China Removes Restrictions on Import Quotas and Co-productions with Taiwan
On February 28, Taiwan Affairs Office, an administrative agency under the State Council of China, announced new policies with the aim of fostering economic and cultural exchange between the two regions. Out of the thirty one new terms, three focus on the entertainment sector. They are: eliminating film and TV import quotas, removing the limit of the number of films and TV shows a Taiwanese artist can participate in, and loosening control over co-productions between mainland China and Taiwan. Read more on Mtime
Zhejiang is Becoming a Sub Center of China’s Entertainment Industry
Beijing is no doubt the cultural center of China. Guangdong has the largest film market by box office. But which province shows the strongest growth momentum? In this opinion piece, the author believes that the answer is Zhejiang. Many entertainment sectors, including film and TV, animation, and gaming, are well developed here and contribute significantly to its economy. In addition to being the headquarter for e-commerce and entertainment giant Alibaba, Zhejiang is also home to major studios, such as Hengdian and Xiangshan, as well as several leading TV production firms, such as Huace Media and New Classics Media. Read more Entertainment Capital
Ang Lee Starts Filming ‘Gemini Man’
Academy Award-winning Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee has officially started filming action-thriller Gemini Man. Starring Will Smith and Mary Elizabeth, the film tells the story of a retired assassin who faces off against himself, a clone who is 25 years younger. Gemini Man is produced by Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media. It is scheduled to release in North America on October 4. Read more on Mtime
February China Box Office Exceeds 10 Billion Yuan
Chinese New Year box-office boom made this February a record-breaking month with 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) in ticket sales, a 65 percent jump compared to the same period last year. Moviegoing has become a national pastime for the Chinese during Spring Festival. Thanks to successful marketing strategies, Monster Hunt 2 was the winner on the first day of Chinese New Year. However, the final box office results are determined by word-of-mouth. Read more on yuledujiaoshou
