ChinaTalk China + Hollywood: are we heading for a divorce?
May 13, 2022
Erich Schwartzel, author of "Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy", joins for a fascinating discussion on Hollywood's rocky relationship with China. They delve into the motivations behind the director of "Seven Years in Tibet" apologizing years later and the challenges filmmakers face with censorship. The conversation explores how Richard Gere's career highlights the moral dilemmas of the industry and examines the growing influence of Chinese domestic productions on Hollywood's future. Cultural exchange, complex narratives, and cinematic diplomacy take center stage.
01:16:54
Seven Years in Tibet Controversy
- In the mid-90s, Hollywood saw a surge in Buddhist themes, with Richard Gere championing the Dalai Lama.
- Sony's film, Seven Years in Tibet, faced immediate backlash from Chinese authorities, threatening Sony's presence in China.
Red Dawn Remake Alterations
- The 2009 Red Dawn remake, featuring a Chinese invasion, faced pressure from Chinese authorities.
- MGM digitally altered the film, changing the invaders to North Koreans, reflecting the then-different geopolitical climate.
Titanic's Impact in China
- Titanic's success in China was a watershed moment for Western films.
- Zhang Zemin praised the film, viewing it as a case study in soft power and even an instruction manual for winning hearts and minds.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Hollywood's Tug-of-War with China
01:58 • 11min
Cinematic Diplomacy: China Meets Hollywood
12:58 • 22min
Navigating Hollywood's Fragile Relationship with China's Film Market
34:40 • 6min
Hollywood's Uncertain Future in China
40:31 • 11min
Censorship and Cinema: A Comparative Analysis
51:48 • 19min
Cultural Contrast: A Young Leader's First Encounter with American Pop Culture
01:10:50 • 4min
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China is now the largest market for movies globally, and there have long been whispers about exactly how this impacts Hollywood decisions when it comes to scripts and casting.
This episode I’m joined by Erich Schwartzel, author of Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy, for a deep dive into the world of Chinese cinema, Chinese movies abroad and China in Hollywood.
Along with co-host Irene Liu, a research analyst at Rhodium Group, we get into:
- Why the director of Seven Years in Tibet apologized to China 15 years after its release
- Which tech giant has a minority stake in Steven Spielberg’s production company
- Whether Richard Gere is unhireable
- Why the Kenyan official responsible for importing films loves Chinese ones
- The American movies makers involved in Wolf Warriors
Irina Nistor, the Romanian translator of Rambo: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/18/opinion/vhs-vs-communism.html.
Chuck Norris vs Communism was a fantastic movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znp1dNaPp3k
Outro music: My New Swag (我的新衣) by VAVA feat. Ty. and Nina Wang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aknkofx2bHg
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