Chinese,European Film Co-Production
Zhang Xun, president of the China Film Co-Production Corporation, said that of 340 official film co-productions made by Chinese companies since 2000, only 29 have been made with European studios. Chinese film-makers, officials and executives are viewing co-production of European films as an area of opportunity that is currently under-developed.
With ballooning box office receipts domestically, Chinese studios are no longer desperate for startup budgets but are instead seeking marketing partners. Another reason to look to European co-production is that it may help to ease the shortage of actors and directors in China. At present, movies and TV series are getting postponed because actors schedules are already too full. French director Jean-Jacques Annaud is now preparing to spend a year in China shooting Wolf Totem in 2012, and if it becomes an official co-production it would set a precedent.