China shows off military might: online and onscreen

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The entertainment industry has been used as a political messenger in the US frequently over the past century, from the glorification of G-Men to films depicting military strength.

Now China, increasingly active in overseas film markets through the Belt and Road Initiative, is producing films and TV series that match a similar trend, as a February 2014 plan to deepen reform of the cultural industry bears fruit.

In the Name of the People. /Douban.com Photo

Hit TV series In the Name of the People dramatized the anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping, documentary Strong Military is currently receiving millions of views online, and a slew of military films have won over cinema audiences.

Action film Wolf Warrior 2, which tells the story of a former Chinese Special Forces operative's adventures, set a record at the domestic box office of about 852 million US dollars in revenue.

And Sky Hunter, a film made in close cooperation with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, took 13.1 million US dollars over the National Day weekend.

Military-movie complex

Moviemaking is an art, but also a business. Most productions seek out investment, and investors want a return. But Sky Hunter is a little different, according to Lieutenant Colonel Zhang Li, a producer of the film as well as an officer of the PLA Air Force.

"The original intention of the PLA Air Force to produce this movie is simple. We don't intend to make money; we want to use it to tell the people, especially the youth, what the PLA Air Force is like and what it can do to protect the country in this era and the future," Zhang told Global Times.

Fan Bingbing in Sky Hunter. /Douban.com Photo

Sky Hunter is Chinese actor Li Chen’s directorial debut, and also stars superstar Fan Bingbing – a big draw for Chinese audiences. It was made with deep cooperation from the PLA Air Force, a practice common in the US. Indeed the first film to win the Best Picture Oscar, Wings, was made with help from the US Air Force.

Guardian film critic Steve Rose notes that US filmmakers Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer are notorious for making films in cooperation with the military. The arrangements typically favor both parties, Rose says. The use of military weaponry gives a film extra credibility and saves money on equipment, while the military can show off its resources and personnel in a positive light.

Top Gun star Tom Cruise. /China Daily Photo

Bay made Pearl Harbor and Armageddon with the help of the military, while Bruckheimer was responsible for Black Hawk Down and Top Gun. And the latter, a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise, has been an inspiration to PLA pilots, according to Zhang.

"Unfortunately, in the past, we didn't treat the publicity seriously, and we didn't produce successful films to shape the air force's image among the people. Interestingly, many young people who applied to become PLA fighter jet pilots were inspired by US-made Hollywood movies like Top Gun.”

Sky Hunter features an all-star cast beyond Fan Bingbing. Also topping the bill is an array of China’s latest weaponry.

Sky Hunter. /Douban.com Photo

Senior Colonel Chen Hao, the film’s chief planner and the deputy head of the publicity bureau under the Political Work Department of the PLA Air Force, told Global Times: “Since China's military modernization has made so many remarkable achievements, it is time for us to use thrilling weapons to make an inspiring movie."

A documentary showcasing China's military development and anti-corruption work is also proving popular. China Central Television began airing Strong Military on September 28, and the six episodes available online have received millions of views.

A winning combination

A series of political documentaries produced by major Chinese networks have also proven popular over the past year, summarizing the country's achievements in reform, rule of law, diplomacy, anti-corruption, as well as economic and social development over the last five years.

In the Name of the People, a drama telling the story of China’s anti-corruption drive over the past five years, was a huge domestic hit.

The onscreen depiction of justice being done has been an engaging recipe for generations.

Scene from In the Name of the People. /Douban.com Photo

One notorious example is from the US, where J. Edgar Hoover sought to portray FBI agents as heroes by cooperating with comic and movie producers to place “G-Men” (government men) at the center of their stories.

Ronald Kessler, author of The Secrets of the FBI, told NPR in July that Hoover identified a direct channel to shaping the hearts and minds of young Americans. According to Kessler, Hoover’s use of media helped instill trust in the agency and its mission among a whole new generation.

In using entertainment as a medium, China is treading a popular path — and showing its pride and confidence in recent achievements.