Cameron may work on Chinese film

James Cameron - the director of box office smashes Titanic and Avatar, who is known for his cutting-edge special effects - may soon work on a 3-D Chinese film.

Cameron told a news conference at the Second Beijing International Film Festival on Monday that his company would probably join the crew of The Art of War, a 3-D Chinese film based on the classic book about military strategies.

Titanic director James Cameron and his wife, Suzy Amis, walk the red carpet at the Second Beijing International Film Festival. Photo by Jiang Dong / China Daily

"We are still in discussions, but have agreed on the principles that we will provide certain service to ensure the quality of 3-D," he said.

The film's director, Hu Bo, approached him a year ago and sought opportunities for his company to provide 3-D camera and technology for the first epic 3-D film in China.

"There is no signed agreement now, but we are very excited about the possibilities to work with Chinese companies, especially when China as a market has been expanding so rapidly," Cameron said.

China has become the second-largest box office contributor outside North America for many Hollywood blockbusters, including Cameron's Avatar, which grossed 1.3 billion yuan ($210 million) in the country, about 8 percent of the film's global box office revenue.

His Titanic 3-D has raked in more than 500 million yuan in two weeks in Chinese theaters.

Adding to the boom is a deal made earlier this year during Vice-President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States, which raised the foreign films' box office share in China to 25 percent, a jump from the original 13 percent. And 14 more foreign films (above the current 20), mainly IMAX and 3-D productions, will be released in Chinese theaters.

Cameron gave a lecture to students of the Beijing Film Academy, and will talk about 3-D technology in the making of Titanic. His traveling companions to Beijing include James Gianopulos, chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment, John Landau, his work partner and producer for 18 years, and Wendi Deng, wife of News Corporation chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch.

They will talk about international co-productions at a forum today with Michael C. Ellis, president and managing director of the Asia-Pacific Region for the Motion Picture Association of America, and Han Sanping, chairman of China Film Group. The director is open to further involvement in the Chinese film industry.

"The government is clearly creating incentives for co-productions," he said. "But there are requirements that need to be met, such as the approval of scripts. We need to weigh those factors very carefully."

Contact the writer at liuw@chinadaily.com.cn