[2010.06.17] TSUI SIU MING CALLS FOR CREATING NATIONAL BRAND

courtesy of takungpao.com

Famous Hong Kong director Tsui Siu Ming attended a 2010 "World Chinese Film: Poetics, Culture and Industry" international academic forum and expressed that in comparison to Europe, America, Japan, Korea and other nations' proactive cultural promotion output, China's cultural output was obviously passive. If this situation was not turned around in time, China might gradually lose its right to speak for itself in the global cultural consolidation, which might lead to international culture aphasia. He suggested for both sides of the straits to make up for each other's shortcoming to promote Chinese cultural output together. "Both sides of the straits have a common language and common text. If we can connect with the Western world, the four locations of the straits with common ancestry and origin should be able to as well. Most importantly we need to unite and work together to promote Chinese cultural output." Tsui Siu Ming stressed.

Tsui Siu Ming felt, due to the China's obviously passive cultural output it has lost market competitiveness and could not form a film and television brand with national characteristics. The national image shaping was even more flimsy. Although Chinese films' kung fu films and new folk films have all successfully entered the international perspective, due to a variety of reasons these Chinese films that have gone global have not shaped China's image satisfactorily. The display of China was limited to the wonders of kung fu, folk customs, and lives on the fringe. Although they satisfied Western viewer's curiosity, they could not completely and realistically display the Chinese civilization. If this situation was not turned around in time, China in the global cultural consolidation might gradually lose its right to speak for itself and might lead to international cultural aphasia.

In addition, Tsui Siu Ming expressed that with the shrinking Hong Kong film market, the large Mainland market has attracted more and more Hong Kong film professionals to develop in the north. Currently, over 90% of the Hong Kong film industry is working in the north and it will become a new trend. Tsui Siu Ming said in recent years Hong Kong film market has appeared to shrink. Although this year's market has been better, it cannot possibly return to the glory days of the 80s. In the past, Hong Kong's highest record was making 300 films a year. They included small films that were only made for export. The most amazing year its production exceeded 400 films, with a rate of a movie and a half daily. Even the U.S. would only make over 800 films a year. Many nations like Japan and Korea have made less than Hong Kong. Tsui Siu Ming felt that with the Mainland market's huge potential, Hong Kong film professionals' northern development had business opportunities. However, they could not rely on their old ways and needed to learn and develop anew.