CHINA: Chinese publishing house buys rights to French director Luc Besson's "Arthur"

Record ID: 612350

  • Title: CHINA: Chinese publishing house buys rights to French director Luc Besson's "Arthur"
  • Date: 29th June 2006
  • Summary: LUC BESSON LOOKING AT BOOKS; AUDIENCE LISTENING TO HIM TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FILM DIRECTOR, WRITER, LUC BESSON SAYING: "The principle of a book is there is people who read it and wants to buy the rights for their country. I was very pleased to heard that this gentleman heard about the rights and wants to buy the rights. So I said you really want to buy the rights? Because usually you steal the rights. So I was very impressed that someone wants to buy it." BOOK LAUNCH; GIRLS SELLING BOOKS; BOOKS; PEOPLE WALKING INTO THEATRE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FILM DIRECTOR, WRITER, LUC BESSON SAYING: "About piracy, yes of course I'm very worried about it. What I understand is only 20 foreign films are allowed per year. There is a lot of people in China who wants to see the other films. The problem is the only way to get the films is through piracy. That's the problem you know? I think if the government allowed a little more film, there'll be probably less piracy." VARIOUS CLOSE UPS OF BOOKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FILM DIRECTOR, WRITER, LUC BESSON SAYING: "I think it's very important that the national cinema exist in each country. So I'm really for the China's film, for China as I am for the French film in France. And if the movie can travel around the world, this is great, this is wonderful. But don't forget who you are. This is the representation of who you are. When you take the China's directors their best films, they are China's, not from Hollywood. When they go to Hollywood, they lose a little of their soul." LISTENERS; LUC BESSON HOLDING BOOKS AND PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) BAI BING, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF JIELI PUBLISHING HOUSE, SAYING: "The reason we published Mr. Besson's books is because we treasure the cultural and artistic values. He dedicated himself to creativity. His movies and books both have distinct characteristics. Any work that has character is good work." WIDE SHOT BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVAD2B0GVZDS6Y5NRGW7MLWCCT3H
  • Story Text: Surrounded by twenty security guards, French director Luc Besson attended a film academy in Beijing in Wednesday (June 21, 2006) with the trailer of his new movie "Arthur". With screaming fans, flowers and eye-blinding camera flashes, Arthur, a two millimetre cartoon character hopped onto the big screen.
    The movie, "Arthur" is based on one of the four-volume-book series "Arthur" written by Luc Besson.
    China's Jieli publishing house bought the rights and is hoping that the book can become the next "Harry Porter" in China.
    Luc Besson said he was impressed with this deal.
    "The principle of a book is there is people who read it and wants to buy the rights for their country. I was very pleased to hear that this gentleman heard about the rights and wants to buy the rights. So I said you really want to buy the rights? Because usually you steal the rights. So I was very impressed that someone wants to buy it." He said.
    Luc Besson debuted as a film director first with his "Le Dernier Combat" in 1983.
    Some of his most famous films are "The Big Blue", "Subway", "Nikita", "Leon" and "The Fifth Element."
    But none of his precious movies has ever made it to the screens in China or any legal DVD shops here. Piracy made him a household name in China.
    "About piracy, yes of course I'm very worried about it. What I understand is only 20 foreign films are allowed per year. There is a lot of people in China who wants to see the other films. The problem is the only way to get the films is through piracy. That's the problem you know? I think if the government allowed a little more film, there'll be probably less piracy." Besson said.
    Foreign executives fighting the problem say China remains the world's worst offender but the government claims the nation is taking action to combat rampant piracy.
    Earlier this year, the government said all stalls selling fake goods should be shutdown and violators will be prosecuted. But shops selling the latest Hollywood releases on DVD for less than a dollar are still doing brisk business in Beijing, sometimes even in front of police.
    Luc Besson has said on many occasions that he intends to direct no more than 10 films, which makes "Arthur" the very last one.
    This was just an excuse to refuse Hollywood invitations, critics say.
    As a French director, Besson's movies have topped box offices many times.
    With an increasing number of Chinese actors and directors going to pursue careers in Hollywood and domestic movie makers bidding for Oscars, Besson thinks the most important is to keep the national identity.
    "I think it's very important that the national cinema exist in each country. So I'm really for the China's film, for China as I am for the French film in France. And if the movie can travel around the world, this is great, this is wonderful. But don't forget who you are. This is the representation of who you are. When you take the China's directors their best films, they are China's, not from Hollywood. When they go to Hollywood, they lose a little of their soul," he said.
    Recent best-seller "Harry Porter" demonstrated how big the market is for children books in China. Jieli Publishing House bought the rights of "Arthur" and is hoping this could be the next big thing.
    Bai Bing, editor in chief of the publishing house, said this is a book that would sell as movie approaches its premiere date.
    "The reason we published Mr. Besson's books is because we treasure the cultural and artistic values. He dedicated himself to creativity. His movies and books both have distinct characteristics. Any work that has character is good work."
    The movie "Arthur" which is based on the book under the same name talks about the story of ten-year-old boy Arthur who turns into a two millimetre boy.
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