Hollywood writers to coach young Chinese

Ju Ben Hui, which means “alliance of scripts”, is jointly launched by Beijing-based entertainment companies New Saint, Film Aeon and Yixiang Tiankai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hollywood writers will be hired to train the winners of a young Chinese scriptwriters program, a representative from three companies behind the project said on Wednesday.

Ju Ben Hui, which means “alliance of scripts”, is the name of the project that was jointly launched by Beijing-based entertainment companies New Saint, Film Aeon and Yixiang Tiankai.

Top Chinese directors are on a panel that will select three young scriptwriters from candidates across the country, for a grant of up to 1 million yuan ($147,000) and a chance to be coached by a Hollywood scriptwriter at a venue in Yanjiao, a town in North China’s Hebei province.

The first winners will be announced in next year - the date has yet to be released.

Bao Bei’er, the actor-director who is on the panel, said China needs more quality screenplays and Hollywood’s rich experience in storytelling can be an inspiration.