Private Cinemas Forge in Shanghai

The booming filming market can be easily observed by the upstanding hyper cinemas, easily invest millions on construction. Now in Shanghai or other capital cities in China, almost every district has a cinema with more than 6 screens, which seems still not satisfied to the demand. It’s sure that mainly of them are pop-corn movies for entertaining the mass audience, Hollywood, Cooperative HK-Mainland Movie are two most popular movie productions in now market.

Shanghai, due to the east coast locative and international influential specifications, an intercultural bourgeoisie thought has been planted here. This bourgeoisie mind directs Shanghaiers to dispute stereotyped mainstream movies. Therefore, there’re more and more private cinemas raised by a group or movie fan for their comrades. These cinemas are always located in a quiet corner, maybe a cafe or a unique villa lying in high phoenix trees. In Chinese famous online reading & filming community, almost every week there’re abundant group cinema activities notices, which attract lots of young people for cheaper price but nicer private playlists.

If you want to enjoy old B&W movies, the “Old Film” cafe on Duolun Road is the best choice, on the second floor, everyday several old films are on display. Western villa, squeaky wood stairs, 1930s decoration are presenting the old Shanghai features.

Literary films are also welcomed by literary youth, which are closely tied to each other. These people are already tired of the mainstream movies, they eager to watch and have some think of a movie. To watch alone can be easily boring, while gathering for a movie party is getting popular in recent years. Some old brand cinemas like Xinguang, Guotai Cinemas are opening literary channels for these movie addicts, simple and low profile, gradually set up their fames. Marienbad Cafe, Clockwork Orange and other artistic cafes are showing indie movies once a week to attract their own customers, which actually are running well. Due to this hidden wave, private cinemas are quite vibrant.

Also other specified private cinemas are targeting different customers, lovers, cult fans and so on, all these minorities arising is because of the mainstream monotony and expensive tickets, but private cinemas can fulfill different need by low budget.

However, these private cinemas are only occupying tiny proportion of the whole market, it’s far away from sufficient. While downloading movies are getting restrictions by governmental dams, private cinemas are absolutely the best choice for experiencing multiple national movies, not just the 60 big commercial ones on the cinema market plate.

• The cinema crisis – Tom Tykwer
• “You couldn’t build the number of cinemas we need”
• Do we need a renaissance of film politics?