Many theaters are dissatisfied with the free online broadcast of "Lost in Russia" and may boycott Xu Zheng's works in the future

On New Year's Eve, Huanxi Media announced that "Lost in Russia" would be broadcast online for free on the first day of the new year, but this move was protested by the film industry in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Nanjing, Xuzhou and other places. A statement about the online premiere of the movie "Lost in Russia" said: Cinemas across the country have invested a considerable amount of money in the screening of the movie "Lost in Russia". This "Lost in Russia" behavior has caused significant losses to cinemas across the country.

The statement also expressed the hope that Huanxi Media would stop the Internet premiere of the movie "Lost in Russia", otherwise the Zhejiang film industry would boycott Huanxi Media and Xu Zheng's films to a certain extent. At present, Huanxi Media and the official Weibo account of the movie "Lost in Russia" have not responded to this statement.

It is understood that most of the cinemas participating in this statement are independent cinemas that have not joined the big theater chains, and some small cinemas that are banding together for warmth. They reacted quite strongly to this choice of Huanshi Media.

In North America, it is usually the large cinema chains that choose to boycott Netflix to disrupt the window period. For example, when "The Irishman" was choosing theaters to screen in order to participate in the Oscars, large cinema chains such as AMC and Regal firmly disagreed to screen it.

The statement is as follows:

On the morning of January 24, 2020, the news broke that the Spring Festival movie "Lost in Russia" would be broadcast for free on Douyin and other online platforms on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Later, the news revealed that Huanxi Media, the producer of "Lost in Russia", sold the film copyright to Douyin for 630 million yuan, and its Hong Kong stocks soared. It has been confirmed by many parties that this is true.

We believe that in the Internet age, it is a legal act for film and television works to obtain legitimate rights and interests by broadcasting them on Internet video websites. The industry should actively support this on the premise of following industry norms and ensuring the basic rights and interests of all parties. To this end, the China Film Distribution and Exhibition Association and the China Producers Association have made specific requirements for the window period of theater films.

However, the Internet premiere of the film Lost in Russia produced by Huanxi Media is an act of undermining the basic rules of the industry (hereinafter referred to as the "Lost in Russia" act). Zhejiang film industry practitioners firmly condemn it for the following reasons:

1. The movie "Lost in Russia" was originally a theatrical movie, but was withdrawn due to the spread of the Wuhan epidemic. Huanxi Media can choose to release it at an appropriate time afterwards and continue to enjoy its economic rights. However, theaters across the country also invested a considerable amount of money in screening the movie "Lost in Russia". This "Lost in Russia" behavior has caused significant losses to theaters across the country.

2. As the Chinese film industry has developed to date, we support new model breakthroughs, but innovation must be based on basic market principles. If the movie "Lost in Russia" was initially targeted at the Internet for promotion, distribution and screening, then this "Lost in Russia" behavior is a legitimate rights and interests behavior. However, the initial target of the movie "Lost in Russia" was the cinema. Cinemas across the country promoted the movie "Lost in Russia". Cinemas are the main propaganda base, but their profits are now enjoyed by Internet platforms. This behavior is not innovation, but a dishonest behavior that protects itself without regard to the interests of others.

3. The ancients said: Those who value profit over righteousness are despised by gentlemen and hated by the public. The core socialist values ​​of the new era require "patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendliness." People in the film industry need to be patriotic, respect their own industry, follow the integrity of the basic industry norms, and be friendly to others. At this time of the Wuhan pneumonia incident, the people of the whole country are united and work together to overcome the difficulties. During this special period, the film industry has taken the overall situation into consideration and most theaters have temporarily stopped normal operations, enduring huge economic losses without regrets. However, Huanxi Media, based on its own selfishness, disregarded the interests of others, and took special measures in special periods to hijack public opinion. As the online comments on its behavior---how can we overcome the difficulties together, only betrayal.

In view of this, practitioners in the Zhejiang film industry hereby declare:

1. We hope Huanxi Media will stop the Internet premiere of the movie "Lost in Russia".

2. If Huanxi Media insists on premiering the movie "Lost in Russia" on the Internet, the Zhejiang film industry will subsequently boycott Huanxi Media and Xu Zheng's film works to a certain extent.

Drinking ice in the evening after receiving orders in the morning, and being unable to sleep at night after doing nothing during the day! The Chinese film industry has come a long way, and everyone has worked hard and bravely. Especially in recent years, peers across the country have gone through so many difficulties and obstacles. With the support of the propaganda departments of party committees at all levels, it has reached today's lights. The industry needs to develop, and practitioners need common principles. On the road ahead, we must not forget our original intention!

Let’s encourage each other with Huanxi Media!

More than 20,000 people working in the Shanghai film industry

More than 20,000 people work in Zhejiang's film industry

More than 2,000 people working in Nanjing’s film industry

More than 1,000 people working in the Xuzhou film industry

More than 3,000 people working in Suzhou’s film industry

More than 2,500 people working in Wuxi's film industry

More than 1,000 people working in Nantong’s film industry

More than 1,000 people working in Changzhou’s film industry

January 24, 2020