Next Monday, movie fans all over the world will turn their attention to the Hollywood Kodak Theater, where this year's Oscar awards are to be announced. Chinese film buffs are no exception. The good news is that more Chinese audiences are able to see the awards ceremony live on domestic TV channels this year, as more TV stations have won broadcasting rights to the global movie extravaganza. 
 
24-year-old Beijing girl Xiao Yan is an IT specialist. She is a typical movie fan. Xiao Yan says that in the past she could only get information about the Oscars from the Internet, so she is happy to watch the live broadcast on domestic TV this time.

"I will see many of my favorite movie stars from the show, such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. I hope the blockbuster Lord of the Rings Three will be the big winner. As a movie fan, I'm happy to see CCTV's movie channel take the lead and let more Chinese feel the live atmosphere of the Oscars, one of the global movie galas."

Of course, not every Chinese is interested in the Oscars, but Xiao Yan's attitude is typical of the young people, a generation deeply influenced by American pop culture. They are quite familiar with the Grammies and the Tony Awards, as well as the Oscars.

Along with the movie channel of CCTV, Shanghai East Movie Channel also sees the great potential in China's TV market for foreign programs. Confident it will attract more viewers, this local station will also broadcast the live Oscar awards ceremony next Monday.

As people here are paying more attention to the Oscars, what about China's own film awards? The Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers film awards have been called the Chinese version of the Academy Awards. But how much attention does this domestic film gala draw from ordinary audiences?

Here is Xiao Yan again.

"Actually, I'm not very interested, and not because of a lack of interest in domestic films. Our own film festival has so many imitations and patterns copied from their foreign counterparts, such as the procedure of the award ceremony and the host's style. Our local big movie events should establish their own unique styles, showing our tradition and culture."

Many other people say the same thing. This should make domestic movie professionals put their thinking caps on! Audiences expect to see more innovation and changes in China's film gala, rather than a lavishly copied version of the Oscars. 

(CRIENGLISH.com February 27, 2004)