Filmmaking in China

choi

(1) Steven Zeitchik, A More Sino-Centric Version of 'Looper' Will Be Released in China. Los Angeles Times, June 19, 2012.
http://www.latimes.com/entertain ... y-in-china-20120619,0,7761733.story

Quote:

"The film ["Looper"], due out stateside from Sony Pictures on Sept 28, had already undergone a transformation to appeal to Chinese financiers. Originally set partly in Paris, the script’s international location was changed to Shanghai after financier Endgame Entertainment brought on Chinese entity DMG to back the film.

"But now some of the scenes shot as part of the China deal won’t make the film's Western release. According to two people involved with the production who were not authorized to talk about it publicly, those moments ended up on the cutting-room floor in the English-language version. But the footage, which showcases Shanghai streets and landmarks, is being added back into the Chinese version at the request of financiers from the country.

Note:
(a) Immediately following in the report is, "The scenes, mainly exposition about how Gordon-Levitt’s character took a downward spiral, did not test well with American audiences, who felt it upset the film's pacing."

(i) exposition (n):
"1: a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing)
2a : discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand"
(ii) The "exposition" has its corresponding verb exposit, not expose, though both (exposit , expose) come from the same Latin verb exponere "to set forth, explain * * * from ex- + ponere to put, place."
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expose
(iii) exposit (vt): "EXPOUND"
(b) It is not clear to me what looper means in this context.

looper
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looper


(2) Jonathan Landreth, Chinese Filmmakers Commiserate at Shanghai Film Festival. Los Angeles Times, June 19, 2012.
http://www.latimes.com/entertain ... fest-panel-20120619,0,817120.story

The first two paragraphs:

"Hollywood studio films garnered about three-quarters of China's ticket sales from January through March, leaving Chinese filmmakers wringing their hands at an industry that can't seem to make or promote homegrown films that attract a hometown crowd.

"With the gross box office for the first quarter hitting $589 million, up 39% from the same period in 2011, many Chinese directors fear being left behind as more Hollywood films are allowed in under a recent deal cut between Washington and Beijing.

Note:
(a) According to the report, Looper talks about "a hit man who is charged with offing targets."

off (vt): "slang : kill, murder"
www.m-w.com
(b) Road of Redemption for Chinese-language Films  中国电影“救赎”路
(c) LU Chuan  陆 川, director of the 2009 critically acclaimed hit “City of Life and Death,” said the release of his latest film, “
The Last Supper  王的盛宴 (2011)

(d) The report says of director Lou Ye, "His last film, 'Spring Fever,' was shot on the down-low in Nanjing and registered as a French-Hong Kong co-production to avoid official attention.

(i) down-low (n): "secrecy  <I'll tell you, but keep it on the down low>"
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/down_low
(ii) LOU Ye  娄 烨
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A8%84%E7%83%A8
("2009年作品《春风沉醉的夜晚》是娄烨在被禁期間在南京偷拍的作品")
(iii) Spring Fever  春风沉醉的夜晚
(iv) MEI Feng  梅 峰

(e) China Film Group Corporation  中国电影集团公司 (headquarters Beijing)
HAN Sanping  韓 三平