Alibaba Pictures Group is making what it calls a “comprehensive organization and business model upgrade” that it hopes will morph it into a “content-based Goldman Sachs-type organization” that looks to be “hard-nosed” rather than “an adventurer.” In step with the newly stated goals, the film and TV division of Jack Ma’s Chinese online giant has appointed fast-rising tech exec Yu Yongfu as CEO and shuffled Zhang Qiang and Zhang Wei from the respective posts of CEO and…...
- 12/6/2016
- Deadline
Chinese internet tycoon Jack Ma is shaking up the executive ranks at his fledging film studio, Alibaba Pictures Group.
Yu Yongfu, a 40-year-old tech entrepreneur and relative newcomer to the Alibaba Group, has been named CEO of the film subsidiary, the company reported in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday. Yu replaces Zhang Qiang, a local industry veteran and former head of China Film Group. Zhang has been shifted to a co-president role and will remain on the board, with no change to his remuneration, Alibaba's statement said.
Yu's rise within Alibaba has been swift...
Yu Yongfu, a 40-year-old tech entrepreneur and relative newcomer to the Alibaba Group, has been named CEO of the film subsidiary, the company reported in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday. Yu replaces Zhang Qiang, a local industry veteran and former head of China Film Group. Zhang has been shifted to a co-president role and will remain on the board, with no change to his remuneration, Alibaba's statement said.
Yu's rise within Alibaba has been swift...
- 12/6/2016
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alibaba Pictures makes strategic investment in producer-distributor, which is part owned by star Chen Kun and director Cao Baoping.
China’s Alibaba Pictures Group is making a strategic investment in Hehe Pictures Corp, acquiring a 30% stake to become the company’s second largest shareholder.
The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
As part of the agreement, the two companies will cooperate on their current film production projects, as well as in film promotion and distribution.
Hehe Pictures chairwoman and general manager Yang Wei remains the company’s largest shareholder, while other investors include actor Chen Kun, singer Yang Kun and directors Cao Baoping, Hao Jie, Zhang Chong and Jiang Zhuoyuan.
Launched in 2013, Hehe Pictures has invested in Chinese films such as Cao’s Cock And Bull, Stephen Chow’s megahit The Mermaid, Qing Yang’s Chongqing Hot Pot and Renny Harlin’s Us-China co-production Skiptrace.
Alibaba first invested in Hehe in May this year, when the latter...
China’s Alibaba Pictures Group is making a strategic investment in Hehe Pictures Corp, acquiring a 30% stake to become the company’s second largest shareholder.
The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
As part of the agreement, the two companies will cooperate on their current film production projects, as well as in film promotion and distribution.
Hehe Pictures chairwoman and general manager Yang Wei remains the company’s largest shareholder, while other investors include actor Chen Kun, singer Yang Kun and directors Cao Baoping, Hao Jie, Zhang Chong and Jiang Zhuoyuan.
Launched in 2013, Hehe Pictures has invested in Chinese films such as Cao’s Cock And Bull, Stephen Chow’s megahit The Mermaid, Qing Yang’s Chongqing Hot Pot and Renny Harlin’s Us-China co-production Skiptrace.
Alibaba first invested in Hehe in May this year, when the latter...
- 11/28/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Chinese studio bosses said they plan to continue their acquisition spree, in order to strengthen the fast-growing local film industry, as the seminar programme at the Shanghai International Film Festival got underway on Sunday.
“We will acquire more content producers in future so we have IP to make into films and games,” said Zeng Maojun, vice president of Wanda Culture Industry Group, which recently acquired Warcraft producer Legendary Pictures.
He later added: “The reason we bought Legendary was to marry their experience with the China market for better effect.”
Zhang Qiang, executive director and CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said his...
“We will acquire more content producers in future so we have IP to make into films and games,” said Zeng Maojun, vice president of Wanda Culture Industry Group, which recently acquired Warcraft producer Legendary Pictures.
He later added: “The reason we bought Legendary was to marry their experience with the China market for better effect.”
Zhang Qiang, executive director and CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said his...
- 6/12/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Online ticketing platform was launched in 2014 and is now one of the biggest ticket-sellers in China.
Alibaba Pictures has raised $260m (RMB1.7bn) for Taobao Movie in a financing round that values the online ticketing platform at $2bn (RMB13.7bn).
The Series A financing was led by Cdh Investments, Ant Financial Services Group and Sina.com. Other investors include Hehe Pictures, Bona Film Group, Huace Media, Nanpai Entertainment and Union Pictures.
Launched in late 2014, Taobao Movie has grown quickly to become one of the biggest online ticketing platforms in China, where more than 70% of movies tickets are bought online. It provides online ticketing and seat selection services in more than 5,000 cinemas.
Zhang Qiang, CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said: “The completion of this Series A Financing demonstrates that the business strategy, market prospects and operational capability of Taobao Movie has been well recognised by the industry. With the support of more abundant resources and capital, we will continue...
Alibaba Pictures has raised $260m (RMB1.7bn) for Taobao Movie in a financing round that values the online ticketing platform at $2bn (RMB13.7bn).
The Series A financing was led by Cdh Investments, Ant Financial Services Group and Sina.com. Other investors include Hehe Pictures, Bona Film Group, Huace Media, Nanpai Entertainment and Union Pictures.
Launched in late 2014, Taobao Movie has grown quickly to become one of the biggest online ticketing platforms in China, where more than 70% of movies tickets are bought online. It provides online ticketing and seat selection services in more than 5,000 cinemas.
Zhang Qiang, CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said: “The completion of this Series A Financing demonstrates that the business strategy, market prospects and operational capability of Taobao Movie has been well recognised by the industry. With the support of more abundant resources and capital, we will continue...
- 5/16/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Alibaba Pictures has announced plans to invest $154m (RMB1bn) in convertible bonds issued by Chinese exhibitor Guangdong Dadi Cinema Construction.
Based on the subscription agreement, Alibaba Pictures has the right to convert the bonds into equity shares of Dadi Cinema. One of China’s leading exhibitors, Dadi owned 313 cinemas with a total of 1,662 screens as of April 2016. The company also has more than 310 contracted cinemas set to open.
In addition to the capital investment, Alibaba Pictures and Dadi Cinema also agreed to cooperate on movie promotion and marketing, development of e-commerce and other movie-related businesses.
Alibaba is building a vertically integrated content business through a string of acquisitions, which also include Yueke Software Engineering, Taobao Movie and crowdfunding platform Yulebao, along with a share in Beijing-based studio Bona Film Group.
In a statement, Alibaba said the deal with Dadi would extend its internet capabilities and basic industry services to cinemas, “giving them direct...
Based on the subscription agreement, Alibaba Pictures has the right to convert the bonds into equity shares of Dadi Cinema. One of China’s leading exhibitors, Dadi owned 313 cinemas with a total of 1,662 screens as of April 2016. The company also has more than 310 contracted cinemas set to open.
In addition to the capital investment, Alibaba Pictures and Dadi Cinema also agreed to cooperate on movie promotion and marketing, development of e-commerce and other movie-related businesses.
Alibaba is building a vertically integrated content business through a string of acquisitions, which also include Yueke Software Engineering, Taobao Movie and crowdfunding platform Yulebao, along with a share in Beijing-based studio Bona Film Group.
In a statement, Alibaba said the deal with Dadi would extend its internet capabilities and basic industry services to cinemas, “giving them direct...
- 5/10/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore and Us writer-director David Twohy are developing projects with China, which were both announced on the first full day of the Beijing International Film Festival (April 16-23).
Tornatore has agreed to make a film for Alibaba Pictures, the filmmaking arm of ecommerce giant Alibaba, which he signed with Alibaba Pictures’ CEO Zhang Qiang at the end of the Bjiff’s Co-production Forum on Sunday.
However, the specific project has not yet been identified and it’s unclear whether it will be made as a co-production under the China-Italy treaty.
Separately, producers Steve Chicorel and Sriram Das announced Us-China co-production Ice Moon Rising – a sci-fi project to be directed by David Twohy who wrote The Fugitive and directed The Chronicles of Riddick and its sequel. Chicorel and Das are in the process of locking down a Chinese co-producer and international sales agent for the film.
The producing partners are also working with director [link=nm...
Tornatore has agreed to make a film for Alibaba Pictures, the filmmaking arm of ecommerce giant Alibaba, which he signed with Alibaba Pictures’ CEO Zhang Qiang at the end of the Bjiff’s Co-production Forum on Sunday.
However, the specific project has not yet been identified and it’s unclear whether it will be made as a co-production under the China-Italy treaty.
Separately, producers Steve Chicorel and Sriram Das announced Us-China co-production Ice Moon Rising – a sci-fi project to be directed by David Twohy who wrote The Fugitive and directed The Chronicles of Riddick and its sequel. Chicorel and Das are in the process of locking down a Chinese co-producer and international sales agent for the film.
The producing partners are also working with director [link=nm...
- 4/18/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Bona Film Group has finalised its delisting from the Nasdaq and subsequent privatisation process, following which Alibaba Pictures has an 8.94% stake in the Beijing-based studio.
Alibaba said in a statement that it has invested $86m into Bona and plans to develop a strong working relationship with the studio “on content production and distribution in a bid to enhance each other’s edge along the value chain of the entertainment industry”.
Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang added: “Participation in the privatisation of Bona helps boost the development of the Chinese film and television industry. Sharing the same mission and vision with Bona, Alibaba Pictures wishes to create an ecosystem and platform covering the whole value chain of the film and TV industry.”
Bona founder and chairman Yu Dong, along with investors Sequoia Capital and Fosun International, submitted a privatisation offer to delist from the Nasdaq last June, based on an offer price of $13.70 in cash per American depositary...
Alibaba said in a statement that it has invested $86m into Bona and plans to develop a strong working relationship with the studio “on content production and distribution in a bid to enhance each other’s edge along the value chain of the entertainment industry”.
Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang added: “Participation in the privatisation of Bona helps boost the development of the Chinese film and television industry. Sharing the same mission and vision with Bona, Alibaba Pictures wishes to create an ecosystem and platform covering the whole value chain of the film and TV industry.”
Bona founder and chairman Yu Dong, along with investors Sequoia Capital and Fosun International, submitted a privatisation offer to delist from the Nasdaq last June, based on an offer price of $13.70 in cash per American depositary...
- 4/11/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Alibaba Pictures Group (Apg) has signed a memorandum of understanding (Mou) to invest in Korean action film Real, set to star Kim Soo-hyun.
Apg retains sole distribution rights for the film in China and will leverage its online resources to support the film’s marketing. Set to start filming at the end of the year, Real will be directed Lee Jeong-sub and produced by a special purpose company Real Spc.
Kim will play an ambitious and ruthless “scavenger” who is hungry for success and dedicated to helping others to solve problems, in order to establish his empire of casinos and hotels.
Apg said the deal, signed at the Busan International Film Festival, reflects its strategy to go global and marks its second overseas investment following Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
“We’re investing in Real because the Korean film industry is arguably the most influential creatively in the region at present, and the hugely...
Apg retains sole distribution rights for the film in China and will leverage its online resources to support the film’s marketing. Set to start filming at the end of the year, Real will be directed Lee Jeong-sub and produced by a special purpose company Real Spc.
Kim will play an ambitious and ruthless “scavenger” who is hungry for success and dedicated to helping others to solve problems, in order to establish his empire of casinos and hotels.
Apg said the deal, signed at the Busan International Film Festival, reflects its strategy to go global and marks its second overseas investment following Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
“We’re investing in Real because the Korean film industry is arguably the most influential creatively in the region at present, and the hugely...
- 10/12/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Alibaba Pictures has restructured its management team with the appointment of Zhang Wei as president and Deng Kangming as COO.
Zhang, who is currently Alibaba Group senior vice president, will be responsible for the company’s overseas business, including investments and mergers and acquisitions. She may be based out of the company’s La office, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Deng will oversee e-commerce business and various administrative functions, including legal, finance, human resources, marketing and public relations. Both appointees will report to Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang.
In a statement, Alibaba Pictures said it will establish four key strategic areas of focus: content development and production; marketing and publishing of film and TV programmes; development of an e-commerce entertainment platform; and development of an overseas entertainment business.
Zhang Qiang, CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said: “Technological changes in the film industry will have a great impact on the development of Alibaba Pictures and it will...
Zhang, who is currently Alibaba Group senior vice president, will be responsible for the company’s overseas business, including investments and mergers and acquisitions. She may be based out of the company’s La office, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Deng will oversee e-commerce business and various administrative functions, including legal, finance, human resources, marketing and public relations. Both appointees will report to Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang.
In a statement, Alibaba Pictures said it will establish four key strategic areas of focus: content development and production; marketing and publishing of film and TV programmes; development of an e-commerce entertainment platform; and development of an overseas entertainment business.
Zhang Qiang, CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said: “Technological changes in the film industry will have a great impact on the development of Alibaba Pictures and it will...
- 8/13/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
China’s Alibaba Pictures is making its first move into Hollywood, partnering with Paramount Pictures on Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.
The film arm of the ecommerce giant is making an unspecified investment into the picture and cooperating with Paramount on online ticketing, merchandising and promotion.
Alibaba Pictures said earlier this month that it is raising $1.6bn through a share issue to fund acquisitions and investments.
Mission: Impossible 5 will be promoted through Alibaba’s Taobao Movie ticketing platform, while merchandising will be sold through its ecommerce channels. The last few films in the franchise were big hits in China and Mission: Impossible 3 was partly filmed in the country.
In a statement, Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Paramount chairman Brad Grey and Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang had met in Los Angeles last autumn to discuss ways to cooperate.
“We hope today’s announcement is the first of many collaborations between us,” said...
The film arm of the ecommerce giant is making an unspecified investment into the picture and cooperating with Paramount on online ticketing, merchandising and promotion.
Alibaba Pictures said earlier this month that it is raising $1.6bn through a share issue to fund acquisitions and investments.
Mission: Impossible 5 will be promoted through Alibaba’s Taobao Movie ticketing platform, while merchandising will be sold through its ecommerce channels. The last few films in the franchise were big hits in China and Mission: Impossible 3 was partly filmed in the country.
In a statement, Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Paramount chairman Brad Grey and Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang had met in Los Angeles last autumn to discuss ways to cooperate.
“We hope today’s announcement is the first of many collaborations between us,” said...
- 6/25/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
China's Alibaba Pictures said Wednesday that Paramount's Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation will be its first Hollywood investment. In addition to making an investment of an unspecified amount in the Tom Cruise-led franchise film, Alibaba Pictures, the film unit of e-commerce giant Alibaba, said it would become an official partner for the promotion of the movie in China. In a statement, the companies said Alibaba Pictures and Paramount would collaborate in the areas of online ticketing, merchandising and promotion of the movie in China. Zhang Qiang, CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said: “Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is our first step
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- 6/24/2015
- by Abid Rahman, Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leading Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai will produce the first project to be greenlit by China’s Alibaba Pictures, a drama entitled Bai Du Ren (Ferryman).
Set to star Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the film will be written and directed by Chinese novelist Zhang Jiajia, adapted from his own short story about helping people with difficulties “to get to the other side”.
Alibaba Pictures has also acquired international rights to Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Wolf Totem, which will be released in China over the Chinese New Year holidays, along with the rights to adapt My Fair Princess.
Previously known as ChinaVision, Alibaba Pictures was renamed after it was acquired by ecommerce giant Alibaba last year. The company has investment deals with Wong Kar Wai’s Block 2 Pictures, Peter Ho-sun Chan’s We Pictures and Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow.
Alibaba Pictures Group CEO and executive director Zhang Qiang said: “The company will leverage Alibaba Group’s cloud...
Set to star Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the film will be written and directed by Chinese novelist Zhang Jiajia, adapted from his own short story about helping people with difficulties “to get to the other side”.
Alibaba Pictures has also acquired international rights to Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Wolf Totem, which will be released in China over the Chinese New Year holidays, along with the rights to adapt My Fair Princess.
Previously known as ChinaVision, Alibaba Pictures was renamed after it was acquired by ecommerce giant Alibaba last year. The company has investment deals with Wong Kar Wai’s Block 2 Pictures, Peter Ho-sun Chan’s We Pictures and Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow.
Alibaba Pictures Group CEO and executive director Zhang Qiang said: “The company will leverage Alibaba Group’s cloud...
- 1/12/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Chinese online giant Alibaba will use its network of sales platforms to help boost its film business, as well as expand its non-box-office revenues and promote video-on-demand, the group's movie boss said. Alibaba, whose CEO Jack Ma was in Los Angeles last week, where he described his firm as "the world's biggest entertainment company" is gung-ho on expanding the company he founded. There has been a lot of speculation at American Film Market about what are his plans for the entertainment business. Speaking at the 9th China Young Generation Film Forum this week, Zhang Qiang, a
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- 11/7/2014
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alibaba Pictures, the movie unit of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has signed a deal to set up a film and TV company with the world's biggest studio facility, Hengdian World Studios, as part of a new focus on high-tech blockbusters. "We believe our collaboration will make us more competitive and help raise our game in terms of content innovation, investment, production and distribution," Alibaba Pictures chief Zhang Qiang, formerly second-in-command at China Film Group, told a ceremony to launch the pact. The deal will marry two Chinese giants. Zhang said in the future Alibaba would
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- 10/14/2014
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tencent has become the latest Chinese internet giant with film industry ambitions, announcing plans to produce four to five movies a year.
Tencent, which also owns the WeChat and Qq messaging platforms, plans to leverage its huge online gaming, animation and literature resources to compete with China’s two other internet giants – Alibaba and Baidu – which already have film units.
Among the first projects is a film version of the Qq race car online game, which has 3 million users. The company will also adapt Nobel Prize-winning writer Mo Yan’s novel The Treasure Map for the big screen, possibly with Hollywood input. Production on the new slate is expected to start in the first half of 2016.
“We have seen the potential of China’s film industry,” Tencent vice president Cheng Wu told local publication 21st Century Business Herald.
Tencent previously invested in Roco Kingdom, a series of animated features adapted from its popular online game.
Alibaba, which...
Tencent, which also owns the WeChat and Qq messaging platforms, plans to leverage its huge online gaming, animation and literature resources to compete with China’s two other internet giants – Alibaba and Baidu – which already have film units.
Among the first projects is a film version of the Qq race car online game, which has 3 million users. The company will also adapt Nobel Prize-winning writer Mo Yan’s novel The Treasure Map for the big screen, possibly with Hollywood input. Production on the new slate is expected to start in the first half of 2016.
“We have seen the potential of China’s film industry,” Tencent vice president Cheng Wu told local publication 21st Century Business Herald.
Tencent previously invested in Roco Kingdom, a series of animated features adapted from its popular online game.
Alibaba, which...
- 9/19/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
ChinaVision Media Group, which will soon be renamed Alibaba Pictures Group, has signed production deals with Wong Kar Wai’s Block 2 Pictures, Angie Chai and Giddens Ko’s Star Ritz International Entertainment and Peter Ho-sun Chan’s We Pictures.
The deals emerged in a profit warning filed by ChinaVision on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday. ChinaVision is being rebranded as Alibaba Pictures Group, following ecommerce giant Alibaba’s acquisition of a controlling stake in the company in April.
Alibaba has also reportedly hired China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang to head Alibaba Pictures Group. However the company has not confirmed or responded to the reports.
ChinaVision reported expected losses of $12.5m (Hk$97m) to $23m (Hk$180m) for the six months to June 30, 2014. However it added that losses were due to a lack of films released during this period, and that business was expected to pick up in the second half of the...
The deals emerged in a profit warning filed by ChinaVision on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday. ChinaVision is being rebranded as Alibaba Pictures Group, following ecommerce giant Alibaba’s acquisition of a controlling stake in the company in April.
Alibaba has also reportedly hired China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang to head Alibaba Pictures Group. However the company has not confirmed or responded to the reports.
ChinaVision reported expected losses of $12.5m (Hk$97m) to $23m (Hk$180m) for the six months to June 30, 2014. However it added that losses were due to a lack of films released during this period, and that business was expected to pick up in the second half of the...
- 7/21/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Alibaba is in a hurry to make itself a dominant force in the Chinese entertainment industry, investing significant sums on production studios and recently announcing a content deal with Lionsgate. Now, Jack Ma's e-commerce giant has hired the second-most powerful man in the Chinese film industry to run its fledgling Alibaba Pictures Group. Zhang Qiang, the vice president of China Film Group, has, according to sources close to the situation, accepted the role of heading up the new upstart studio, says the Wall Street Journal. Zhang had denied such rumors earlier in the week, but the hire seems to
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- 7/18/2014
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
French officials have increased security at the Cannes Film Festival, hoping to prevent another year of massive heists and increased crime rates.
At last year’s Cannes Film Festival, robbers stole over $136 million worth of jewels and diamonds from the Carlton Hotel, following million dollar heists at the Hotel du Cap and Novotel, and there were reports of muggings and other crime throughout the festival. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, of the 178 robberies that took place at Cannes in 2013, a large number occurred during the Cannes Film Festival, which spans only two weeks.
“If you think about it, the festival is a dream come true for criminals. You’ve got all these people coming in jet-lagged, spending 10 days working 14-hour days and getting drunk and sloppy at night. The opportunities [for crime] are everywhere,” said a Cannes publicist.
Stories of burglars breaking into the hotel rooms or rented apartments of visiting actors,...
At last year’s Cannes Film Festival, robbers stole over $136 million worth of jewels and diamonds from the Carlton Hotel, following million dollar heists at the Hotel du Cap and Novotel, and there were reports of muggings and other crime throughout the festival. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, of the 178 robberies that took place at Cannes in 2013, a large number occurred during the Cannes Film Festival, which spans only two weeks.
“If you think about it, the festival is a dream come true for criminals. You’ve got all these people coming in jet-lagged, spending 10 days working 14-hour days and getting drunk and sloppy at night. The opportunities [for crime] are everywhere,” said a Cannes publicist.
Stories of burglars breaking into the hotel rooms or rented apartments of visiting actors,...
- 5/14/2014
- Uinterview
Washington, April 19: Paramount Pictures and China Film Co Ltd have signed a deal produce the 3D fantasy-action feature film 'Marco Polo'.
China Film Co's Zhang Qiang and Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore made the announcement at the signing during the Beijing International Film Festival, Deadline.com reported.
The film adaptation will be based on the historical context of the famed 13th century explorer and will go beyond the traditional "biographic" type story by positioning it as a fantasy action movie.
The movie is set to begin shooting in Oct er in conjunction with Yuehua Entertainment, Phoenix Entertainment,.
China Film Co's Zhang Qiang and Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore made the announcement at the signing during the Beijing International Film Festival, Deadline.com reported.
The film adaptation will be based on the historical context of the famed 13th century explorer and will go beyond the traditional "biographic" type story by positioning it as a fantasy action movie.
The movie is set to begin shooting in Oct er in conjunction with Yuehua Entertainment, Phoenix Entertainment,.
- 4/19/2014
- by Lohit Reddy
- RealBollywood.com
Paramount has partnered with China Filmco, the country's largest state-funded film group, to produce a 3D fantasy/action movie about legendary explorer Marco Polo. Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore traveled to Beijing to make the announcement with Zhang Qiang, the vice president in charge of film investment and production at Cfc. This is the first collaboration between Paramount and Cfc. ”Fast and Furious” filmmaker Rob Cohen will direct the movie, which is scheduled to begin production in October. Yuehua Entertainment, Phoenix Entertainment and Huahua Film & Media Culture will all be involved in the production. Also read: China's Biggest Film Company...
- 4/18/2014
- by Lucas Shaw
- The Wrap
The partners will co-produce the 3D fantasy-action and are searching for a name Hollywood director and star plus Us and Chinese cast.
Production is expected to commence in October in conjunction with Yuehua Entertainment, Phoenix Entertainment and Huahua Film & Media Culture.
Paramount vice-chairman Rob Moore (pictured) joined China Filmco director and vice-president Zhang Qiang at the official signing ceremony in Beijing, where the Beijing International Film Festival is underway.
Yuehua Entertainment CEO Du Hua, Phoenix Entertainment chairman Wang Fengchang and Huahua Film & Media Culture CEO Wang Kefei were also in attendance.
Production is expected to commence in October in conjunction with Yuehua Entertainment, Phoenix Entertainment and Huahua Film & Media Culture.
Paramount vice-chairman Rob Moore (pictured) joined China Filmco director and vice-president Zhang Qiang at the official signing ceremony in Beijing, where the Beijing International Film Festival is underway.
Yuehua Entertainment CEO Du Hua, Phoenix Entertainment chairman Wang Fengchang and Huahua Film & Media Culture CEO Wang Kefei were also in attendance.
- 4/18/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Beijing -- Paramount Pictures will link up with Chinese state film company China Film Group to co-produce a new 3D fantasy/action movie Marco Polo, with shooting due to begin in October this year. Marco Polo, based on the 14th century Italian merchant who was one of the first Europeans to travel in China, would be directed by an experienced action adventure director from the U.S. and feature a cast of Hollywood stars and tier one actors and actresses from China, the two companies said in a statement. The deal was signed by Zhang Qiang, China Film Company’s vice president
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- 4/18/2014
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Festgoers beware: The Cannes crime spree isn't over. Following last week’s news of the high-profile $1 million Chopard heist and the burglary of Zhang Qiang’s rented apartment, there are reports of new victims. Cit Group managing director Kevin Khanna and Silver Pictures co-president Steve Richards returned to their five-bedroom villa behind the Majestic Hotel on Monday to find all of their valuables missing. Photos: Radiant 'X-Men' Star Fan Bingbing Honored at Glittery Cannes Fest “In the span of an hour they had gotten into the house through the roof and gone through all of our rooms,
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- 5/21/2013
- by Sharon Swart
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Where's Inspector Clouseau when you need him? First, $1 million worth of Chopard jewels were stolen from a Cannes Film Festival hotel room last week in a case worthy of one of the Pink Panther movies. Now word has surfaced that a Chinese film executive had his luggage lifted while attending the French Riviera confab. Per The Hollywood Reporter, China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang scrapped his scheduled appearance at a press conference with Keanu Reeves for the actor's directorial debut Man of Tai Chi after discovering last Thursday that his bags had been pilfered from his rented pad at Pierre & Vacances Résidence Cannes Beach. Qiang made the discovery after he returned from dinner...
- 5/20/2013
- E! Online
The Cannes Film Festival has been hit by its second high-profile robbery.
Days after a $1 million jewellery heist in the South of France, China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang has had all of his luggage stolen from his rented Cote d'Azur apartment.
Zhang cancelled plans to appear at today's (May 20) press conference for Keanu Reeves's directorial debut Man of Tai Chi - which China Film Group co-produced - after losing all of his possessions.
The film executive revealed the theft on Weibo, a Chinese social media site similar to Twitter.
"Security in France is so bad, and the [people] are so arrogant," wrote Zhang, who claimed that hotel staff at the Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach Residence had not helped and he would contact the police himself.
"This film festival is not worth mentioning!" he added.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zhang later posted an update on Saturday (May 18) saying that authorities,...
Days after a $1 million jewellery heist in the South of France, China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang has had all of his luggage stolen from his rented Cote d'Azur apartment.
Zhang cancelled plans to appear at today's (May 20) press conference for Keanu Reeves's directorial debut Man of Tai Chi - which China Film Group co-produced - after losing all of his possessions.
The film executive revealed the theft on Weibo, a Chinese social media site similar to Twitter.
"Security in France is so bad, and the [people] are so arrogant," wrote Zhang, who claimed that hotel staff at the Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach Residence had not helped and he would contact the police himself.
"This film festival is not worth mentioning!" he added.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zhang later posted an update on Saturday (May 18) saying that authorities,...
- 5/20/2013
- Digital Spy
China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang canceled plans to preside over a press conference on Monday with Keanu Reeves for the actor’s directorial debut Man of Tai Chi after all of his possessions were stolen from his rented apartment at Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach Residence. The senior executive first exposed the burglary in a post on his official Weibo account (China’s version of Twitter) on May 16, saying that he got back to his apartment after dinner to find his door ajar and all of his luggage gone. Cannes Jewel Heist: Inside Job Suspected, Hotel Employees Being Questioned Zhang
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- 5/19/2013
- by Clarence Tsui, Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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