Where is the second centre of Hollywood film making in Europe after London, Paris, or perhaps Berlin? Try Prague. Last year, Hollywood spent over $200m on shooting movies, commercials and pop videos in the Czech capital. This year, all the big studios will be in town. MGM has "Hart"s War" starring Bruce Willis; Disney is shooting "Black Sheep" with Anthony Hopkins; and Fox has just finished filming "From Hell", a Jack the Ripper saga starring Johnny Depp. Praguers take Tinseltown in their stride. Old ladies looked only slightly confused last month when the cobbled streets of Mala Strana, Prague"s old quarter, were cleared of real snow and sprayed with a more cinematically pleasing chemical alternative for Universal"s "Bourne Identity", a $50m thriller starring Matt Damon. The film"s producer, Pat Crowley, reckons a day filming in Prague costs him $100,000, against $250,000 in Paris. Czech crews, he says, are professional, English-speaking and numerous. They are also a bargain—40% cheaper than similar crews in London or Los Angeles, points out Matthew Stillman. the British boss of Stillking, a Prague-based production firm. Mr. Stillman founded Stillking in 1993 after arriving in Prague with $500 and a typewriter. Today, Hollywood producers come to the company for crews, catering, lights and much more. It claims to have about half of the local film-production business and this year hopes for revenues of over $50m. The biggest draw to Prague, however, is Barrandov—one of the largest film studios in Europe, with 11 sound-stages, onsite photo labs and top-notch technicians. It was founded during Czechoslovakia"s pre-war first republic by Milos Havel, an uncle of the present Czech president, Vaclav Havel. The Nazis expanded it as a production centre for propaganda flicks—the sound-stages are courtesy of Joseph Goebbels. Then came the Communists with their own propaganda and, admittedly, a few impressive homegrown directors such as Milos Forman, who began Hollywood"s march to Prague by filming "Amadeus" there. But it is partly thanks to Barrandov that Prague remains some way behind London as a film centre. The studio has suffered from doubtful management and is already stretched to capacity ("You can"t even get an office there", moans one producer). Its present owner, a local steel company, is keen to sell but talks with a Canadian institution have been thorny, not least because the Czech government holds a golden share. Should the Canadian deal fall through, Stillking says it would consider a bid of its own.
单选题
Which one is NOT true about Prague?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析:事实细节题。由第一段可以看出,布拉格是好莱坞在欧洲的第二大电影拍摄基地。从电影公司不惜花巨资拍摄由大牌明星加盟的好莱坞大片可见,它确实具有一定的吸引力。选项"布拉格是大音像公司制造电影明星的聚集地",文中反复强调它是电影制作的中心地,却没有提及是制造电影明星的地方;选项"它是捷克的首都",从"Try Prague. Last year, Hollywood spent over $200m on shooting movies,commercials and pop videos in the Czech capital".可以看出,the Czech capital和Prague指的是同一个地方;从第一段多处可以看出"好莱坞电影制作过程中,布拉格是一个很受欢迎的地方", "对电影制片商和明星来说,它确实是一个吸引人的好地方"是正确的。
单选题
Pat Crowley has chosen Prague to be the place for his new film just because______.
【答案解析】解析:推理判断题。文中第三段讲述"Today, Hollywood producers come to the company for crews, catering,lights and much more".因此可以推断,该公司是为电影提供工作人员和设备的公司,答案选项正确。其他三个选项都与原文不符。
单选题
Prague remains behind London because______.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析:事实细节题。文中最后一段提到"The studio has suffered from doubtful management and is already stretched to capacity",公司因为经营不善,已经快撑不下去了,因此落后于伦敦的原因就是经营不善,那么答案中"影业公司领导人拿去了所有资金";"卖掉电影公司的错误战略";"加拿大财团得不到政府掌握的重要股份";"经营不善"。显然答案选项最为符合。