22 Facts About Zhang Shichuan

Zhang Shichuan, credited as S C Chang, was a Chinese entrepreneur, film director, and film producer, who is considered a founding father of Chinese cinema.

Zhang Shichuan never recovered from the humiliation, and died in 1953 or 1954.

Zhang Shichuan was born Zhang Weitong in Beilun, Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

Zhang Shichuan was his courtesy name, originally written with the different characters.

Zhang Shichuan's father Zhang Heju was a small merchant dealing with silkworms.

Zhang Shichuan's father died when Zhang was 16 years old, and he had to quit school and move to Shanghai to live with his maternal uncle Jing Runsan, a successful comprador.

In 1913, Yashell and Suffert, two Americans in Shanghai who had acquired the Asia Film Company, asked Zhang Shichuan to be their consultant.

Zhang Shichuan sought help from Zheng Zhengqiu, a well-known playwright, and the two cofounded the Xinmin Film Company to make film for the Asia Company.

However, Xinmin and Asia went out of business when their supply of German film stock was cut off after the outbreak of World War I When his uncle died, Zhang was asked by his aunt to manage the family's New World amusement park.

In 1916, Zhang Shichuan formed Huanxian Film Company, when American film stock became available in Shanghai, and made the film Victims of Opium, adapted from a stage play.

The company's earliest films, such as The King of Comedy Visits Shanghai, were mainly entertainment-oriented, but Zhang Shichuan directed Zheng's moralistic films such as Orphan Rescues Grandfather, which was a box-office success.

When Zhang Shichuan's The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple became a phenomenal hit, he produced as many as 17 sequels in the next three years.

For its entire existence of 17 years, Zhang Shichuan served as the company's general manager and director.

In cooperation with Hong Shen, Zhang Shichuan directed Sing-Song Girl Red Peony in 1931, the first Chinese sound film.

Zhang Shichuan hired a number of leftist writers, who wrote scripts for such films as The Tenderness Market and Lucky Money.

Zhang Shichuan salvaged some equipment and joined the Guohua Film Company, but was never able to revive Mingxing.

Zhang Shichuan worked for the Japanese-controlled company as a branch manager and director.

Zhang Shichuan briefly worked in Hong Kong for the Great China Film Company, and in Shanghai for the Datong Film Company, but never recovered from the humiliating label of traitor.

Zhang Shichuan died in Shanghai in 1953 or 1954, aged 64.

Zhang Shichuan is considered one of the founding fathers of Chinese cinema.

Zhang Shichuan directed about 150 films in his career, including The Difficult Couple, the first Chinese feature film; Laborer's Love, the earliest complete Chinese film that has survived; Orphan Rescues Grandfather, one of the first Chinese box-office hits; The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple, the earliest martial arts film which started an enormously popular genre; and Sing-Song Girl Red Peony, China's first sound film.

Under Zhang Shichuan's leadership, Mingxing was the largest and most influential film studio in China.