Jonathan Papish
Beijing, China, New York
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I cover the Chinese film and television industry and overall trends in the Chinese media landscape
Personal account of Jonathan Papish, Chinese Film Industry Analyst for @china_film; Chinese to English Audiovisual and Literary Translator
Articles by Jonathan Papish
Why China’s Venture Capitalists Love This Tibetan Pilgrimage Film
A birth, a death, a pilgrimage. A film about the 1,200-mile journey of a pregnant woman, a butcher who wants to atone for his sins and a rag-tag band of villagers who go on foot from their small village in Tibet to the sacred Mt. Kailash has become a surprise winner at the Chinese box office. It has also found a cult following among an unexpected audience — China’s venture capitalists and startup founders.
Remake of Japanese Drama Not Chinese Enough, Say Fans
Dissatisfied with the lackluster homegrown production of Midnight Diner, China’s net users offer suggestions for an improved version of popular manga adaptation. The Chinese remake of a hit Japanese television series set in an all-night diner has failed to sate Chinese viewers, many of whom complain that the show lacks local flavor.
Why This Tibetan Director Eschews the Exotic
Celebrated filmmaker Pema Tseden talks about why he refuses to romanticize his homeland in his pioneering Tibetan-language movies. For many outsiders, be they from China or abroad, Tibet is either an unearthly paradise sitting atop high mountains and shrouded in mist, or a region defined by an ongoing rift with the central government. But to Pema Tseden, a Tibetan filmmaker who made China’s first Tibetan-language feature film, there’s another story to tell.
Alibaba Pictures to Co-produce 'A Dog's Purpose' Sequel
Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners announced that A Dog’s Journey, the sequel to the 2017 family drama film A Dog’s Purpose, is now in production. Alibaba Pictures, which formed a strategic partnership with Amblin Partners in 2016, will co-finance and co-produce the film. Based on W. Bruce Cameron’s novel of the same name, A Dog’s Journey tells the story of a dog that finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets.
'Show Dogs' Scores China Release During July Blackout
It’s officially announced today that American comedy film Show Dogs has scored a July 20 China release, which is during China’s unofficial summer blackout. Directed by Raja Gosnell, written by Max Botkin and Mac Hyman and starring Will Arnett, Natasha Lyonne and Alan Cumming, the film follows a Rottweiler police dog and his human partner who go undercover at a prestigious dog show to stop an animal smuggling activity. The film was released in the U.S. on May 18.
The Changing Landscape of Film Distribution in China
The Changing Landscape of Film Distribution in China In China, when veteran film distributors get together, they often recall the old times when a big portion of their working time was spent building relationships with theater managers. Yet, today, in the internet era, data has become more valuable than relationships. The fact that a few traditional distribution companies recently went out of business further reflects this reality.
Who is Yoson An? Here Are 8 Things You Need To Know About Mulan’s New Love Interest
In the live action remake of Disney’s ‘Mulan’, to be released in 2020, Mulan has a new beau, Chen Honghui – played by Yoson An Long-time Disney fans will know that Mulan falls in love with her commanding officer Li Shang in the original animated movie series. However, a big change is planned for the live action remake, which will be released in 2020 – Disney is getting rid of Li Shang, and bringing in a new love interest for Mulan. Here are eight things you need to know.
GCF Outlines Key Areas of Concerns for International Cinema Operators
(Barcelona, Spain – 11 June 2018) Today, the Global Cinema Federation (GCF) released five position papers on key areas of concern and interest to cinema operators worldwide. The papers released today will guide the GCF in its efforts to advocate and educate on these issues on behalf of cinema operators around the world.
Headlines from China: ‘Deadpool 2’ Hasn’t Passed The Chinese Censorship
‘Deadpool 2’ Made Strong Debut in the U.S. But Hasn’t Scored China Release American superhero film Deadpool 2 opened in the United States last Friday and had a successful opening weekend box office, raking in 125 million domestically. In South Korea, the film has been viewed over 1 million times in theater within four days. In Hong Kong, it also set new box office records as an R-rated film. However, it’s still unclear if the film will be released in Chinese theaters.
R-Rated Films In China
Historical box office sources: Box Office Mojo (NA), 58921.com (China) Historical exchange rates: wikipedia Chinese language movie posters: Mtime Films in ALL CAPS screened uncensored in China Films in lowercase screened censored in China R-rated Hollywood films have a long history in China, dating to 1995, when True Lies entered the country as the second-ever revenue-sharing import.
Headlines from China: How the Looming Trade War Might Influence the Entertainment Sector
How the Looming Trade War Might Influence the Entertainment Sector It has been a few weeks since the United States and China started threatening each other with higher tariffs. Although there are no tariffs on entertainment products yet, it’s still possible that the looming trade war will influence the entertainment sector.
Headlines from China: Alibaba Acquires $740 Million Worth of Shares in Wanda Film
Today, Wanda Film announced that the company’s shareholder Wanda Investment had agreed to sell 90 million shares in the company to Alibaba’s investment affiliate Hangzhou Zhenxi Investment. The shares will be sold to Alibaba at 51.96 yuan ($8.27) per share for a total amount of 4.68 billion yuan ($740 million). According to the announcement, Alibaba makes this strategic investment as Wanda Film shows promising signs of future success.
Making Films that Chinese Audiences Want to See
Understanding the nuances of Chinese culture and people can make or break a movie. Hollywood has been accused of pandering to Chinese audiences in a shallow and obvious way of wooing audiences and government censors—and in some cases it has affected box office numbers. The Hollywood Reporter reported tepid audience reactions and box office sales to the latest Transformers movie, “Transformers: The Last Knight,” which earned $228 million in China, about 100 million less than its predecessor.
China Falls in Love With Bollywood All Over Again
Asian rivals India and China have started a new romance on the silver screen. After the run-away success of the sports biopic “Dangal,” or “Let’s Wrestle Dad!,” last year, Chinese audiences and film distributors have embraced Bollywood’s two-hour, song-and-dance filled offerings with a renewed relish.
Which Provinces in China Love Foreign Films the Most?
Which Provinces in China Love Foreign Films the Most? Along with the development of China’s film industry and Chinese moviegoers’ ever-changing tastes, foreign films overall perform better and better in China over the past three years. But which provinces in China love foreign films the most? According to WeChat media account yiyuguancha, foreign imports contributed more than half of the total box office in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Xinjiang in 2017.
Headlines from China: These Types of Movies Suffer Box Office Fraud The Most in China
These Types of Movies Suffer Box Office Fraud the Most in China There are many things hinder the development of China’s film market, and box office fraud is undoubtedly one of them. According to WeChat media account yiqipaidianying’s analysis, the following types of movies suffer box office fraud the most. First, cinemas in smaller cities are more likely to conduct box office fraud due to more cash transactions.
Wanda Officially Announces Exclusion of Legendary Entertainment in Restructuring
After having suspended its stocks for half a year, Wanda Film Holdings has officially announced that U.S. movie studio Legendary Entertainment will not be part of the reorganization that has been in progress in July last year. Legendary Entertainment was acquired for $3.5 billion in 2016 but has been making losses since.
Asian Brilliant Stars Announces Expanded Second Edition | China Film Insider
Asian Brilliant Stars launched its second edition today, announcing a diverse line-up of films from across Asia that will compete in several expanded categories including Best Actor/Actress in a leading role, Best Director, Best Screenwriter, Best Producer and Best New Asian Icon. Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 21st, 2018.
On Screen China: 'Paddington 2' Heeds Last Call For Imports Ahead of Holiday Blackout | China Film Insider
This weekend Britain’s critically-hailed Paddington 2 leads the final slate of imported new releases for the year, but Disney/Pixar’s Coco will conjure a magical third straight weekend box office victory as it barrels towards RMB 1 billion.
On Screen China: China To Go Cuckoo For 'Coco' This Weekend | China Film Insider
After hauling in a modest RMB 194 million* ($29.4 million) in its first full week of release in China, Disney/Pixar’s Coco eyes a rare second weekend explosion at the box office propelled by insanely strong word-of-mouth and weak competition. Pixar executives are rejoicing after the perennial China box office loser has finally snagged a bonafide hit with Coco (?????).
Film as Soft Power and Hard Currency: The Sino-Hollywood Courtship
The story of a Sino-Hollywood courtship is one about competing cultural and capital values and developmental models as well as nationalism and exceptionalism/cultural supremacy, American and Chinese, and about the shifting global power dynamic playing out in the art and artifice of filmmaking, distribution, and exhibition – a grand negotiation between capitals and capitalists.
China Chooses Chuckles Over Chan with Local Comedy 'Never Say Die' | China Film Insider
The body-swapping mixed martial arts comedy Never Say Die emerged as National Day’s clear box office victor, pummeling a field of competitive action films including Jackie Chan & Pierce Brosnan‘s The Foreigner.
Desert Tax Haven Draws Moviemakers to China’s Far West | CFI
A small Chinese city on the border with Kazakhstan has surprisingly shot to stardom among Chinese moviemakers. Dubbed China’s Cayman Islands, Khorgos Economic Development Zone has become home to nearly 1,500 film and media companies drawn to the city by its generous tax breaks. Located in northwestern China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Khorgos is a young city established in 2014. It has a population of 87,000 people — practically a small town in Chinese terms.
'Thor: Ragnarok' to be Released in China on November 3 | CFI
American superhero film ‘Thor: Ragnarök’ has scored a November 3 release date for China. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the film is a sequel to ‘Thor’ (2011) and ‘Thor: The Dark World’ (2013). Featuring Chris Hemsworth and Cate Blanchett, ‘Thor: Ragnarök’ is one of the most anticipated Hollywood movies to be released this fall. In addition to a strong cast, the film also aims to impress Chinese audiences with extraordinary visual effects.
Holiday Box Office: National Day | China Film Insider
Along with the Lunar New Year, China’s National Day holiday is one of the two so-called “golden weeks” in which citizens are given a full seven-day reprieve from work. Leisure activities such as domestic and international travel and more recently, moviegoing, take precedent during the weeklong public festival.
China Box Office: 'Apes' Prevail Again on Slow Pre-Holiday Weekend | China Film Insider
20th Century Fox’s War for the Planet of the Apes held off newcomer The Hitman’s Bodyguard as the weekend box office cooled off ahead of a historic National Day holiday onslaught. China’s re-ignited 2017 box office — currently 13%* ahead of last year’s sluggish market through September 25 — caught its breath this weekend ahead of the weeklong National Day festival which will welcome several potential high-earning domestic releases.
China Box Office: 'Apes' Rule With Strong Debut; 'Spider-Man' Holds Like a Chump | China Film Insider
War for the Planet of the Apes earned 20th Century Fox its biggest opening ever in China with an outstanding $57 million debut. Outperforming modest expectations for an action film light on action, War for the Planet of the Apes (????3?????) rode a wave of positive word of mouth to a dominant victory at China’s box office this weekend with RMB 377 million ($57.3 million), adjusted to remove online ticketing fees*.
China Box Office: 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Swings to 3rd Biggest Superhero Debut & Sony's Best Opening Ever in Territory | China Film Insider
Character recognition, Marvel brand awareness, and targeted local marketing pushed Sony’s Spider-Man: Homecoming to a franchise- and studio-best $66 million debut in China this weekend. After a sluggish start for imported films following China’s summer blackout period, Spider-Man: Homecoming delivered Hollywood’s first bona-fide box office success in nearly three months, opening with RMB 431 million* ($66 million) and giving Sony it’s best debut ever in the territory.
China Film Insider & China Hollywood Society Co-Present Web Panel: “Inside The China Box Office” | China Film Insider
China Film Insider is partnering with the China Hollywood Society to jointly present our first online event! “Insider The China Box Office”, a web panel discussing the ins and outs of the China Box Office, will take place on Thursday, September 14 at 11 am PST/2 pm EST online.
On Screen China: Spider-Man Swoops Into the Rescue | China Film Insider
Sony’s Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into China in the nick of time this weekend and looks to pull the country’s ice-cold box office out of peril. On Wednesday, the Chinese box office hit its lowest daily total in more than three months.
China Box Office: 'Dunkirk' Wins; 'Wolf' Endures; 'Valerian' Collapses | China Film Insider
Dunkirk scored a modest $28 million victory thanks to director Christopher Nolan’s popularity in China, but it was all quiet on the Western front as imported films continued to flounder following the conclusion of a red-hot domestic blackout period. All eyes now turn to Friday’s release of Spider-Man: Homecoming after another dispirited offering from Hollywood. Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk debuted with RMB 183 million* ($28.1 million) this weekend, adjusted to remove online ticketing fees.
On Screen China: Nolan's 'Dunkirk' Washes Up on Chinese Shores | China Film Insider
China’s legion of passionate Christopher Nolan fans will help push the World War II drama to an easy weekend box office victory, but general audiences — unaccustomed to both Nolan’s experimental storytelling as well as to WWII battles outside the Pacific theater, will have their patience tested. China Distribution: China Film Co., Ltd (??????????) US Distribution: Warner Bros.
China Will Be The World's Biggest Film Market By 2020? | CFI
The bullish assessment comes as box office hit ‘Wolf Warriors II’ gives the local film industry a welcome shot in the arm. China’s rapidly growing film market will surpass that of the US by 2020, says the country’s media regulator. According to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), China’s box office sales are set to reach RMB 55 billion ($8.36 billion) in 2017 alone.
Please Allow Me to Dislike Wolf Warriors II | China Film Insider
Last week a prominent Chinese film critic was slammed on social media for daring to criticize box office smash hit ‘Wolf Warrior II’, but what exactly was her critique? ‘Wolf Warriors II’ (??II) rode a wave of patriotic fervor to become the second film in history to reach $800 million in a single territory over the weekend, but not everyone is a fan.
China Box Office: Hollywood Falls Flat as Blackout Lifts | China Film Insider
After six straight weekends of a government imposed ban on imported films that helped reignite the local film industry thanks to the singular box office performance of Wolf Warrior II, Hollywood films were once again permitted into theaters this Friday, yet all three new wide releases — Valerian, Cars 3, and Baby Driver — failed to cash in with Chinese moviegoers.
Titanic’s Chinese Survivors Resurface From Depths of History | China Film Insider
More than a century after the Titanic sank in April 1912, few new stories surface from the wreck. When documentary filmmaker Arthur Jones and his team started work on “The Six” — their film about the ship’s six Chinese survivors — in 2012, they kept expecting to find that someone else had already told the story.
China Box Office: "Wolf Warrior II" Closes Out Blackout Period on High Note | China Film Insider
On its fourth weekend of release, Wolf Warrior II — already the highest-grossing film of all-time in China — punctuated its historic run with a fourth consecutive weekend atop the box office charts, fending off fierce competition from fellow action flick Paradox.
The Top 10 Male Chinese Actors You Need to Know
The year 2017 has been prolific for the Chinese film industry so far, from the star-dusted cast of the East-meets-West collaboration “The Great Wall” to Kris Wu’s bigger-than-minor character in Luc Besson’s “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,” Chinese actors are rising stars in the global film industry. Here is a list of the top 10 Chinese actors who are doing extremely well domestically, and (if not already) are likely to gain more international recognition in the coming years.
Wolf Warrior 2 and the Future of Imported Films in China | CFI
Hollywood is in the midst of negotiating the terms of foreign films’ market access to China. This movie – this particular movie – couldn’t have come at a better time for China. What a wild ride it’s been for the Chinese film industry! Until July 27, it had been a year of one depressing story after another.
Is Sci-Fi the Next Big Chinese Cultural Export After Kung Fu?
While a younger generation of Chinese readers have been voraciously reading stories from around the world for decades, Chinese science fiction has barely begun to seep into Western libraries. But those that have, have done so with resounding success. Translating Chinese novels to English has long been a way to “bridge” the cultural divide of ideas between China and the rest of the world.
How Blockbuster War Movies Capture China’s Changing Nationalism | CFI
Now the country’s highest-grossing film ever, ‘Wolf Warrior 2’ merges Hollywood-style thrills with state-sanctioned patriotism. Directed by and starring former martial artist Wu Jing, “Wolf Warrior 2” has become this year’s box office phenomenon in China. On Aug.
How Fans 'Lock Screenings' to Support Their Idols | China Film Insider
It’s no secret that the explosive growth of China’s film market in recent years has been shadowed by box office irregularities. Distributors, or cinemas sometimes report lower gross to steal profits from producers. In other cases, filmmakers might report higher box offices to make larger gains in the capital market. It turns out not only industry professionals are good at manipulating box offices. Some audiences also knows a trick or two.
China Box Office: 'Wolf Warrior II' Nears $650M, Enters Top Five All-Time in a Single Territory | China Film Insider
Patriotic action film and mega-blockbuster Wolf Warrior II scored a third straight weekend as the #1 film in the world and blew past Marvel’s The Avengers to become the fifth highest-grossing film ever from a single territory. Wolf Warrior II (??), the shoot-em-up crowd-pleaser from actor/director Wu Jing which only needed 12 days to become China’s all-time highest-grossing film, came back to earth slightly this weekend.
Film Review: 'Wolf Warriors II'
Every day while CFI’s Hollywood readers take in the business of the Chinese film industry, the actual movies can sometimes seem exotic or remote. But in major US cities, mainstream Chinese films are increasingly available: thanks to Wanda’s purchase of AMC and distributors like China Lion, they get American theatrical releases practically simultaneous to their premieres at home.
'Wolf Warrior II' Crowned King of the Chinese Box Office | China Film Insider
The patriotic action film Wolf Warrior II supplanted Stephen Chow’s The Mermaid on Wednesday to become the highest-grossing film of all-time in China. Remarkably, the film shows no signs of slowing down entering its third weekend in theaters.
Headlines from China: Netflix Announces Chinese Language Series | CFI
Netflix to Produce First Chinese Language Original Series Netflix has announced that it will produce its first Chinese language original series: an eight-episode jailbreak thriller called Bardo. The series will be directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Sam Quah, whose short film The Free Man was nominated for the Student Academy Awards in 2014. This year, the number of Netflix’s international subscribers surpassed the number of its domestic subscribers for the first time.
On Screen China: Summer Box Office Reignited By Record-Breaking 'Wolf Warriors 2' | China Film Insider
Patriotic action film Wolf Warriors 2, already China’s highest-grossing film of summer 2017 with RMB 2.2 billion ($328 million) and counting, will fly past Wonder Woman’s $397 million North American total after just its second weekend in theaters to become the summer’s top-grossing film in any single territory. Meanwhile, fantasy-romance Once Upon a Time will debut strongly thanks to the popularity of its attractive leads with a mostly female young-adult crowd.
China Box Office: 'Wolf Warriors II' Fierce in Debut, All-Time Record Under Attack | China Film Insider
Jacky Wu’s action-sequel Wolf Warriors II singlehandedly saved a beleaguered domestic box office this weekend, battling its way to an incredible RMB 921 million* ($136.7 million) debut, and bolstered by blazing word of mouth, now sets its sights on The Mermaid‘s all-time record. America meet Leng Feng (??), China’s answer to Hollywood’s greatest action heroes.
On Screen China: Nationalist Films Heat Up Frigid Summer Box Office | China Film Insider
After last weekend’s box office hit a three and a half month low, two films intended to stoke nationalism prior to Army Day on August 1 — action sequel Wolf Warriors II and the propaganda film The Founding of an Army — take on the heavy responsibility this weekend of rescuing China’s lackluster domestic blackout period.
China Box Office: Local Summer Films Flame Out | China Film Insider
Local films aren’t exactly bringing in the crowds government regulators had hoped for during the annual summer blackout period as the weekend box office dropped to its lowest total since the beginning of April. In the surest sign yet that Chinese audiences are tiring of stale domestic films, this weekend’s highest per screening attendance belonged to Universal’s Despicable Me 3 on its third weekend in theaters despite a slew of new domestic summer releases.
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