Will China Ban ‘Wolf Warrior 3?’
On December 2, Chinese screenwriter Wang Hailin posted on Chinese social media Weibo, indicating that the government is banning upcoming sequels to nationalistic films, such as Wolf Warrior 2 and Operation Red Sea. There are heated discussions regarding why the government might ban these films and many point to a recent document about the country’s regulation of film and TV content. The document is reportedly released by the country’s media regulator and includes the following rules：avoid discussing national affairs, such as China’s political system and the current state and future of the country; don’t brag about China’s armed forces and don’t portrait western countries as opposing forces; be cautious about casting actors with questionable history; same-sex romance is a unfavorable theme. Read more on wenyu360
Is Organizing Film-viewing Groups An Effective Promotion Tactic in China?
Over the past few years, an increasing number of film-viewing groups emerged in China. According to a rough estimation, there are about 40 film-viewing groups in Beijing. Film-viewing groups first appeared 10 years on Douban where film lovers formed online groups to discuss films and organize offline moviegoing activities. Later, online platforms, such as Douban, Mtime and Sina Weibo, started organizing film-viewing groups and offering free tickets for members to view new releases. In exchange, members are required to write reviews on these platforms. Recently, many WeChat film accounts and movie KOLs (key opinion leaders) also started organizing film-viewing groups to help promote certain films. According to an industry insider, over 80% of the film-viewing groups in Beijing are organized by companies or individuals with the purpose of promoting certain films. As members of these groups are offered free tickets, they tend to be less critical when they write reviews, which helps a film achieve good word-of-month. Organizing film-viewing groups is also a rather inexpensive way to create buzz for films, as a screening for a group of 100 people only costs about 10,000 yuan ($1,453). Read more on yiqipaidianying
Hainan Island International Film Festival Presents Immersive Screenings of VR Films
The inaugural Hainan Island International Film Festival will take place in Sanya from December 9 to December 16. One of the highlights of the Festival is its immersive VR section, which includes seven VR films from both China and abroad. Most of these films will have their China premieres at the Festival. Chinese documentary The Disappeared Facial Makeup, which is about the art of facial makeup in traditional Peking opera, will have its world premiere. Pinta Studio’s Shen Nong, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is also in the lineup. Read more on Mtime
