At the TV World 2016 International Forum held during the 20th edition of FILMART, industry experts discussed the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative to the cinema and TV industries, and predicted that cross-border film partnerships would become a major trend.
Chen Bin, Senior Vice President of DMG YinJi Film, Television, Entertainment & Media Ltd Co, said the Belt and Road Initiative has brought the Belt and Road countries closer in terms of economic development and cultural exchange, and helped Chinese cinema and TV “go out” to the world. The unique culture and traditional stories of the different countries provide a treasure trove for filmmakers looking for ideas.
It was said that there is a rapid development of Chinese cinema and TV and there are 32,000 cinema screens in mainland China that are generating impressive box office return.
He also pointed out that the TV industry in the mainland is also undergoing rapid development. A recent TV series, Diamond Lover, starring famous Korean singer Rain and Chinese actress Tiffany Tang, recorded 10 billion views on the Internet.
Rezal A. Rahman, CEO of Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios Sdn Bhd, said there are many locations suitable for film production in Malaysia. He hopes that Malaysia, with its experience in supporting foreign productions and production costs that are 10 per cent lower than that of the Chinese mainland, will be the shooting location of choice for more Chinese film and TV productions.
Mr Rahman said the Malaysian Government has been stepping up its efforts to attract foreign entertainment investment, such as offering a 30 per cent cash rebate on production costs for overseas productions shooting on location in Malaysia.
Vasily Korvyakov, Partner of Veles Media from Russia, pointed out that, because of cultural differences, the preferences of the audiences in different countries and the way they appreciate the same subject matter could be quite diverse. This is why it is important to achieve the right balance.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative, Mr Korvyakov said the interaction between the peoples of Russia and the mainland will certainly become more frequent, setting the context for many fascinating stories of love or deception, which will provide joint productions with a wealth of inspiration.
