Does China control Hollywood?

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Vox Media Podcast Network

Society & Culture, News, Politics, News Commentary, Philosophy

4.6 • 10.8K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2022

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Vox's Alissa Wilkinson talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Erich Schwartzel about Red Carpet, his new book detailing the myriad ways that Hollywood movies are affected by China. They discuss how Chinese markets are essential for the budgetary math of big blockbusters, the role of the Chinese Communist Party's censors play in shaping the content of American films, and what this complicated global relationship might for Hollywood's future — and the future of movies in general. Host: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), film critic and senior culture reporter, Vox Guests: Erich Schwartzel (@erichschwartzel), reporter, The Wall Street Journal; author References: Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy by Erich Schwartzel (Penguin; 2022) Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by: Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Patrick Boyd Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:16.0	Results may vary.
0:46.0	What do sensors in China have to do with the movie's Hollywood makes?
0:58.0	I'm Melissa Wilkinson and I write for Vox about film and culture.
1:05.0	And today I'm your host for Vox Conversations.
1:19.0	I've been writing about movies for 15 years, which means good, bad, blockbuster, indie, I watch them all.
1:29.0	And over the years, I've started to have a vague sense that Hollywood storytelling is shifting.
1:35.0	The movies have felt more and more abstract in their themes and politics.
1:42.0	The casts of big budget movies seem increasingly peppered with global stars who are unknown to many Americans.
1:50.0	And I had questions.
1:53.0	Was the increasing number of movies with Asian actors really about inclusion and diversity?
2:01.0	Tash rig a bite you.
2:03.0	Enough of that gibberish.
2:05.0	Why hadn't I seen Richard Gear in a studio movie for well over a decade?
2:09.0	But you don't have $5,000.
2:11.0	So I figured you're a dirty liar and I don't waste my time with dirty liars.
2:15.0	Did I just notice a prominently placed Chinese protein powder in that last scene?
2:21.0	I'll leave the diversion. Get that thing somewhere safe.
	...

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