ARTICLE
HBO Asia Collaborates with China Movie Channel to Develop Chinese Martial Arts Movies.
By Flora / 12 Jul 2016 (Tuesday)
Photo Credit: martialartsentertainment.com
HBO Asia today announced a collaboration with China Movie Channel (CMC) to develop an anthology of Chinese language martial arts action movies. Set to premiere at the end of 2016, the movies will be directed by Hong Kong action director, Corey Yuen (The Transporter, X-Men).
Set in ancient China at the end of the Qing dynasty, the films boast of gritty combat sequences executed by a cast of Chinese actors professionally trained in mixed martial arts, kung fu and muay thai. Titled “Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So” and “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying”, principal photography for both movies has commenced in Heng Dian, China, helmed by Chinese action choreographer and director Guo Jian Yong (So Close, Chinese Hero Zhao Zi Long).
Singapore’s award-winning screenwriter, Koh Teng Liang, is among a team of writers from China responsible for the screenplay of the latter movie, “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying”.
Said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia, “In expanding our production capabilities in North Asia to match audience appetite, HBO Asia is privileged to draw on CMC’s strong domestic production expertise while entertaining and inspiring viewers across the region with China’s vivid culture and stories. Apart from being HBO Asia’s very first Chinese language production and approach to the genre, this also marks the network’s first collaboration with talents from China, Hong Kong and Singapore.”
Cao Yin, President and Managing Director of CMC, said, “As the most influential movie channel in China, CMC has always been developing quality Chinese films over the years, and we are very happy and excited to work with prestigious international media companies such as HBO Asia. This is the first time CMC is doing a co-production of original TV movies. Through this partnership, we hope to exchange knowledge and know-how in the production of original content, and together with HBO Asia, introduce the essence of our culture through martial arts – one of the most iconic representations of the Chinese heritage.”