Shooting starts on China's first 4K opera movie

China's first 4K opera movie, Madam White Snake - the Affection, started filming in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province on Dec 26.

A special ceremony is held in Guangzhou Dec 26 to celebrate China's first 4K Cantonese Opera movie Madam White Snake - the Affection. [Photo/Southcn.com] 

Dec 26 also marked the launch of a 4K movie chain initiated by Guangzhou-based Zhujiang Film Group. Shen Haixiong, head of Guangdong's publicity department, and Yuan Baocheng, vice governor of Guangdong province, attended the event.

Guangdong has been the largest market for the movie industry in China with its annual movie box office revenue accounting for one seventh of China's total. The 4K ultra high-definition movies have been a consumption hotspot in recent years but China's 4K movies were mainly imported from overseas.

"Guangdong should introduce and create more quality movies, striving to make the province into a filmmaking and trade center for 4K films in China," said Shen at a launching ceremony for Guangdong's 4K TV pilot program held on Dec 23. Shen also encouraged the province to redouble its efforts to set the industrial standards of 4K TV for the country.

Based on the household love legend Madame White Snake, the new adaption Madam White Snake - the Affection is one of the key operas created and promoted by the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute in recent years. Zeng Xiaomin, a famous Cantonese Opera artist, plays the leading role which has previously won her the Plum Blossom Award, China's highest prize for drama.

The movie is based on the household love legend Madame White Snake and is one of the key operas created and promoted by the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute in recent years. [Photo/Southcn.com] 

It is an innovative move to promote excellent traditional Chinese culture by using advanced technology to make 4K films. The move helps Guangdong in building a complete 4K film industry chain throughout the country, according to Cai Fuqing, chairman of Zhujiang Film Group.

According to insiders, Zhujiang Film Group will team up with China Aerospace Construction Group and the China Research Institute of Film Science & Technology to introduce cutting-edge technology in the film industry and boost the industrial foundation for 4K film production and promotion.