Theatrical play for foreign-language movies is increasingly hard to come by in markets such as the U.S. and UK, despite the best efforts of a handful of dedicated distributors. There are bright spots on the horizon, however, attendees at the 2019 Zurich Summit heard yesterday.
Wild Bunch chief Vincent Maraval told the audience that online streamers have increased business for foreign films. “The beauty of the platforms, for foreign-language films, is that they have opened up a tremendous market. [The market for foreign films] used to be arthouse cinemas in very urban cities. Now they go everywhere. Netflix is probably the biggest client of the French cinema by far now. The business for foreign-language films has really increased.”
Speaking on the same panel, CAA Media Finance Co-Head Roeg Sutherland noted that streaming platforms have created a new audience for subtitled films in English-speaking territories. “American audiences rarely used to watch content with subtitles and now...
Wild Bunch chief Vincent Maraval told the audience that online streamers have increased business for foreign films. “The beauty of the platforms, for foreign-language films, is that they have opened up a tremendous market. [The market for foreign films] used to be arthouse cinemas in very urban cities. Now they go everywhere. Netflix is probably the biggest client of the French cinema by far now. The business for foreign-language films has really increased.”
Speaking on the same panel, CAA Media Finance Co-Head Roeg Sutherland noted that streaming platforms have created a new audience for subtitled films in English-speaking territories. “American audiences rarely used to watch content with subtitles and now...
- 9/29/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate is finalizing plans to join forces with Chinese companies Infinity Pictures/Cmc and Yue Hua Entertainment Culture Communications to shoot a Chinese-language version of “Step Up,” its hit dance flick franchise, TheWrap has learned. Ron Yuan, an action choreographer with a martial arts background, is directing “Step Up 6,” which will start shooting in Beijing and Los Angeles on Dec. 9. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters next year. Dede Nickerson, who produced “Kill Bill Vol. I and II” and “Shaolin Soccer,” and Du Hua are producing the film. Also Read: NBC Orders Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan Tatum Dance Competition Series The.
- 11/23/2016
- by Matt Pressberg
- The Wrap
The studio has partnered with Infinity Pictures/Cmc and Yue Hua Entertainment Culture Communications as it redirects its $600m-plus global franchise to capitalise on a strong Asian following and step away from diminishing North American theatrical revenues.
Production on Step Up 6 is scheduled to commence on December 9 in Beijing and Los Angeles in time for a 2017 release. It is understood the Chinese-language version will be the only version released.
Lionsgate sources said previous entries in the franchise had performed well in China. Executives will also be aware that the series’ appeal in North America is flagging: the last episode, 2014’s Step Up All In, generated $14.9m – the lowest by far in the franchise.
The companies unveiled the first concept poster for Chinese audiences on Wednesday. Director Ron Yuan will direct an all-Chinese cast and plans to marry martial arts with dance in the film.
Infinity Pictures CEO Dede Nickerson, who served as associate producer on Kill Bill Vol. I...
Production on Step Up 6 is scheduled to commence on December 9 in Beijing and Los Angeles in time for a 2017 release. It is understood the Chinese-language version will be the only version released.
Lionsgate sources said previous entries in the franchise had performed well in China. Executives will also be aware that the series’ appeal in North America is flagging: the last episode, 2014’s Step Up All In, generated $14.9m – the lowest by far in the franchise.
The companies unveiled the first concept poster for Chinese audiences on Wednesday. Director Ron Yuan will direct an all-Chinese cast and plans to marry martial arts with dance in the film.
Infinity Pictures CEO Dede Nickerson, who served as associate producer on Kill Bill Vol. I...
- 11/23/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Joe Johnston is returning behind the camera to helm the $100 million budget sci-fi film “Starfall.” Per Deadline, the action movie will be shot at Wanda’s new Qingdao Studios in China and will be produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Erik Howsam and Infinity Pictures’ Dede Nickerson.
Plot details for “Starfall” are under wraps, but the screenplay is written by David Coggeshall and will take place on a space station. Lionsgate, Wanda and Infinity Pictures will co-finance the film.
News of the project was announced Monday during Wanda chairman and CEO Wang Jianlin’s presentation for the new massive studio facility and entertainment complex, which includes a 56,000-square-foot green screen stage that will be used for the film.
Read More: Kevin Costner In Talks to Join Aaron Sorkin’s Directional Debut ‘Molly’s Game’
Johnston began his career as an effects artist for the first three “Star Wars” films. He went...
Plot details for “Starfall” are under wraps, but the screenplay is written by David Coggeshall and will take place on a space station. Lionsgate, Wanda and Infinity Pictures will co-finance the film.
News of the project was announced Monday during Wanda chairman and CEO Wang Jianlin’s presentation for the new massive studio facility and entertainment complex, which includes a 56,000-square-foot green screen stage that will be used for the film.
Read More: Kevin Costner In Talks to Join Aaron Sorkin’s Directional Debut ‘Molly’s Game’
Johnston began his career as an effects artist for the first three “Star Wars” films. He went...
- 10/19/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Joe Johnston will be directing a $100 million-budgeted sci-fi film at Wanda’s Qingdao Studios called Starfall. The project is being produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Erik Howsam and Infinity Pictures’ Dede Nickerson. The film is being co-financed by Lionsgate, Wanda and Infinity Pictures, which is a China Media Capital-backed company. Deadline found out about the project after Johnston and Lionsgate’s Patrick Wachsberger joined Wanda chairman and CEO Wang Jian…...
- 10/19/2016
- Deadline
The partners are moving ahead on their local-language co-production and Chinese remake of the rom-com in a move that will resonate with the global vision of new Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Tom Rothman.
My Best Friend’s Wedding is scheduled to open in China on Valentine’s Day 2016 and stars Shu Qi, Feng Shaofeng, Song Qian aka Chinese singer and actress Victoria Song (pictured) and Ye Qing.
Alexi Tan of Blood Brothers and Color Me Love fame will direct and produce with his company Play Productions.
Principal photography is scheduled to commence in late July on location in London, Italy and Beijing.
My Best Friend’s Wedding centres on a journalist who sets off to London to visit her lifelong best friend and win his heart after he announces he is to be married to a wealthy Chinese girl.
Hong Jiu, Fu Linran and Tan co-wrote the screenplay.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with Columbia Pictures on this...
My Best Friend’s Wedding is scheduled to open in China on Valentine’s Day 2016 and stars Shu Qi, Feng Shaofeng, Song Qian aka Chinese singer and actress Victoria Song (pictured) and Ye Qing.
Alexi Tan of Blood Brothers and Color Me Love fame will direct and produce with his company Play Productions.
Principal photography is scheduled to commence in late July on location in London, Italy and Beijing.
My Best Friend’s Wedding centres on a journalist who sets off to London to visit her lifelong best friend and win his heart after he announces he is to be married to a wealthy Chinese girl.
Hong Jiu, Fu Linran and Tan co-wrote the screenplay.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with Columbia Pictures on this...
- 5/26/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Speakers at the Summit included Us Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin [pictured].
The ups and downs of cross-border film finance and production was the central theme at the Fifth Annual Us-China Film Summit in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (Nov 5).
Us Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin said at the event that co-operation between the Us and Chinese film industries “can be an economic force for good, bringing prosperity and growth to both sides of the Pacific.”
“America and China each have the chance to maximise those benefits,” said Rivkin, a former CEO of the Jim Henson Company, “if we can both operate with the certainty and security that comes from strong enforcement of intellectual property rights and protection of investor interests.”
Referring to talks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation trade forum that began this week in Beijing, Rivkin stressed the “importance of completing our negotiations...
The ups and downs of cross-border film finance and production was the central theme at the Fifth Annual Us-China Film Summit in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (Nov 5).
Us Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin said at the event that co-operation between the Us and Chinese film industries “can be an economic force for good, bringing prosperity and growth to both sides of the Pacific.”
“America and China each have the chance to maximise those benefits,” said Rivkin, a former CEO of the Jim Henson Company, “if we can both operate with the certainty and security that comes from strong enforcement of intellectual property rights and protection of investor interests.”
Referring to talks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation trade forum that began this week in Beijing, Rivkin stressed the “importance of completing our negotiations...
- 11/6/2014
- ScreenDaily
In a move to expand its footprint in China, Columbia Pictures has revisited its local production ties and entered into split-rights deals with Chinese production companies.
Principal photography has commenced in Xianghe, Hebei Province, on Chen Kaige’s (pictured) martial arts feature The Monk.
The film is a Cao Huayi presentation produced by Chen Hong, who produced Kaige’s previous two features.
New Classics Media will distribute in China in summer 2015 while Sony Pictures Releasing International handles the rest of the world including Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The Monk is based on Xu Haofeng’s novel Dao Shi Xia Shan (A Monk Comes Down The Mountain) and marks Columbia Pictures’ second recent production in mainland China following the co-production Gone With The Bullets from director Jiang Wen, currently in post.
Wang Baoqiang stars alongside Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling and Fan Wei in the story of a monk on a quest who must defend a supremely important book.
Columbia Pictures...
Principal photography has commenced in Xianghe, Hebei Province, on Chen Kaige’s (pictured) martial arts feature The Monk.
The film is a Cao Huayi presentation produced by Chen Hong, who produced Kaige’s previous two features.
New Classics Media will distribute in China in summer 2015 while Sony Pictures Releasing International handles the rest of the world including Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The Monk is based on Xu Haofeng’s novel Dao Shi Xia Shan (A Monk Comes Down The Mountain) and marks Columbia Pictures’ second recent production in mainland China following the co-production Gone With The Bullets from director Jiang Wen, currently in post.
Wang Baoqiang stars alongside Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling and Fan Wei in the story of a monk on a quest who must defend a supremely important book.
Columbia Pictures...
- 3/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Sony executive Dede Nickerson offered a diagnosis on Tuesday for why some Chinese movies are outperforming American ones in China: too many superheroes. Nickerson, head of production and strategic development for Sony in China, said the country’s moviegoers are “a little bit tired of men in suits.” “Chinese people want to see movies about what’s happening in their society and their lives – what they can relate to,” Nickerson said, speaking at the Asia Society of Southern California’s U.S.-China Film Summit. Also read: How Can Hollywood Make More Money in China? Stop Complaining She then pointed...
- 11/6/2013
- by Lucas Shaw
- The Wrap
Exclusive: In one of the first partnerships of its kind, Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov is teaming with Chinese filmmaker Eva Jin (Sophie’s Revenge) on a Russian/Chinese remake of Yolki (Six Degrees of Celebration). They will be among several filmmakers who’ll direct segments of the film. The deal comes after Yolki 2 topped the box office in Russia last weekend with $7.8 million gross. The 2010 first film became Russia’s most successful local movie in the past three years. Yolki tells the stories of eight different Russians – from eight different time zones – and how their destinies intersect one New Years Eve. The remake will be framed around the Chinese New Year. There will be eight stories connected by a young orphan girl who must deliver a message to the President and whose only hope is to use the theory of “six degrees of separation” – that all people on Earth,...
- 12/23/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Francis Lawrence is off to work on "Snow and the Seven", Walt Disney Pictures' live-action East-meets-West take on the "Snow White" fairy tale. Scott Rudin and Andrew Gunn are producing.
The story, a fantasy adventure, centers on a British girl being raised in 19th century Hong Kong. When she realizes her destiny is to conquer an evil force, she must prepare to fight by being trained by seven Shaolin Monks.
The long-gestating project was originally written by Josh Harmon and Scott Elder. The current draft is by Scott Moore and Jon Lucas. The studio said the title of the project is only a working title and will change.
The studio is eyeing a start in 2008, with China being likely the site of the shoot.
Yuen Woon-ping is acting as the fight choreographer on the movie, which is being executive produced by Gunn Films' Ann Marie Sanderlin along with Anthony Wong and Dede Nickerson.
Brigham Taylor and Louanne Brickhouse are overseeing for Disney.
The story, a fantasy adventure, centers on a British girl being raised in 19th century Hong Kong. When she realizes her destiny is to conquer an evil force, she must prepare to fight by being trained by seven Shaolin Monks.
The long-gestating project was originally written by Josh Harmon and Scott Elder. The current draft is by Scott Moore and Jon Lucas. The studio said the title of the project is only a working title and will change.
The studio is eyeing a start in 2008, with China being likely the site of the shoot.
Yuen Woon-ping is acting as the fight choreographer on the movie, which is being executive produced by Gunn Films' Ann Marie Sanderlin along with Anthony Wong and Dede Nickerson.
Brigham Taylor and Louanne Brickhouse are overseeing for Disney.
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