Not for Public Consideration

One does not rent movies in Shanghai.

The option simply does not exist. If one wishes to watch a movie, three options exist.
1: Buy a ticket, and watch in the theatres
2: Buy an authentic DVD from a reputable distributor, such as Best Buy. This, of course, at full price plus an import premium.
3: Buy a pirated DVD from the little shop on the corner, or the man selling them out of a suitcase in front of your building.

Pirated DVDs cost between 5 and 12 RMB, depending on where you purchase and how well you negotiate. At most, the movie costs less than $2.

I must assume that sales of movies at legitimate distributors are low.

Pirating movies is big business in China, employing loads of people in factories and distribution centers. This is a well organized machine, making plenty of people loads of illegal money. And although China voices a firm stand against piracy, they take little action against it. I believe that the official stance is that the problem is too large and underground for the government to efficiently root out. Of course, that has not stopped them from rooting out dissent of any form against the government or the prominent way of life.

Either way, pirated DVDs are everywhere - and often make their way into our DVD player. Generally the piracy is obvious. Words play a few beats after the lips move. The picture is just slightly fuzzy - or, in fact, extremely fuzzy. You can see the heads of those sitting in front of the camcorder within the movie theatre, watch them stand as the credits roll.

But here was the best. Tonight we watched MILK, and did notice what a good copy we had acquired. And then the little white letters scrolled along the bottom of the page:

THIS VIEWING COPY IS PROVIDED FOR AWARDS CONSIDERATION ONLY AND IS NOT FOR SALE OR PUBLIC CONSIDERATION.

I love contemplating the trail this followed, out of a member of the academy's DVD player and into mine.