China Media and Entertainment Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 10 Week of 5 August 2024
(1) Young Chinese Musicians Perform, Forge Friendships During World Orchestra Week in NY
The Beijing Youth Orchestra’s performance at Carnegie Hall during World Orchestra Week celebrated cross-cultural musical collaboration and understanding through interactive workshops and a well-received concert showcasing Chinese and Western music.
(2) Photographer on the Stars of ‘Golden Age’ of Hong Kong Cinema and Cantopop in His Show
Photographer Sam Wong documented Hong Kong’s entertainment industry heyday through the 1980s and 1990s, showcasing his 40-year career capturing iconic Cantopop and Cantonese film stars in a first solo exhibition.
(3) Zhou Shen & Zhang Liangying Win Top Prizes at China’s 2024 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards
The 2024 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards in Macau celebrated China’s diverse music scene through awards, performances by top Chinese and international artists, and its status as a premier global platform for promoting Chinese music.
(4) Tencent, NetEase Win Big with Rainbow Six and Marvel Video Game Approvals in China
China’s video game regulator has approved over 70 foreign-developed titles this year, including major games from Tencent, NetEase, and other leading Chinese tech firms, indicating a recovery in the industry after the 2021 crackdown.
(5) China Film Trials Streaming Olympic Games at Cinemas
China Film Group’s initiative to broadcast live Olympic events in cinemas nationwide aims to provide audiences with unique viewing experiences and to explore new revenue streams for the country’s movie theatres.
(6) G.E.M. Kicks Off “I AM GLORIA” World Tour in Macau
Singer G.E.M. kicked off her “I AM GLORIA” world tour with an immersive, high-tech concert in Macau that featured audience interaction and inspirational messages, marking a successful start to her global performances.
(7) Josie Ho is Arriving in Taiwan to Promote Her New Horror Movie “Onpaku”
Actress-director Josie Ho will promote her new horror film “Onpaku” in Taiwan, bringing along her newly signed artist Iman, and anticipating the passionate reception from Taiwanese fans for her Hong Kong-Japan co-produced supernatural thriller.
(8) Tencent Beefs Up Range of Content On Super App WeChat by Adding Breaking News Alerts
Tencent is testing breaking news notifications on WeChat to position the platform as a crucial information hub by delivering real-time news from official sources across various domains.
(9) China’s Ethnic Policy Chief Says Minority Artists Must Focus on Common National Identity
China’s top ethnic policy official criticized recent artworks by ethnic minorities for being too focused on their own cultural identities rather than promoting a common Chinese national identity.
(1) Young Chinese Musicians Perform, Forge Friendships During World Orchestra Week in NY
(Photo Credit: Xinhua News)
Young musicians from the Beijing Youth Orchestra performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York City during the World Orchestra Week.
The orchestra, a new ensemble creates in June 2024 by China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, showcased both traditional Chinese and classic Western musical pieces.
Over 100 musicians from the Beijing Youth Orchestra participated in the performance and engaged in interactive workshops with peers from the US, Afghanistan, and African countries.
During the workshops, the young musicians wrote down wishes for the world on ribbons, tied them together, and shared them with each other, fostering connections and cross-cultural understanding.
The performance at the Carnegie Hall was very well-received, with the audience responding enthusiastically to the blend of Chinese and Western music.
The Organizers hope the World Orchestra Week event will become a movement that spreads around the world, utilising the power of music to promote communication and understanding between nations.
News Source: https://english.news.cn/20240805/5c79d46c562c4f46abcb3db75d8766c7/c.html
(2) Photographer on the Stars of ‘Golden Age’ of Hong Kong Cinema and Cantopop in His Show
(Photo Credit: Hong Kong Design Institute)
Photographer Sam Wong documented the “golden age” of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry through the 1980s and 1990s, capturing iconic Cantopop and Cantonese film stars like Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, and Anita Mui.
Wong’s first solo exhibition, “It’s About Time,” showcases his extensive 40-year career. He discovered photography while studying in the US, then returned to Hong Kong where he became a sought-after entertainment photographer given his technical skills and preparation.
Highlights of Wong’s work include creative album covers and poster shots, where he used lighting, composition and spontaneous activities to capture the essence of stars like Danny Chan, Anita Mui and Eason Chan.
Wong prefers the depth and craft of film photography over digital, valuing the meticulous process and potential for creative accidents. While unsure of future plans, he remains open to picking up the camera again when inspired.
The exhibition serves as a retrospective, documenting both the evolution of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry and the shift from analogue to digital photography through Wong’s impressive body of work.
(3) Zhou Shen & Zhang Liangying Win Top Prizes at China’s 2024 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards
(Photo Credit: TME)
The 2024 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards (TMEA) was a major 3-day music event held in Macau in July. Organized by Tencent Music Entertainment Group, it featured over 100 performances by top Chinese and international artists.
The awards ceremony recognized excellence across categories like Best Male/Female Singer, Most Influential Singers, and Best Concert. Winners included Zhou Shen, Zhang Liangying, Eason Chan, and G.E.M.
International artists Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift were also honored for Best International Male Artist and Most Influential International Artist.
Beyond the awards, the TMEA showcased the diversity of China’s music scene, with established stars performing alongside rising electronic artists.
As an annual event since 2019, the TMEA has become a premier platform for celebrating and promoting Chinese music around the globe.
News Source: https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2024-tencent-music-entertainment-awards-china-1235744921/
(4) Tencent, NetEase Win Big with Rainbow Six and Marvel Video Game Approvals in China
(Photo Credit: AP)
China’s video game regulator has approved 15 more foreign-developed video game titles for the domestic market, bringing the total to 75 so far this year.
Major Chinese tech giants such as Tencent and NetEase have secured licenses for some popular games, including the hit tactical shooter games Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, the role-playing game Paper Mario: The Origami King, Marvel’s Marvel Rivals, and Marvel Snap.
Other notable approvals include Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix, and Mario Golf: Super Rush for the Nintendo Switch.
The approval number so far this year has already surpassed the 44 titles approved in 2022, when the industry was recovering from an 8-month licensing freeze following the government’s effort in 2021 to crackdown on excessive gaming by halting new gaming title approvals and restricting playing hours among children under 18.
At the current pace, the number of approvals could exceed the 98 titles approved in 2022 as China tries to instill confidence in its local video game industry after the crackdown in 2021.
(5) China Film Trials Streaming Olympic Games at Cinemas
(Photo Credit: Yicai)
The major state-owned movie company “China Film Group” has been experimenting with broadcasting live Olympic events in cinemas across the country. The goal is to offer audiences a distinct viewing experience and to diversify the business activities of cinemas.
China Film partnered with China’s national broadcaster, which holds the Olympic broadcasting rights, to livestream a variety of Olympic sports like table tennis, badminton, and volleyball in equipped theatres across China.
The livestream of the Olympics opening ceremony generated around USD195,935 in box office revenue, primarily from audiences in smaller cities. Cinemas have found that watching sport events on big screens with surround sound along with other spectators can create a more immersive and atmospheric experience compared to viewing at home.
The attendance has been mixed so far, with table tennis finals drawing large crowds, while the opening ceremony had a lower turnout rate.
Experts believe this model can help cinemas utilise excess capacity and offset operational pressures, as it provides new content beyond just movies.
News Source: https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-film-trials-streaming-olympic-games-at-cinemas
(6) G.E.M. Kicks Off “I AM GLORIA” World Tour in Macau
(Photo Credit: G.E.M. 鄧紫棋’s official Facebook Account)
Singer G.E.M. kicked off her “I AM GLORIA” world tour with the first show held at Macau’s Galaxy Arena. This was the first indoor performance of the tour.
The concert featured high-tech stage designs with audio-visual elements to create an immersive experience for the fans.
Along with her performance of hit songs, G.E.M. interacted with her fans by sharing her journey since her debut and expressing gratitude for the support she has received over the years. She also encouraged the audience that the sky has no limits and that the future is boundless, as she performed “Sky Has No Limit” (《天空沒有極限》) with fans waving flashlights in synchronisation.
The first Macau stop was considered a successful musical event, and G.E.M. promised to bring more surprises and emotions in her future shows, continuing to create wonderful memories with her fans.
News Source: https://www.macaucabletv.com/video/page/100160
(7) Josie Ho is Arriving in Taiwan to Promote Her New Horror Movie “Onpaku”
(Photo Credit: Yahoo News)
Josie Ho will promote her new movie “Onpaku” in Taiwan on 3rd August. She will bring along actor Iman, an artist newly signed to her film company – 852 Films.
“Onpaku” is a newly released Hong Kong-Japan-collaborated horror film, inspired by a Japanese urban tale. Directed by Josie Ho, the film is about Hong Kong woman Sarah (starred by Ho), who wanted to take a break in Japan, staying in an inn where supernatural events occurred and lodgers disappeared mysteriously.
Ho said she always liked Taiwan where fans are very passionate. With the opportunity to bring her film to Taiwan, she looked forward to the fans’ reception of the film.
News Source:
(8) Tencent Beefs Up Range of Content On Super App WeChat by Adding Breaking News Alerts
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
Tencent Holdings is currently testing breaking news notifications on WeChat to reinforce the app’s role as a crucial information center for its vast user community of over 1.2 billion people. This new feature, being trialed with a limited user group, delivers real-time news flashes mainly sourced from official media channels in mainland China. These alerts are accessible to users via the app’s subscription account page after a recent system upgrade. As of Tuesday, Tencent, headquartered in Shenzhen, has not issued an official statement regarding this advancement.
The breaking news alerts on WeChat cover a range of subjects including weather, finance, politics, and updates regarding the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, as revealed by screenshots referenced in various reports. Unlike the previous setup where users had to subscribe to specific accounts to receive news updates, WeChat’s new feature will present users with content from publishers they may not have followed. This strategic move underscores Tencent’s intent to strengthen WeChat’s standing in China’s competitive social media landscape, where platforms like Weibo, Kuaishou Technology, Jinri Toutiao, and Douyin play crucial roles in providing essential information to internet users.
WeChat’s recent endeavors align with Tencent’s broader strategy of enriching the platform’s content offerings in response to the burgeoning popularity of video-sharing and live-streaming services like Douyin. By introducing breaking news alerts, WeChat aims to diversify its content spectrum and enhance user engagement. Furthermore, the platform’s compliance with stringent regulatory requirements in China, such as the recent mandate for creators to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in content creation, underscores the evolving landscape of online content governance in the country.
(9) China’s Ethnic Policy Chief Says Minority Artists Must Focus on Common National Identity
(Photo Credit: EPA-EFE)
The top Chinese ethnic policy official, Pan Yue, criticized recent artworks by ethnic minorities for being too “self-centered” and not focusing enough on promoting a common national Chinese identity.
He accused the works of being influenced by “Western multicultural theories” that isolate ethnic groups instead of showing their connection to the progress of the entire country. Pan criticized a Tibetan film for not acknowledging the Communist Party’s role in developing the region.
Pan said the priority should be evaluating whether ethnic literature strengthens the sense of a unified Chinese nation. He warned against portraying ethnic regions like Tibet as isolated cultural enclaves.
Overall, Pan called for ethnic minority artists to create narratives that resonate with both personal histories and the collective national identity promoted by the Communist Party.
