Siming pushes forward development of Chinese film industry

Siming, the central district in Xiamen, is working to push forward the development of the film industry focusing on everything from film production to nurturing talents.

An international film and television industrial park focusing on the integration of film production and education will be built in Wucun sub-district, Siming district, according to a deal inked during the 2020 China International Fair for Investment and Trade on Sept 8.

The project, with an investment of 500 million yuan ($73.85 million), will cover an area of 25,000 square meters with centers for education, practical training, international exchanges, animation production and entrepreneurship.

According to the deal, the industrial park will be developed in partnership with Base Media, a famous international film and TV special effects company, and the South Korea Institute for International Integrated Education. They will attract movie companies and relates institutions to set up education courses to train talents for CG animation production.

“With our resources, experience in film post-production, and educational resources from institutions in South Korea, Base Media will expand its efforts to train talent to help improve the film and TV industry, ” said Xie Ning, vice president of Base Media, adding that the first stage of the project will be carried out at Xiamen City University.

The Beijing-based Base Media has been at the forefront of China's film visual effects industry over the past two decades. The company has an existing strategic partnership with Lucasfilm's Industrial Light and Magic, and it has worked on numerous Hollywood pictures, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which received an Oscar nomination for visual effects.

The company opened its Xiamen office in 2014, with about 130 employees working in the studio to date, including talents from Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Europe and the Americas.

Xie said that Xiamen, especially Siming district, is attractive due to its strong living and working environment, preferential policies for business development and global outlook.

Xiamen has also released preferential policies for culture professionals in housing, medical care and children's access to school, said Xie.

In recent years, Base Media has started to develop and produce original animation IP with Chinese themes and international quality standards.

“We have found great potential in the local animation film market, with a growing audience and a gap in the market,” said Xie.

Xie said that Base Media has spent five years developing the animation based on an iconic Chinese character “dragon”, but “it is suitable for audiences of all ages worldwide”.

Workers have a discussion at a studio of Base Media. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]