Talking Entertainment: Jia Zhangke Turns to Violence and China Film Co. Signs Historic Agreement
Legendary East and China Film Co., Ltd. have signed a groundbreaking agreement to co-produce films for the international entertainment market. The deal was signed yesterday in Beijing with Legendary East Chief Executive Officer, Peter Loehr quoted as saying: “Partnering with China Film Co., Ltd. allows us to collaborate on projects from the earliest stages, and create true co-productions with unique worlds, elements and stories that universally speak to audiences.” The movies born from this historic deal, all U.S.-China co-productions, will be announced over the coming months.
In less breaking news, Jia Zhangke won Best Screenplay award at Cannes on Sunday for Touch Of Sin. The Chinese Director, whose works Platform (2000), The World (2004), Still Life (2006) have already brought him widespread acclaim, chose violence and anger to motivate this latest film.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Jia explained how violent events in China over recent years, such as the Wenzhou train crash, shocked him and that social media’s role in bringing light to these events inspired the structure of the film. In the past, his works strived for an honest and soulful depiction of the social injustices permeating China’s different stages of development. But this story is a furious collage of shooting rampages, suicides, stabbings and thievery.
Although the film’s trailer sparked controversy on its release, the director is confident that Touch of Sin, as screened at Cannes, will be shown in China without any censorship – hopefully sometime around October. And this violent spree will continue in Jia’s next film project, a kung fu story set a century ago, which will initiate the director into the world of action scenes.
For more immediate action on the silver screen, don’t miss Star Trek into Darkness, which is now playing in theaters all over Beijing. And here are other A&C events coming your way: