Chinese films have originality: special effects artist

Richard Taylor, creative director of New Zealand film prop and special effects company Weta Workshop, waves on the red carpet at the world premiere of 'The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey' in Wellington November 28, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese films feature great originality and imagery, special effects artist Richard Taylor said at the ongoing third Beijing International Film Festival.

"If you look at Chinese cinema, there are creative moments, beautiful imagery, choreography and ideas that surpass most of what are happening in Western cinema," said Taylor, the co-founder of New Zealand's Weta companies, which helped create some of the special effects featured in hit films "Avatar" and "The Hobbit."

He described Chinese films "The Promise" and "The Banquet" as being "incredibly original."

Taylor said Chinese films have had a significant impact on the rest of the world.

"If you look at the fight choreography of so many American films over the last 30 years, compared to what you have been treated with over your lifetime, you know now that the extreme level of almost ballet-level choreography is being brought to Western films," he said.

"There are many great films that continue to come out of China every year. There is a great passion and desire to tell great stories in every culture across the world. (There is) no more or less in this culture than in our own or any other country," said Taylor.

"We must all focus on assuring youth culture, because the young people are going to make the (film) industry of the next generation. Only in doing so can we elevate our story-telling visually to the heights that the audiences want," he said.

"We have built film props (with Chinese partners). We have produced collectables and bronzes. We look for future opportunities to develop content and continue developing creative opportunities with China that started 14 or 15 years ago," he said.

"Great opportunities may lie here in Beijing in this amazing festival. So a lot of interesting things are going on," he said. "There seems to be amazing number of possibilities. I can only hope that we can rise to the occasion and offer what is best from us to the industry here."