A Still from iQIYI Original Series ‘Burning Ice’
iQIYI’s ‘Burning Ice’ and ‘Tientsin Mystic’ Coming to Netflix in Early 2018
After Youku announced its distribution deal with Netflix, another top Chinese online streaming platform iQIYI also revealed that its original drama series ‘Burning Ice,’ ‘Tientsin Mystic,’ and its Chinese remake of Sony Pictures’ TV series ‘Chosen’ will be available on Netflix in the first quarter of 2018. When internet drama series and films first appeared in China around 2006, they were often criticized for copyright infringement, low production values, and tasteless content. In 2014, when ‘House of Cards’ came out on Netflix, many Chinese video platforms were inspired to produce their own original series. Since then, the quantity and quality of Chinese web drama series have been rapidly improving. Read more on yuledujiaoshou
Jia Zhangke Starts Shooting ‘Ash Is Purest White’
Famed Chinese director Jia Zhangke has started shooting his latest film ‘Ash Is Purest White‘ in Datong, Shanxi province. Starring Zhao Tao and Liao Fan (Best Actor, 64th Berlinale), the film tells an epic love story between a taxi driver and a model. The story spans from 2001 all the way to today, and will be told in a ‘road movie’ format. In order to present the textures of different time periods, Jia plans to use six different types of cameras to shoot. In addition to Zhao Tao and Liao Fan, Jia will also have several celebrities play small roles in the film. ‘Ash is Purest White’ is estimated to be released in 2018. Read more on Mtime
2015 American thriller film ‘Heist’ Set for December 8 China Release
‘Heist,’ a 2015 American crime thriller film directed by Scott Mann, has been scheduled to open in Chinese theaters on December 8, according to a recently released official Chinese trailer of the film. Starring Robert De Niro and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, ‘Heist’ tells the story of a father who can’t afford to pay his sick daughter’s treatment and decides to rob a casino with a greedy co-worker. ‘Heist’ will compete with several other Hollywood movies and Chinese movies during the lucrative Christmas and New Year’s moviegoing periods in China. Read more on China Daily
‘Coco’ Overtakes ‘Finding Dory’ as the Highest-grossing Pixar Movie in China
According to Mtime Pro’s China box office data, two animated films topped the chart on Friday, December 1. Pixar’s ‘Coco‘ led the competition with 47.5 million yuan ($7.2 million), while Japanese animation ‘Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?,’ the second highest-grossing film of the day, made only about half of what ‘Coco’ made. After eight days in release, ‘Coco’ has made 255 million yuan ($38.6 million), overtaking ‘Finding Dory’ (254 million yuan) as the highest-grossing Pixar movie in China. As the films opened on December 1 all failed to make strong debut, it is expected that ‘Coco’ will continue to dominate China box office this coming week. Read more on Mtime
