Hollywood, Bollywood and Chollywood

Most would say no, as even India’s hugely successful Bollywood movie industry falls far short of the global appeal of Hollywood which has spread American ideas, culture and fashion around the world for much of the past 100 years.
It is notable that even China’s recent epic movie, The Great Wall, gave the starring role to American actor Matt Damon even though it was set in the time of the Song dynasty. Despite this nod to Hollywood, the movie failed to attract box-office crowds outside China.
The most influential player in China’s movie industry is Wang Jianlin, the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group. He is building what aims to be the world’s largest movie studio in Qingdao, which he hopes will become the Hollywood of the East.
He has also invested heavily in the American industry, buying the cinema chain AMC Entertainment and the studio Legendary Entertainment, and has set up a fund to invest in “all six” Hollywood studios. However, his plan to acquire a US TV production company, Dick Clark Productions, hit a stumbling block this year after the Chinese government introduced tougher controls on outbound investment. 
China’s investments in the entertainment industry are also facing problems in the US, with members of the House of Representatives asking the US Accountability Office to consider expanding the scope of the Committee on Foreign Investment so it scrutinises Chinese acquisitions of US entertainment companies under the same guidelines it uses to assess sectors of national security interest. 
Regardless of Chinese investments in the US entertainment industry, China’s influence will inevitably grow. There are already more Chinese cinema-goers than American audiences and while attendance in China is rising, in the US it is falling. Attracting Chinese viewers is therefore becoming essential for commercial success and so Hollywood films are now being adapted to make them China-friendly. This includes using popular Chinese actors and actresses and using themes which attract Chinese audiences such as lots of action, big stunts, and beautiful actors.
However, there are some aspects of Chinese taste which have so far eluded Hollywood. The highest-ever grossing film in China is “The Mermaid,” a home-grown science-
fiction romantic comedy made by Stephen Chow. 
Another great favourite is “Lost in Thailand”, which combined fantasy, Buddhism, Muay Thai and children’s love for their parents with scenes from Thailand. Short Thai videos are very popular on Weibo and Thai actors and actresses have strong fan bases in China. Like Bollywood, the Chinese industry will no doubt develop its own unique character. And given the shared cultural values of our two countries, I am sure that a dynamic Chinese entertainment industry will present great opportunities for Thailand.