Raman Hui Says the Film Industry Chain in Beijing Is Great
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Editor: Diao Jiayi 人物 Designer: Pan Fan 9 Copy Editor: Derrick Sobodash PEOPLE Raman Hui Says The Film Industry Chain in Beijing is Great For most audiences, Raman Hui the animation industry. audience reaction,"I see young couples who made his debut in Beijing Interna- Afterwards, Raman Hui studied bringing their children or their parents to tional Film Festival was not a familiar animation in Sheridan College Institute the cinema. They say I have made a film name. But this year,stepping onto the of Technology & Advanced Learning suitable for both young and old. Some red carpet with Panda Po and Hu Bafor and worked in PDI,a Hollywood ani- parents even say their child likes cud- the opening ceremony of the same, mation company which was later pur- dling up with Hu Ba. This is what I really Photographed by Cui Jun Raman Hui has become the second chased by DreamWorks. And that's care about. And for me,this is more its own culture and language. Like com- biggest earner among Chinese direc- how Raman Hui became an animator meaningful than the huge numbers." edy,Monster Hunt and Lost in Thailand tors. His Monster Hunt on show in the in DreamWorks. Raman Hui laughs Raman Hui once revealed Monster are blockbusters in China but they are summer vacation last year is the sec- when recalling his first encounter with Hunt II would start shooting in Septem- rather average in overseas market. Ra- ond highest grossing film in the Chinese Spielberg, his idol, in the washroom. ber this year. Raman Hui told the journal- man said that's normal:"Just like Chi- film history. In his words, "people al- He says he shook hands with Spiel- ist in an interview that the script was still nese audience cannot fully understand ways ask me when I start to work on berg in excitement and didn't wash his under discussion and Monster Hunt was all the laughing points in American com- Monster Hunt II rather than whether I hands all day long. originally designed as a trilogy. There- edies. When I first arrived in the US,I will do that." Animated films such as Antz and fore, though still holding a post in did not laugh when watching the film The rise in "social status",however, Madagascar have made a great coup, DreamWorks in America, he is now while the others were laughing out loud, does not affect Raman Hui. Though though,it is Shrek,an animated char- mainly working in Oriental DreamWorks because I just could not get it. After un- over fifty years old,he still behaves like acter created independently by Raman in Beijing and Shanghai. In this opening derstanding its culture can one really a child,speaking with rich expressions Hui that makes him famous worldwide. ceremony,he will step onto the red car- feel those points." and gestures. Shrek's nose is just designed according pet with Panda Po and Hu Ba. Raman As for how to make a wonderful co- Perhaps it is just because of such to Raman Hui's. When referring to the Hui jokes,"I am worried that Po and Hu production film, Raman thinks they childishness that Raman Hui has made praise of "the father of Shrek",Raman Ba may become brothers soon and what should learn from each other's strong so many animated films suitable for all Hui says he is not worthy of it,"The film if Hu Ba learns Kungfu and beats me?" points to offset their weakness rather ages in the past years and kept himself is adapted from a book,so I am at most When referring to the film industry than blindly use things which are suit- as young as a child. ‘the uncle of Shrek'." He spent 20 years chain in Beijing, Raman Hui is full of able for the other. In Raman's eyes, transforming from an animator to an ani- praise. "For an outdoor scene,we can American film industry is very mature The Panel of Jurors of mation director. Raman Hui says,"Mak- drive to the suburb like Miyun and Huair- with a set of standard procedure while 'Tiantan Award' is powerful ing animation film is not like Miss Hong ou. The scenery there is totally different Chinese film industry is rather dynamic Raman Hui's career in the animation Kong beauty contest. Overnight suc- from that in the urban. For an urban and flexible;so the best idea is to com- industry is unintentional. After gradua- cess is not likely to occur to me." scene, there are so many options in bine the advantages of the two:"Like tion from university,he worked in TVB Though praised as "the father of downtown Beijing. Besides,film bases running a restaurant,importing authen- for half a year. Once by chance,he ac- Shrek",Raman Hui has to restart when and numerous post- production compa- tic American food may not suitable for companied a friend to apply for a job in coming back to China. He laughs when nies in Beijing provide great convenience Chinese customers,so it's better to add an animation company and felt it the recalling his debut on the red carpet for film making. In a word,the entire film some Chinese flavor and elements to right place he ought to be in. When he for5th Beijing International Film Festival, industry chain is really convenient." make the taste more favorable to Chi- asked for his mother's opinion, his "They told me to stop at three points for nese people." mother expressed her support for his in- photo taking and greeting to film fans, American Dishes Add Some Roman believes that, Chinese terest in spite of a lower wage. In this but I was so nervous that I forgot how I Chinese Flavor films do not need to rush to get the nod way, Raman Hui started his careerin did that. This year,however,is differ- How to make a film "the pet of all ag- ent. I am much more relaxed and exact- es"? Or let's say,what is the "secret" of from audiences all over the world. The ly enjoy my show on the red carpet." success of American DreamWorks ani- most important thing is to improve the mation? According to Raman Hui, quality of the film. How can a Chinese The Film Industry Chain in when shooting a film in DreamWorks, film gain recognition from audiences Beijing is Great they will not consider people in which around the world if even Chinese audi- As for the boxoffice success of Mon- country or region are their targeted audi- ences refuse to watch. ster Hunt,his first film made in China, ence,"We just do it for friends around Based on that, Raman Hui sug- Raman Hui says it is beyond his expec- us,and we want them to feel happy." gests both Chinese audiences and film- tation,"I came back to China silently to Raman Hui also mentioned that employ- makers watch more literary films,be- make a film and I had thought that if it ees in DreamWorks will repeatedly talk cause despite the differences in lan- failed to make an impact,I would go back about the story,and will let some audi- guage and culture, comparing with to America silently. I never thought that ences watch the film ahead;if the audi- commercial films,literary ones contain Monster Hunt could reap over 2.4 billion ences didn't laugh at where they think more humanities which are shared by yuan and win the champion of box office." smart or laughable,they will make some people all around the world. Watching However,Raman Hui says he does modifications. those films can make one have a better not expect too much of the box office re- However, Raman Hui also said taste in film,which helps enhance one's turns and not losing money is just satis- that, not all films can be "favored all ability to shoot or watch films. factory for him. He cares more about the around the world" for each country has Written by Zhang Jia.