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)