business

Jackie Chan Launches New Film Initiative With Sam Raimi

Any day there’s news about action star Jackie Chan is a good day for Chan fans, and in the wake of a new partnership being announced on Tuesday according to THR. Filmmakers Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy) and Oscar-winning Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Tourist) are reportedly joining with Chan’s own company, Sparkle Roll Media to produce two films a year under their new banner, Allegory Films. The deal marks a 60% stake for Sparkle Roll Media’s parent company, Cultural Investment Holdings, which is investing in $150 million, with Raimi and von Donnersmarck’s R&D LLC staking 40% with a $100,000 investment of their own. The former will also release Allegory Films’ movies domestically in China while international distribution will go to a Hollywood company. Such news speaks to the sustenance of Chan fans who are far from tired of the Chan fanfare, though left to be said is whether or not the […]

Jet Li Joins Alibaba Pictures Group As Board Director

Lee B. Golden III

I know it sounds pretty mundane to address things happening for actors as “big things” since big things already happen for folks who step into the limelight in film. It comes with the territory, especially if your name is Jet Li and your career spans worldwide in several areas, film and television, as well as philanthropy. But without a doubt, Li seems to be elevating a little more as of late, due in part to his business relationship and longstanding friendship with fellow Buddhist and Tai Chi practioner, Jack Ma, billionaire owner of e-commerce company, Alibaba Group Holdings. Following Alibaba’s acquisition of multimedia film and TV production company, ChinaVision Media Group Ltd. back in March for $804 million dollars, both companies are making it official this month with ChinaVision set to change its name to Alibaba Pictures Group, with Li joining the latter as an independent board director. The move […]

Donnie Yen And Media Asia Team Up For SUPERHERO FILMS

Lee B. Golden III

International martial arts action star and filmmaker Donnie Yen took to his blog this week to share news of his business venture alongside his wife, Cissy Wang, and Peter Lam, chairman of Media Asia Group and new business partner for their newly launched production company, Superhero Films. The new partnership is the latest to come since Yen became incredibly busy with a new slate of films to be pushed this year, including Special Identity and the 3D releases for The Monkey King, Iceman Cometh, and Ip Man which is still in development. Yen’s new company is being touted as the new step forward in applying well over thirty years of experience and global recognition in the film industry as a stuntman, actor, martial arts performer, choreographer and filmmaker, with the help of expert producers, directors, talent scouts and other filmmakers to create high-quality martial arts action films to deliver to […]