Final Draft 1.5

Lin Mengdi/Mandy

Dr. Marquardt

ENG1300

Oct.25/14

1179

What happens when filming may cause pollution?

        Film market is becoming more and more prosperity recent years. If Chinese films have the intention to become someone who is outstanding in the world, they have to pay more attention to the gorgeous scenery, excellent staff, advanced photography equipment and so on.

        However, in the developing process of Chinese films, there are more and more environment pollutions being exposed. Unlike American film market owns mature and tacit environmental protection measures, China has the urgent to standardize film market. I have found some cases to compare China and other countries in dealing with environmental pollution when filming. Wish I can find the answers.

《The Promise》(2005,China) directed by Chen Kaige, China

Introduction:

The promise is a 2005 Chinese epic fantasy film. This film is based on the wuxia romance The Kunlun Slave, written by Pei Xing at the time of Tang Dynasty. Even though this film gained a lot of office box earnings in different countries, but received many criticism voices from different area as well. One of the important reasons is damage to vegetation. Because of quantities of staff in this crew, there must be much garbage. Besides, the staff there is lack of environmental awareness. What’s the worst, to build the background and pave, the film crew damaged the alpine meadow in Shangri-La, Yunnan Province. After the fact published by some reporters then warned by environmental government, the crew was under pressure having to clean their garbage out, but the vegetation almost couldn’t be recovered.

Quote:“Sometimes a negative example can serve as a warning.”

Explanation: As a famous a Chinese director in the world, there is no doubt that Chen Kaige has great influence. So his behavior will be closely watched. Since he has showed a bad example to people all over the world, there were quantities of people expressing their anger. However, what surprised people was the news that Chen Kaige was nominated for a “Green Chinese” award for raising environmental awareness. In most people’s opinion, this news was ridiculous and unbelievable, but it was true. So far, there is no use talking about this negative example. We just hope that this award could warn all the directors and people – don’t do damage to environment, please.

《The Return of the Condor Heroes》(2006,China) directed by Zhang Jizhong, China

Introduction:

        The Return of the Condor Heroes is a Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha’s novel of the same title. Adapted from the novel by Jin Yong, this is a sequel to Legend of Condor Heroes and a prequel of sorts to Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre. The story concerns the adventures of Yang Guo, an orphaned boy in a mid-13^th Century China.

        Then let us talk about the crew’s extreme behavior of damaging the environment in the Jiuzhaigou National Park, in Sichuan Province, during shooting. There is a rule says that visitors shall not touch or step into the water in Jiuzhaigou National Park. However, this crew had stepped into water to shoot for several times. To make the matter worse, not only the photographer moved up and down in the water, but also the horses for filming. The result was that the moss surrounding the water pool was being destroyed terribly. Like the director Chen Kaige, director Zhang was also be rewarded a “Green Chinese” award as a negative example.

Quote: “Zhang later agreed to make a documentary to compensate.”

Explanation: In my opinion, Zhang’s remedy behavior more looks like he has to do rather than he wants to do. Social pressure makes people fearful and awestruck. But I think the most important is you should have the awareness to protect environment, if you can’t, don’t damage the environment at least. Take actions to correct the mistakes you have done is a brave behavior. In any case, we should be sure that this attitude is right and should be carried on.

《Pearl Harbor》(2001,America) directed by Michael Bay, America

Introduction：

        Pearl Harbor is a 2001 American epic war film with romance and action elements directed by Michael Bay. It is a dramatic reimagining of the Blitz, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Doolittle Raid. This film was also a environmental protection case. To reappear the scene at that time realistically, not only the crew chose scene where is the Pearl Harbor’s wreck located, but also blew up 17 vessels. In the shooting process, the film crew was overseen by many environmentalists. And they hired some professional divers. Before filming the explosion scene, these divers would drive turtles and fishes that were accidental injured possibly.

Quote："The agency said the contamination cleanup process involves the Environmental Protection Agency and the Navy, and is beyond the scope of its jurisdiction."

Explanation：Because of the strong government support, explosion pollutants could be nearly cleaned out effectively. From this detail, we can see the complete environmental system and agency coordination and efficient operation in America. This make us marveled and admired. Quality of a country shows not only in economy but also environment, culture and politics.

* * *

         Beautiful nature landscape or wonderful movie making, which one will you choose? For different country, there will be different choices to be made. It’s not only determined by various attitudes towards film makers in different countries (developed countries or developing countries), but also depend on the film development degree, in another word, the movie history in different countries.

For developing countries:

        As we all know, China is a developing country. And the speed of development is becoming faster and faster in many ways. Though I’m a Chinese, there are some true words I want to say. Chinese film makers may pay more attention to the film which there are gorgeous special effects, famous actors and so on. Even they want to compete with Hollywood blockbusters, so it’s easy to explain the reason why they ignore the importance of environment protection：Chinese film production levels is behind other developed countries and many Chinese film makers are lack of awareness of environmental protection. (This kind of phenomenon can be seen easily in developing countries.)

For developed countries:

        Because of the more perfect environmental protection system and the higher environmental protection consciousness in public, the processes of making films are environmental and safe in America. It seems that take notice of staying away from the destruction of the natural landscape is becoming a unwritten rule. This is wise and should be kept up and spread all over the world.

In a word, no matter you’re developed country or developing country, you should take the responsibility to protect natural landscape. It’s not an advice but an order, because you’re the one of freemen on earth.

Reference

China film director hailed for harming environment. (2006). 
Retrieved from http://uk.reuters.com/article/2006/11/01/uk-environment-china-director-idUKPEK25074320061101

Yuxia, J. (2007, December 15). ChinaView [Supplemental material]. Director Zhang Yimou wins "Green Chinese" award. 
Retrieved from http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/15/content_7252954.htm

TenBruggencate, J. (2006, January 5). Pollution exposure not high at Pearl. Star advertiser. 
Retrieved from http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jan/05/ln/FP601050340.html