Film producer Cao Ming recently corrected a media report about his new film. "Our script is being revised. The movie has not started yet," he posted on his Sina Weibo on August 9.
A Xinhua Daily report published on August 7 said Cao's Love Story in Lotus City is currently being shot in Jinhu, Jiangsu Province and dubbed it as Jinhu's first local movie, co-produced by Jinhu county government and two media companies.
But Cao said that his movie, which is supposed to start in Jinhu this month, is being suspended. Cao stressed that his movie is not a local film tailored for Jinhu.
Pu Rongcao, deputy director of the publicity department in Jinhu, told the Global Times yesterday that the movie being shot is Adventure in Lotus City. The film, about talk show star Ji Xing from Jinhu, is being produced by another crew.
Though some may wonder why this is an issue, in recent years, many small cities use films as a way to promote local culture and scenic spots. Usually these films are subpar.
Cao's movie, though unrelated to Jinhu's county government, may still be labeled unfavorably.
Local trends
Expected to advertise a location using a beautiful storyline and scenery, these films are viewed as a promotional effort. Some see this as an innovative way to generate publicity for local governments.
Cao said that these films are either tailored to the local area, or coincidentally have scripts suitable for a certain place.
Suzhou's Love Recipe shot in 2009 is one example. The first movie about the crab culture in China is set in the ancient Dongshan town in Suzhou and chronicles three generations residing there.
Sponsored by the local government of Dongshan, together with an advertisement company and a wine company, the premise of the film is a love story. But the film specifically depicts the attractions of the town. It stresses Dongshan as the hometown of crab, including elaborate details on how to eat and cook the crabs.
Yanghu Fist (2011) made in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, focuses on the local boxing culture. Tongdao, Tongdao (2011) in Tongdao, Hunan Province, is about the Red Army's strategy shifting in 1934. Regardless of the subject, these films all highlight local people, cultures and geographical features.
"Backed by the government, [local movies] are usually of low input and follow mainstream themes of the time," movie critic Li Zhong told the Global Times, adding that such movies usually cast third-rate and amateur actors.
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