Photo: Weibo.
Tencent Pictures Celebrates 2nd Anniversary, Announcing 43 Upcoming Projects
Founded by Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2015, Tencent Pictures is a production company that creates films based on books, comic books, animated series, and video games. On September 17, the company celebrated its second anniversary and announced 43 upcoming projects, which consist of more than 20 TV shows and 13 films. In addition, the company announced its anime initiative “M Universe”, which is a similar concept to the Marvel Universe. However, Tencent Pictures stated that the company had prepared for 5 years for the launch of “M Universe”. Also, the stories and characters developed within “M Universe” will be based on Chinese culture. Read more on yiyuguancha
iQiyi Collaborates with Baidu to Improve VR Streaming Services
Baidu is the first Chinese company to launch VR browser, which transforms a regular web page to a VR version. China’s largest online streaming site iQiyi, which was founded by Baidu in 2010 and changed its name to iQiyi in 2011, has also been heavily investing in developing VR products. Recently, iQiyi and Baidu signed a deal for iQiyi to use Baidu’s VR technology to improve iQiyi’s VR steaming services. More specifically, iQiyi will use Baidu’s VR technology in its 4K VR device ‘Qiyu‘ to allow videos to be streamed more smoothly, with better sound effects, for a longer time. Read more on Sohu
China’s Highest-paid Actress is Awarded and Engaged While Turning 36
On September 16, the award ceremony of the China Golden Rooster & Hundred Flowers Film Festival took place in Hohhot. China’s highest-paid actress and this year’s Cannes juror Fan Bingbing, who were turning 36 on that day, received the Best Actress award for her performance in Feng Xiaogang’s ‘I am not Madame Bovary‘. In addition, Fan’s boyfriend Li Chen, who is also an actor, proposed to her at her birthday party on the same day. Read more on Mtime
Most of the 2016 Domestic Box Office Top 10 are Co-productions Says Vice Chairman of China Film Association
Li Jingfu, the Vice Chairman of China Film Association, attended a symposium at the Golden Rooster & Hundred Flowers Film Festival and talked about the current state of co-productions. According to Li, 89 co-production projects were approved by the government to launch in 2016. And among the top 10 domestic films in 2016 by box office revenue, 8 films involve collaborations between China and other countries and regions. In addition, Li says that China currently has more than 45,000 screens and China’s total box office revenue will continue to grow in the years ahead. Read more on Sina
‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ Makes Strong Debut in China
Opened across China on September 15, ‘War for the Planet of the Apes‘ has raked in 402 million yuan after three days in release, replacing ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ as the weekly box office winner. The first installment of the series, ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes,’ was released in China in 2011 and made 208 million yuan in total. The second installment ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ played in China in 2014 and made 708 million yuan in total. This record is likely to be broken by ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’. Read more on Mtime
