In this engaging discussion, Erich Schwartzel, a Wall Street Journal reporter and author of "Red Carpet," unravels the complex relationship between Hollywood and China. He explores how the Chinese market shapes blockbuster budgets and affects storylines through censorship. Schwartzel highlights the challenges American films face in appealing to Chinese audiences, citing the decline of their success and the impact of domestic competitors. The conversation sheds light on how filmmakers balance cultural adaptation with artistic integrity in this evolving cinematic landscape.
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Shifting Cinematic Landscape in China
A Chinese moviegoer born in the 70s would have grown up watching mainly state-sponsored propaganda films.
This changed in 1994 with the arrival of American movies like "The Fugitive", marking a shift in cinematic exposure.
insights INSIGHT
CCP's Influence on Hollywood
The Chinese Communist Party approves every movie shown in China, influencing Hollywood's content.
This control extends to political themes, time travel, and LGBTQ+ representation, limiting market access.
question_answer ANECDOTE
"In Good Company" Rejection
The 2005 film "In Good Company" was rejected in China due to its theme of challenging authority.
This highlights the CCP's sensitivity to narratives that question established hierarchies.
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Red Carpet explores the complex relationship between Hollywood and China, highlighting how China's influence in the film industry reflects a broader struggle for cultural supremacy. The book delves into the history of Hollywood's entanglement with foreign governments and the impact of China's growing film industry on global entertainment. It also examines how China uses its influence to control the narrative of China globally through film.
How to Change
The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Katy Milkman
In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
Vox's Alissa Wilkinson talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Erich Schwartzel about Red Carpet, his new book detailing the myriad ways that Hollywood movies are affected by China. They discuss how Chinese markets are essential for the budgetary math of big blockbusters, the role of the Chinese Communist Party's censors play in shaping the content of American films, and what this complicated global relationship might for Hollywood's future — and the future of movies in general.
Host: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), film critic and senior culture reporter, Vox
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