CHINESE science fiction fans who want more than a token Chinese sidekick in Hollywood blockbusters are turning their attentions back home.

    Industry insiders say at least a dozen Chinese sci-fi movies are in production, suggesting a shift in the film industry for more movies of the genre.

    “Many film companies have initiated sci-fi projects with huge financial support. There is at least one film with investments of over 100 million yuan (US$16 million),” said Yan Peng, film critic and planning supervisor of Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production Co.

    “It not only reflects the personal interests of certain investors, but rising enthusiasm in the industry,” Yan said. “The Chinese film industry has matured over recent years, so it’s time to have our own sci-fi titles.”

    One highly anticipated film is the adaptation of Liu Cixin’s best-selling saga “The Three-Body.” Youzu Film, who is producing the film, said shooting would start before the end of this year.

    Writer-turned director Han Han has also revealed plans for a sci-fi film after the success of his first outing as a director, “Continent.”

    Despite the huge success of foreign sci-fi films, such as “Gravity” and “Transformers,” domestic titles are lacking, with many blaming the situation on technology.

    “From art design to computerized special effects, every link in the chain of China’s film industry lacks experience with the sci-fi genre,” said Wu Yan, sci-fi critic and professor with Beijing Normal University.

    Other critics point to a lack of sci-fi culture among China’s established directors. But the good news is that the younger generation of filmmakers is rising to the challenge.

    “Now, filmmakers know more about the genre. Many were born after the 1970s and grew up reading sci-fi novels,” said Zheng Jun, sci-fi writer and CEO of China Scientific and Cultural Industry Net.

    Some up-and-coming teams have started by shooting short films. Lu Bingshu, executive producer of the 30-minute demo “Eyes of Mars,” said sci-fi production was a laborious process. But the 26-year-old believes their efforts to create everything from space capsules to space suits would feed into the overall development of the genre.

    Unknown future

    But even if a Chinese sci-fi film clears all the production hurdles, it may still face a picky and suspicious domestic audience.

    Zheng said that many Chinese movies avoid the sci-fi label, fearing movie-goers would associate “Chinese sci-fi blockbusters” with clumsy rip-offs of successful Western titles.

    But, Yan said, the Chinese market should encourage domestic sci-fi movie production.

    “Sci-fi films reflect people’s fears and desires in the era of technology, with Western films containing Western themes. We need to have sci-fi films that embody Chinese thinking,” he said.

    Sci-fi writer Fei Dao said the need for more domestic sci-fi, including motion pictures, would rise alongside a healthy Chinese economy.

    “In our vision of the future, there should be Chinese faces,” he said.(Xinhua)