La La Land (Photo : Rachal Chisholm/YouTube)
After the Golden Globes Best Picture awardee “La La Land” was cleared by China’s censor for theatrical exhibition, an exhibition date has been set. The musical would open in the second-largest movie market on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
To help promote “La La Land” in China is the country’s tech giant, Tencent, which recently apologized for hosting a company party wherein there was simulated oral sex game involving employees with a video that became viral on social media. Lionsgate, the producer of “La La Land,” entered into a partnership with Tencent Pictures, the film arm of Tencent.
2nd Hollywood Venture
Tencent Pictures previously promoted another Hollywood movie, “Warcraft,” in mid-2016. It would not be on a revenue-sharing scheme since the film would be imported on flat fee terms, Variety reported. To handle the movie’s release in China are China Film Co., backed by Joy Pictures and Baian Film.
While Tencent has resources to promote “La Land” since it operates WeChat and QQ messaging service with more than 800 million subscribers, plus the company has investments in online ticketing services and payment gateways, there is the question if musicals would hit with Chinese moviegoers. Lionsgate, though, could hope that by Feb. 14, the audience would have enough of the Lunar New Year local films and the movie being a nominee in the Oscar Awards – which airs on Feb. 28 in China – would generate sufficient interest among Chinese film fans who stayed away from poor quality movies in the second half of 2016.
Oscar Nominations
According to Goldderby, “La Land” is predicted to get 14 nominations in the Oscars which would tie the record held by the 1950’s movie “All About Eve” and the 1997 film “Titanic.” The possible nominations include Best Director and Best Writer for Damien Chazelle, who if he wins, would make Academy Awards history as the youngest at age 32.
