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Approval Denied: Sexy “Lust, Caution” Star Banned From TV Commercials
By Paul Midler | March 10, 2008
Chinese censors allowed “Lust, Caution” to play in Chinese movie theaters at the end of 2007, but not before cutting over 13 minutes of sexy screen action. The actress that we saw in so many compromising positions, Tang Wei, was looking to star in commercials for Pond’s, the skin care brand owned by Uniliver. Those plans have been nixed, the commercials all having been pulled by censors. No explanation given.
Many would claim this is about censorship, but I don’t think so. What was her crime? Staring in a film that was pre-approved by Beijing?
This one is more likely about slowing down a successful foreign company in China. Unilever is a $40 billion company, and Pond’s is doing particularly well there. Foreign companies in skin care have reportedly been increasing spending. It’s a hot market, and it depends heavily on marketing and image. Ms Tang was undoubtedly courted by all major skin care companies in China, each thinking that a contract with the “Lust, Cation” actress would be their key to marketing advantage. There are many companies and only so many stars to go around.
Topics: China |
March 10th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
There are Two rules governing all Chinese business that foreigners must adhere to. The number one rule concerning doing business with the Chinese is that they will ALWAYS reap the lion’s share of the profits and protect the interests of a fellow Chinese company. Foriegn companies will never be able to win here. They will be courted like expensive whores until their secrets are unveiled and when the Chinese side knows they can COPY the same product, then the foreigner gets it hard and fast and without a reach-around…
The second rule is see the number one rule.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I doubt this is a commercial issue - it sounds like classic propaganda department: clumsy heavy handidness. The report is that they didn’t like the idea of glamourising someone who betrayed China (or put personal feelings above patriotism to put it more accurately). Never underestimate the ability of the censorship department to reverse its previous approval for something when it hears someone senior get stroppy over the issue…
March 10th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
It’s a shame because this hottie is 100X better looking (and probably more talented) than whats-her-face Ziyi and should be the female “face of China” instead of that stupid little skank or the over-the-hill (but still hittable) Gong Li.
Seriously, would the average Ponds consumer give a crap that Hottie Tang was in that movie? And would they have even been aware of any “controversy” had the gov’t wankers not done what they did to pull the ads?
What about the broads that were in the “Memoirs of a Geisha” movie???
(bow head down, shake back and forth and wonder if Chinese official shallowness will ever end)
March 11th, 2008 at 12:39 am
It think it’s worse than you describe. I think this is about censorship, and that it tells that we don’t know what to expect in China. You can create something, get full approval for it, and then watch helplessly as authorities take away permission and punish you for it.