You haven't been out of the country. Or deal with any Chinese. They have a big sense of pride. They're not big on American sports. The Chinese don't want to watch a bunch of big, black Americans playing with a ball.
Wrong on that by many accounts. I would be comfortable waging everything I own that I've traveled to more countries than you. I say that because I personally don't know anybody that has been to more than I have. Furthermore, I have been working almost exclusively with Chinese clients the past five years. I've worked in an industry that supports film, television, and other forms of entertainment for almost twenty years. I finally left my job over the summer because I was so uninspired by the Chinese work and Hollywood's new direction. It really is a disappointing era for the film business.
But you are absolutely correct that the Chinese have a tremendous amount of national pride. I know that. What you don't realize is that most Americans will sell out their own just for a chance to have their movies in Chinese theaters, their shows on Chinese networks, and their sports on Chinese televisions. With the throw of a switch China can shut it all down over the slightest insult to their nation. That's why Hollywood now appeals to Chinese censors before considering the MPAA to greenlight a film. This is not a crack-pot conspiracy theory. It is well known in and out of the biz.
Oh, so you're in the "entertainment industry" bubble. That explains a lot. I guess that's how American film is compensating for the loss of box office sales? Eating whatever scraps the Chinese throw at them? What a soul-less industry (I used to work for entertainment law firms back when it was actually cool).
Yes, exactly that. Since I've seen it in film I now understand it across the media. What does CNN care if they've ruined their reputation in the U.S.A.? They have International broadcasts to rake in the real money. I remember being in Istanbul in May 2013 during the Gezi Park protests. There was massive civil unrest. It was really something to see. I was much more naive at that time. I was sitting in an apartment in Besiktas, Istanbul. Tear gas was actually coming in the windows. The person who owned the house turned the TV to CNN. He said, "look at what they're showing right now during this historic event". It was a nature documentary. It didn't completely click at that time, but I understood what he meant. Later I would realize, CNN operates CNN Turk without interference by policing itself. If they rock the boat too hard, they'll be thrown out of that country. Massive loss of revenue.
Similarly, while in Beijing I would often watch the CNN international channel in my hotel room to see what was happening back home. If a story started to talk about China or Hong Kong, the TV would go black. The TV would pop back on midway through the next story every time. China could easily ban CNN from their markets if they wanted. The U.S.A. doesn't operate that way so they can sow all the division, hatred, and fake news they want without a problem. The first amendment is very difficult to challenge against the press. Not a problem in other countries.
It's a shame. My job was amazing when I first started my career. It was so filled with talent and people that just lived to create. I was inspired by their passion and how they seemed to do the impossible time and time again. It really shaped who I am and helped build my independence. However, it took a dark turn about five years ago. The owners told me American film business won't be enough to keep the doors open. We're going to have to go after Chinese jobs. And that's where it all went downhill. It didn't matter what we were doing anymore. The soul had completely been sucked out of everyone just a couple years later. And to top it off the most demoralizing thing was the Chinese stiffed us on so many payments anyways. They knew they had all the leverage.
You haven't been out of the country. Or deal with any Chinese. They have a big sense of pride. They're not big on American sports. The Chinese don't want to watch a bunch of big, black Americans playing with a ball.
Wrong on that by many accounts. I would be comfortable waging everything I own that I've traveled to more countries than you. I say that because I personally don't know anybody that has been to more than I have. Furthermore, I have been working almost exclusively with Chinese clients the past five years. I've worked in an industry that supports film, television, and other forms of entertainment for almost twenty years. I finally left my job over the summer because I was so uninspired by the Chinese work and Hollywood's new direction. It really is a disappointing era for the film business.
But you are absolutely correct that the Chinese have a tremendous amount of national pride. I know that. What you don't realize is that most Americans will sell out their own just for a chance to have their movies in Chinese theaters, their shows on Chinese networks, and their sports on Chinese televisions. With the throw of a switch China can shut it all down over the slightest insult to their nation. That's why Hollywood now appeals to Chinese censors before considering the MPAA to greenlight a film. This is not a crack-pot conspiracy theory. It is well known in and out of the biz.
Oh, so you're in the "entertainment industry" bubble. That explains a lot. I guess that's how American film is compensating for the loss of box office sales? Eating whatever scraps the Chinese throw at them? What a soul-less industry (I used to work for entertainment law firms back when it was actually cool).
Yes, exactly that. Since I've seen it in film I now understand it across the media. What does CNN care if they've ruined their reputation in the U.S.A.? They have International broadcasts to rake in the real money. I remember being in Istanbul in May 2013 during the Gezi Park protests. There was massive civil unrest. It was really something to see. I was much more naive at that time. I was sitting in an apartment in Besiktas, Istanbul. Tear gas was actually coming in the windows. The person who owned the house turned the TV to CNN. He said, "look at what they're showing right now during this historic event". It was a nature documentary. It didn't completely click at that time, but I understood what he meant. Later I would realize, CNN operates CNN Turk without interference by policing itself. If they rock the boat too hard, they'll be thrown out of that country. Massive loss of revenue.
Similarly, while in Beijing I would often watch the CNN international channel in my hotel room to see what was happening back home. If a story started to talk about China or Hong Kong, the TV would go black. The TV would pop back on midway through the next story every time. China could easily ban CNN from their markets if they wanted. The U.S.A. doesn't operate that way so they can sow all the division, hatred, and fake news they want without a problem. The first amendment is very difficult to challenge against the press. Not a problem in other countries.
It's a shame. My job was amazing when I first started my career. It was so filled with talent and people that just lived to create. I was inspired by their passion and how they seemed to do the impossible time and time again. It really shaped who I am and helped build my independence. However, it took a dark turn about five years ago. The owners told me American film business won't be enough to keep the doors open. We're going to have to go after Chinese jobs. And that's where it all went downhill. It didn't matter what we were doing anymore. The soul had completely been sucked out of everyone just a couple years later. And to top it off the most demoralizing thing was the Chinese stiffed us on so many payments anyways. They knew they had all the leverage.