As a city where modernity meets tradition and the Eastern and Western cultures converge, Macau's film and television industry boasts huge potential that can be further tapped, says Hu Mei, a film director from the Chinese mainland.

"The diversified culture of Macao makes it an exceptional place for literary and artistic creation," said Hu, 64, who arrived in Macau on Tuesday for a film and TV event.

Hu was director of the historical TV series Yongzheng Dynasty, which won acclaim in the mainland. She also directed a number of TV series, including The Emperor in Han Dynasty, and Qiao's Grand Courtyard.

Her connections with Macau started from the 1990s when she directed Tears and Triumph, a TV series set in Hong Kong, with part of it shot in Macau.

"Back then, Macao had not yet returned to the motherland," Hu recalled. "My impressions of the city was a small place with old streets, which was in sharp contrast to the modern, fashionable and prosperous metropolis it is now."

The tremendous changes in Macau inspired her to shoot a film that reflects the part of history since Macau's return to the motherland. "The stories are well worth telling," she said.

Over the years, several well-known films had been shot in Macau, including 2046, a romantic drama film of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai.

However, the potential of Macau's film industry has not been fully tapped, Hu said, adding that the city is full of treasures in the eyes of film professionals.

She suggested that Macau draw from the experience of other countries or regions such as Singapore, where the US romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians was shot, bringing the city state a surge of tourists.

"Developing the film and TV industry and the cultural industry in general can bring more tourists to Macau and help promote its economic diversification," said Hu.

She recommended that Macau focus on nurturing talent and join hands with film industry counterparts in the mainland to produce quality movies and TV series with Macau branding.

In 2019, Hu won the Best Director award for Enter The Forbidden City at the Chinese American Film Festival in Los Angeles.

– Xinhua, MPD

2010 file photo of mainland Chinese film director Hu Mei - Photo courtesy of Berthe/Wikimedia Commons