Four films made in Qingdao given $5.6m subsidy

Four films produced in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, have been granted a total subsidy of 36 million yuan ($5.6 million) by local government, said the government on Friday.

They include China's sci-fi hit "The Wandering Earth" and "Crazy Alien", Chinese fantasy comedy film "The Island" and American sci-fi blockbuster "Pacific Rim: Uprising".

The government of the coastal city said it has also set up a fund of 5 billion yuan to help future television and cinematic works produced at its Oriental Movie Metropolis, which is poised to become a world-class film studio. A maximum of 40 percent of the production cost could be covered for one work by the fund. Capital market would be introduced to support the fund.

Based in the city's West Coast New Area, Oriental Movie Metropolis boasts 40 state-of-the-art studios, including the world's largest sound stage of 10,000 square meters, and the world's only underwater sound stage.

Guo Fan, director of "The Wandering Earth", said all the scenes in the film were shot in the Oriental Movie Metropolis and he has deep affection toward the studio.

"Walking into the studio again is like going back home," said Guo, adding that he expected more collaboration with the studio in the future.

"The Wandering Earth", which has taken box office by storm during the past month, received a subsidy of 4.1 million yuan.

According to Qingdao West Coast New Area, a new backlot is under construction in the area. With an investment of 5 billion yuan, the backlot is scheduled to be in operation later this year.

It is expected that the two studios could make the city a new showbiz production hub in China.