Action star Jackie Chan and Yeung Sau Shing, chairman of Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG), came from Hong Kong to the Beijing Film Academy (BFA) bearing gifts to students and teachers.

EEG, of which Chan is a prominent member, is launching a new film project with the film academy. A fund will be set up for students to shoot 10 films and a TV series.

"China has become a powerful state in the world regarding economy and politics status," Chan said. "But Chinese film industry lags far behind many other countries.

"I'm much surprised to learn that new directors who want to shoot film have no channels to apply for funding."

Chan has financed three young directors all BFA graduates to shoot films. Chan even sent his son Jaycee to act in one of the films for free.

Xiao Hong, director of "Electric Shadows" (Dianying Wangshi), greatly appreciated Chan's aid.

"I feel very lucky, without Chan's help, I could never shoot this film. My dream was about to die after so many frustrations," said Xiao, 32.

Chan, one of China's richest celebrities, has a smart reason for investing in the young Chinese film industry.

China has a vast consumer market with a population of 1.3 billion. In addition to a huge potential box ticket, many excellent film artists were bringing great hope to the industry.

"If half of the Chinese population became regular film goers, Hollywood would come to China to learn Chinese and make Chinese films, because it's so luring," Chan said.

In the trend of globalization, Chinese culture is becoming ever more popular all over the world.

He had seen many NBA players tattooed with Chinese characters and wearing clothes with Chinese symbols.

Chan prefers to make films about China rather than pure Hollywood movies, joking that this is an act of revenge. While he once begged Hollywood for a minor role, Hollywood now begged him for a film, he said.

Chan said he acted so boldly to Hollywood's advances not because he was famous but because the Chinese film industry had given him more choices.

Only when a culture is unique can it be outstanding, he emphasized. "We may need Hollywood blockbusters, but we should never copy whatever Western film," he said.

"Just make films with Chinese style. Only unique things are counted great and of real value.

"Today is an era of Chinese film."

(China Daily 12/29/2006 page13)