As a big fan of Hong Kong gangster flicks especially and it saddened me when i read a recent article May 2011 about the lack of Hong Kong films being shown at Cannes, which is a major film festival for auteurs. Truth is, at least so I've read, is that the Hong Kong film industry is in a tight spot with getting funding for it filmmaking.
Both as a source of capital and as a film industry that is finding its own feet, China, who since the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 and has since formed co-productions with Hong Kong filmmakers, now seems to be edging away from HK and apart from the few exceptions for example:Hong Kong actors - Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Donnie Yen who both have a good relationship with the mainland, there doesn't seem to be much entertaining output from the Chinese film industry. Even one of my favourite directors Johnnie To has had to take a backseat to making romantic comedies for the Chinese film industry in order to keep his Chinese investors happy, so that he can continue making the gangster films that he is known for.
Simply, the Hong Kong film industry is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Neither having the market that or the industry that it once did in the early 80's to early 90's, Hong Kong film industry has had to jump through hoops in order to deliver its product for China and pass China's strict regulation the SAFRT ( State Administration Of Film And Radio ), which includes a policy of no gangster flicks, or horror or sex. It's questionable whether the Chinese censorship board changes it's rules from time to time simply on the grounds of protecting its own interest, in representing the cultural interests of the People's Republic of China, but either way, since the Hong Kong film industry which formerly used to rely on exports to other East Asian countries, no longer exists thanks to illegal downloads of films widely available online, and lack of support from it's own people.
And then there's Jackie Chan. In his prime, he was a film industry unto himself. Add to the mix his martial arts colleague Samo Hung and Wushu master Jet Li and the 80's-90's actors was bursting with talent. But now...who do we have? Well no offense to the talent that's out there now, but we don't have any immediate martial arts star replacement. Bejing Martial Arts star, Jackie Wu Jing went back to Mainland to shoot TV, and...that's it.
Sadly the entertainment and fun of Eastern action cinema has been replaced by dull boring mainland Chinese cinema that no longer has interest for the senses, and seems to be following a worldwide trend of glamourous image cultivation rather than genuine entertainment or care for it's audience.
Lets support our culture and heritage, while we still have it!
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