Trading Fame is a High-Risk Bet for Celebrities and Investors
Over the past a few years, China saw a wave of mergers and acquisitions that involve celebrities or celebrity-owned companies. Top entertainment firms are eager to win over bankable stars while the stars are eager to cash in their fame. Recently, Chinese film studio Huayi Brothers Media was warned by China Securities Regulatory Commission for failing to report on the income sources of its two subsidiaries Dongyang Meila and Dongyang Haohan, which are closely linked to top Chinese celebrities, such as Feng Xiaogang, Li Chen, and Angelababy. This is another sign that the Chinese government is tightening control over celebrity-related M&A cases. Read more on TMT Post
China’s Art House Alliance to Exhibit ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ and ‘The Third Murder’
Recently, China’s Art House Alliance announced its programming for the first season of 2018. The list of films includes Oscar contender Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Hirokazu Koreeda’s The Third Murder, and Brazilian film Nise: The Heart of Madness. These three films will be theatrically released in China at the Alliance’s member cinemas. The first foreign film released theatrically under the banner of the Alliance was Manchester by the Sea. Read more on Jiemian
Chen Kaige Partners with E-Commerce Giant JD.com to Promote New Film
The New Year film market has always been known as lucrative, and thus competitive. This year, there are reportedly 21 films to be released within the holiday period, which requires the teams behind each film to work harder and be creative with their marketing campaigns. The team behind Chen Kaige’s Legend of the Demon Cat brought Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com on board as a marketing partner. The two parties jointly give away 100 million yuan ($15.2 million) worth of movie tickets to consumers who shop on JD.com. Read more on CBNweekly
Will ‘Youth’ Continue to Top the Box Office Chart This Weekend?
As of December 21, Feng Xiaogang’s nostalgic drama Youth has earned 573 million yuan in ticket sales, surpassing last year’s I Am Not Madame Bovary, and is headed to eventually replace Personal Tailor to become Feng’s highest grossing film. This Friday (Beijing Time), three highly anticipated domestic films, including Jackie Chan’s Bleeding Steel, Chen Kaige‘s Legend of the Demon Cat, and crime drama film The Liquidator, opened in Chinese theaters. As the holiday season competition is getting fiercer, it remains to be seen if Youth will continue to top the box office chart. Read more on Mtime
