China recently raised the quota for imported Hollywood films to 34 every year from the previous 20. The new policy will definitely impact the domestic movie industry, however, it is a challenge that China's film producers must embrace.
Since the quota was first set in 1994 for imported Hollywood blockbusters, it has been raised from 10 to 20, and to 34 now. There used to be worries that the domestic movie industry would be smashed by Hollywood. But the Chinese movie industry is growing stronger. A few home-made epics can beat their Hollywood competitors at the box-office.
Innovation cannot be fully inspired by protection. The progress the Chinese film industry has made in recent years is a result of its opening-up. But all agree that overall the quality of Chinese films remains low. Films such as the Mission Impossible series, Inception, and Kung Fu Panda are far beyond the average quality of home-made movies, which are trapped in simple storylines and unsophisticated themes.
A few veteran filmmakers have seemingly stopped any further risk-taking, while emerging directors are more willing to break domestic taboos only.
Political restrictions are often blamed for choking the domestic film industry. But these boundaries are quite flexible for different cultural sectors. A breakthrough can often be made with active exploration. Directors can find better balance between politics and art.
Capital is swarming into the movie industry, enough to finance the making of truly imaginative pieces. Talents must be recruited from other sectors to instill more inspiration into the industry.
Despite all these challenges, the film industry is most likely to be the element of China's cultural industry to go global. A few generations of filmmakers have laid a pretty good foundation.
The rise of China makes stories about China more appealing. With improved conditions including better financing, further upgrading of the Chinese movie industry, going global is possible. Making world-class Chinese films needs new ambition and courage.
The goal of filming a Chinese blockbuster looks remote now, but is not out of the realm of possibility.
China's rapid growth is providing endless manuscripts. Ambitious directors can put the right elements together.