China Media Capital and TVB Partner Up With Warner Bros. to Make “Global Movies” in Hong Kong
On September 20, Hollywood giant Warner Bros. Entertainment and China Media Capital (CMC) announced a groundbreaking team-up. The two consortiums said they have entered into an agreement to form a joint venture, the “Flagship Entertainment Group”, to strike the global film market with high-quality Chinese-language movies. The new entity will be headquartered in Hong Kong. Two additional offices will also open in Los Angeles and Beijing.
With the support of Warner Bros.’ global market expertise, Flagship Entertainment hopes to be able to distribute a wide-range of films on a global scale. The first projects under the new company could be released as early as 2016.
According to official statements, Warner Bros. holds 49 percent of Flagship Entertainment’s stake, while CMC holds the rest. Ten percent of CMC’s stakes are held by Hong Kong’s largest broadcaster, TVB.
TVB chairman Charles Chan (陳國強) stated that he hopes the new collaboration will give Hong Kong’s entertainment industry a boost of creativity. He said, “China Media Capital is one of China’s most outstanding media and entertainment firms. Warner Bros. is one of the world’s leading entertainment and film companies. [TVB] is very excited to be able to collaborate with both of them, and I believe that through this collaboration, we can gain brand new creative ideas and bring our productions to another level.”
TVB CEO Mark Lee (李寶安) expressed that TVB is very honored to be able to take part of such a big project. He hopes that through Flagship Entertainment, TVB will be able to learn more about the ways of the film industry. As investments on film are usually very flexible, he is unsure how much TVB will be investing on Flagship’s upcoming movies, but he promises that the amount “will be huge.”
As for whether or not TVB artistes will also be part of Flagship’s upcoming films, Mark Lee said it depends on whether the roles will be suitable for them. Because CMC and Warner Bros. only recently announced their joint venture, details about Flagship’s upcoming film, including casting information, will not be revealed until later.
Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau (劉偉強), president of Hong Kong’s Directors’ Guild, said he looks forward to see new talents developing in Hong Kong. He expressed, “The Hong Kong film industry really needs new talents. We need more architects, lighting technicians, makeup artists, costume artists. The Hong Kong film industry has been on a downhill trip these past few years because we are short on people. If the new headquarters will be stationed at Hong Kong, that can convince investors and other directors to return to Hong Kong to do more local movies.”
Actor Louis Koo (古天樂) is very excited about the new company. “First off, this could really help bring Asian films to a more global scale. With this venture, I hope more audiences would be able to appreciate Asian films. I hope that this new collaboration can bring more originality and comprehensiveness to Asian and Hong Kong movies.”
Source: IHKTV
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
This is very nice and all, and I welcome this with a big heart and hand. But beside “global movies” why not also make “global Asian TV dramas” for a global audiences. I mean we’ve seen Korean dramas have gained huge popularity around the world, and Taiwanese dramas are following their Korean counterpart success in other part of the world outside of Asia.
Korean dramas and Taiwanese dramas have gained huge popularity in Latin America. K-dramas have also gained a huge following in the Middle East. When will TVB take these 2 markets seriously?
You should also focus on making TV dramas that can rival and can hold candle to their Korean counterpart. TVB needs to also worked on their marketing because ever since TVB dramas appeared on Dramafever and Viki, not a lot of drama fans are watching them. They need to also take Latin American and Middle East market seriously.
I agreed with Andrew Lau with this statement: “The Hong Kong film industry really needs new talents. We need more architects, lighting technicians, makeup artists, costume artists. The Hong Kong film industry has been on a downhill trip these past few years because we are short on people. If the new headquarters will be stationed at Hong Kong, that can convince investors and other directors to return to Hong Kong to do more local movies.”
He’s right and I remember Hong Kong doesn’t have any young successors at all:
http://www.jaynestars.com/movies/lack-of-successors-shift-to-mainland-chinese-market-to-blame-for-decline-of-hong-kong-movie-industry/
You guys in Hong Kong need bright, young upcoming actors/actresses to get global fanbases and also not to piss off their fanbases in Hong Kong. Right now, I don’t see Hong Kong having anyone that can match with Kim Soo-Hyun, Lee Min-Ho. Park Shin Hye, Kim Tae Hee, Joo Won, Seo In guk, Lee Seung Gi, Ha Ji won, Kim Woo-Bin, Jun Ji-Hyun, Kim Sae-Ron, Kim Nam Gil, Lee Joon Gi, Ji Chang Wook, Kwon Sang Woo, Park Bo Young, Song Joong Ki, and the list goes on. I don’t know who in Hong Kong could replicate the same idol actors/actresses like Suzy of Miss A, Yoona of Girls Generation, Eunji of Apink, Uee of After School, SISTAR’s Dasom, Krystal of f(x), Siwon of Super Junior, Jaejoong and Yoochun of JYJ, etc…
It’s nice Hollywood is lending a hand. But seeing Korean pop culture has become more mainstream globally, why don’t you have Korean entertainment companies help with this venture. It might attract fans of K-pop and K-dramas to watch TVB dramas.
Right now, TVB dramas on Dramafever and Viki aren’t get a lot of audiences despite marketing from DF and Viki, dramas from TVB are barely watched online. So maybe TVB should worked with South Korea, DF, and Viki to get more international audiences outside of Asia to watch TVB dramas. TVB shouldn’t ignore the Latin American and the Middle East also, because those are area where TVB dramas could gain more fanbases beyond Asia and beyond Asian demographics.
@mdo7
We’ve had a similar discussion about this topic in another thread, and it seems like you just don’t get it. There’s a difference between “want” and “need”.
You WANT TVB to make higher quality productions. In reality, they DON’T NEED to because they are a HIGHLY PROFITABLE company. There’s no sense in changing their formula if it isn’t broken.
“Korean dramas and Taiwanese dramas have gained huge popularity in Latin America. K-dramas have also gained a huge following in the Middle East. When will TVB take these 2 markets seriously?”
TVB only cares about China, a market of 1.3 billion persons, that market ALONE is suffice for their success. Not every entertainment company has the vision to expand globally, nor does going global equate success. There are many risks and rewards where they need to consider. I, for one, don’t believe TVB will EVER improve unless there is a need (need meaning competition, weak ratings, governmental pressure, etc.). At this point, I don’t see TVB needing to worry at all since they appear to have their hands in the pockets of the HK government, and a dominant position in Hong Kong. When you’re the only player in the game, there is no need to improve. TVB has never been known for satisfying the audience, and that won’t change now. Keep wishing!
@anon Correct! Anywhere there’s Chinese there’s TVB. HK industry is not only on their series and movies. I don’t think TVB needs Latin America or even Middle East since the contents are not catered for these two continents. Don;t worry abt TVB. They’re doing ok.
@funnlim “I don’t think TVB needs Latin America or even Middle East since the contents are not catered for these two continents. Don;t worry abt TVB. They’re doing ok.”
Why not? Taiwanese dramas was able to get popular in Latin America. I don’t see why TVB dramas could do the same?
If you think TVB don’t need the global market, then what was the point of Dramafever and Viki getting TVB drama?
@anon “TVB only cares about China, a market of 1.3 billion persons, that market ALONE is suffice for their success.”
South Korea and Taiwan take the Chinese market seriously, and yet they still treat the Latin America and the Middle East market the same. I don’t see why TVB should try that.
Don’t you want your famous TVB actors/actresses to become a household name just like some of the Korean and Taiwanese actors are getting in Latin America?
“There are many risks and rewards where they need to consider. I, for one, don’t believe TVB will EVER improve unless there is a need (need meaning competition, weak ratings, governmental pressure, etc.)”
South Korea and Taiwan went through this same crap and it paid off and now both of them are popping up on the global radar. Hong Kong pop culture for the last few years has become less significant, although you may not agreed with me. I talked to other fans of Hong Kong dramas and film and they agreed with me, they want to see HK being more competitive as Korea and Taiwan when it comes to the TV dramas for the global market.
“TVB has never been known for satisfying the audience, and that won’t change now. Keep wishing!”
Well they’ll need to at some point because it’s been acknowledged that South Korea has already “out-cool” Japan and Hong Kong thanks to their K-dramas and K-pop:
http://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/how-korea-became-the-worlds-coolest-brand
http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=121047
Now because South Korea did something that Hong Kong (and Japan) was never able to do, other Asian countries are trying to replicate Korea’s success. That’s what Taiwan is doing, that’s why Taiwanese dramas has been getting picked up on DF and Viki and being dub in Spanish for Latin America. Other Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia have also share desire to create similar pop cultural wave like South Korea did and Taiwan is trying to do and yet TVB doesn’t want to create a HK wave to rival their Korean and Taiwanese counterpart.
Even if you don’t care if TVB don’t take the international market seriously, there’s going to be fans of HK pop culture outside of Asia that are going to be jealous of Korean actors/actresses are getting all the global spotlight and they’re going to be jealous that Korean and Taiwanese dramas are getting all the popularity and all the attention.
@anon Let me ask you one more question: If you think TVB didn’t needed the global market, then what was the point of TVB putting their dramas on Dramafever and Viki? You said it yourself, TVB don’t care about the global audiences, then what was the point of putting TVB dramas on those 2 popular streaming sites?
@mdo7
TLDR your other posts, just skimmed through it.
TVB had been saying over and over again for the past few years that their focus is the Mainland and HK market (moreso Mainland). Whether you agree with this approach or not, they don’t really care, because as long as the money is coming in, that will please their shareholders. They are not trying to be a giant media conglomerate to have their brand recognized globally.
“what was the point of putting TVB dramas on those 2 popular streaming sites?”
As for why their productions are available on these platforms. Your answer is just as good as mine. One thing I can be certain about is, they are NOT trying to be like South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan to have their brand exported to latin america, and beyond because, simply, TVB doesn’t care about these markets, despite whether you agree or not.
@anon honestly I feel like kpop is on the decline. It’s become an icon and will still keep afloat in the entertainment biz, but I don’t feel the passion that it used to generate. Cpop, on the other hand, I dunno…it’s become more indie with some actual gems nowadays that are popping up left and right…I feel like china’s on course for a breakthrough.
HK…sigh. HKTV got effed up…there’s no hope for them. Better off gunning for their film industry now.
@coralie
China? breakthrough? how so? I find all of their movies and drama’s cheesy and lame. Not my taste I suppose. But I’d like to hear your perspective.
@coralie Not it’s not on the decline, I think you may want to read this:
Last year, South Korea was the 10th largest music market:
https://twitter.com/Jeff__Benjamin/status/453394477911392256
This year it was reported that South Korea music market has become #8:
https://twitter.com/Jeff__Benjamin/status/590399768200884224
@anon “One thing I can be certain about is, they are NOT trying to be like South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan to have their brand exported to latin america, and beyond because, simply, TVB doesn’t care about these markets, despite whether you agree or not.”
Well I guess TVB doesn’t want to have their celebrities becoming household name in Latin America like their Korean counterpart have gotten (ie: Ahn Jae Wook, Kwon Sang-Woo, Jan Dong Gun, Choi Ji Woo, and Yoon Sang Hyun have all become household name in Latin America). Even Kim Hyun Joong was nicknamed by Korean and international fan “the prince of Latin America” because of his huge popularity in Latin America. Roy Chiu/Qiu also become the first Taiwanese actor to somewhat win a lot of female fans in Latin America all because 2 of his drama was shown in that area:
http://latinmediacorp.net/en/interesting-ratings/
and TVB doesn’t want to cash in on this.
“”“what was the point of putting TVB dramas on those 2 popular streaming sites?”
As for why their productions are available on these platforms. Your answer is just as good as mine.”
Well you said it yourself, TVB doesn’t care about the market outside of Asia. If they didn’t care about the US market at all, then why put their dramas on DF and Viki? Other then that, not a lot of people on DF and Viki are watching TVB dramas, and I can’t explain why despite DF has been giving TVB some publicity when they first pick up their drama:
http://www.dramafever.com/news/heres-why-hong-kongs-tvb-is-much-more-than-just-a-television-network-in-asia/
@anon I like to note Hong Kong population (according to what I read is estimated at 7 million people) which is even smaller then South Korea (50 million) and Taiwan (20 million), and yet TVB (and other stations) is not taking the international market seriously. I know you’ll tell me that TVB don’t care but I thought that might be something you need to know.
One thing that I notice that TVB (nor HKTV) hasn’t really done that other Asian nations has done. Despite K-pop being popular around the world and in Hong Kong I never seen TVB (nor HKTV) casting K-pop idols in their dramas. I know some K-pop idols that can act and also speak fluent Cantonese and I’m baffled why TVB nor HKTV didn’t cast them in their drama. If HKTV had K-pop idols in their dramas, I think it would’ve brought in a lot of good rating and HKTV could’ve continue to make drama to this day.
List of K-pop idols that can act and can speak Cantonese fluently:
Wonder Girls’ Lim (Lim lived in Hong Kong since childhood, speak Cantonese fluently and has done acting in a film)
GOT7’s Jackson (is a Hong Kong native, he did act in a web drama, Dream Knight)
Super Junior M’s Henry Lau (can speak fluent Cantonese, and can act well in a film)
Kris (former member of EXO, speak fluent Cantonese, and has done several film roles)
Alexander (former member of UKISS, can speak multiple languages fluently that include Cantonese and he did lived in Hong Kong during his childhood. He has done acting in films and dramas)
Now I wonder why didn’t TVB and HKTV didn’t thought of this (when other Asian countries did this, some Taiwanese dramas had K-pop idols in some of their production). Casting big name K-pop idols that could’ve brought in huge rating in Hong Kong (and probably get international audiences outside of Asia watching TVB dramas, and could’ve give both TVB and HKTV a big reason to take the international market more seriously). Had HKTV put big name K-pop idols that I listed above in a leading role for some of their dramas, that may have save them from their doom.
@mdo7 “Casting big name K-pop idols that could’ve brought in huge rating in Hong Kong ”
It won’t. They will be too expensive for TVB and too many requirements to fit their schedule. And k stars wouldn’t want to act with TVB since low pay, long hours, inflexible and punishing schedule. To accomodate them TVB has to change and if TVB can change, then the other stars will return to TVB because TVB has wider network. Why TVB is losing out is emergence of net view. Youtube, viki, etc but Ruse Of Engagement I read did exceedingly well online. Made a lot of new Ruco fans.
Anyway instead of expensive k actors, better to BUY the said show, dub and broadcast. Moreover they have home grown talents. Kpop idols won’t guarantee huge ratings for their own produced shows. And it won’t save them from doom. TVB is not doomed nor facing any doom. They have a wide network distribution, they can ride out the storm even if it means talent drain.
International audiences do watch TVB. I consider the chinese in western country or vietnamese and myself as international audiences.
I know you love k drama and k movie and k everything, as evidently lovingly explained, but you have misjudged TVB fans. I’ve said this in twitter and I shall repeat here; to say TVB can get huge ratings by remaking K dramas is like a slap to any TVB fans. We have been passionately demanding for the return of at least original writings or creative writings and TVB is capable of bringing those back if not for the management being the busy body curtailing the freedom. I as TVB fan and critic do not want TVB to remake k dramas. Asian audiences have seen k dramas and to see TVB do the same thing is like watching it twice. Western audience is not as exposed as us Asians so they wouldn’t know their k drama to HK drama to C drama or J Drama. Asians do and especially those who knows Chinese. So remaking K drama is not the answer. Yes borrowing some ideas perhaps may work since everybody borrows here and there, k drama included. TVB doesn;’t do linear one singular love story or everybody has richness syndrome sort of story well. They need to mix it up and does well with bromance rather than romance. And yes they don;’t make idols like Taiwanese or Koreans or even C dramas but different taste applies. There are many TVB fans for better or worse, whether I agree or disagree with their taste doesn’t matter. Point is TVB will be fine.
@funnlim “International audiences do watch TVB. I consider the chinese in western country or vietnamese and myself as international audiences.”
Then explain why on Dramafever and Viki, TVB dramas are not getting a lot of views when Taiwanese drama are able to get more views and positive comments then TVB dramas. Why isn’t TVB taking advantage of the Latin American and Middle East market when K-dramas and Taiwanese dramas are gaining popularity over there.
If you say TVB dramas are popular, then why does Heart of Greed have 10 reviews on Dramafever when a Korean and Taiwanese can get over 500 to 1,000 reviews. Also Dramafever audiences aren’t Asian. I’m not making this up:
http://www.vox.com/2014/9/24/6832951/heres-why-millions-of-americans-are-binge-watching-korean-dramas
And 18 million Americans (and majority of them are non-Asians, and Asian American watch their dramas dubbed or used Viki to watch their dramas) according to a reliable source watched K-dramas:
http://www.koreatimesus.com/about-18-million-americans-enjoy-k-dramas-korea-creative-content-agency/
So explain to me why TVB dramas on Dramafever and Viki aren’t attracting Americans to watch it?
“I as TVB fan and critic do not want TVB to remake k dramas. Asian audiences have seen k dramas and to see TVB do the same thing is like watching it twice.”
Well, Taiwan did it and it got K-dramas fans attention. When Taiwan remake You’re beautiful into Fabulous Boy, it got popular amongst K-drama fans. So if it worked for Taiwan. Why not do it for Hong Kong dramas too. I’ve even seen Korean remake of Taiwanese dramas got people that never watch Taiwanese dramas ended up watch the Taiwanese original. In Time With you, and Fated to love you got more fan because of the Korean remake. So if TVB can allow Korea to remake some of their show, I guarantee people on DF and Viki will end up watching the TVB original.
I’m all for KBS remaking Heart of Greed into a weekend drama, and MBC should remake War and Beauty. Remaking those 2 and if international K-dramas fan love it and found out it was a remake, then those same K-drama fans will end up watching the TVB original. Trust me, it worked for the Taiwanese then it should work for Hong Kong too.
@funnlim Also, Jaynestars only has 425 members when K-dramas website can get over a million fans/members. Do you want to increase Jaynestars membership? Then TVB and Hong Kong should take the international market seriously, that include Latin America and Middle East. If I was the head of TVB, I would’ve cashed in on the drama fad that K-drama created and I would’ve casted K-pop idols in TVB dramas to set off buzz amongst international fans outside of Asia.
@mdo7 – I have heard Henry Lau speak Cantonese, it is not good at all, and no he can’t speak it fluently. It is ABC English. Cantonese is one of those language that you have to speak correctly and precisely to be understood. Otherwise it sounds like gibberish.
You can live in Hong Kong and still not be fluent since there are many international schools there. They also speak British English, so you can get by with only English.
@mdo7 – Give it a rest You pretty much stated that KDRAMA is superior in your eyes and in your opinion in the BUBU Jing XIn thread.
Seriously, do you not understand that there are enough overseas Cantonese Speaking people who watch the TVB channel through satellite and not necessarily through Internet? Seriously…give it a rest. Give your praises on Korean blogs such as dramabeans to get people to agree with you.
@mdo7 – KPOP is really 1990’s USA pop songs. Korean really heavily borrow from USA on its Pop music. Let this be the blog for Hong Kong media without you constantly barging in to talk about Kdrama, Kidols etc. Hong Kong invented the asian idols! Hong Kong artists were really the first to be the triple threat of Singing, Dancing, Acting. In the 90’s I would say approximately 80% had to sing. Not only do they do all three, they also have to be MC’s, So seriously, stop saying Hong Kong needs to copy Korea, when Korea is copying from Hong Kong. Take a look at Andy Lau the original 4 king, or Jacky Cheung another of the 4 original heavenly king. Even if you have not heard of their names, you have heard of their songs for sure!
@jkfan “Let this be the blog for Hong Kong media without you constantly barging in to talk about Kdrama, Kidols etc. Hong Kong invented the asian idols! Hong Kong artists were really the first to be the triple threat of Singing, Dancing, Acting.”
No, other Asian countries had also invented idols during that same time like Japan.
“Take a look at Andy Lau the original 4 king, or Jacky Cheung another of the 4 original heavenly king.”
I looked at the list of boy group and girl group and there are not a lot compared to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. If there was a lot of boy group and girl group in Hong Kong, I would’ve known and I never heard of Hong Kong making a boy or girl group something on the same level as EXO, Super Junior, Girls Generation, etc… I know about the original 4 kings, but they’re not technically a boy group like let say NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, TVXQ, SHINee. The number of musical group is small compared to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Mainland China:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cantopop_musical_groups
Movies only? And comes with a proviso. No immediate plans to use TVB actors and since the bigger voices here are NOT TVB, I think they will use movie actors and most from China. In other words, TVB is an investor only?
@funnlim Yup…even though the article focused mostly on TVB, they are a small potato in this collaboration so they probably play more of an investor role and have no say in anything….though it sure is interesting that TVB is trying to get their hands into everything lately it seems. There was also an article out today about TVB officially launching their OTT set top service next year and another article on Friday with their new plans on the music front…looks like they are trying to grab money from all avenues available, lol (yet they still ‘complain’ about low ad revenue and how much they have to struggle to make a profit). Hope all that money doesn’t just go into TVB execs’ pockets. TVB: with all the money you guys are raking in now, give your employees a damn raise for crying out loud!!
@funnlim from what I can tell about TVB, based on past behavior anyways, it’s that if they have a partnership with any company, most likely they’ll use it to their advantage. This means they can try and promote their own stars in these movies and convince their homegrown stars to stay with them for more opportunities.
I’m actually a bit disappointed that they chose TVB to partner up with, though I suppose there are no better alternatives considering the state of HKTV and ATV.
@coralie
That’s exactly what I was thinking. TVB won’t have a real say in the operations, as they only have a very small stake. It’s a method to keep some of their artists with TVB from leaving by amplifying false hope, and really, even if they do get a chance to be in these productions, they will unlikely be in leading roles. My opinion is that, most of these productions will be mainland actors/actresses headlining first , and second leads, and maybe with some TVB actors as third and forth. Keep in mind that most mainland actors are far better actors than the current crop of TVB actors, and they are far more marketable as well.
@anon yeah this monopoly feels like it’ll never end.
I still think TVB is too small a fry to really make an impact on the entertainment biz. China does have much more accomplished and polished stars much more capable of leading. But TVB still has old veterans, so that is their saving grace.
@coralie
The veterans are usually not what TVB are worried about leaving. It’s the younger crop of established leading actors that TVB are desperately trying to keep within the organization. It’s these crop of actors that will unlikely see the light of day for these productions, in any meaningful role any way.
First, HK, including TVB, doesn’t have the acting talents, finances and movie production capacities to produce any global hit movies. This is about the same with Korean movies; Garbage in, Garbage out, shallow and unmemorable actors/actress, and predictable and uncreative plots.
Second, Warner Bro is not here to give a helping hand, it is here to make money. And the money is at mainland China with its movie goers, and not HK. However, this cooperation will benefit all parties, including some HK talents.
@tomtom
Very well said!
One aspect where I will disagree is that the Korean entertainment industry has a much better chance of producing global hit movies. They are far superior in every facet than HK in this regard.
@anon
Not so long ago in the 80s and 90s, HK films were a great inspiration for S. Korean fans. They were crazy for stars like Lin Qingxia, Joey Wang, Chow Yun Fat, Leslie Cheung, Lai Ming and John Woo, Tsui Hark films. S. Korean directors made their own versions of wuxia.
@anon Korean entertainment should just stick to romance. Action isn’t their forte.
Also having dramas that encourage violence doesn’t bode well for the younger generation and can be a bad influence for them. Jumping and kicking someone just because they can’t see eye to eye. So ridiculous. And yet I know someone in the his forties that does that and cites Korean dramas as his inspiration and threatens people that way.