Focus

Movie heroes defy mountains and rivers

By Hu Yongqi (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-20 07:54

Broad selection

Most of the movies that are screened are about battles during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) or the reconstruction efforts following 1949.

Liu Wenliang, 76, who was at the Dongjiao school show, said he likes the films because they remind him of his youth. However, younger generations have more contemporary tastes.

"The movies should be more diverse so that efforts to enrich (villagers') enjoyment will be more fruitful," said Zheng Fengtian, deputy dean of Renmin University of China's school of agricultural economics and rural development.

Central authorities have invested 700 billion yuan to improve infrastructure and living standards in the countryside, especially in underdeveloped western regions, he said.

"But the government needs to pay just as much attention to people's enjoyment," added Zheng. "Film is an art form villagers would want to watch no matter how many television programs are available."

He suggested projectionists show movies that are relevant to farmers, such as those about agricultural and scientific developments that could help them harvest more.

"Our top priority is choosing movies farmers love," explained Le Kexi, general manager of China New Rural Film Screening, a company that manages film distributions in villages for China Film Group.

He said he plans to show Aftershock - director Feng Xiaogang's latest release about the 1976 earthquake in Tangshan, Hebei province - in villages once it closes in cities at the end of this month.

Screening firms are also looking into improving conditions for patrons. As most movies are shown outside at night, weather conditions play an important role and performances are often cancelled when it rains or is too cold. "We're working on giving locals a better experience," said Le. "There are plans to shift our operations to indoor venues."

History of plot twists

The first batch of mobile cinemas was set up in 1950, when 1,817 projectionists were trained in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, according to the National Film Museum in Beijing. They were an instant hit.

"It was like a gala in the 1970s and 1980s," said Wang Guangqian, general manager of Qiandongnan Film Screening Corporation. "Projectionists were extremely popular and people would even come to help us carry the equipment."

However, by the 1990s, that popularity was fading, largely due to the growing access to television, and many projectionists were forced to find alternative jobs in cities.

"The 1990s were really tough for me," said Xie, who started his career after graduating from middle school in 1983, the year before the industry hit a peak with 120,000 mobile cinemas. "It was the smiles on the people's faces that kept me going. That's why I stayed in the business."

In 1998, the Ministry of Culture and the SARFT jointly launched the 2131 Program, which was aimed at enabling more rural residents to watch movies. Between 2001 and 2005, village screenings attracted a total audience of more than 5 billion.

More than 80,000 projectionists hosted 7.7 million screenings in remote and under-developed regions last year, according to China New Rural Film Screening. On average, mobile cinemas visit villages at least once a month.

However, despite an investment of 770 million yuan by the central government last year, mobile cinemas are still facing a shortage in funds, cinema managers complained.

The SARFT already pays a subsidy of 100 yuan for every showing, with 70 yuan going to the projectionist, although officials are expected to double that this month at the National Conference on Rural Film-screening in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province.

In Guizhou, mobile cinema workers received a joint subsidy from central and provincial authorities of 87 yuan per film. The Qiandongnan prefecture is also expected to contribute 13 yuan but has not done so since September 2009.

"The shortage in funds has hindered the development of mobile cinemas in the prefecture and reduced the income of projectionists," said Yang Yilin, manager of Qiandongnan Film-screening Corporation.

Speaking in dialects

More than 80 percent of Qiandongnan's 4.4 million population belong to ethnic groups, with one-fifth ethnic Miao. Therefore, movies dubbed in the local dialects are extremely popular.

During a cinema screening this month in Tonggu, a village 30 km from the prefecture's capital of Kaili, just 100 of its 2,000 residents turned out to watch the first movie, which was in Mandarin. Yet, another 400 rushed to join them for the start of the main feature, which was the box office hit Founding of a Republic dubbed in the Miao language.

"It's amazing to see the actors playing Chairman Mao (Zedong) and Chiang Kai-shek talking in Miao," said villager Zhao Yuan'ou, 55. "I couldn't believe it that the dubbed version included lots of unique humor for Miao people."

Song Qisheng, director of Qiandongnan Film-screening Corporation's dubbing center, said the enthusiasm shown by ethnic groups has kept his team motivated. "It makes us very excited," said Song, whose office walls are covered with awards.

The studio, one of 10 nationwide, was given two new recording machines worth 300,000 yuan each last year by the SARFT. However, one has still not been used, as the studio does not have sufficient money.

The center was supposed to dub 84 films in 2009 but only got 60,000 yuan from the prefecture government - enough for just six films.

Yang Tongying, deputy director of Qiandongnan's bureau of radio, film and television, said the authority has applied for more funds to support the dubbing center.

"We understand the prefecture government generates relatively little revenue," said Song, "but our company needs another 100,000 yuan a year. The government should support us because we're doing a job people like."