The surge in popularity of Chinese movies globally is being fueled by technological innovations and the growing skill set of Chinese filmmakers to produce compelling storylines, according to Tom Ara, the Global Chair of Media and Entertainment at DLA Piper, a leading global law firm.
According to Ara, this growing popularity is also driven by the unique perspectives and creative visions that Chinese filmmakers bring to the table, as he explained in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
"The Chinese movies have started to resonate in a significant way with international audiences. And I think a lot of this has been driven by the quality of the films improving significantly due to technological advances. But also just pure advancements in the skills and the abilities of Chinese filmmakers. And of course, probably most importantly with any film, is having international appeal. So, stories and themes that resonate with international audiences in ways that bring folks into the movie theaters and put those bums in the seats," he said.
Ara emphasized that Chinese cinema stands out for its ability to tell fresh and original stories, setting it apart from other film industries like Hollywood, where stories often feel recycled.
"I think the distinction really is the telling of stories that are fresh and new. In Hollywood, the stories tend to move around in an echo chamber and we'll kind of hear the same themes and stories that have developed and eventually hit theaters. And I think when you go into the international markets and Korea is another great example, there are new stories and fresh ideas that haven't been told before that make their way to the screens. And I think that really resonates with audiences, they want to see something fresh and new and different," he said.
Ara also discussed the evolving landscape of intellectual property law, especially as it intersects with the rise of artificial intelligence in film production.
He pointed out that the legal framework surrounding AI-generated works is still unclear, with a patchwork of laws worldwide that have yet to fully address the issue.
"The state of artificial intelligence, and the intersection with artificial intelligence and the creation of copyrighted works is uncertain still. There's a patchwork of legal cases and legislation around the world that don't fully clarify what the state is at the moment. In the United States, for example, the copyright act of the United States currently mandates, and this is the interpretation by the copyright office, that works that are not created by humans are not protected under the copyright act. But there's still a lot of evolution happening, both in law and in practice," he said.
Chinese cinema's global appeal driven by improved production quality, original storytelling: expert
