China's Movie Big-Wigs Schooled in 'Socialist' Storytelling

More than 100 of the biggest names in China's movie industry have attended a seminar on how best to tell stories rooted in "socialism with Chinese characteristics."

RELATED: 
Communist Party of China Targets Youth with Communist Apps

The gathering, which took place last Sunday in the city of Hangzhou, brought together the country's most famous filmmakers, actors and pop stars to study the new program unveiled at the19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October.

"It is imperative for young moviemakers to unite their thoughts and actions to stay in line with the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and to produce great stories for the screen under the guideline of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Zhang Hongsen, deputy head of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), told the audience.

The forum was abuzz with praise for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ideas, according to reports in Chinese media.

"Hollywood only asks for good ideas, but never gives their core technologies to make these ideas become real works, and by doing so lures our young talents," said martial arts expert Wu Jing, the star and director of "Wolf Warrior II," this year's biggest Chinese blockbuster. "It is important for us in the business to use our Chinese wisdom to tell great Chinese stories."

Singer and actor Luhan, the official Chinese ambassador for Star Wars, expressed pride at the "extensive and profound" Chinese culture, vowing to promote it around the world.

For Su Wei, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, celebrity culture provides an interesting way for young people to learn about socialism. Stars' "pop celebrity status," Wei told the Global Times, can help China's core socialist values reach a younger audience.

RELATED:
Xi Unveils New Chinese Communist Party Programmatic Guidelines

Chen Shan, a professor at the Beijing Film Academy, said: "Chinese movie actors or directors must be different from those from capitalist countries, and they should take responsibility to convey the country's core values to the public."

The Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the program revealed by Xi in October at the CPC Congress, "represents the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context."

"Culture is the soul of the nation," Xi declared in a separate speech last month.