The Hollywood Reporter

Shanghai fest stumbles at start

SHANGHAI — Zhang Ziyi, Jackie Chan and Wong Kar Wai opened the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival on Saturday, calling on guests and media to get organized to relieve the victims of China’s devastating earthquake. But the event around them began in disarray as the press screening of the opening film, Chinese documentary “Olympic Dreamers,”

Shanghai fest stumbles at start Read More »

Music industry allies against Baidu

Music industry groups have called the popular Chinese search engine Baidu “the largest and most incorrigible purveyor of pirated music in China.” Other organizations backing the initiative include the China Audio-Video Copyright Assn. and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, along with local and international record labels including EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music, Sony

Music industry allies against Baidu Read More »

Shanghai puts kibosh on new billboards

SHANGHAI — Citing too many billboards that are too densely placed, Shanghai has suspended all new outdoor advertising ahead of the 2010 World Expo, echoing earlier restrictions enacted in Beijing for the lead-up to the Olympics. In a note posted on the city’s Web site Thursday, city spokesman Chen Qiwei called the billboards across China’s

Shanghai puts kibosh on new billboards Read More »

China’s Tudou scores $57 mil in financing

China’s top video-sharing site,  Tudou.com, announced $57 million in new financing Monday, confirming rumors previously circulating online. Investors include IDG, Granite Global Ventures and General Catalyst, all of which have invested in the company before. Previous funding rounds raised $500,000, $8.5 million, and $19 million, respectively. The new investment totals $85 million, the company said,

China’s Tudou scores $57 mil in financing Read More »

Olympics: China’s local media producers

Whatever you think of mixing international sports with China’s politics, the Beijing Olympic Games could prove a 17-day coming out party for the country’s media and entertainment industry. Local production companies are furiously readying to capitalize if a boom materializes. The Games, which begin 100 days from Wednesday, are expected to draw 5 million visitors

Olympics: China’s local media producers Read More »

Beijing Olympics, a boom or bust for China-based producers?

Whatever you think of mixing international sports with China’s politics, the Beijing Olympic Games could prove a 17-day coming out party for the country’s media and entertainment industry. Local production companies are furiously readying to capitalize if a boom materializes. The Games, which begin 100 days from Wednesday, are expected to draw 5 million visitors

Beijing Olympics, a boom or bust for China-based producers? Read More »

Chinese courts hit Net cafes

This article originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter. Beijing courts promised heavier fines for Internet cafes that allow patrons to illegally download movies, laying down harsh fines for offenders, state-run media reported Thursday. The new rulings are part of a trend toward greater enforcement of intellectual property rights in China. The judge in the Beijing

Chinese courts hit Net cafes Read More »

38 injured in China set collapse

SHANGHAI — The collapse of a bridge during the shooting of a Chinese television production in southwest China on Sunday injured 38 people, state-run media reported. The accident occurred on the set of the war drama “My Regimental Commander and My Regiment,” in the town of Qushi in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, when a temporary

38 injured in China set collapse Read More »

Hengdian sees growth in partners

SHANGHAI — Liu Zhijiang, president Hengdian World Studio, said Thursday that his company — operator of the biggest film and TV back lot in the world – has grown profits 20% on average over the last five years. In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Liu did not reveal actual earnings for the private

Hengdian sees growth in partners Read More »

CA co to sell Beijing Games web ads

SHANGHAI — A California company has been chosen to manage China Central Television’s online ads during video broadcasts of the Beijing Olympics on CCTV.com. ViDeOnline Communications will be the exclusive agent for the sale and distribution of video advertisements during CCTV.com’s online Olympic video broadcasts on its live and video-on-demand channels, company spokeswoman Ming Tian

CA co to sell Beijing Games web ads Read More »