by Robert Cain for China Film Biz
China’s movie import slots can be golden tickets to windfall profits.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robcain/2015/07/25/which-15-movies-will-get-chinas-remaining-2015-import-slots/
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by Robert Cain for China Film Biz
If ‘Terminator Genisys’ fails in China it will mark a major shift in audience tastes.
Fueled by liquidity, leverage, and rampant speculation, China’s stock markets have reached fever pitch levels and look ripe for a correction.
If you missed out on the recent Chinese market boom and you’re looking for a way to make make up for it, you might consider taking advantage of the recent Shanghai and Shenzhen stock market rule changes that now allow investors to short equities.
There is something new that has occurred in China this week: two of the top four ranks at the box office have been claimed by non-Hollywood, non-English language pictures.
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The first Japanese movie allowed into China in 3 years is cleaning up at the (litter) box office
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China has become a sort of haven of second chances for films that disappoint in North America and Europe. Will it give Tomorrowland the ‘do-over’ that it needs?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robcain/2015/05/26/can-china-save-tomorrowland/
Follow me on Twitter @robcain or Sina Weibo @robcain, or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Follow me on Twitter @robcain or Sina Weibo @robcain, or connect with me on LinkedIn.
China hold the key to Avengers: Age of Ultron’s global box office fate
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By Robert Cain for China Film Biz
May 7, 2015
It gives me great pride and pleasure to be the first to announce that my good friends Scott Sommer and Long Wan, co-founders of L.A. and Beijing based Sparkstone Entertainment, have sealed a deal to develop and produce as many as five television series together with leading Chinese production company Croton Media.
The agreement guarantees Sparkstone a production commitment of at least 150 episodes for both the domestic Chinese and international markets.
In the short time since they founded Sparkstone in 2014, Scott and Long have set up deals, engaged and trained talent, raised financing commitments and developed new projects at a pace unmatched by any cross-Pacific entertainment company I’m aware of, including the major Hollywood studios. They are stand-up guys supported by stand-up advisors J. Todd Harris and Craig Berenson, and Croton Media is fortunate to have them as partners.
Croton, along with its parent, Huace Film & TV, is the leading television content provider in China, controlling 15% of the overall marketplace. Recently Croton acquired the rights to the hit Sony Television series Mad About You, which the company is now developing for Chinese audiences.
As Croton Media’s President of Production Larry Gao put it, “We like the hands-on approach and development instincts the principals of Sparkstone have demonstrated. A longer term deal where we could partner on specific projects seemed like a natural fit, and they’re someone we trust.”
Sparkstone is incorporated in both the US and China with the goal of bridging Hollywood and Chinese talent and finance to create independent film and television opportunities in both countries. Aside from Croton Media, they hold development and overhead deals with such companies as HeYi Capital and mobile gaming company YouMi, and have offices in Beijing.
The Croton deal culminates for Scott and Long a year of very hard work during which they’ve set up an organization that is truly unique in China. In a territory where the importance of creative development is too rarely acknowledged or even understood, they have made a big bet on their belief in story, and the bet has paid off. Keep on an eye on this group as they undoubtedly have many more successes to come.
Robert Cain is a producer and entertainment industry consultant who has been doing business in China since 1987. He can be reached at rob@pacificbridgepics.com and at www.pacificbridgepics.com
chinafilmbiz 中国电影业务 