Han Sanping Resigns From China Film Group Corporation: Links to Political Struggle?
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Han Sanping is no longer serving as
Chairman
of China Film Group Corporation (
CFGC).
Chinese state-media has reported that several film company
heads linked with
Li Dongsheng, former
Vice Minister of
Public Security, have been under investigation since January.
This includes Han Sanping.
On March 17, Caixin.com reported about
information related to the case of Li Dongsheng.
In January, several leaders in film
companies were investigated.
An inside source told a Caixin journalist that "Han Sanping
was questioned, but he returned to work soon afterwards".
Li Dongsheng was in charge of the notorious
610 Office,
and was former Vice
Director of
China Central Television.
There was also an article published
on the website of state-run
Xinhua.
Han Sanping resigned as Chairman of CFGC.
He was questioned over Li Dongsheng's case.
The article was soon deleted, but can still
be viewed on the
Sina and Caixin websites.
Sources suggest that Han Sanping is only about
60 years old, which is the standard retirement age.
However, most will stay until 63.
Yang Weidong, Beijing-based independent film producer:
"
Does he stand on the side of the current leadership?
Or does his previous behavior conflict with
the current leadership? That's a possibility.
Now it is chaotic. They are
questioning this one and that one.
Although he has stepped down, it is not for political
disagreement, but for the regime's internal struggles."
CFGC holds monopoly over importing films into
China.
US media refer to CFGC as the "gatekeeper"
between the
Hollywood industry and China.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission
suspects some US film producers have bribed
Han Sanping in order to get their films into China.
However, this has been denied by CFGC.
Online rumors have said that Han Sanping
was dismissed and was under investigation.
The rumors have not been confirmed.
Han was appointed as Chairman of CFGC
in
2007. He has produced many films.
In
1991, Han directed the film
"
The Story of
Mao Zedong".
In
1994, Han was appointed as
Director of
Beijing Film
Studio.
During his tenure, they produced several films.
This includes "
Kong Fansen", "
The Emperor
and
The Assassin", and "
Zhang Side".
Kong Fansen made 36 million yuan in sales,
and was ranked as the top domestic film in
1996.
It received several awards, including a
Golden Rooster and
Hundred Flowers Award.
16 years later, Han has attracted 172 film stars to his work.
This includes
Ge You,
Jiang Wen, and
Chen Daoming.
The stars volunteered to act in a propaganda
film called "
The Founding of a Republic".
This made 420 million yuan in sales.
Subsequently, Han used a similar way to directed another
propaganda film, called "
Beginning of the Great Revival".
This pulled in 370 million yuan of sales.
When CFGC started promoting "
Beginning of
The
Great Revival", the regime postponed the release
of Hollywood's "
Transformers: Dark of the Moon",
as well as "
Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows".
The domestic films used a national anniversary
and a star-studded cast to sell the tickets.
However, overseas sales have
continuously declined since
2010.
China-based cultural critic Ye Juangzheng says
that censorship is the main reason that
China's
movie level is far behind the international standard.
Ye Kuangzheng: "Why has
Chinese film producers'
creative ability shrunk?
Literary novels are all the same.
These is a limitation on expression about many major
events, including diplomatic issues, minority groups
issues, and incidents during the last six decades.
These factors have caused films in China
to only be produced in a very narrow space."
The CFGC is criticized by independent film producers
as being a monopoly company under leadership of Han.
Zhang Weiping, Chairman of New
Pictures, was not very
happy about the domestic film "
A Simple Noodle Story".
This faced competition from two imported films.
Zhang told media that if he didn't cooperate with CFGC,
they would release these two imported films in competition.
The CFGC is thought to run China's film
industry, and thus no one can upset them.
This monopoly has constrained and
persecuted the domestic market.
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