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FILMART DAILY MAR. 15, 2016 №2 THR.COM/FILMART Universe Films D2 031516.indd 1 3/10/16 11:34 AM Seoul Film Commission D2 031516.indd 1 3/7/16 11:48 AM MARCH 15, 2016 THR.COM/FILMART HONG KONG №2 HK TODAY TOMORROW WEATHER AND HIGH 63° F 66° F TEMPS 17° C 18° C China’s Wanda Dealmakers Worried About Trump to Consolidate Filmart insiders say the U.S. presidential candidate’s harsh words for China and Japan could lead Film Units to less cooperation with Hollywood and negatively impact longterm trade deals By Gavin J. Blair By Patrick Brzeski he rise of leading U.S. content. China in 2014 I couldn’t sell any- hinese conglomerate presidential nominee “I hope he won’t become thing to them.” Dalian Wanda TDonald Trump has been president because it will affect Trump’s opposition to the CGroup is planning a watched with a mixture of bewil- relationships with countries in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) major restructuring of its film derment and irritation in Asia, Asia,” says Sunny Sun, from the deal, which he has described as assets, according to a filing particularly in China and Japan, international sales department at “insanity,” is also worrying to document issued by the com- two countries he’s vehemently a major Chinese entertainment rights holders in countries which pany last week. criticized over trade issues. The corporation. “I think he’s good as would see the copyright period According to the filing, specter of Trump as U.S. pres- president of a company, but not on content extended under the Wanda plans to inject its ident has raised fears among of a country. I think he doesn’t agreement. movie production subsidi- some Filmart attendees that his like Asians. He should be more The TPP was signed in ary Wanda Pictures into its rhetoric would negatively impact positive, Asia is a huge market. February by the representatives publicly traded movie theater cross-border business, while his His opinions are unbalanced. of 12 countries, including the unit, Wanda Cinema Line opposition to international trade Politics does influence business: U.S., Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Co., which is listed on the deals could prevent the exten- I’m in charge of Vietnam and Malaysia and Singapore, though Shenzhen Stock Exchange. sion of copyright protection on when there were tensions with CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Wanda Pictures comprises Wanda’s domestic Chinese movie-production business. Legendary Entertainment, HE WINTER which the Chinese conglom- Crosscurrent journey of a small cargo erate agreed to buy for $3.5 A journey up China’s Yangtze River becomes mystical poetry Tboat up the Yangtze billion in January, is expected River, from Shanghai to its in Yang Chao’s sophomore feature by deborah young to become part of Wanda source in the high mountains, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 becomes the excuse for a mystical mind trip of inner dis- review covery in writer-director Yang Desen Planning Chao’s Crosscurrent. Much like his previous film Passages, Prada Remake which won a Camera d’Or at By Karen Chu Cannes in 2004, it’s all about hina’s Desen metaphor and mood, while the International Media is storytelling is so lightweight Cto remake the 2006 Fox it might not exist. Without it, hit The Devil Wears Prada. this drunken boat sailing on The fashion focused comedy poetry can’t hold interest for that starred Anne Hathaway its entire two-hour running and Meryl Streep, will relocate time. Audiences willing to from New York to Shanghai in forego narrative for the sake of the Chinese-language version. basking in its gorgeous cine- Fox is currently not involved matography, haunting poetry in the remake. A studio insider and some splendid views of told THR that the company inland China are likely to con- is not considering Prada in its gregate at film festivals. slate of new Chinese-language A project 10 years in the remakes through the link-up making after Yang brought between Fox International Jiang is a boat hand who the screenplay to a Cannes spends most of his time Productions and Fox Networks drinking. See page 6 for workshop, Crosscurrent seems Group Asia. The Devil Wears a Q&A with Crosscurrent to address a youthful audience director Yang. Prada is not among the list CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 1 D2_HK_news1+2+REVIEW.FINAL.indd 1 3/14/16 5:02 AM theREPORT TRUMP Pegasus Readies Trump is opposed to the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 recently signed Trans Lee’s Hunter Pacific Partnership, which extends copyright By Karen Chu periods in major not China. The agreement effec- markets like Japan. egasus Motion Pictures tively imposes U.S. copyright laws has unveiled the cast of to the other signatories, meaning Pits $16 million Bounty that it will be 95 years before Hunter, that in addition to movies and TV programs become South Korean superstar Lee public domain after their release. Min-Ho, Wallace Chung, In Japan, for example, the cur- Louis Fan, and Karena rent term is 50 years. Ng are joining the cast. “If Trump becomes president Produced by Pegasus, there’ll be no TPP and copyright Lee Shanghai Xinyi Media, won’t be extended,” says Akhiro and Union Investment Takeda from the international Partners, the film is scheduled business department at Japan’s for a 2016 summer release. Toho. “A number of our classic The company is also titles would soon become public announcing Blossom Afresh, domain.” a $1.3 million family black Takeda is also concerned about comedy produced by Ng the effect a Trump presidency “Whoever represents the U.S. China criticism has already Kin-hung and directed by would have on access to the China as president, it won’t affect the provoked indignation and the former The Way We Dance market. appeal of American content,” government is keen to promote screenwriter Chan Tai-Li. The “China-U.S. business is growing says Darrin Holender of L.A.-based the development of the domestic filmis co-produced with Hong and that’s helping to open the Multicom Entertainment. “And entertainment industry. Kong’s Golden Scene and market for us, too. If Trump was China won’t want to restrict “Clearly Trump is out of touch. Local Productions Ltd. president then China might close access to U.S. content because it Before, we used to learn English, up again and there would be a side will lead to more piracy.” and now people are learning know your dealmaker effect for Japan,” adds Takeda. However, China already main- Mandarin,” says the represen- The representative of a U.S. tains a quota on the number of tative of a Hong Kong-Chinese content distributor at Filmart, imported films given theatrical distributor at Filmart. “It’s attending the event to tap into releases and last year placed undeniable that China is a strong the Chinese market, was more restrictions on foreign content country now, and Trump opposes optimistic. on Internet platforms. Trump’s China to his own detriment.” WANDA PRADA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Pictures as soon as the deal closes. of potential remakes we’re planning for the new The document also stipulates that Wang collaboration,” the source said. CORA YIM Qingdao Wanda Pictures — the Wanda Beijing-based Desen confirmed the project and SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF FOX INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS, HEAD unit currently constructing a state-of-the-art that they are not working with Fox for the remake. OF CHINESE ENTERTAINMENT movie production facility in Qingdao — will be The company said it cannot reveal whether it has Integral to the deal made between Fox merged into Wanda Cinema Line, as well. the movie rights to the original Lauren Weisberger Networks Group Asia and Fox International Productions to produce Wanda Cinema Line halted from trading in novel. The project has been approved from produc- Chinese-language content for Shenzhen on Feb. 24 pending the announcement of tion by SAPPRFT, the Chinese censorship bureau. theatrical and television distribution, Yim will also be the producer of a an acquisition. The targets of that acquisition are Founded by Chinese film producer Ann An in mini-series in the new slate. The first now clear. The filing document says that Wanda 2006, Desen previously co-produced the Donnie production will begin in 2017. will reveal further details of the merger on April 8. Yen starrers Ip Man 2 and 14 Blades. Wanda had expressed interest in pursuing Prada was released in China in February MEANWHILE, IN THE REAL WORLD … an IPO for its movie production unit for over a 2007, eight months after its bow in the U.S. The year. In February, leaked documents revealed film created a sensation in the major cities in • Stock markets across Asia rose that Wanda was seeking $1.5 billion of outside China with corporations holding screenings of the Monday, led by China’s Shenzhen investment in Wanda Pictures ahead of an IPO, movie for March 8 Women’s Day parties. leaping 3.6 percent and Japan’s backdoor stock listing or asset injection into The Chinese version of the original novel also Nikkei adding 1.7 percent. another publicly listed company under the con- became a bestseller. • Danny De Vito appeared at a rally for U.S. presidential hopeful glomerate’s control. The terms of the offer indicated that Wanda Pictures would be valued Bernie Sanders in St. Louis on We’re going Sunday and compared the senator at $5.37 billion upon flotation. Wanda Group’s to China?? to Obi-Wan Kenobi.