Top five films that claim the best box office results in China this year are likely to be all Chinese-made ones, and Chinese homegrown films will have topped the box office for four years in a row if the forecast comes true, an official in charge of film industry said.
"Several Chinese-made films have done well in terms of box office," said Mao Yu, an official with the film arm of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).
According to Mao, "The Myth" directed by Stanley Tong and starring Jackie Chan has claimed 9.5 million yuan (about US$1.2 million) of box office, "Seven Swords" by Tsui Hark has reaped 8.3 million yuan and "Initial D" starring Jay Chou has raked in 7 million yuan.
"The five films scheduled at year-end are more expectant with good harvest," Mao said.
"Perhaps Love" by Peter Chan Ho-San, "The Promise" by Chen Kaige, "Qian Li Zou Dan Ji" by Zhang Yimou, "A Chinese Tall Story "by Jeff Lau Chun-Wai and "Huo Yuanjia" by Ronny Yu will make their debuts in China during December 2005 and January 2006.
"I believe that these blockbusters will bring a new round of investment upsurge into Chinese film industry," he said.
In 2004, likewise, the top three box office winners were homemade, which were "House of Flying Daggers" by domestic director Zhang Yimou, "Kung Fu Hustle" by Hong Kong comedy star Stephen Chow, and "A World Without Thieves" by domestic director Feng Xiaogang. Their box office has hit 153 million yuan, 125 million yuan and 101 million yuan by Wednesday, respectively.
China's annual box office revenue hit 1.5 billion yuan (about US$183 million) in 2004, up 60 percent over the previous year. Out of the 1.5-billion-yuan box office, 55 percent was generated by the home-made films, an indication of the rejuvenation of the country's film industry, experts say.
Zhang Hongsen, deputy director of the SARFT's film arm ascribed the prosperity of home-made films to the enhancement of industrialization in making films in China.
"Film makers have considered their works goods for sale, and film distributors are seeking their market strategies," Zhang said, adding that "the growing number of cinemas whose environments kept improving also inspired the passion of film audiences, and the mass media have also created a favorable atmosphere for the home-made films."
(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2005)
