China to shoot movie on Nanjing Massacre

China has decided to team up with the United States and Britain on putting Iris Chang's international bestseller, "The Rape of Nanking", on the silver screen, sources with the Chinese investor in the movie revealed on Monday, on the eve of the 61st anniversary of Japan's surrender in the World War II.

"We hope we can make the film a classic on a massacre in the Second World War, just like the Shrindler's List about the miserable experience of Jewish people during the War,"said Gerald Green, the American producer of the movie.

Shrindler's List was an Oscar winner and regarded as an impressive artisitc film with a book-office success.

According to Dr. Li Xiangmin, chairman of the Chinese investor, Jiangsu Cultural Industry Group based in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, the film will take an estimated investment of more than 200 million yuan (US$25 million).

Under the accord signed by the Chinese company and a Hollywood entertainment firm, Viridian, the American investor will inject no less than US$20 million into the planned movie, the Chinese side will invest 50 million yuan (US$6.25 million), and the British side, two million U.S. dollars.

Dr. Li said that the movie had obtained shooting licenses in the United States and Britain and was waiting for go-ahead from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Shooting will likely begin at the end of this year, Li added.

The movie will be completed before September 1, 2007 and make its debut in China before December 13, 2007 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre. It will be put on the world market in the spring of 2008, said Dr. Li Xiangmin.