‘Asians taking their rightful place in Hollywood,’ says Yang

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‘Avatar’ will be on Disney Plus at launch

LOS ANGELES, Nov 3, (RTRS): “Borders are collapsing all around us,” says producer Janet Yang, who programs the Asia Society’s US-Asia Entertainment Summit conference next week in Los Angeles. “That process is being driven by changes in content and technology.”

The summit this year has notably broadened its focus from one on US-China relations to one that examines the entertainment business to a wider US-Asia perspective.

The conference’s altered angel of attack may reflect a waning American interest in China, now that Chinese firms are no longer buying up Hollywood corporate assets at inflated prices.

And with the polarizing effects of 22 weeks of anti-Beijing protests in Hong Kong, and a year-long US-China trade war, a China focus might also be too sensitive. US entities such as the NBA, Quentin Tarantino and “South Park” have all clashed with China in recent weeks.

“There are too many other topics. Business goes on. The pendulum keeps swinging,” says Yang. Nevertheless, one of the summit’s highlights is expected to be the presentation by (Mandarin-speaking) Australian former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

“Streaming increasingly means that you can make something that is authentically yours. You don’t have to try to please everyone,” says Yang, but the global reach of platforms means that creators can connect with audiences no matter how far away or scattered. “Streaming is good for diversity. A theatrical release is no longer necessarily the only option.”

Alibaba Pictures Los Angeles-based president Zhang Wei is expected to speak about the new ways in which to reach China’s massive audience. During an on-stage interview, Zhang will share details of how “Capernaum”, Nadine Labacki’s Palestine-set drama, was helped to an $12 million gross in China.

Yang says too that Asians are finally achieving a more interesting and meaningful place in Hollywood. “The changes of the last couple of years are not just imagination,” she says.

That topic will be explored more thoroughly by Daniel Dae Kim, the Korean star of lost who now heads his own Hollywood based production company 3AD Media in a presentation. Others speaking on the same topic will include CJ Entertainment’s Francis Chung, Tencent Pictures’ Rob Ree, “Crazy Rich Asians” associate producer Janice Chua, and Disney’s Mark Zee.

Bringing the sessions to a climax will be the wildly-popular Chinese-American singer and actor Wang Leehom. His chosen topics are bridging cultures, and making change happen.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: James Cameron’s “Avatar” will be available on Nov 12 on Disney Plus when the streaming service launches in the US, Canada and The Netherlands.

“Avatar” will also become available on the service in Australia and New Zealand on Nov 19. Disney Plus will be the exclusive subscription streaming home of the film, which will be marking the 10th anniversary of its theatrical release on Dec 18.

“Avatar” was nominated for nine Oscars and won three for visual effects, cinematography and production design. It’s the second-highest worldwide grosser of all time at $2.79 billion, trailing only “Avengers: Endgame”.

The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi and Laz Alonso. Disney has scheduled the release of “Avatar 2” for Dec 17, 2021, followed by three more “Avatar” films in 2023, 2025 and 2027.

Meanwhile, Highland Film Group has announced that Trace Adkins, Thora Birch, Peter Facinelli, Anne Heche and Paz Vega to Lindsay Gossling’s feature directorial debut “13 Minutes”.

Gossling will also produce under her production shingle Involving Pictures alongside Travis Farncombe and Karen Harnisch. Cassian Elwes and Jere Hausfater for Elevated Films will executive produce, in association with ImpactWX.

Highland Film Group is handling international sales beginning at the American Film Market, which opens in Santa Monica, Calif, on Nov 6. Elevated Films is handling the US sale in collaboration with Highland Film Group.

The drama is set in a small American town, where residents wind up having only 13 minutes to seek shelter before the largest tornado on record ravages the town. Principal photography will start on Nov 11 in Tornado Alley in the Midwestern US.

Double Dutch International CEO Jason Moring has announced that Jamie Bell and Ruby Rose are attached to voice-star in the animated feature “Cranston Academy: Monster Zone”.

Currently in post-production, the movie is written by Carl Bunker and Bob Barlen. It is an Anima production with Prime Focus in association with Fifth Dimension Films, directed by Leopoldo Aguilar and produced by Fernando De Fuentes, Jose C. Garcia de Letona and Greg Gavanski.

The story centers on two rival geniuses attending a secret school for child prodigies. They must put their rivalry aside and help a half-moth, half-man professor overcome the creatures of the 5th dimension and save the school.

This news has been read 4902 times!