Jackie Chan figures rivalry will improve Chinese movies
BEIJING: While filmmakers and bureaucrats in China have generally been wary of competition from Hollywood, superstar Jackie Chan begs to differ.
On the sidelines of the current session of China’s consultative council, of which he is a member, an upbeat Jackie has maintained that opening up China’s film market will put positive pressure on local moviemakers.
The consultative council is an official advisory body to China’s national legislature.
Rivalry can only force them to improve, reckoned Jackie, who was recently awarded an honorary Oscar.
China’s official state paper The Global Times has reported that Beijing and Hollywood have been renegotiating the annual limit for the import of US-made movies, which has been set at 34 since 2012.
According to Jackie, allowing more film imports would challenge Chinese filmmakers to produce better films.
Explained Jackie: “Their technology is more advanced. But we will have more opportunities to watch their films and learn from them. The more films that come in the more we will improve.”
Hollywood films accounted for more than half of China’s 45.3 billion yuan ( RM29.6 billion) in box- office sales last year.
China-made films accounted for 58 per cent of the total box office, or RM17.1 billion.
Jackie told reporters that such spectacular box office growth wouldn’t have happened if Chinese filmmakers had shot their films “behind closed doors without any competition.”
On his feelings after being awarded an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement last November after 56 years in the film industry, Jackie narrated about how he failed to break into Hollywood early in his career.
Dejected, he returned home to hone his mastery of action movies.
“I realise that if you persevere in something, it doesn’t matter if people see it or know about it or not. So long as you work on it diligently, there will be a day when someone will appreciate you.”
Their technology is more advanced. But we will have more opportunities to watch their films and learn from them. The more films that come in the more we will improve. Jackie Chan, actor