And Zhu Xingxiang, vice-minister of the State Environmental Protection
Administration, said the approval should be based on the nation's standard
environment impact assessment and should be subject to public evaluation.
"Film crews always ignore this traditional regulation and fail to get the nod
of approval before shooting," he said.
Meanwhile, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has further tightened its
control measures, announcing further restrictions on films shot in its scenic
spots.
The Oscar-winning "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and "Hero" produced by
Chinese director Zhang Yimou, used some scenic spots there for shooting without
permission, the Urumqi Evening News said, though it did not say if the film
crews had harmed the environment.
International experience
The selection of the site is crucial to the success of the film, said
renowned Oscar laurel winner Oliver Stone, in relation to one of his recent
works "Alexander" filmed over three continents.
But he said, although his movie expenses had quadrupled from US$25 million in
the 1980s, to almost US$100 million now, and even though he tries to save money
anywhere any time, he never limits the amount spent on cleaning the shooting
sites.
Famous tourist hotspot Switzerland has always been a prime location for
shooting films.
Simon Bosshart, director of the China Office of the Switzerland Tourism
Administration, told Environment China that about 400 Indian films had been shot
in Switzerland in recent years.
"Scenic area protection in film shooting has become a sensitive issue in our
country," he said.
Film crews are not allowed to film at the top of snowy mountains and no
vehicles can be used in neighbouring areas.
When vehicles enter scenic areas they are not allowed to travel over eight
kilometres per hour.
A recent imax film called the "Giant of Alps" is being shot in Switzerland
and is being made by the Switzerland Tourism Administration.
One of the film's scenes is an avalanche to showcase the power of nature. The
crew have come up with the solution of "creating an artificial snow mountain,
instead of damaging a part of the mountain."
(China Daily 08/14/2006 page8)
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