City has a starring role in movie firmament

The $8.2 billion Oriental Movie Metropolis, built along Qingdao's West Coast New Area, combines film and television production with a theme park.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"The production of The Great Wall was the start of blockbusters produced in China reaching international standards," says Yuan Meilin, general manger of Qingdao West Coast Cultural Industry Investment company.

The Pacific Rim 2, produced by Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers Pictures, was also shot there.

Yuan says a film script incubation project has also been set up to collect and subsidize good screenplays and creative ideas.

"In addition to financial support, the most important mission for us is to cultivate more film production talent."

The park has entered into partnerships with the University of Southern California and Qingdao Technological University to foster film production talent, such as property managers and lighting engineers.

After the park is completed next year, more than 100 films and TV series are expected to be produced there every year, which will promote more than 1,000 startups and create about 100,000 job opportunities.

About a year ago the Qingdao Municipal Government held a film summit in Los Angeles, promoting Oriental Movie Metropolis and the city's film industry. The summit attracted representatives from renowned Hollywood producers and associations, including Warner, Sony and Legendary Pictures.

In addition, the city signed nine agreements with Hollywood film producers on collaboration in filmmaking, and 11 blockbusters will be shot in the park in the future.

The Qingdao Municipal Government has adopted policies aimed at attracting film producers through subsidies.

"Qingdao is endeavoring to develop one global industry chain ecosystem and make two breakthroughs in policy and service systems respectively," says Li Ming, director of Qingdao Administration of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publications.

The city also plans to build three platforms promoting film: an international movie festival, an international film trade center and a film arts and technology innovation center, Li says.