Tough nuts to crack

As US film producers and Chinese investors continue to snuggle up to each other, industry insiders said making money from these potential marriages is harder than many think.

The Chinese market, on the one hand, remains partially closed to foreign films. Just 34 movies produced outside of China are allowed to be screened in the Chinese mainland each year.

Some foreign, particularly US, filmmakers are seeking to circumvent the restriction by seeking Chinese partners to jointly produce movies for the Chinese market.