Quite an expensive Promise

Chinese director Chen Kaige’s recent movie Wu Ji (The Promise) (website in Chinese) has already surprised Chinese film fans with its US$35 million budget. Now, the premiere of the movie on Dec. 14 at Paradise Warner Cinema City offers a surprise to all of us.

According to Xinhuanet news (in Chinese) a VIP ticket for premiere of Wu Ji is set at RMB 1,888. The price includes a face-to-face meeting with the director and one of the film's leading stars, Chen Hong. VIPs will get autographs and a photo, as well.

Some think the ticket price was set so high just to gain the movie some attention -- and that seems to have worked -- but Zhu Zhongxiang, general manager of the cinema is confident they will sell all of the VIP seats. Ten tickets were already booked in one day. “I’m not worried about selling those tickets," Zhu said. "The film is going to be screened in our VIP room which only caters 32 people. Moreover, we are just presenting a film in the best way in our best screen room.”

For the "low end" market, the ticket price for the movie is RMB 80. As for Shanghaiist, we're even lower than low end. So we'll just buy the DVD for 7 kuai.

Related:
Chen Kaige's film promises to boost holiday box office (Shanghai Daily)
"The Promise" US release postponed (Xinhua)

Wu Ji is going to show at major cinemas around town starting December 14, including Paradise Warner Cinema City, 6/F, Grand Gateway, 1 Hongqiao Lu, Tel: 6407 6622.