[Explanation] Recently, various industries in Hong Kong have been severely affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and the film industry is no exception.
In an exclusive interview with reporters, Tian Qiwen, president of the Hong Kong Film Workers Association, said that due to the impact of the epidemic, the government’s “restriction on gatherings” and the reduction in investment, since the beginning of 2020, the Hong Kong film industry has only started shooting a few films, while in 2019 53 films were filmed.
He said that the Hong Kong film industry is facing all unprecedented tsunamis, and the industry's losses are immeasurable.
He is worried that more than 80% of the film crew will be lost, and there is no hope for Hong Kong films.
The organizers of the Golden Image Awards have also announced for the first time that they will merge the two years into one, and the 40th award ceremony will be postponed to 2022.
[Concurrent] Tian Qiwen, Chairman of Hong Kong Film Workers Federation
Because last year, social movements have already restricted our production volume and the subject matter of the shots, and our production volume has been reduced. At that time, it was already considered a big thing, but if the new crown pneumonia is added, It's basically a "tsunami", there is no movie to shoot directly, if you don't have a certain degree of competitiveness or have a certain foundation.
For example, if you wake up earlier, you can seek stability on your own. For example, I advanced to a TV station, or I went to the mainland to develop, all of which are fine.
(Now it is) worsening the situation, we will (eliminate) the grassroots of our entire industry, and what I am most worried about is that once these people are gone, there is no way, and it is impossible not to leave.
[Explanation] After the outbreak, there were no movies to film, theaters closed, and practitioners in the Hong Kong film industry also changed careers.
Tian Qiwen said that some lighting engineers switched to security, and some assistant directors switched to site casual workers.
He said that he had been in the film for 41 years, and he had never been so scared even after the SARS period.
[Concurrent] Tian Qiwen, Chairman of Hong Kong Film Workers Federation
My worries (for Hong Kong movies) in the past are very different from my worries today, because I can't see a way out!
This way out does not mean that it is my personal problem. I look at the way out of the industry. Because of the competitiveness of our own Hong Kong films, I wonder if our entire Hong Kong film industry will disappear all at once?
This is my biggest worry.
[Explanation] The well-known Hong Kong director Gao Zhisen said that his company originally had two movies to be made in 2020, and the contract has been signed, but both have been postponed due to the epidemic.
Although his company has not been greatly affected by the epidemic, he has heard stories of many of his colleagues switching to food delivery and taxis, and he feels very sad.
[Concurrent] Hong Kong's famous director Gao Zhisen
I heard many stories, many (movie) people changed careers, many people went to deliver food, and many people went to drive Uber. I heard that I was unhappy. Sometimes I took a taxi, and I saw one or two working in the industry. They can do casual jobs, that is, they drive taxis. I am not saying that there are problems with taxis. Everyone has to survive, but our lifelong skill is film. Then we all hope to use film as a medium to continue our work ability , Or as a career for us to find a job.
[Explanation] Tian Qiwen believes that Hong Kong films are facing a structural dilemma because the local market in Hong Kong is too small to recover investment costs.
[Concurrent] Tian Qiwen, Chairman of Hong Kong Film Workers Federation
Our local market is not enough to recover (film investment) money. Why did I say before that we now have no middle-level (investment amount) drama?
Because you can't get the money back for these middle-level dramas, now there are only a few million (investment) dramas, and there is still a chance (to recover the money) for several million dramas.
But once we have invested more than 8 million yuan, we can't get the money back, and we can't calculate the cost. Once this happens, investors will not invest, and staff who don't invest will have no chance to start work.
[Explanation] Hong Kong used to be known as "Oriental Hollywood". The film industry is a characteristic industry that Hong Kong society is proud of. But now it is facing a decline. Both Tian Qiwen and Gao Zhisen said that the industry should find more ways to solve this dilemma. The best way out is Promote the development of Hong Kong films to markets outside Hong Kong.
[Concurrent] Tian Qiwen, Chairman of Hong Kong Film Workers Federation
Therefore, we must continue to think of a continuous way to allow the (Hong Kong film) industry to continue to maintain (methods) first. The next step is to have a bigger goal, of course, to have a bigger ideal. Consider whether it is in (Guangdong Hong Kong and Macau) Greater Bay Area development.
[Concurrent] Hong Kong's famous director Gao Zhisen
I have been actively thinking about how to transform Hong Kong films into a part of Chinese films, so we can think about and survive in a market of more than one billion people. We want our (Hong Kong) films to become a big bay. An important part of the district film has even become the main force.
Reporter Zheng Haoxi and Zhang Hongwei reporting from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: [Li Ji]