Formation of the Network of Chinese-Hong Kong-Korean Co-Production and Transnational Visual Effects - ‘Tiger Mountain’, 3D Spectacle, Willing Collaborators

This paper aims to shed light on the historical formation of the collaborative production network between China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, focusing on the pivotal policy background established in 2003 between China and Hong Kong through the 'Closer Economic Partnership Agreement' (CEPA) and the subsequent entry of Hong Kong directors into the Chinese film market. It examines the emergence of what is commonly referred to as CEPA films, a collaborative effort involving Chinese capital, Hong Kong directors, and actors from both countries. Specifically, it delves into the background and outcomes that led to the participation of South Korean post-production companies specializing in visual effects, special effects, sound, and other post-production aspects in these CEPA films. This analysis aims to elucidate the historical context of the China-Hong Kong-South Korea collaborative production network. Particularly noteworthy is the application of the term 'network' instead of mere 'collaboration,' considering the contemporary and structural reasons behind this choice. By exploring whether this collaborative production approach sought to emulate the global blockbuster production system and strategies established by Hollywood studios at that time, this paper seeks to identify it as another distinctive element characterizing 21st-century film collaborative production. As a case study, I focus on the narrative and on a visual effects analysis of the 2014 film The Taking of Tiger Mountain, directed by a South Korean filmmaker within the CEPA framework. Through this analysis, this paper will gain insights into the dynamics of the China-Hong Kong-South Korea collaborative production network within competitive, cultural, political, and economic discourses. This paper also endeavors to explore the temporal significance of the emergence of Chinese blockbuster films within the context of this network. Notably, The Taking of Tiger Mountain represents not only commercial success but also typifies the thematic consciousness of 21st-century Chinese blockbusters formed through global collaborative production efforts.