娱乐英语新闻:Feng Xiaogang faces Aftershock ambush

Feng added that TV stations refuse to pay hefty amounts for a film, usually securing a work for 1 million yuan ($147,600) or even less.

He said that in the short term at least, product placement is necessary to cover costs.

"What we directors can do is just better combine products in the film, to lessen the dramatic effects," he commented.

In Feng's opinion, Aftershock's product placements are mostly reasonable and sound.

"In the film, the mother and son drink at the reunion dinner. There would be a bottle of alcohol with or without finding a sponsor," he said. Feng also revealed that he had declined several product-placement offers that he deemed unsuitable for the film.

On top of the commercial products, local media reports that Aftershock is requiring cinemas to sell tickets for at least 35 yuan ($5.16), 5 yuan ($0.74) higher than previous local films, have also ruffled film critics' feathers.

"It is for us filmmakers, investors and distributors' self-protection," Feng refuted, adding that the price hike will have little impact on cinemagoers.

"Even if we require cinemas to price at 5 yuan, they will still sell tickets to audi-ences at 50 yuan ($7.38) and then only return 5 yuan of the profit to us," he said.

He added that the minimum ticket price for a Hollywood blockbuster is usually 45 yuan ($6.64).

"If we can accept that price for a Hollywood production, why not contribute more to a local film?"