A detailed interview was conducted on November 7, 2023 at the Yunbao Media Building in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. The interview was organized by Shu Lan, a doctoral student from the Communication University of China. The interview focuses on the role of sound and film in communication and art, exploring how they serve as a link between different cultures and individuals.

The History and Current Status of Yunnan Ethnic Language Film Translation

Introduced the history and current situation of the translation of minority language films in Yunnan Province. Wang Wenbin has been serving as the director of the Provincial Translation Center since December 2016 and has been engaged in the translation of minority language films for nearly four years. The translation of ethnic language films in Yunnan Province began in the early 1950s. In 1964, local governments began to train ethnic language interpreters and projectionists. In 1965, Yunnan Film Company established a department for ethnic language translation work. Yunnan Film Translation Factory was established in 1975 and merged into Yunnan Provincial Film Company in 1977. The translation work came to a standstill in the mid-1990s, but the Provincial Translation Center resumed operation in 1998. In 2010, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television decided to carry out film translation work in 13 ethnic minority languages in the border areas of Yunnan. The Provincial Translation Center is responsible for selecting films, mainly considering factors such as promoting the main theme and serving the people's lives. The translation process includes selecting films by sub centers, developing plans, translating, reviewing, etc., which generally takes 15 days. The Provincial Translation Center is mainly responsible for technical review, while the Translation Centers of each state (city) are responsible for Taiwanese translation review.

Management and screening of Yunnan ethnic language translated films

Discussed the work carried out by Wang, the director of Yunnan Translation Center, during his tenure, including addressing equipment aging, team building, and staffing issues. The difficulties in selecting films for each state (city) sub center, as well as the reasons for maintaining high production of Yunnan ethnic language film translation and language quantity. Wang emphasized the importance of communication and interaction between the provincial translation center and its sub centers, as well as respect and passion for grassroots minority language translation teams. At the same time, the overall situation of the distribution and screening of ethnic language translated films in Yunnan Province was introduced, and suggestions were put forward to strengthen communication between translation and screening staff, adapt to local conditions for screening, and solve indoor screening problems.

The dissemination and challenges of Yunnan ethnic language translated films

The Yunnan Provincial Translation Center is committed to concentrating the translation work of films in 13 languages at the provincial center, utilizing well-equipped recording studio facilities, and plans to expand its business to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Yunnan Province, as an important gateway for China to these regions, especially with the opening of the China Myanmar Railway, has provided convenience for cultural dissemination. Translation work is regarded as a bridge connecting different ethnic groups and cultures, aiming to showcase Chinese culture to the world through sound and film. Copyright issues are a challenge for cross-border dissemination of ethnic language films, requiring consultation with copyright holders to obtain support and reduce national expenditures in this regard. In addition, the dissemination channels of ethnic language films are expanding, including mobile phones and cable TV stations, but this also involves copyright issues. The work of the Translation Center not only benefits the people in ethnic regions, but also facilitates exchanges between different ethnic groups and cultures. The inheritance and protection of ethnic region culture is not limited to film translation, but also includes establishing museums and collecting cultural materials. Social changes pose challenges to the inheritance of ethnic languages, especially the convenience of information reception methods for young people. Director Wang once communicated with the national "Silk Road Film and Television Bridge" project to explore the dissemination and promotion of ethnic language films in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and proposed solutions to copyright and funding issues. He also emphasized the importance of understanding the cultural background of the target country and the challenges of enhancing the competitiveness of the work market. For young students who aspire to engage in ethnic language translation in the future, Director Wang suggests that they lay a solid foundation in language and writing, gain a deep understanding of ethnic culture, and use new perspectives and thinking to spread ethnic culture effectively through new media.