It’s a year of tiger and it’s also a year for Chinese film, with more and more money coming into Chinese film industry, 2010 is going to be a huge year for Chinese cinema, if you are up for a peek in Chinese film market, you should really join 34th HK Film festival 2010, meet more people in the same industry.

Here is a link of the submission page:

http://www.hkiff.org.hk/en/news20100125.html

Also worth reading here:

The price of festivals

Bright Shadow Films might show up in the festival as well, We will meet you there!

• Production Equipment Rental List
• The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925
• People’s Republic of Desire
• In need of cash, Hollywood looks to India, China
• The Insider’s Guide to Shooting in China
• What is a Sino-foreign co-production?
• Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market
• Confucius (Kong ze)
• Application materials for a Sino-foreign co-production
• Showreel

Nature.

A Sino-foreign co-production, simply put, is a contractual arrangement between a foreign party and a Chinese party to conduct filming in China. There may be multiple parties on each side, provided that the Chinese party/parties must be production entity/entities accredited by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) (for details, see “Structuring a Sino-foreign co-production”). For purposes of Sino-foreign co-production, investors or producers from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administration Regions and the territory of Taiwan are considered as overseas parties.

Relationship of the parties.

The parties to a Sino-foreign co-production organize and conduct affairs of the co-production, including division of rights and obligations, in accordance with the co-production agreement entered into between them. The parties do not set up a separate entity for purposes of the co-production.

Approval.

All Sino-foreign co-productions must obtain the approval granted by the SARFT before any filming activity commences, and when the film is completed (that is, the censorship approval). Every co-production project can only be directed at producing and shooting one film, and a separate application is required for each project. The approvals are granted on a case-by-case basis depending on the relevant authority’s review of, among other things, the screenplay and the completed film. The regulatory regime captures all film genres and all formats in which filming will be conducted.

Governing authority.

The governing authority for Sino-foreign co-production is the SARFT, in particular, the Film Bureau of the SARFT. Nevertheless, the SARFT has appointed China Film Co-production Corporation (CFCC) as its sole agent to assist in managing and coordinating the applications, conducting preliminary review of the screenplay and completed film, and other logistical matters relating to Sino-foreign co-productions.

• Production Equipment Rental List
• The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925
• People’s Republic of Desire
• In need of cash, Hollywood looks to India, China
• The Insider’s Guide to Shooting in China
• Application materials for a Sino-foreign co-production
• Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market
• Are you ready for 34th HK Film Festival
• Confucius (Kong ze)
• Showreel

This article is originally from here

Photographers are heading to China in droves right now, whether for the coming Olympics in Beijing (August 8-24), to cover the aftermath of the tragic May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province — or just to shoot stock: China’s ferocious growth and rapidly changing economy have made it a perennially hot news property.

“It’s an unusual time of openness in China, which is traditionally a xenophobic country, thanks to the Olympics and the earthquake, ” says Jeff Greenwald, executive director of Ethical Traveler , a project of the Earth Island Institute. “That openness is a two-way street. People traveling to China, particularly Americans, can try to counteract some of the negative images that China has of us from its media.”

But this is a very politically sensitive country. Attempting to shoot certain subjects—anything to do with say, Tibet, religion, state executions, and disease—can get you in trouble with the authorities. Along with Greenwald, PDNOnline talked to ten photographers who have shot in mainland China to get their tips for those new to the country. Several living in or frequently working in China spoke on the condition of anonymity. Those who spoke to us on the record are:

Monte Isom, a commercial photographer who specializes in portraits of athletes
Catherine Karnow, photographer behind National Geographic Traveler: Beijing
Wayne Liu, a Taiwan-born fine-arts shooter
Mads Nissen, a freelance photojournalist based in Shanghai
Sara Remington, a food and travel photographer
James Whitlow Delano, a Tokyo-based photographer with Redux Pictures and author of Empire: Impressions from China

BEFORE YOU GO

Vaccines: Many photographers recommended getting the Hepatitis B vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control has a Web site for China with a full health briefing.

Visas: Note that your passport has to be valid for at least six more months. The visa situation has changed several times in the past few months. Check the Chinese Embassy’s Web site for the most up-to-date requirements.

Everyone had an opinion on getting a tourist or business visa versus an official journalist visa:

“We went in on a tourist visa to shoot a wedding and pick up stock. The photographer I went with and I had four camera bodies and 10 lenses. But she and I purposefully made ourselves look younger and separated ourselves.”—Remington

“When I was freelancing, I was on a business visa because I wanted to stay completely off the radar. Now, I am staff and on a J-1 (resident journalist) visa, as it is required by my company. There are benefits to being unregistered and registered. Unregistered allows more freedom to move and work on sensitive stories, but you run the risk of being deported, arrested, or having your contacts get arrested. Being registered allows you to do official events and work openly, but it is restricted. Registered journalists are not allowed to visit Tibet unless invited, and the invitation is difficult to obtain.”—Photojournalist based in China

“It depends on how much you have to lose. If you were going to come and shoot a big production with a lot of lights and models, you kind of need to get a proper visa. The police can close your operation down in a second.”—Beijing-based documentary photographer

“The business visa situation was changing constantly this year. Even my local Chinese producer couldn’t get it all put together. We needed a letter of invitation from the company hiring me, proof the airfare was confirmed and booked, hotel confirmed and booked, two passport photos, a letter from me to my assistants saying I was hiring them and they needed a visa, and an official invitation from the correct department. And that’s for one month. For a multiple-entry visa you need to prove why you need to come in and out.”–Isom

SHOOTING

Street/stock photography:

“The first thing to remember about China is that it’s not just one ethnic group. You can’t make assumptions about how people will feel about having their photo taken, or the courtesies involved. People in Beijing on the street might be OK with you shooting without asking, but Muslim Chinese people in the southern regions might react every differently.”— Greenwald

“As a woman, you just look a lot less threatening. Sometimes I wear little open-toed sandal with a pedicure. I wanted to shoot this massive demolition scene from above. There was a hotel nearby overlooking it, but there is no way in China you can just go up to the manager and explain you’re shooting for a National Geographic guidebook and get permission. I pretended I was checking in, looked at several rooms, and then I ended up sneaking in through the kitchen and shooting from the fire escape. I stuck my camera in my nice big Coach purse.”—Karnow

Photojournalism and sensitive topics

“Sometimes the political situation is dominant (anti-NATO riots 1999, the annual party congress), and sometimes it fades. But during the Olympics you can be sure it will be forefront. It’s not like there are cops everywhere telling you not to shoot, but subjects might get touchy about mildest things during times of political stress. Be subtle and act innocent. —Documentary photographer

“There is a saying in China that it is easier to ask forgiveness than for permission (read: access). Act first, and chances are if you are mild mannered, good natured, and wear a smile, even authorities will forgive a photograph of a bridge, soldier, or some other moderately sensitive subject in this often loosely controlled one-party state.”—Whitlow Delano

Commercial photography

“Chinese clients typically do not pay the agency and have them pay you. If they did, it would cost them about 12-15 percent more because of invoice taxes etc. So the client pays you directly—except the client does not want to pay anyone outside of China because that incurs a 15 percent tax; there is a loophole in Hong Kong. So the best way to go about doing a job there is to find a local production, hire them to produce your job, and then they pay you. They will charge a premium, but it makes the Chinese company more willing to hire you. Also, negotiating with Chinese clients is much different than in the United States. They want a deal. Doesn’t matter where the starting price was, they want it to be lower. “—Isom

LOGISTICS

“Skype is great for calling back home. With an unlocked cell phone, you can get a local SIM card, put $50 on it, and SMS back and forth to your local clients and back to the States. People in China text a lot and won’t like paying international fees to text you while you’re just across the city.”—Isom

“For those of us who are accustomed to uploading and downloading via FTP, you will realize as soon as you get to China that FTP speeds are nowhere near where it once was.”—from Nissen’s handy posting on
Lightstalkers.org for using the Internet in China

“It’s easy to find cheap hostels; I used Lonely Planet. Don’t pay until you see the rooms. They might be sketchy, dirty, rat infested. I felt safe leaving my film and extra camera equipment in the hostels I stayed in.”—Liu

“The bathroom situation is interesting for women. Pack your own toilet paper —and hand sanitizer is good, too.”—Remington

FOOD

“I basically eat what the locals eat. But if I’m doing a pollution story on, for example, in a ‘cancer-village,’ I’ll bring my own food or eat instant noodles, though it can be pretty boring for a whole week. “—Nissen

“I always have antibiotics on hand because my experiences is that one gets sick at 2 a.m. not 2 p.m.”—Delano

“The person I was traveling with was allergic to gluten, which was impossible to explain to people. So if you have food sensitivities, bring plenty of protein bars, almonds, etc.”—Remington

PEOPLE

“If you don’t speak Chinese, find a hip and friendly bilingual local assistant. It’s pretty easy to chat young people up, but older folks feel more comfortable with a local person talking to them. Avoid the scams where English-speaking ‘art students’ try to show you ‘their works’ that you buy because they are so friendly, or take you to a tea shop where each cup is practically $50.”—Documentary photographer

“A good guide, a good ‘fixer,’ is absolutely critical. Smart, tireless, their English has to be good but not necessarily great. When I am shooting portraits, for me to be able to coax the expressions and gestures out of people, I need almost simultaneous translation.”—Karnow

ETHICS

“Be aware that your actions when uncovering sensitive issues may bring heavy consequences upon people who can not leave the country. Do not post names, photograph faces of people who are quoted commenting on sensitive topics that are contrary to government policy. The story is not worth ruining a good person’s life. Period.”—Delano

“If I were covering a sensitive story I would hire a translator who is not a Chinese national—who has a foreign passport, but who speaks Chinese fluently. I would try not to use a minority, like a Tibetan, to work on these issues. Because they’re already in a politically sensitive situation. As the photographer I do what I can do to protect the people I work with and who I photograph, but in the end it’s a really messed-up situation.”—Beijing-based documentary photographer

Freelance writer Bonnie Azab Powell lives in Oakland with her husband, portrait photographer Bart Nagel . She would like to go to China someday — but maybe after the Olympics.

• Production Equipment Rental List
• The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925
• People’s Republic of Desire
• In need of cash, Hollywood looks to India, China
• What is a Sino-foreign co-production?
• Application materials for a Sino-foreign co-production
• Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market
• Are you ready for 34th HK Film Festival
• Confucius (Kong ze)
• Showreel

This Article Originally From:Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Disney’s $4 billion purchase of “Iron Man” moviemaker Marvel Entertainment signals a possible wave of media industry consolidation, but the cash to do deals may come from India or China, not Hollywood or Wall Street.

Even before Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Marvel Entertainment Inc (MVL.N) made their announcement on Monday, Hollywood watchers said Indian firm Reliance ADA Group’s recent $325 million investment in Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks movie studio was a sign that opportunity exists for similar deals.

As the recession took hold in late 2007, Hollywood saw financing from U.S. hedge funds and banks dry up, and experts say Indian and Chinese firms are now in a better position to invest. For its part, Hollywood needs overseas cash to continue expanding globally where growth opportunities are strongest.

“If you have capital to invest, you can probably cut a better deal now than any time in the last ten years,” said Larry Gerbrandt, principal at consultancy Media Valuation Partners.

“A lot of Indian and Chinese companies have excess capital these days and Hollywood, aside from the fact there’s a certain glamour factor, those (Indian and Chinese) markets also need content, so there’s interesting deals to be made.”

Sky Moore, an attorney who worked with Reliance as it put together the DreamWorks financing package, said a bigger deal could be in the offing within two years.

“I think the bigger move is buying a studio, and I don’t know if it will be (a company from) India or China, but I think somebody is going to buy a studio,” Moore said.

STUDIO TARGETS

The Disney/Marvel deal fueled speculation DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc (DWA.O), maker of the “Shrek” movies and a separate company from DreamWorks Studios, could be next on the acquisition target list because of its solid position in the marketplace and focus on the lucrative family market.

Moore and Gerbrandt also named Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc as a potential acquisition target, although they said they had no specific information of any deal in the works.

Rumors of MGM’s potential sale have surfaced for years. The storied Hollywood studio faces looming payments on $3.7 billion of debt from a 2005 buyout of the firm, and earlier this week it replaced its CEO and hired a turnaround expert.

Chinese film studios are strengthening ties with their peers across the Pacific. The Huayi group, which Morgan Stanley called “China’s Warner Bros for tomorrow,” has said it is seeking capital to expand and has developed movies with Hollywood majors such as Sony Pictures. Its larger rival, The China Film Group, is reportedly keen on developing projects in the United States as well.

India’s expanding reach into Hollywood has included Reliance’s purchase of about 50 U.S. theaters and Indian entertainment company UTV’s investment of tens of millions of dollars over the last three years in several movies, including “The Happening” and “The Namesake,” Moore said.

“It’s not about bringing Bollywood to Hollywood, it’s about mainstream worldwide English-language entertainment,” he said.

Hollywood studios have also made big investments in India. Warner Bros, a division of Time Warner Inc (TWX.N), has signed multi-picture deals with Indian companies People Tree Films and Ocher Studios.

Twentieth Century Fox, a division of News Corp (NWSA.O), has started a joint venture with Asian broadcaster Star to create films for India under the name Fox Star Studios.

Foreign investment in Hollywood is nothing new, of course. In the 1990s, German tax credits spurred production of U.S. movies, and before that Japan’s Sony Co (6758.T) in 1989 bought Columbia Pictures. Sony also has a stake in MGM.

David Molner, managing director of Screen Capital International, a media and entertainment financing firm, said that absent foreign investment, Hollywood could simply have to endure a slowdown due to lack of capital.

“Either the Asians lead the pack or we have a lull,” he said. “Mostly because they’re probably going to be the fastest out of the blocks as the economy recovers.”

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Tim Dobbyn, Phil Berlowitz)

• The Insider’s Guide to Shooting in China
• Production Equipment Rental List
• The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925
• People’s Republic of Desire
• What is a Sino-foreign co-production?
• Application materials for a Sino-foreign co-production
• Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market
• Are you ready for 34th HK Film Festival
• Confucius (Kong ze)
• Showreel

As one of the most anticipated films of the year, WHEAT, directed by He Ping, one of the greatest filmmakers of the time, is confirmed to premiere as the opening film of the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival.

He Ping was the jury chairman for SIFF’s Asian New Talent Award 2006 while the film is produced by Classics Media and PolyBona.

Wheat is the latest production of He Ping, a masterpiece concentrating 6 years of great effort after his Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003. The film has been progressing in a low profile ever since the very beginning. However, as the latest work by an extraordinary director among the 5th generation, WHEAT is regarded by the insiders as one of the most expected films of the year after the film’s trailer and poster being released at home and abroad.

With spectacular scenes, rich details, a well-connected story and lyrical visual language, while at the same time revealing a cultural connotation rarely seen in Chinese entertaining films these years, WHEAT was commented by a well-respected filmmakers as “an entertaining film for learned people”.

WHEAT will obviously be the most surprising Chinese film of the year and will change totally the aesthetic experience of the audience.

In addition to the top-class director, a group of top-class actors and actresses including Fan Bingbing, Huang Jue, Wang Xueqi, Wang Zhiwen and Wang Ji join the film. Besides, famous for his discovering and fostering young film talents, He Ping offers Du Jiayi and Wang Jiajia important roles. This makes both the insiders and the audience looking forward to seeing the film.

Actually, from the beginning of the year, SIFF started to discuss with the director and the producer of the film on the possibility of WHEAT’s being the opening film of SIFF 2009. Although the two sides are both excited about the idea, the producer didn’t make a final decision since the real short time for the post-production and director’s willing not to bring down the artistic and industrial criteria. After 6 months’ post-production, WHEAT caught up with the schedule and is now on its way.

“I will try my best to make the perfect integration of art, entertainment and film techniques as always.” said He Ping. For a film with perfect scenes, this remark is the best promise. “He has always been so slow in shooting films. This time he spent 6 years making a film, it must be a most expected one.” a highly expectiation of his fans on the internet.

As is early released, SIFF’s film of this year is unprecedented both in quantity and quality, which is most surprising. Now that WHEAT will open the festival, naturally people will be more looking forward to this grand meeting.

Director He Ping and his staff will hold a press conference in Shanghai on June 12th, after which does it begin the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival.

• The Insider’s Guide to Shooting in China
• Production Equipment Rental List
• The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925
• People’s Republic of Desire
• What is a Sino-foreign co-production?
• Application materials for a Sino-foreign co-production
• Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market
• Are you ready for 34th HK Film Festival
• Confucius (Kong ze)
• Showreel

Title: Days with You

Country : Japan

Year : 2008

Director: Amiy Mori

Running time: 103

Synopsis

Two childhood friends who grew up in a town that used to be called “Town of Falling Stars” are reunited after an 11 year interval. While an old landmark planetarium is about to be demolished and the star lights about to be replaced with neon lights in their hometown, the two confront their harsh fate. Believing in the miracle of the constellation meteor shower… (continue reading…)

• The Insider’s Guide to Shooting in China
• Production Equipment Rental List
• The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925
• People’s Republic of Desire
• What is a Sino-foreign co-production?
• Application materials for a Sino-foreign co-production
• Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market
• Are you ready for 34th HK Film Festival
• Confucius (Kong ze)
• Showreel

Bright Shadow Films offers a total range of production solutions from script to completed delivery on multiple platforms as well as turnkey solutions of the highest quality for third party productions coming to China.

We are flexible and very experienced with a great balance of Western experience and communication skills, with Chinese local knowledge and cultural sophistication.

To add to this, our comprehensive range of services covering pre-production planning, film making and your post production needs are presented at attractive rates offering great value.

Bright Shadow Films has four main activities :

Independent Production
Bright Shadow produces, finances and distributes either directly or through partners our own projects, managing content from its inception at script stage to final delivery.

Production Agency
Building on the strengths of its own productions in China, Bright Shadow offers selected services to its clients, from full on production to parts of the process.

Studio
Bright Shadow operates one of the finest sound production facilities in China. Bridging an often overlooked part of the production process, Bright Shadow has brought international expertise and talent to man what is a unique facility in China.

News
Production services offered to news crews who’s need for efficiency and reliability are paramount.

• The Insider’s Guide to Shooting in China
• Production Equipment Rental List
• The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925
• People’s Republic of Desire
• What is a Sino-foreign co-production?
• Application materials for a Sino-foreign co-production
• Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market
• Are you ready for 34th HK Film Festival
• Confucius (Kong ze)
• Showreel