Headlines From China: Chinese Director Speaks Out Against Culture Sector Crackdown

Chinese Director Speaks Out Against Culture Sector Crackdown

Renowned art house director Jia Zhangke is pushing back against the Chinese government’s sweeping campaign to impose stricter control over the country’s entertainment industry. “Art creation should be eclectic,” Jia told China Movie Report, a TV program by state broadcaster CCTV. “For example, my cousin Han Sanming was a miner. I thought he was particularly suitable for the film ‘Still Life,’ and he won a Best Actor award for it. If there was an admission system, could we still invite him to act, and could we have such a role on the screen?” Read more Sixth Tone

‘Free Guy’ Wins Third Weekend Running, Hits $75M

20th Century and Disney’s “Free Guy,” starring Ryan Reynolds, dominated China’s theatrical box office for a third consecutive weekend. The film added $12.3 million, taking its China total to $75.8 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Taiwanese youth romance “Stand by Me” opened in second with just $11.9 million from Thursday to Sunday. Donnie Yen’s late summer box office champ “Raging Fire,” meanwhile, continued to smolder amid the dearth of new content. Read more The Hollywood Reporter