University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+ University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2019 Negotiating Transnational Collaborations with the Chinese Film Industry Kai Ruo Soh University of Wollongong Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses1 University of Wollongong Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorise you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author. Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. 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For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Negotiating Transnational Collaborations with the Chinese Film Industry Kai Ruo Soh Supervisors: Senior Professor Susan Turnbull and Dr Quah Ee Ling Sharon This thesis is presented as part of the requirement for the conferral of the degree: Doctor of Philosophy This research has been conducted with the support of the University of Wollongong’s University Postgraduate Award Scholarship The University of Wollongong School of the Arts, English and Media <<July>> <<2019>> Abstract In recent years, Chinese international collaborations and co-productions with foreign film makers have flourished as reforms were implemented to create policies that made this more possible. As a result, Chinese and foreign filmmakers have embraced collaborative approaches, seeking mutually beneficial, feasible collaborations in terms of their respective markets. This thesis sets out to investigate the processes and outcomes of a number of significant productions in order to understand the role and impact of international co- productions and foreign collaborations on the Chinese film industry. Four specific industrial contexts were selected for analysis because of their on-going collaborations with China. They are Hollywood, Hong Kong and South Korea as well as Australia’s film industry. This thesis considers the ways in which international co-productions and foreign collaborations are transnational in their ability to forge connections across borders both culturally and economically. This is achieved through the mechanisms of production, distribution and exhibition as is evidenced by the research presented here. This research includes an analysis of government documents and news reports as well as of the content of the films themselves. This evidence is supplemented by empirical data derived from participant observation at industry forums, interviews with key stakeholders, as well as the reviews of Chinese audiences on the Chinese social networking site, Douban. With the emergence of China in the vanguard of globalisation, this thesis argues that the acquisition of the different forms of knowledge about the Chinese film industry and Chinese culture of the context of film production is essential to a successful collaboration with Chinese filmmakers. The investigation highlights the importance of obtaining the cultural knowledge that may play a positive or negative role in the building of guanxi networks and the complex power dynamics that are operational in negotiating Chinese co- productions and collaborations. Foreign practitioners need to consider what they can offer to the Chinese film market at the same time as they reflect on how the Chinese might also benefit from this relationship. The success of a co-production and collaboration is not only dependent on the working relationships between producers, but also on the ways in which audience perceive the films in the context of the political relationship between China and the participating nations. Ultimately, this thesis interrogates transnational cinema productions and demonstrates the importance of maintaining old and established connections as well as the need to build new and strong relationships with China in order to achieve a successful co-production. 2 Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my primary supervisor Senior Professor Sue Turnbull for being a great mentor and providing me with invaluable support and guidance for my research and academic career. Without your guidance, this thesis would not have become what it is today. I would also like to thank my secondary supervisor Dr Quah Ee Ling Sharon for being a supportive mentor and friend in both my academic and personal pursuits. I would also like to thank Dr Roger Patulny for providing me with research opportunities within and outside the scope of my thesis and constantly giving me the opportunity to learn more about the academic world and the potential of research. I remain grateful to Dr Brian Yecies and Dr Jie (Jack) Yang for providing the foundations to my research project. I would also like to show my appreciation to Dr Jonathon Hutchinson from the University of Sydney for great research discussions and all the support you have provided me over my PhD candidature. I would like to give a special shout out to my PhD buddies Núria Lahuerta, Natasha Phillips, Cass Venn and Miguel Segundo Ortin. I am eternally grateful for all the support you have shown me, and I will never forget our wine and writing sessions! A big thanks to Jef Pennings, Sophie Wong and Ana Torres for being such supportive friends. The PhD journey has been so much easier because of your support and kindness outside of academia. Thank you to Winnie Chan, although you are all the way in Singapore, your support and friendship has encouraged me throughout my university years. This project started out because of Joe Ng, who visited me in Wollongong while working on Bait 3D (2012) in Sydney. His fascinating stories on his experience working on the film sparked my interest in this research, which has now expanded to what it is today. Also, thank you to Chuck Chae for allowing me to experience your film journey with you and helping me build my thesis into what it is today. I would also like to thank Pristine Yoo for teaching me the Korean language which helped me immensely while conducting research in Korea. Last but not least, thank you to my parents, especially my mum for making sure I did all my Chinese homework. Without your patience and efforts, this thesis would not have been possible. 3 List of Abbreviations AFK Away From Keyboard API Application Programming Interface ATF Asia Television Forum ATO Australian Tax Office AUD Australian Dollar BIFF Busan International Film Festival CCP Chinese Communist Party of China CPCPD Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China CCTV China Central Television CEPA Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economics Partnership Agreement CFC China Film Corporation CFCC China Film Co-production Corporation CFG China Film Group Corporation CGI Computer-Generated Imagery CIH Cultural Investment Holdings Co. Ltd CMC China Media Capital CPAA China Post-Production Alliance CPPCCC Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Committee DI Digital Intermediate EU European Union FTA Free Trade Agreement ILM Industrial Light & Magic IMDA Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore IP Intellectual Property KMT Kuomingtang KOFIC Korean Film Council LA Los Angeles MDA Media Development Authority MMORPG Multiplayer Online Role-Play Game MOU Memorandum of Understanding MPAA Motion Pictures Association of America MRFT Ministry of Broadcasting, Film and Television NFA National Film Administration 5 PDV Post, Digital and Visual Effects Q&A Question and Answer QAPE Qualifying Australian Expenditure on Film R&D Research and Development RAS Research Activity Support RMB Chinese Yuan (Renmibi) RPG Role Playing Games SAPPRFT State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television SARFT State Administration of Radio, Film and Television SMART Simulation, Modelling, Analysis, Research and Teaching Sci-Fi Science Fiction SNS Social Networking Site THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defence UK United Kingdom UNESCO United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation UOW University of Wollongong USD American Dollar VFX Visual Effects WB Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WOW Word of Warcraft WTO World Trade Organisation 6 Table of Content Abstract ..................................................................................................................................