CHINA MAY LOOSEN GRIP
Rumors swirl around artistic freedom
"Rumor has it there may be two versions, but both will still have to be vetted," said Ng, the managing director of Seasonal Film Corp. and chairman of the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Ma Fung-kwok, the managing director of the Media Asia Group, said he believes freedom of expression will be protected in Hong Kong, though he thinks people will have to continue to exercise their rights.
"We're very concerned about artistic freedom," said Ma, who is a member of the Beijing-orchestrated Provisional Legislature, which takes over from Hong Kong's elected body in July.
"The trade must make its voice heard. If they disagree with something, the whole society must speak out."
Industryites gathered here last weekend for a 50-year retrospective on the Hong Kong's pic biz hailed the move --- a big step for Chinese authorities, who have always kept a tight lease on homegrown and foreign filmmakers.
Over the past few years, Hong Kong producers and directors have found great success with movies made on the mainland. And with Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty set for July 1, the territory's film community is paying close attention to developments on the mainland that may affect them.
Ng knows how difficult that vetting process can be. A film must make it past a committee of a dozen or so bureaucrats. And, if it's a period piece such as "The Soong Sisters," which deals with the powerful wives of three Chinese leaders, it must also pass muster with a committee of historians.
In this case, Ng said cuts were made but many controversial scenes did survive.
"Chinese authorities exercise censorship," Ng added. "It changes with the political situation. We have seen tightening of those rules.
"They see films as propaganda. If the divorce rate is going up, the word comes down to make fewer films with extramarital affairs."
Manfred Wong, the man behind the popular "Young and Dangerous" series, said he continues to have trouble getting approval from Beijing to film his screenplay called "Wind and Cloud" on the mainland. He said hasn't get the go-ahead because the story focuses on an anti-hero.
"They want heroes and villains," Wong said. "No gray areas."
