Power, linkages and space: an exploratory study of China’s film cluster from 2010 to 2020

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the network perspective is combined with the clustering theory to investigate the power structure, cooperation network, and spatial distribution of Chinese film clusters between 2010 and 2020. The top 20 grossing films are collected. Moreover, three types of network, including network between directors and companies, inter- and intra-firm network and inter-city network, are established on the basis of the social network analysis and the data processing in Python. In this paper, the imbalance between the power structure and the film resource distribution is demonstrated. In addition, it is revealed that small coteries exist in China’s film clusters. The above small coteries are more significantly connected under the network, while there are relatively sparse connections outside the network. Several emerging eastern cities (e.g., Hangzhou and Nanjing) have stood out, which may be conducive to reducing the absolute monopoly of Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai in the China’s film industry.

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my gratitude to the anonymous reviewer and editor for their very helpful comments and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

The author declares that he has no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research conducted in this paper.

Data Availability Statement

The data used to support the findings of this paper are available from the corresponding author upon request. Data are available from https://www.endata.com.cn/

Notes

¹ Data are available from http://www.199it.com/archives/1191913.html

² Data are available from https://www.tvoao.com/a/185008.aspx

³ The one is China-Measures Affecting the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (DS362), the other one is China-Measures Affecting Trading Rights and Distribution Services for Certain Publications and Audiovisual Entertainment Products (DS363).

⁴ The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) comprises the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and the nine municipalities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province.

⁵ Data are available from http://58921.com/

⁶ Data are available from https://www.endata.com.cn/

⁷ Data are available from https://www.tianyancha.com/?jsid=SEM-BAIDU-PZ-SY-2021112-BIAOTI

⁸ Data are available from http://www.199it.com/archives/1191913.html

⁹ Data are available from http://www.wepictures.com/en/

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ying Zhou

Ying Zhou is a lecturer at the School of Journalism and Communication at Shanghai University, China. She got the doctoral degree on communication at Zhejiang University, China. Her current research is focused on film industry studies and global communication.