Several US producers are eyeing foreign co-productions in China due to the attractive financial incentives. However, caution is advised for the following reasons:
- Domestic film output in China cannot meet the demand due to a dramatic increase in cinema screens, leading to the government offering incentives to attract foreign co-productions.
- All money for co-productions is managed by China Film Group through their subsidiary, China Film Coproduction Corporation (CFCC).
- CFCC, which is responsible for 100% of foreign co-productions, is under the State Administration of Radio Film & TV (SARFT), which approves all scripts. SARFT is notorious for controlling the media to ensure all scripts meet government standards.
- Co-producing with a government body is a double-edged sword. Although it offers a smooth shooting experience, disputes over creative changes, finance, or schedule changes can leave co-producers with no legal standing.
- Scripts must be free of inflammatory content and contain components that support the government ideology, leading to lots of compromise and little artistic freedom.
Despite China’s growth as a market for international studios, foreign co-productions are still few and far between due to the strict censorship and limitations. While a company with the right script or willing to make changes might have a great co-production experience, it’s important to proceed with caution.
