International Conference “Challenges, Opportunities, and Collaboration in U.S.-Chinese Film” at UCLA

Film collaboration between the U.S. and China is becoming increasingly vital for both countries in terms of film education, production, business, and cultural exchange. Through the process of this collaboration, there are also numerous challenges, opportunities, and questions to be explored.

Seven world-renowned experts ranging from film education, archive, history, filmmaking, production and business shared their wisdom in “Challenges, Opportunities, and Collaboration in U.S.-Chinese Film”, an international academic conference held at UCLA on November 26, 2018. This conference was hosted by Michael Berry, professor of UCLA Department of Asian Languages & Cultures, and Rui Yao, associate professor at Guangzhou University and visiting scholar at UCLA. This event was supported by the UCLA Department of Asian Languages & Cultures, and is funded by the International Graduate Student Association, and Chinese Student and Scholars Association at UCLA.

Robert Rosen, the legendary film educator and formal dean of UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, gave retrospect about his experience teaching in China and thirty-five years of dialogue with China.

Warren Sherk, Head of Special Collections at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library, showcased film resources from China including photos, posters and manuscripts at the Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library to the audience.

Rui Yao, Chinese screenwriter, director, associate professor at Guangzhou University and visiting scholar at UCLA, elaborated on the history, reasons and current situation of Chinese remakes of American films and shared his knowledge about adaptations. Rui Yao is known for writing film screenplays such as “Los Angeles Kidnapping”, “Lin Shi Yan Yuan”, “Angry Kid” and more.

Bohan Gong, Hollywood-based producer, creatively put forward a fresh perspective of collaboration between U.S. and China Film Industry and elaborated on how to achieve such a collaboration. Bohan is known for producing Films such as “Hacksaw Ridge”, “American Made”, “The King’s Daughter”, “Birth of The Dragon”, “Los Angeles Kidnapping”, “So Young”, “So Young 2”, “Hot-Blooded Youth” and more.

Michael Berry, professor of Contemporary Chinese Cultural Studies at UCLA briefly summarized the shift from Chinese experimental films during 1980s to commercially dominated films as well as the quota system in China. Professor Berry also elaborated on how the co-production need to understand deep knowledge about U.S. and China.

Charlie Coker, the Managing Director of Dasym Media and director of Dasym’s Shanghai office, shared his experience as a producer in a co-production film starring Jackie Chen and his reflections of co-production.

Lewis Liu, chief content officer of Wavelets Entertainment, and founder and chair of Chinese in Entertainment, reported his observation towards the changes in Chinese and American film industry, and talked about the feasible ways to succeed in the industry for young film makers.

In the Q&A session that followed, audience and experts exchanged opinions on the topics of the collaboration in U.S. and China film and the future of co-production.  The event drew to a successful close.

Conference Host: Michael Berry, Professor at UCLA

Panel I Host: Rui Yao, Screenwriter, Director, Associate Professor at Guangzhou University and Visiting Scholar at UCLA

Keynote Speaker: Robert Rosen, Professor, and Formal Dean of School of Theater, Film and Television at UCLA

Keynote Speaker: Warren Sherk, Head of Special Collections at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library

Keynote Speaker: Rui Yao, Screenwriter, Director, Associate Professor at Guangzhou University and Visiting Scholar at UCLA

Bohan Gong, Hollywood based Producer

Panel I, “Film Archives, Film History and Sino-U.S. Collaboration”  From Left: Rui Yao (Host), Bohan Gong, Warren Sherk, Robert Rosen,

Panel II: Between Hollywood and China: Global Film,   From Left: Michael Berry (Host), Charlie Coker, Lewis Liu

Keynote Speakers and Panelists:

From Left: Bohan Gong, Rui Yao, Warren Sherk, Charlie Coker, Robert Rosen, Michael Berry, Lewis Liu

James Tong, Professor of Political Science at UCLA asks a question

Michael Berry and Rui Yao

Charlie Coker and Robert Rosen (Right)

Michael Berry, Bohan Gong and Students

UCLA Royce Hall