Hong Kong’s once booming movie industry--one of the world’s biggest——faces extinction as video piracy(盗版)becomes more and more popular. Gone are the days when film fans swarmed to cinemas to see latest-released local movies. "the Hong Kong film industry will disappear in a few years unless something is done," said Woody, chief executive of the Motion Picture Industry Association.
The industry started going downhill in the early 1990s when major investors backed off in the face of rising copyright piracy. "since the Taiwanese have stopped investing in or buying the copyright for Hong Kong movies at very high prices, there’s not too much money coming in from Taiwan," a director said. "Taiwan money had funded at least half of the industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s". she said. Hong Kong made 86 movies in 2002, a fifth of the 426 produced in 1994. The industry employs just 5,000 people now, down from 30,000 in 1994. The industry’s fading attraction has also dimmed the careers of its stars. Now, besides far fewer films, they have turned to other fields, such as drama, television, radio or business.
Copyright piracy is at the heart of the problem. The widespread sale of pirated video compact discs has drawn audiences away from the big screen or genuine products. Pirated editions flood Hong Kong, with shops selling VCDs of the latest local and Hollywood movies for as little as HK ＄100 (US ＄13) for six discs. By contrast, a movie ticket costs about HK ＄50 (US ＄6.4). Hollywood studios have threatened to stop bringing in their latest movies unless piracy is brought under control. a bad situation worse, Hong Kong’s economy began to sour in late 1997 amid Asia’s financial cr.
With the industry in the depression, top members of the Hong Kong film industry, such as actors Jackie Chan and Chow Yurt-fat and director John Woo, now spend more time in Hollywood.
In a vicious(恶性的) cycle, the talent drain reduces the motivation for audiences to watch local movies. If the decline continues, more industry professionals will seek work overseas.
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