International
Hollywood studios laud China’s willingness to treat US films more fairly
MUMBAI: The recent move of the Chinese government to comply with a World Trade Organisation order to treat US films more fairly has been lauded by studio executives in Hollywood.
But privately, they wonder how it will shake out and when because the Chinese government has yet to sign a WTO Memorandum of Understanding.
Hollywood had agreed to live with the resulting agreement because it could be revisited in five years. A fine ticking point was revenue-sharing: The studios wanted 30 per cent but had to settle for 25 (previously, it was 13 to 17 per cent).
Beijing-based DMG Entertainment’s CEO Dan Mintz said, “Obviously, from the top-line level, all of this is good. But it‘s important to remember that the quota is just one layer that is used by the powers that be to control things. They have censorship, they control all the screens and hold control over when a film comes on against which competition and how long it stays in theatres.”
The Chinese market is too hot for Hollywood studios not to keep trying. In 2008, the local box-office intake was $630 million; in 2011, it reached a massive $2.1 billion. Theatre construction is also growing by bounds spurring a proliferation of state-of-the-art 3D screens. And this is where Hollywood has the upper hand as its proliferation of 3D films deliver much-needed content.
It may be noted that five of China‘s 10 top-grossing films in 2011 were 3D studio releases, all of them from Hollywood. In 2011, Transformers: Dark of the Moon (3D) was China‘s top-grossing title, earning $172 million.
Interestingly, had the new revenue-sharing deal been in effect then, Paramount would have seen a return of $43 million compared to $26 million.
The first 3D release set to open in China this year is Titanic 3D, in early April. No one — not even the film‘s overseas distributor, Fox — knows whether the new rules will be in place by then, but most studios believe they will by summer.
It is also uncertain as to which 3D titles China will accept this year from films like The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises, Brave, The Avengers, Men in Black III and Madagascar 3.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
