Date: 22nd January 2001

Chinese Film Producers Leery Of Open Trade


China's film producers are expressing concern that as the market opens for imported films and as foreign-backed multiplexes proliferate, they will be driven out of theaters, the Shanghai Star reported in a separate article on Friday. "Domestic producers seem to be preparing themselves for the fate of becoming TV fare," the newspaper commented as it reported that even now the top five theaters (out of 130) in Shanghai account for half the city's box office and that 80 percent of the take is attributed to Hollywood product. Expressing fears that a more open market will allow theaters to bypass local distributors and deal directly with overseas studios, Shanghai-based producer Ma Ning commented: "An open market ... might mean a disaster for local producers."

Source: Studio Briefing