance to watch movies.”
Luo has also screened videos about the public legal system. Chen Xiang, another villager from Bancheng Town, said that she learned about new rural construction thanks to movies showed by Luo, whom she considers a good man.
With Luo’s encouragement and help, around 200 villagers reportedly dismantled their old houses and built new ones. He has also helped villagers with road repairs.
However, Luo’s fame also brought with it new problems and pressures. He’s been questioned about his personal life because of his three marriages. He’s also received anonymous calls warning him to mind his own business. The Film Company of Qinzhou City has also received complaints from licensed movie projectionists that Luo showed free films at the same time and place with them.
Experts said that regulations on film projection requires further policy and social support to make it more human-centered.
Professor Song Weicai from the School of Art and Communication with Beijing Normal University noted that it is necessary for individuals to apply for proper license if they conduct regular and long-term public showings.
“However, traditional methods of film showing are evolving nowadays with the popularization of projection facilities,” Professor Song said. “Today it is more convenient for people to download movies from the Internet and project them at cafes, schools and communities. Regulation will become more challenging and complicated.”
Song advised regulators to firstly clarify whether showings are charitable or commercial and take screening times and frequency into consideration. Laws and regulations should also be amended in light of new situations, he said.
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