HK urged to take on role as Chinese movie hub
Hong Kong should position itself as the centre for Chinese-language films and capitalise on the recent soaring popularity of local productions on the mainland, Hong Kong Film Development Council secretary general Wellington Fung Wing says.
Of the top five highest grossing films on the mainland during the week of August 3 to 9, three were by local directors and featured local stars. Topping the chart was Wong Jing's comedy On His Majesty's Secret Service, which took more than 35 million yuan (HK$39.7 million) in that week, and which had taken 80 million yuan at the box office up to Friday last week since opening on the mainland on July 30.
Hollywood blockbusters G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and the 3D animation Up took second and third spots, taking more than 26 million yuan and 22 million yuan respectively.
Mr Fung said the three Hong Kong movies had proved so popular because they had been filmed at the right time - when popular foreign films had already been screened and there was less competition. He said that investors showed great interest in Hong Kong directors because there were not enough filmmakers on the mainland focusing on making commercially viable films, as many mainland directors still believed in the cultural side of film, but overlooked the business side. 'But from watching Hong Kong films, they know that Hong Kong directors are good at making commercial films,' he said.
Mr Fung envisaged Hong Kong filmmakers focusing on exploiting their creativity, instead of merely the technicality of filmmaking. 'The ability to design is the most important,' Mr Fung said. He added that Hong Kong, a city with freedom of speech, should also serve as a centre for Chinese-language films, an equivalent of the Cannes Film Festival.
Fourth and fifth spots were taken by co-productions between Hong Kong and the mainland.
The local crime thriller Overheard, directed by Felix Chong and Alan Mak, took 17.5 million yuan in the same week.
In fifth place, the animated McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong, directed by Tse Lap-man, took 11 million yuan at the box office, also between August 3 and 9.
