CRI听力:Qingdao aims to become oriental movie metropolis

The 2017 Asia Media Summit recently wrapped up in Qingdao.

The event brought Qingdao to the attention of the world. The summit hopes to provide an effective platform for communications between countries.

Additionally, it also enables people outside of China to understand the city's progress in the film and television industry.

Shen Ting has more.

The 2017 Asia Media Summit was attended by more than 450 representatives from 48 countries.

Chinese vice premier Liu Yandong delivered a keynote speech to celebrate the opening of the Asia Media Summit earlier this month. She thinks that deepening media cooperation will facilitate regional cooperation to broader fields and to deeper levels.

"I believe that as long as we work together side by side, we will be able to reach higher levels of media exchange and cooperation. The summit can unite us and help make contributions to implementing the 2030 sustainable development agenda."

A new round of technological revolution also generated an obvious impact on journalism.

Bangladesh information minister Hasanul Haq Inu thinks the summit in Qingdao holds great significance.

"The media has been playing an important role in our efforts to cope with poverty and promote development. We hope to forge close cooperation with radio stations in Qingdao, enabling Chinese citizens to deepen their understanding about the national conditions, economy and culture of Bangladesh. Also, we may better understand Qingdao city."
 

Digitalization is changing the course of media development, and it has led to the emergence of many new business models.

The VICE media group has also set a clear goal to attract the interest of people aged between 18 to 35 years old. The group has made progress since it entered China in 2013.

Meng Jinhui is the founder of VICE media group – China.

"When it comes to young people; their interests keep changing. So, the content we produce is often centered on these points of interest in order to connect with them. High-quality content is the core product, which is also the key to a competitive media company. Good content will help us to communicate better with our audience."
 

An important part of the 2017 Asia Media Summit is a global summit on film and television production.

Australian independent filmmaker Martin Brown is among those who attended the event.

"The wide success in the film industry is to encourage people who have bright stories to tell. I think what audiences want is to experience wonderful stories that are thought-provoking and moving emotionally. And story-tellers are the beginning of that process. I think if you can discover great story tellers in the local area and support them, then everything follows from that."
 

On the sidelines of the summit, David Wilson, a director and artist based in London paid a visit to the Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis, a mega-industrial park.

"I like Hollywood films as much as anyone. But I feel sometimes there are so many more stories to be told from around the world, and children's stories in particular, starting with children's stories; fairy tales. There's a real opportunity now for the U.K. and China in particular to embrace this new production facility in Qingdao and for us to work together to do something really special."
 

With an investment of 30 billion Yuan, the mega-industrial park covers two million square meters, providing base for more than 100 film and television institutions. The building of this park echoes the municipal government's preferential policies on film and TV production.

Qingdao authorities are determined to set up a complete industrial chain, ranging from a base for shooting films, distribution and production.

Rao Shuguang is the secretary-general of the China Film Association.

"The development of the film industry demands great input, from professional filmmakers like directors, cinema photographers, lighting engineers, and even the lunchbox suppliers. The film industry's long-term effects on an economy can be gradually revealed only when the relevant facilities are improved. Now Qingdao takes the lead nationwide in structuring its film industry and building up necessary facilities. If the city can make progress in its level of professionalism and internationalization in addition to creating an active, healthy and enthusiastic movie-going public, Qingdao will definitely enjoy a graceful future in the film industry."
 

Qingdao is also applying to be named a UNESCO City of Film.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was created in 2004, covering seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Music and Media Arts.

The network aims to promote cooperation between cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. It currently consists of 116 members from 54 countries.

To date, UNESCO has granted the title of City of Film to eight cities. Qingdao aspires to become the 9th UNESCO City of Film. This is something that local filmmakers are eager to see.

Zhang Wei is the chairman of Qingdao Mingyang film and TV company.

"The city's application process would also promote the local film industry's development. Qingdao owns many unique advantages in developing its film industry. I've found Qingdao and Los Angeles are similar in certain ways after we shot a movie in LA last year. The basic nature of these two cities are equally good, however the city government and movie fans in Qingdao need to work together from now on, in order to cultivate a conducive environment for the industry's development. The film industry would provide young people with good job opportunities."
 

According to Sun Lijie, a local publicity official from the Qingdao municipal committee, Qingdao plans to spend three to six years marketing itself as a headquarters for film and television companies.

By 2020, it hopes to attract more than 200 film and television businesses, and generate an added value of over six billion yuan.

For CRI, I'm Shen Ting.