The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Does China control Hollywood?

Jul 14, 2022

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.

01:04:06

Episode guests

Erich Schwartzel

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Ministry of Propaganda

01:08

The Pressure to Make a Good Film

00:36

The Complacency of Hollywood Executives

00:58

Intro

3min

Hollywood's Chinese Challenge

16min

China's Market Impact on Education and Entertainment

4min

Hollywood Meets China: Navigating Market Dynamics

20min

Exploring the Decline of American Films in China

2min

Hollywood Meets China: Navigating Cinema's Complex Landscape

16min

Exploring the Depths of Film and Storytelling

3min

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

Guests: Erich Schwartzel (@erichschwartzel), reporter, The Wall Street Journal; author

References:

Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy by Erich Schwartzel (Penguin; 2022)

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

Get the app