China cracks down on short Web films

China's state administration of Radio, Film, and TV has issued new rules that ban websites from distributing short films without government approval.

The administration has listed several well-known Websites, such as Sina, Sohu and Netease, as authorized providers of online video programs. But others face an uncertain fate as the administration will inspect the online video content they release and take strict measures to prevent any malpractice.

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A 10-minute video using clips from "Sparkling Red Star" [image at left], a 1974 film about the Chinese revolution, is the most recent short to draw a huge audience and plenty of criticism.

Pan Dongzi, a heroic boy in the original movie, is portrayed as a popstar wannabe who competes in a televised singing contest. The video has attracted millions of viewers. … Some commentators have argued satire should not go too far and the distortion of heroes and China's revolutionary history is immoral and unacceptable.

According to an online survey, more than 60 percent of Web users who have watched it agree that a parody should remain within bounds."

Link. And this blog-post at Kaijushakedown points to a few places where you can find the "Sparkling Red Star" political parody videos online.