"Captain America" helmers Anthony and Joe Russo collaborate with Chinese producers to make a hero movie locally dubbed as "Captain China." (Photo : Getty Images)
China appears to be emerging as the conqueror of Hollywood as more American film producers sign deals with Chinese firms, leaving some worried about the stability of movie-related jobs in the United States.
A report from Fox News is predicting how one of America's most famous "exports may soon be an import" as more Hollywood production companies partner with the emerging Chinese entertainment industry.
The outlet warned that while China is sure to snag the title of being the top film market in the world from the U.S., it may be able to take more than that.
"But some caution that deals with Chinese film companies amount to signing away some of our hard-fought freedoms, and could even cost Americans jobs," the Fox report said.
Hollywood-Chinese Deals
A number of hotshots in Hollywood filmmaking are already crossing borders by joining Chinese movie producers in their upcoming new projects.
According to China Film Insider, Marvel's Russo Brothers Anthony and Joe Russo are teaming up with Beijing FangJin Visual Media Culture Communication Company to produce a Chinese action sci-fi movie with a running title that directly translates to "The Hero's Awakening."
The film, which local media has dubbed as "Captain China" thanks to the Russo Brothers' Marvel blockbuster hit, is reportedly a superhero origin flick with a budget of "about $30 million," Joe Russo tolf the Los Angeles Times.
Meanwhile, "Batman" producer Michael Uslan revealed to Fox 411 that he has signed a collaboration with China's Huayi Brothers Media Corporation and Huace Pictures for his upcoming movies.
"The sleeping giant has awakened," Uslan said, referring to China's gradually growing film market.
According to Uslan, "Hollywood is near panic" when it comes to China's emerging market as they scramble to get their hands in a Chinese film producer to team up.
"Sitting under an umbrella in Hollywood and waiting for them (China) to come to you will never happen," Uslan warned.
The Effects
While it may be a blossoming opportunity for filmmakers in terms of investment, Hollywood's partnership with Chinese firms may have detrimental effects on the movie content as well as the jobs related to it.
"China's content control means companies in a free nation are ceding control to a government that has no belief in those freedoms. Look at the remake of 'Red Dawn.' The villains were changed from Chinese to North Koreans because China wasn't happy," Media Research Center VP of Business and Culture Dan Gainor noted.
Meanwhile, one unnamed filmmaker explained to Fox how this development in the film industry can affect jobs in the U.S.
"Filmmaking is no different than any other industry. It's construction and electrical work and computer graphics and drinking coffee every morning and hitting the job site. It's going to go where the labor is cheap and the dollar goes the farthest. China is an obvious destination," he said, adding that it is "not a new phenomenon."
