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May 18, 2006
THE PROMISE TRASHES CHINA

Following an outcry against "extensive environmental damage" done by the crew of Chen Kaige's THE PROMISE to some Chinese historical sites, the Chinese government has passed new legislation that will compel film crews to avoid or repair:
- Damage to slopes, embankments, pathways and lawns caused by the movement of camera dollies and other filming equipment
- 'modifications' performed to a location; including the construction or alteration of buildings and landscapes to fit in with the look of different areas and time periods
- Littering or the releasing of chemicals and other man made substances.
- All forms of accidental damage caused to locations by film crews
Film productions that don't get the proper permits or don't restore sites to their original condition will be hit with heavy fines. While some people say this is just another chance to pick the pockets of film productions, others say that after the extensive damage done by THE PROMISE there is no other choice and that this legislation has been a long time coming. THE PROMISE (actually, Warner Independent) is accused of damaging the Bigu Temple site by constructing artificial roads, building sets and abandoning them, and killing around 60 trees by painting them in Autumn colors.
Warners/THE PROMISE say that they left plenty of money behind for the local government to clean up the damage and that if that money has vanished without the repairs being done then it's not their fault. But adding insult to injury, has been the fact that Chen Hong and the other producers of THE PROMISE have refused to apologize for the damage. As this editorial in Southern Metropolis Daily wonders, "Chen Hong, Can You Say Sorry?"
(Thanks to EastSouthWestNorth for the translation)
May 18, 2006 at 10:29 AM in News | Permalink
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» Truth behind "The Promise" environmental damage issues from Hoga News
As was reported in Kaiju Shakedown, there has been lots of press coverage about The Promise environmental damage issues. In response to some frangmented articles that may give wrong impressions to international readers, Chinabe Cinema, a Japanese langu... [Read More]
Tracked on May 20, 2006 9:47:41 PM
» Truth behind "The Promise" environmental damage issues from Hoga News
As was reported in Kaiju Shakedown, there has been lots of press coverage about The Promise environmental damage issues. In response to some frangmented articles that may give wrong impressions to international readers, Chinabe Cinema, a Japanese langu... [Read More]
Tracked on May 20, 2006 9:55:54 PM
Comments
Ummmm... why are they going after Warner Independent with this? I think it's a good idea to make sure that filmmakers don't leave their locations trashed when they're done with them, but Warner Independent had absolutely nothing to do with the production of THE PROMISE. They picked up the picture well after the film was finished, when the Weinstein Company dropped it. That's like suing Ford because some dolt in an Explorer threw an empty six-pack of Beast in your yard. So, Chinese authorities, if you're reading this, go after the Weinstein Company. Please, please go after the Weinstein Company. Hard. A total ban on selling them rights to Chinese films would be a good punitive measure. Do it for the good of the Earth. Do it for the children.
Posted by: Rhythm-X | May 18, 2006 3:08:24 PM
Seem to recall a similar thing happing with Danny Boyle's "THE BEACH" in the park they filmed in in Thailand being altered/polluted by the crew. Don't know how that one turned out though...
Note however, that when the film crew destroys a historic or national area, the film BOMBS as in both The Beach and The Promise.
Posted by: Triflic | May 20, 2006 10:10:44 AM