Hong Kong film director Stanley Tong is more ambitious than just
being a filmmaker - He is spearheading a new project that aims to
eventually construct China's own Hollywood.
Tong, who is also the president of the Hong Kong-based China
International Media Group Limited, on Monday inaugurated the
construction of a television and film industry base in Kunming,
capital of southwestern Yunnan province.
The Kunming TV, Film and New Media Industry Base will be located
near the tourist hotspot of Dianchi Lake. It will be jointly
invested by Tong's company and the Dianchi National Tourist
Resort.
A joint venture has been set up and has set aside three billion
yuan (US$418 million) for the plant's first phase, which when
completed will stretch over three square kilometers, Web site
Sohu.com reported.
Tong, whose popular works include "The Myth" and "Police Story
3," is confident to develop the Chinese Hollywood.
"Everything relating to the film industry will be seen there,"
Tong said about the site's scale.
To distinguish itself from shooting bases such as the Hengdian
World Studios in eastern Zhejiang province, which is already the
major shooting site for Chinese films, the Kunming base will be an
all-in-one complex integrating film and television shooting,
advanced production and tourism facilities.
The base will also contribute significantly to the country's
digital entertainment industry, Tong adds. Digital entertainment
refers to interactive entertainment, such as video games, that are
computer-made and Internet-based.
"In short, the base will push the entertainment industry to an
unprecedented level." Tong said.
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(CRI February 21, 2008)
