Headlines from China: ‘Story of Yanxi Palace’ is A Turning Point Says iQiyi CEO 

‘Story of Yanxi Palace’ is A Turning Point Says iQiyi CEO 

This summer, the hottest show in China is the 70-episode drama series called Story of Yanxi Palace. The show was produced by and released on video platform iQiyi and garnered more than 14.5 billion views so far. At a celebration event for the show, iQiyi CEO Gong Yu describes the show as a milestone for TV production in China, as it proves that a show with high production values and solid acting can be very successful even without top celebrities. Gong’s speech indicates the fact that a large percentage of the show’s budget was allocated to production rather than actors’ salaries. According to the show’s executive producer Yu Zheng, total budget of the show is 300 million yuan, while only 24 million yuan is spent on actors’ salaries. As the Chinese government escalates crackdown on celebrity pay, Story of Yanxi Palace will likely inspire more TV producers to follow its path . Read more on D-entertainment 

A Look at September Releases in China

In previous years, the September slate was usually packed with Hollywood films, as China blocked foreign imports between June and August. This year, however, 15 foreign films were allowed to release during the summer. As a result, local films will be dominant in September. This article lists 40 films that have been scheduled to release in September. Among them, highly anticipated local films include Hong Kong action film Golden Job, Zhang Yimou’s Shadow, Jiang Zhangke’s Ash is Purest White and Felix Chong’s Project Gutenberg. In addition, several comedy films, including Mahua FunAge’s Hello, Mrs. Money, will be released on September 30, the day before China’s National Day. Two Hollywood films, Crazy Rich Asians and The Predator, will likely be released in September, although neither has scored a release date yet. Read more on Mtime

Japanese Animated Film ‘Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters’ Set for September 21 China Release

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, a 2017 Japanese animated film and the 32nd film in the Godzilla franchise, has scored a September 21 China release. The film is written by acclaimed Gen Urobuchi and co-directed by Kobun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita. In addition to Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, two other Japanese films, Let Me Eat Your Pancreas and Destiny, will also be released in China next month on September 14. Read more on Mtime