China has agreed to open its market to more US films and provide better terms to US studios whose films are released in the country, a move that has created a stir among Chinese filmmakers.
China and the United States have reached an agreement concerning issues related to films after their World Trade Organization dispute last year, according to Xinhua News Agency.
"This agreement with China will make it easier than ever before for US studios and independent filmmakers to reach the fast-growing Chinese audience, supporting thousands of American jobs in and around the film industry," US Vice-President Joe Biden said in a statement.
The agreement came during Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping's five-day US visit, which ended on Friday.
It does not change the annual quota of 20 revenue-sharing foreign films in Chinese theaters, but it allows 14 premium format films, such as 3-D and IMAX movies and similar enhanced format films, which will be exempt from the quota.
Also, the US studios' share of their films' grosses in the Chinese market will rise to 25 percent, from about 13.5 to 17.5 percent now.
Chris Dodd, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, called the pact "tremendous news for the millions of American workers and businesses whose jobs depend on the entertainment industry".
China's box office has been growing at an annual rate of 30 percent since 2003, reaching $2.1 billion last year. It has become the highest-grossing overseas market for many Hollywood blockbusters, such as Transformers 3 and Avatar.
Chinese director Gao Qunshu said the agreement would bring more challenges for China's filmmakers, but in the long term he believed in the power of competition in an open market. "With 14 more foreign films, the market space for local productions will further shrink," he said. "There will be pressure, but taking the changes as a motivation to make better films is the only way out. More 'lame' works will be driven out of the market."
Qin Hong, chairman of Stellar Group, a leading privately owned film company, called for the government to crack down harder on piracy to protect local films against fiercer competition. "Most local productions win over audiences by plotlines, not grand scenes - we are so far unable to create another Mission: Impossible 4," he said.
The agreement grew out of a case challenging China's restrictions on the import and distribution of cultural products, which was won by the US at the WTO.
It will be reviewed in five years to see if it has functioned as envisioned, according to Reuters.
精选英语散文欣赏:微笑挽救生命
啊,我讨厌英语 Gullia Oops Jaime Pas Langlais 这首歌是不是也唱出你的心声了
英文《小王子》温情语录
精选英语美文阅读:被忽略的爱 Helpless love
美文美诗:仙女对牧羊人的回答
精选英语美文阅读:无雨的梅雨天 (双语)
浪漫英文情书精选:Don't Give Up不要放弃
英语美文欣赏:A beautiful song
美文:爱的奇迹
双语散文: Optimism and Pessimistic
浪漫英文情书精选:My Love Will Reach Any Distance爱无边
如果生命可以重来(双语)
精选英语美文阅读:How selfless real love is 无私的爱
浪漫英文情书精选:I'll Be Waiting我会等你
态度决定一切 Attitude Is Everything
双语美文:What are you still waiting for?
精选英语散文欣赏:月亮和井
浪漫英文情书精选:True Love Of My Life我的真爱
精选英语散文欣赏:平等的爱
精美散文:爱你所做 做你所爱
精选英语美文阅读:一封未发出的英文情书《但是你没有》
精美散文:守护自己的天使
英语美文:Keep on Singing
精选英语美文阅读:爱的奇迹 Keep on Singing
爱情英语十句
浪漫英文情书精选:Boundless Love无边的爱
双语美文欣赏:孤独人生
双语美文:I Wish I Could believe
伤感美文:人生若只如初见
浪漫英文情书精选:The Best Surprise最好的惊喜
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |