The Chinese government had re-opened hundreds of movie theaters in their big metropolitan cities just four days ago, well, clearly, that was a bad idea. Due to the COVID-19 virus slowly creeping back into the Chinese mainland, China’s film bureau demanded that the 500 movie theaters that were re-opened must shut down immediately [Via Variety]. The official reason why is still unknown, but many are speculating that Chinese authorities are aware of a potential second wave of coronavirus cases about to strike China in the next few days.
Read more“Green Book" Becomes Box-Office Phenomenon in China
Rami Malek's Acceptance Speech Censored in China; Words “Gay Man" Replaced With “Special Person"
Chinese streaming site Mango TV cut OFF the phrase "gay man" from Rami Malek’s Oscar speech.
Malek was trying to honor young people struggling with their identity when he said “listen, we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life unapologetically himself,” but chinese censors replaced “gay man” with “special group.”
Screen grabs of the moment went viral on Chinese social media.
China is known to ban or censor gay-themed content in apprehensive ways. Last year, for example, they banned gay romance “Call Me by Your Name” from appearing at the Beijing International Film Festival. Gay-themed storytelling has also been banned from television for many years now, ditto online streaming content.
Art House Film ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ Breaking Box-Office Records In China
Consider me shocked by the surprising success Bi-Gan's “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” is having at the Chinese box-office. The film, which I raved about earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, is as artsy as they come. Even some of the highest-browed critics I know have admitted how hard the film is to fully appreciate. However, don't say that to Chinese audiences who have made Bi Gan's film a record-breaking success in box office pre-sales. No doubt, this has to do with the film switching midway into an incredible, 59-minute one take sequence, in 3D no less. The plot is overtly-complicated, I'm still not sure what it's fully about, but the craft is beyond exceptional.
“Long Day’s Journey Into Night” has earned $15 million and counting in ticket sales, and it doesn't even open in China until December 31. It's set to open in U.S. theaters sometime next year.
Hollywood and China: Chinese Movie Star Still Missing, "Crazy Rich Asians" Not Being Released in China and Government Crackdowns
Something very sketchy is happening in China's film community. A THR article has this subheadline:
"With Fan Bingbing accused of tax fraud, 'Crazy Rich Asians' failing to land a Chinese release and film stocks plummeting, president Xi Jinping's crackdown on "money worship" is reshaping the country's cultural landscape: "The government is going to make examples out of a lot of high-profile people."
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The ‘Smile’ franchise has a new director. David Bruckner, who made “The Night House” and the 2022 “Hellraiser” reboot, has been hired to direct “Smile 3” for Paramount.