As relief effort continues in earthquake-hit Sichuan Province, filmmakers in China are wasting no time in preparing to bring related stories onto the silver screen. It has been reported that ideas for three motion pictures and one documentary film about the earthquake have already been conceived by the nation's top filmmakers.

An article in the leading news portal in central China's Hunan Province, Rednet, urges the enthusiastic filmmakers to hold their thoughts for a while.

The author notes that the earthquake in Sichuan has brought with it many touching stories, all worthy of artistic re-creations to show the true beauty of humanity. However, it is not quite the right time to make a film yet.

The article says there are much more pressing needs in the disaster areas. Homes are yet to be rebuilt and the traumatic physical as well as mental wounds are yet to be healed. People are not ready to see depictions of the tragedy on the screen. In other words, the catastrophe is not something they want to be reminded of again in the near future.

The article cites the devastating Tangshan earthquake in 1976, which killed more than 240,000 people. The first film about that disaster did not get made until three years later and it became a classic.

In conclusion, the author stresses that filmmakers need to choose the best timing for their works to really touch the souls of the audience.