The Research On The International Model Of Chinese Mainland Films Since The 1980s

From the end of the 1980s onwards, with Chinese reform, opening its door to the world, China has pushed itself to the global stage economically, politically and culturally. It gets into the international process based on transnational market and TNC, which led the development of media and dissemination. On one hand, the global attempt provides the background and space for the wide communication of film culture. Therefore, since the late 1980s, the Chinese film makers have been working hard on exploring the global market and practical bridge to reach out to the world market.This exploration has looked into three stages: the first stage (from late 1980s to early 1990s) is arts film period. Beginning with Zhang Yimou's "Red Sorghum", Chen Kaige's "Farewell, My Concubine" came to a climax. China's fifth generation film directors viewed the international film festival awards as a breakthrough, and their efforts have brought them world-famous. Chinese art films formed the first wave for Chinese film to reach out in the global market. The second stage (mid-1990s to late 1990s) is the independent film period. Directors of Zhang Yuan, Wang Xiaoshuai, Jia Zhangke and other young directors represent the sixth generation of Chinese film makers. Outside the film censorship system, they conducted "underground films." They went out taking part in international film festivals. The third stage (2000 onwards) is transnational production period. After the accession to the WTO, Chinese film industry and markets was opened to the world. Presented by Zhang Yimou with his "Hero" and Chen Kaige with his "Limitless", China's film makers, facing the challenge coming from the international film markets, explored new roads and strategies to try to confront to the world market. With China's political, economic and cultural development, three different types of film strategies were adopted.There were no integrated theories in each individual practice. No systematic or comprehensive rules were ever reached by them. It is the interest and intention of this paper to trace the way they traveled and summarize the most effective methods from their most successful case practices. This paper will predict the future trend of development so as to point out the right direction where our film industry should turn to.