Jackie Chan & Jet Li Cameo in "The Founding of a Republic"

[OrlandoEastwood]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1438461/

As the People's Republic of China approaches its 60th anniversary, the Communist Party is attempting to woo the nation's youth with a new movie that's celebrity-rich.

According to an Associated Press report, Jian Guo Da Ye, which translates to The Founding of a Republic, opens in theatres in two weeks. It will retell the story of the Communist Party's triumph, and feature brief appearances by Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Stephen Chow, and many others.

The film represents a tactical shift for China's ruling party with regards to getting its message out. In the recent past, the nation's state-supported film and TV industry produced predictable fare on conservative budgets, which mostly appealed to older audiences. Those films, featuring dowdy revolutionary heroes, were considered out of touch with the more slick, well-dressed action stars and pop singers coming out of Hong Kong and South Korea.

Meanwhile, Chinese artists who made it abroad kept their distance from the mainland, some possibly due to tensions related to the 1997 Handover of Hong Kong. However, as China's economy booms and entertainment options such as the Web increase, actors and filmmakers are recognizing the market potential, while the Communist Party's Propaganda Department realizes it must adapt to youngsters who shun official media.

So at the propaganda masterminds' behest, The Founding of a Republic was commissioned at a budget of between 60 million and 70 million yuan, or a relatively high $8.8 million to $10 million. No expense will be spared for the film's distribution: It will be released by state-owned China Film Group, which is involved in most major productions on the mainland and controls the import of foreign films, on September 17 at a rate of one print for every two theater screens in China.

It was through Film Group chairman Han Sanping, who co-directed the film with Huang Jianxin, that a number of internationally-known celebrities agreed to appear, albeit in cameos. Jackie Chan will play an unnamed journalist, while Zhang Ziyi is a non-descript representative from the cultural sector. Even director John Woo is confirmed as appearing in one of the trailers.

"Everyone has to show their respect if Grandpa San asks," said Terence Chang, Woo's frequent producing partner, referring to Han Sanping.

Although Mao Zedong and other lead roles will be played by lesser-known actors, The Founding of a Republic is expected to be a hit based on overall star power, and the fact that the mainland's box office has been expanding; in 2008, movie theater construction surged over 30 percent to 4.3 million yuan ($630 millionUS).

But the Communist Party shouldn't expect to draw the future from this one film, said Gao Jun, deputy manager of the New Film Association, one of China's top multiplex chains. He expects young viewers will tune out the pro-Communist rhetoric.

"They won't pay attention to anything else, they'll just be counting the stars," Gao said.

I think this will be interesting.