Starlight Media, headed by CEO Peter Luo, is the film arm of Starlight Culture Entertainment Group, a China-backed firm that's publicly listed in Hong Kong and has offices in Beverly Hills. The company's business model to date has been built around inking first-look deals with in-demand Hollywood directors, and then taking significant equity stakes in the titles those big names develop. It has signed exclusive first-look deals with James Wan (Aquaman), Roland Emmerich (Independence Day: Resurgence) and Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), among others. The company achieved an early win with a sizable stake in Chu's 2018 hit, Crazy Rich Asians. Late last year, Starlight took a stake in the new production outfit founded by Crazy Rich Asians' star, Henry Golding. … [Read more...] about Lion Forge Animation Inks Multi-Picture Partnership with China’s Starlight Media
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China’s Starlight Media & David Steward II’s U.S. Animation Firm Lion Forge Ink Multi-Picture Film Deal Including COVID-19 Project
Lion Forge, one of the only African American-run animation studios in the world, produced this year’s Oscar-winning animated short Hair Love. Launched last year, the company’s IP includes comics, graphic novels, original content, and celebrity affiliations. Steward II is son of billionaire businessman David Steward and brother of Kimberly Steward whose K Period Media has invested in movies including Manchester By The Sea and Suspiria. … [Read more...] about China’s Starlight Media & David Steward II’s U.S. Animation Firm Lion Forge Ink Multi-Picture Film Deal Including COVID-19 Project
Small Businesses Sue China for $8 Trillion Over Coronavirus
The lawsuit -- which this coalition is aiming to make a class-action by inviting similarly affected businesses across the U.S. -- also alleges it's possible a bio-weapons lab near Wuhan could be responsible for the infected bat that ended up in a wet market ... ultimately starting the pandemic. … [Read more...] about Small Businesses Sue China for $8 Trillion Over Coronavirus
China’s Streamers Experienced Traffic Boom Amid Virus Crisis
The surging television and streaming consumption came amid reduced filmgoing, according to Maoyan. In 2019, the Lunar New Year Holiday, which typically falls in late January and early February, contributed 14 percent of China's total box office earnings for the year. This year, Chinese cinemas shut down just prior to the holiday period and have yet to reopen. As of March 15, the China theatrical releases of 44 movies had been canceled or postponed, including 16 imported movies, Maoyan said. Total ticket revenue is widely expected to fall by at least 40 percent-50 percent in 2020. … [Read more...] about China’s Streamers Experienced Traffic Boom Amid Virus Crisis
Simon Cowell’s Syco, Fremantle Launching ‘Magnificent Dancer’ in China
Based on Syco's The Greatest Dancer, the show is set to launch on Dragon TV later this spring. It marks Fremantle's first format licensing deal in China. The deal – negotiated during the height of the coronavirus outbreak – was brokered by Haryaty Rahman, Fremantle’s senior vp of distribution, Asia, international. … [Read more...] about Simon Cowell’s Syco, Fremantle Launching ‘Magnificent Dancer’ in China
