New summer blockbusters.

[IamGroot]

I dont watch films (or TV),.

My kids tell me the new summer movies are aimed at the Chinese office, a way bigger market than the English speaking one. Think Godzilla in reverse.

The dialogue is dumbed down, the plot is secondary to visual effects and chinese celebrities appear in ancillary roles.

 

[sissy kathy]

Well what do you expect, they follow the money. They better have the premiere release in Shanghai or Beijing though or Shaw Brothers will have six different clones out before it shows there.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Almost any movie today will make more money overseas, so the plots have to be simple enough to subtitle.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Doesn't make much sense actually. Isn't that country one among many that limit the influence from outside it's borders? Products I understand. They make a cheap knock off of everything imaginable. Anything that could cast a light other than what they want their fine citizens to know? I'm skeptical.

 

[ituobrey]

And translucent. And groovy. Think Marvel franchise et al. Good guys and bad guys are fantasy characters, so little chance of social commentary.

 

[TOOL460002]

Well Marvel isnt releasing a movie for a while so this time will likely be packed with movies.

 

[TOOL460002]

Well Marvel isnt releasing a movie for a while so this time will likely be packed with movies.

 

[ituobrey]

Additionally, when overdubbing, there is no rule about sticking to the original dialogue. Simply have characters say what you want your audience to hear.

 

[sissy kathy]

Doesn't make much sense actually. Isn't that country one among many that limit the influence from outside it's borders? Products I understand. They make a cheap knock off of everything imaginable. Anything that could cast a light other than what they want their fine citizens to know? I'm skeptical.

Yeah, but they aren't hermits, they have knowledge of the world around them.

 

[Funky Ghost]

And translucent. And groovy. Think Marvel franchise et al. Good guys and bad guys are fantasy characters, so little chance of social commentary.

Mostly... I mean Captain America? c'mon - Most of the movies are shot in American cities with the western way of life on full display - so while not specifically used as a plot point it is certainly front and center.

Certainly other genres are much less socially "polluting" ( for lack of a better term - and I am somewhat reticent to use it here... it seem as if it could be interpreted as offensive yet isn't meant that way )

I'm not saying it isn't possible, but I think that the major movie makers are still at a disadvantage until the laws ( which took a step in the right direction in '17 ) become more advantageous to foreign companies. The potential market is HUGE, obviously.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Yeah, but they aren't hermits, they have knowledge of the world around them.

True enough, but that isn't the same as being able to without repercussions. Again, it seems things are moving in an inclusive direction but they aren't there yet, if we're honest. It is a wonderful vehicle to further that journey though.

 

[hrodbert696]

It is not true that the Chinese market (~$8m) is bigger than the American one (~$10m). But it's close enough that you nearly double your potential revenue if you can get it across there. So I'm sure that studio executives have an eye on it, especially for big-budget (action/FX/blockbuster) movies that can end your career if they flop. International box office OTHER than China continues to be more important than China (or the US) alone.

How important is international box office to Hollywood?

 

[Funky Ghost]

It is not true that the Chinese market (~$8m) is bigger than the American one (~$10m). But it's close enough that you nearly double your potential revenue if you can get it across there. So I'm sure that studio executives have an eye on it, especially for big-budget (action/FX/blockbuster) movies that can end your career if they flop. International box office OTHER than China continues to be more important than China (or the US) alone.

How important is international box office to Hollywood?

I think what gets lost in translation is that even though the population of China is massive the majority of those people are not in a financial position, or even in a proximity position to view movies in a theater.

 

[hrodbert696]

I think what gets lost in translation is that even though the population of China is massive the majority of those people are not in a financial position, or even in a proximity position to view movies in a theater.

The article linked also mentions that the Chinese revenue figures are a bit misleading, as less of the gross ticket revenue goes back to the studios as in domestic ticket sales.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Ah, you guys...

The dialogue is dumbed down, the plot is secondary to visual effects and chinese celebrities appear in ancillary roles.

So basically the same as before, plus Chinese celebrities?

If anything, I see it as an opportunity to make Hollywood blockbusters less dumb.