Crossing the Transnational Hong Kong Cinema Co-production---Production Culture, Policy, Business, and Individual Practitioners

Taking co-production as a dominant development of Hong Kong's film industry, this study examines the transnationality of different trends of co-production: Hong Kong China co-production, Hong Kong - Asia co-production, and individuals working for overseas productions, and the production cultures in these varied contexts are analyzed. By crossing production culture, policy, film business and the work of individual practitioners with the concept and practices of transnationality, this study outlines the possibilities and limitations of developing transnational co-production in Hong Kong cinema. Focusing on its varied manifestations, this thesis emphasizes the plurality of transnationality and suggests that "transnationalities" are a result of the development of Hong Kong cinema. The influences and infiltration of Hong Kong cinema into the other cinemas of the world reflects its ways of survival, and the simple claiming of "the death of Hong Kong" should be questioned. Although there are many constraints in co-production, and some practitioners of valuable skills, like action choreography, are privileged to others, the thesis reveals that Hong Kong cinema is transforming in a direction that provides a foundation for sustainable development. The different co-production projects in which Hong Kong cinema is now engaging demonstrate how this cinema will be able to incorporate itself into the production process in China, Asia and the overseas contexts.