STORY: China, Australia seek extensive film cooperation
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 21, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 22, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:20
LOCATION: ADELAIDE, Australia
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TONY COOMBS, CEO of Australia's Harvest Pictures Group
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANDREW ROBB, Former Australian Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism
3. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHOU JIANDONG, Vice chairman of China Film Producers' Association
4. various of the Australia China International Film Festival

STORYLINE:

Chinese and Australian filmmakers leveled up their cooperation during the Australia China International Film Festival, which closed on Thursday in Adelaide, saying they will "make their storytelling intertwined better."

Tony Coombs, CEO of Australia's Harvest Pictures Group, has been engaged in film and television exchanges between China and Australia for more than 10 years.

He told Xinhua on Thursday that the two countries need to have more co-productions.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TONY COOMBS, CEO of Australia's Harvest Pictures Group
"Co-productions are fantastic. If you can find a story that is culturally appropriate and really interesting to certainly the Chinese audience and the Australian audience, but also for the international market, fantastic. So we know that we have an official government trading between China and Australia for co-productions. We must focus on this, but also other aspects. I'm happy to work in China as a producer. Sometimes the Chinese can come out and give us advice on the effects, or other aspects. It's a strong framework from which to step forward. Starting with the writing, things like production design, we can learn a lot from each other, technology-sharing, many things."

Former Australian Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism Andrew Robb said he supported a lot of legislation to provide incentives for the film industry, and for other countries including China to come to Australia and make movies.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANDREW ROBB, Former Australian Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism
"There's a lot that we do here for all sorts of reasons, which is valuable to China. And of course, there's a lot that China has that is valuable to us. I think when we get together, and make movies together, like a certain technology that China's film industry got, that we haven't got. Then obviously things that we do, and China doesn't do. We need that collaboration."

Chinese movies have been exploring effective ways to go international in recent years, said Zhou Jiandong, vice chairman of the China Film Producers' Association, adding the film festival is of great significance for bilateral cooperation.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHOU JIANDONG, Vice chairman of China Film Producers' Association
"In recent years, Chinese movies have been exploring effective ways to go international, earning a place on the international film stage, expanding the international influence and boosting the capability of international communication of Chinese culture."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Adelaide, Australia.
(XHTV)