THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 7, 1994 TAG: 9410050141
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
DAVID WILCOX of Chesapeake has a gift he wants to give the world this Christmas.
It's ``Micah's Christmas Treasure,'' an animated film planned in Virginia Beach by a crew from the Christian Broadcasting Network and produced half a world away at Yilimei Animation Film Studio in Shanghai, China.
Wilcox, producer and director of the film, is applying for permission from the Chinese government to show the film this Christmas on Shanghai Television and on China Central Television, a nationwide television network.
``It will be the first evangelical program ever broadcast on China's national television,'' Wilcox said.
The film, written by Kimmer Ringwald, whose work includes the TV series ``Jake and the Fatman,'' may also be shown in Russia and the Middle East, Wilcox said.
The $525,000 production will be distributed in the foreign countries without charge.
``The program was originally designed to be a ministry tool to spread the gospel,'' said Wilcox.
Wilcox said CBN will cover the cost of the production through sales of videos, comic books, posters and animation drawings in the United States.
The one-hour film depicts the adventures of Micah, a 12-year-old Jewish boy, and his 10-year-old sister, Rachel, on their way searching for financial treasure. In the end, they witness the birth of Jesus and find the experience a lifetime treasure.
The pre-production in the United States includes designing the characters, composing original scores and recording the sound tracks and dialogues. The materials were then shipped to China for the final animation and photography.
Wilcox has high expectations that the Chinese government will allow the film to be shown in China. The Chinese government has permitted the joint venture between CBN and Yilimei in producing the film. Yilimei is being paid $170,000 for the job, Wilcox said.
Having the film produced in China has saved CBN a lot of money, Wilcox said.
``If it is done in the United States, you'll pay well over $1 million for that quality and size,'' said Wilcox.
Wilcox made six trips to China to make arrangements for the production of the film.
In March 1993, when Michael Little, then vice president of International Ministries and now president of CBN, handed Wilcox the script and told him to contact the Chinese studio for collaboration, Wilcox knew little about the foreign land.
``I literally had to run and get a map to find out where China is at,'' he recalled. ``A few weeks later, I arrived in Shanghai.''
The collaboration was initiated by CBN founder Pat Robertson, who had visited China and came across the people from Yilimei Studio.
``Pat has a special warm feeling toward the Chinese people,'' said Wilcox. ``He was excited about the idea of making an animated film in China.''
Wilcox expected to see dirt streets and ox carts rampant in Shanghai. Instead, he found the largest city in China a place that combines modern establishments with an ancient culture.
He was impressed with the crew at the Shanghai studio.
``They work very hard, 14 hours a day,'' Wilcox said. ``They are very honest.''
In his first time working in China, Wilcox met the challenge of language barriers with courage.
``I really wanted to get the emotions of the characters out,'' he said. ``I ended up having to pantomime the entire script. I was acting like a complete idiot, but my ideas came across.''
Back from one of his trips to China, Wilcox mailed a complete collection of Walt Disney videos to Yilimei.
But the videos were confiscated by Chinese customs, which sustains a high surveillance on imported films and magazines to stop the spread of pornographic materials in the country. It's common, said Wilcox, that a foreign video sent through mail will be automatically confiscated and opened.
Finally, through persistent requests made by Yilimei's general manager, the Chinese customs released the Walt Disney videos after holding them for a month and a half.
To avoid a similar hold-up, Wilcox recently had the final video copy of ``Micah's Christmas Treasure'' sent to China for official viewing through the Philippines.
His visits to China make Wilcox appreciate American comforts more.
``I was shocked how small the Chinese homes are,'' Wilcox said. ``I was invited to have dinners at the general manager's and the director's homes. After a few minutes, I began to feel almost claustrophobic.''
``I came back home and told my wife that I won't ever want to complain again.''
In May 1994, through CBN, Wilcox invited three people from Yilimei to visit the United States.
``They later told me that Chesapeake is their favorite American city,'' said Wilcox, who had the Chinese over for dinner at his home in Great Bridge. ``They like the fresh air, green grass, trees and the open space.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
David Wilcox produced the animated film titled ``Micah's Christmas
Treasure.''
by CNB