The “Dialogue: Economic Studies Forum on Contemporary Chinese Film and Television Culture”, jointly organised by the Faculty of Finance, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the City University of Macau (CityU Macau) and the China Europe International Business Association, was held at the Cultural Centre on the Taipa campus today (9th). Guests from different sectors, including senior practitioners, were invited to share their insights, analyse the potential benefits of the film and television economy from the perspective of new structural economics and discuss upgrades to the industry and diversified economic models of Macao. 

 

 

Pro-Rector Ip Kaui Peng of CityU Macau said in his speech that the cultural and creative industry was one of the pillar industries in Macao’s strategy of adequate economic diversification. It was also mentioned in the 2021 Policy Address of the Macao SAR Government that more efforts should be made to promote cultural and sport industrialisation and foster the development of the film and television industry. To achieve that, Macao can start with the film industry by joining hands with the high-end service industry to build the carriers of cultural tourism and the cultural industry and meet the pressing demands in Macao and the Greater Bay Area for new types of cultural industry and cultural consumption models. In the meantime, the cooperation between the cultural industry and the financial services industry should be brought forward to reduce the financing obstacles for the cultural industry, energise the market and enhance the industry’s quality. 

 

 

Mr Derio Chan, President of the China Europe International Business Association, stated that the up-and-coming film and television culture has been burgeoning in the contemporary time to a sizable scale with great potential. The film and television cultural economy sits at the intersection where the old industrial cycle meets the new one; it is also the junction for Macao’s economic diversification. The supporting industries of the film and television industry can generate jobs and business opportunities with high added value, galvanising overall economic growth at key junctures. 

 

 

Mr Ung Choi Kun, Vice-Council Chairman of CityU Macau, presented the Faculty of Finance with calligraphy of four Chinese characters, “li de shu ren” (立德樹人), meaning fostering integrity and promoting rounded development of people. The calligraphy was received by Dean Cheung Wai Kong of the Faculty of Finance, on behalf of the whole Faculty. 

 

 

 

In the panel discussion, guests shared their views on the development of the film and television industry in the Mainland and Macao. Ms Lei Cheng I cited film productions as an example and said that many of Macao’s film productions made by young people had won international awards, illustrating the significance of the two sides’ collaboration in the industry. Mr Bowie Lam and Ms Catherine Chau shared from the perspective of artists that nurturing more talent for the industry was an integral part of the development of the film and television cultural economy. Therefore, they suggested that the Macao SAR government should support and encourage industry practitioners to further their studies in order to improve the quality of behind-the-scenes work in the industry, enable Chinese culture to pack a more profound punch and thus raise its soft cultural power. Mr Li Zi Song mentioned that China’s film and television industry was in its heyday and, going forward, China will rise to be a major power in the sphere. In this context, it was imperative to attract the right talent and make good use of Macao’s features to develop Macao’s unique film and television industry. Mr Wang Haige expressed his belief that Macao should invest more in the film and television industry, which it always has a great passion for, to pursue adequate economic diversification. Mr Ung Choi Kun added that both culture and economy are at the forefront of social development, which made it greatly important to figure out how to raise the confidence of Chinese culture and its cultural soft power. Ms Zhu Wanji, with the analysis of different films and television productions, stated that the film and television industry could yield huge cultural and economic benefits. 

During the interactive session, the guests exchanged their views on a wide range of topics, including the cultural focuses, the characteristics of artists as well as their performance in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and how these could connect with or complement the Mainland’s culture. At the same time, their discussion also touched upon the quality of industry practitioners, their level of internationalisation, service targets and the employment and business opportunities generated by the industry from the perspective of cultural characteristics, market positioning and economic benefits. Regarding how the artists could retain their competitive edge and how the Greater Bay Area could expand cooperation prospects in this economic sphere, the guests of the forum agreed that it is necessary to shift audiences’ behavioural patterns since the Internet has come to the fore among its constantly evolving platforms. Moreover, from the perspectives of TV stations, legislators, governments, artists, investors, producers and film and television award evaluation, the film and television industry should implement policies that are in line with its development, build an ideal ecosystem that could strike a better-judged balance among the social values, boost the growth of cultural tourism and economy, and expand the domestic and overseas markets. In this way, the film and television culture could deliver economic benefits and drive economic growth, so that the film and television economy could be fit for Macao’s scale, thus achieving the desired socio-economic outcomes.  

 

 

Vice-Council Chairman of CityU Macau and President of the Macao Wisdom Humanities Encourage Political Association, Mr Ung Choi Kun; renowned actor and film and television producer, Mr Bowie Lam; renowned actress, Ms Catherine Chau; Head of the Culture and Tourism Bureau, Pengjiang District of Jiangmen, Ms Zhu Wanji; President of Macau Lotus TV, Mr Li Zisong; Macao Legislator, Ms Lei Cheng I; and Chairman of the Huading Awards, Mr Wang Haige, were among the guests who spoke at the forum. The forum was also attended by Dean Cheung Wai Kong and Associate Dean Khong Yueng Wah of the Faculty of Finance, and Executive Associate Dean Wang Zhong of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of CityU Macau. 

 

Recording: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=950897828985212&ref=watch_permalink