As of September 2021, there have been more 4,000 enterprises in the film and TV industry, including relevant supporting enterprises, registered at the West Coast New Area of Qingdao. The Lingshan Bay Conglomeration Area alone has attracted nearly 650 film and TV enterprises, including nearly 20 top-notch enterprises such as China Television Industrial Group, Wuzhou Film Distribution, Huayi Brothers Media, Dadi Film and Emperor Entertainment Group. More than 200 outstanding films and TV dramas, both domestic and international, have been made in Qingdao. In addition, nearly 200 billion yuan of gross investment in the projects of the film and TV industry has been gathered, more than 100 billion yuan of investment in the fixed assets has been accomplished, and the accumulated box office revenue has surpassed 11 billion yuan. Qingdao aims to achieve the film and TV industrial chain of hundreds of billions yuan in the magnitude of revenues by 2030.
It is not hard to find that the city of Qingdao, which has frequently led to ardent discussions in the film and TV industry due to its relevant subsidizing policies, has already become a popular destination for the production of films, TV dramas and variety shows, and has realized a special kind of screen domination year round.
Highly Consistent Policies Persist and do not Cause Inconveniences for Investors
As early as 2014, the government of Qingdao has proposed the policies of setting up the funds for the development of the film and TV industry, and giving financial support to the relevant enterprises via the document of The Several Suggestions on Promoting the Development of Film and TV Industry. In July of this year (2021), the provincial government of Shandong has released 12 major measures for the Qingdao West Coast New Area, including the clearly mentioned measures of supporting the high level construction of the institutional innovation on the management of the film and TV services provided at the Lingshan Bay, the high level construction of the Oriental Movie Metropolis, and the accelerated propulsion on the construction of the 5G hi-tech video experimental park.
In August, the Qingdao West Coast New Area has revised and issued the document of The Several Policies on Promoting the Development of the Film and TV Industry of the Qingdao West Coast New Area, and the policies involve 8 sections, including the film and TV enterprises, major projects, the creation of outstanding films and TV dramas, exchange activities in film and TV culture, financing of films and TV dramas, the introduction and training of qualified candidates into the film and TV industry and the construction of one-stop service platforms. These sections encompass the whole chain of the film and TV industry. Even though the Oriental Movie Metropolis has altered its host from Wanda to Sunac, the determination of developing its film and TV industry of the West Coast New Area has never been diminished.
True Financial Support, turning New Clients into Returned Customers
If the supporting policies written on the paper documents are the starting points of the “magnet effect” at the Qingdao West Coast New Area, then the redemption of policies in the financial aspect has been a perfect driving force for this effect. The Chinese film director Zhang Yimou has praised the city of Qingdao, saying that Qingdao is very advantaged in building the largest filmmaking base of China as the city has pleasant climate, convenient transportation and passionate citizens.
Apparently, with the diffusion of the “magnet effect”, the Qingdao West Coast New Area has actually completed the transformation, in terms of the impressions of people, from an area with plenty of policies attracting investments to a production site of blockbusters.
3 Years is Predictable of Future, Qingdao Propels the Film and TV Industry of China to a Higher Level
It is mentioned in document of The Several Policies on Promoting the Development of the Film and TV Industry of the Qingdao West Coast New Area that several organizations are to be set up according to the mode of “One Industry, Several Relevant Associations”. These organizations include the association of film and TV industry, the association of the filmmaking industry, and the labor union of background actors. Self-discipline of the industry needs to be enhanced, hence promoting the healthy development of the industry. Apparently, we can see the determination to profoundly propel the development of the Chinese film and TV industry of the Qingdao West Coast New Area. If we can successfully host an event, then we can invigorate a city. The propulsion of the policies has fruitful outcomes, and the phenomenon of the termination of policies with the departure of government officials is forbidden. Instead, we should develop our industry step by step, and actively participate in the service innovation of the whole industry chain of film and TV, so that eventually we will gain our reputation and harvest the compliments.
This year has been the third year of the Qingdao Film and Television Expo, which is more comprehensive and more mature compared to the expositions of the past. The conference not only encompasses 19 thematic activities belonging to 5 units, namely the theme of “The Salutation to the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China”, 5G hi-tech new videos, market trading, communications and propagations, the release of achievements in the “Golden Seagull” series, but also has built a platform connected by the communications and collaborations in the film and TV culture.
