China's new year box office sales reach record 1 billion yuan

12-28-2010 08:37 BJT

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China's new year box-office results are expected to break the record of 1 billion yuan. Spurring on the rising ticket sales are four homegrown movies. The fierce battle taking place in cinemas across China.

"Just Call Me Nobody" is the first hit of the new year movie season. The comedy has exceeded 150 million yuan at the box office since being released on December the 3rd. Director Chen Kaige's "Sacrifice", which hit the big screen one day later, has broken 200 million yuan.

At present, the biggest winner is actor-turned director Jiang Wen's "Let the Bullets Fly". The film took in over 30 million on the first day of release on December 16th when 765,000 watched the film. The number broke the record of 763,000 viewers of "Avatar". And the bullets did fly fast as it exceeded 100 million yuan in three days, the quickest of any Chinese film. It's expected to reach 300 million by the end of this week.

Wang Renyin, Film Critic, said, "'Let the Bullets Fly' showed more viewers' what a film should be. The imagination runs wild. It makes people laugh and think, especially among the young people who say they are energized by the film."

"Just Call Me Nobody"（"Da Xiao Jianghu"）, a costume comedy set in ancient times, wrapped up shooting recently and is scheduled to be released on December 3, Mtime.com reports.

The fourth big hit this season is the sequel of "If You Are the One". Over 920 thousand viewers watched the romantic comedy on the first day of its release on December 22nd, breaking the record set one week earlier by "Let the Bullets Fly". The combined box office take of the four big films might raise the entire sales of the new year season by 100 million yuan. That makes the goal of 10 billion yuan in ticket sales for 2010 attainable.

Ground of box office battle in new year movie season

12-28-2010 08:37 BJT

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Behind the four big new year movies are China's most bankable directors. The fierce competition with each other has also contributed to the hot sales at the box office. One popular cinema the front line of the battle.

Pay a visit at one of the most popular cinema in western Beijing on the weekend, you'll find the sequel of "If You Are The One" and "Let the Bullets Fly" have taken up 66 of the total 70 releases in one day.

How many viewers watch a film today will determine the number releases it will get tomorrow.

So what impacts the audience's choices?

Movie Goer, said, "The trailer. An attractive trailer is alluring. "

Movie Goer, said, "My first impression on a film comes from its trailer. Then it's the comment of my friends who watched it."

Behind the four big new year movies are China's most bankable directors. The fierce competition with each other has also contributed to the hot sales at the box office.

Lu Yang, Release Manager of BJ Jackie Chan Cinema, said, "The first step of a successful publicity of a film is kicked off by its trailer. However, the quality of the film is the key. Running a long and profitable box office depends on the comments of the movie-goers and the critics. "

Many insiders believe that China's movie industry has entered a period of phenomenal growth. The growth rate of the box office averaged 30 percent in recent years, a record level in world movie history, but movie lovers sincerely expect that the growth is not only on the numbers but the quality.

Peking Opera's reunion in Shanghai

12-28-2010 08:53 BJT

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Though Peking Opera is named after China's capital, Beijing, there are in fact some other schools of Peking opera, like those of Tianjin and Shanghai. Now, these schools are joining with the Beijing school to give an exhilarating performance for their fans in Shanghai.

On December 23rd and 25th, Peking Opera's three mainstream schools of Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, got together to provide a magnificent audio/visual feast for the Shanghai audience.

This Peking Opera Exchange Concert was a tribute to an historical event-Peking Opera has just been successfully included on the Intangible World Cultural Heritage List.

The most attractive point of this exchange concert was that, for the first time, it included the most popular three schools of Peking Opera in just one performance.

On December 23rd and 25th, Peking Opera's three mainstream schools of Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, got together to provide a magnificent audio/visual feast for the Shanghai audience.

Art of flower arrangement

12-28-2010 08:53 BJT

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Winter is a perfect time to think springy thoughts like flowers. For centuries, people have picked flowers to decorate their homes.

They do it not only to add color or fragrance, but for the pure joy of elegance and leisure. On today's Style Watch, we visit a flower shop, where flower arranging is an art.

Winter is a perfect time to think springy thoughts like flowers.

Prices of Chinese ancient scripts and books soar

12-28-2010 08:37 BJT

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Let's focus our attention on the auction of ancient Chinese scripts and books. Since the autumn of 2009, there has been a renewed passion about ancient scripts and books among collectors, resulting in soaring prices in the market. Now we go to an auction in Nanjing and get a glimpse at the frenzy.

A twelve-volume compilation from the Ming Dynasty, some 600 years ago, was auctioned for 1.9 million yuan in Nanjing. But the estimated price had been only 600 thousand yuan in 2009.

Some 440 scripts and books appeared at the auction. And most of the lots were sold far above their pre-auction estimated prices.

Fu Guojun, Auction House Manager, said, "Most of the buyers are investors. Those who really love and study ancient scripts and books can no longer afford them. Scripts and books were much cheaper one or two years ago. But their prices have surged dramatically."

Moreover, compared to paintings and porcelain, it costs more to make fake books. Therefore, investors feel less concerned about authenticity.

Since the autumn of 2009, there has been a renewed passion about ancient scripts and books among collectors, resulting in soaring prices in the market.

Zhang Zongxiang, Auction House Manager, said, "It is less likely for a fraud to want to forge ancient scripts. Because it is very hard for him to find the right paper and ink."

Insiders also said that the limited number of the category currently circulating in market is also one of the driving factors for the high prices.

Experts: Chinese manufacturers need technology innovation

12-28-2010 09:02 BJT

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Over the past decade, China has become the largest manufacturer of products, making around 10 percent of the world's sneakers and 95 percent of computer parts. But the large "scale" has failed to create large "profits", and domestic companies have become cheap labor for international manufacturers.

Experts say Chinese firms must improve technology and added value to develop high-end products and become more competitive in the global market. Many manufacturers are also seeking to expand their business to services, which in turn boosts their manufacturing.

Editor:Xiong Qu |Source: CNTV.CN

S. Africa joins BRIC group

12-28-2010 09:34 BJT

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BRIC is set to become BRICS. The economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China has welcomed its newest member -- South Africa.

The four BRIC countries have reached consensus to absorb South Africa as an official member of its bloc. South Africa says joining the BRIC cooperation scheme is the best Christmas gift the country could get. As the biggest economy in Southern Africa, South Africa expressed its desire to join BRIC in February this year.

President Jacob Zuma visited Brazil in April, India in June, and Russia and China in August. South Africa says joining BRIC could further enhance economic relations among southern African countries, and the other four BRIC countries.

Editor:Xiong Qu |Source: CNTV.CN