As homegrown films continue to soar, the Chinese film market gains increasing interest from foreign film studios and outfits. (Photo : www.chinesefilms.cn)
Hong Kong-based director Raman Hui announced on March 26 at a conference in Beijing his plan on making his latest movie "Monster Hunt" as the Chinese version of the hit movie "Shrek."
Hui, co-director of "Shrek the Third," the third installment of the Shrek franchise, and the short film "Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five," stated that China has a much wider market than the U.S.
"The United States has a total population of around 320 million, and the figure in China is (about) 1.36 billion. It means China has a much wider market than the U.S.," Hui said.
"But why does the U.S. have the best animated movies in the world? When can China boast about its homegrown productions around the world?" Hui added.
The director, who has been in Hollywood for almost 20 years, is eager to show Chinese moviegoers what he had learned in the world's most famous entertainment industry.
"Monster Hunt" is a Chinese-language fantasy which highlights the adventures of the adorable monster Hu Ba, similar to Baymax, a robotic superhero from the Disney 3-D hit "Big Hero 6."
According to Hui, he had thought of turning the white carrot into a monster while cooking the vegetable. Thus, it became his inspiration for the movie.
Despite the prejudice to the cruel roles of monsters in Chinese movies, Hu Ba, created by a special-effects team from the U.S., is a kind-hearted "king of monsters."
Mainland actresses Tang Wei and Yao Chen and Hong Kong actor Wallace Chung are the stars of the movie, which will be released on July 16.
Heartthrob Chung, who described his role as "the most evil character" in the movie, will play as a "monster hunter" who cooks monsters into delicious dishes.
"So the movie can be simply depicted as a battle that breaks out due to a gluttonous appetite," Chung jokingly said.
Tang, who also plays as Chung's fellow "monster hunter," described the film as a happy movie that made her laugh all the while during shooting.
