Eros International’s Trinity Pictures announces 2 Indo – Chinese co -productions with leading Chinese film companies, Peacock Mountain Culture & Media Ltd & Huaxia Film Distribution Co Ltd. These films will be directed by Kabir Khan & Siddharth Anand and released in Fiscal 2018
Eros International Media Ltd, a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry, announced recently that Trinity Pictures, India’s 1st franchise feature film studio, is planning 2 landmark Indo – China co – productions to be released in Fiscal 2018. Kabir Khan’s travel drama THE ZOOKEEPER (working title) & Siddharth Anand’s cross – cultural romantic comedy LOVE IN BEIJING (working title). The films will co -produced with China’s Peacock Mountain Culture & Media Ltd & Huaxia Film Distribution Co Ltd.
The 2 films are the 1st ever Indo – China co – productions set in both India & China and will have Han Sanping, former Chairman of China Film Group, as their Creative Producer. Sanping has produced more than 300 films & 100 TV series, including RED CLIFF, KARATE KID & LET THE BULLET FLY.
With the cast from both India & China, a leading Indian male actor and leading Chinese actress, Kabir Khan’s human drama, THE ZOOKEEPER, tells the journey of an Indian zoo keeper to China to find a panda to return to India in order to save his zoo. Siddharth Anand’s cross – cultural romantic comedy, LOVE IN BEIJING, also with an A – lister Indian actress & leading Chinese male actor is based on an Indian girl who falls in love with a Chinese man. Production costs for THE ZOOKEEPER by Kabir Khan are expected to be (approximately) USD $25.0 million & LOVE IN BEIJING (approximately) USD $15.0 million. The films will be shot simultaneously in both languages and are due for release in Fiscal 2018.
While the original stories were developed by the Trinity Pictures Writers’ Room, creative teams from both Trinity Pictures & the Chinese film companies have worked closely on the scripts to create storylines that blend Sino – Indian culture. The films will be shot across India & China with major parts of Kabir Khan’s THE ZOOKEEPER shot in Chengdu while Siddharth Anand’s LOVE IN BEIJING will be shot in Beijing and its suburbs.
Commenting on the Indo – China co -productions, Jyoti Deshpande, Group CEO, Eros International averred, “We continue to establish our dominant global distribution network including entry into the Chinese market. We believe China to be a significant market opportunity for Indian films. Following our co – production treatise last year, we are very proud to announce the 1st of our joint productions going into production soon. With Trinity, we also want to tell stories that transcend the language barrier and have mainstream appeal. We believe our Indo -China co – productions will be game -changing as we pave the way to open up one of the largest film markets in the world.”
Ajit Thakur, CEO, Trinity Pictures added, “It’s a revolutionary milestone for Indian cinema as Eros’ Trinity Pictures becomes the 1st Indian studio to collaborate with China’s Huaxia Film Distribution Co Ltd & Peacock Mountain Culture & Media Ltd and deliver our vision for a truly global film. Having 2 acclaimed directors like Kabir Khan & Siddharth Anand on board with us, is a big leap towards opening one of the biggest & the fastest growing film markets in the world. With these co – productions being shot in both languages, we hope to present compelling film content, weaving in the socio – cultural worlds of both the countries, which should appeal to the massive Sino – Indian market”.
Creative Producer, Han Sanping averred, “Creating an entertaining movie for 2 of the biggest markets in the world is a big challenge. But having good creative people from both India & China working together we are sure to be successful.”
Allen Liu, Partner, Peacock Mountain added on the association, “It’s exciting to finally pull the curtains over the efforts from writers from both India & China side. Getting the right & the organic story was one of the most important aspect for both the teams from the beginning. Hope the movie shapes up to be a true co -production”.
Director Kabir Khan commented, “It’s an exciting challenge to shoot the film in 2 languages, a 1st for me and creating a whole new world of completely unique characters. There is tremendous potential with similarities in art & culture and I hope to present a film that will be a complete package and will combine the ethos of both the countries.”
Director Siddharth Anand averred, “I am thrilled to be part of a film that will cater to a much wider audience, span new geographies and reach new territories. We are working on a story and creating characters that should resonate with audiences in both the markets.”
Last year, Eros International signed memorandums with leading Chinese state owned film companies China Film Group Corp, Shanghai Film Group & Fudan University for the exploitation of intellectual property rights as well as to develop, co – produce & distribute Indo -China films across all platforms in both countries during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to China.
As per PwC Outlook 2016, China is expected to overtake the US box office in 2016 growing to $10.3 billion. In 2015, the Box Office grew to $6.3 billion marking a 49% year on year growth. In comparison, the US box office is expected to contract from $10.3 billion to $10 billion next year, with Hollywood’s share of the Chinese Box Office slipping to 38.4% in 2015 from 45.5% in 2014. In early 2014, China had just under 19,000 screens and by end of 2015, that number grew to almost 32,000. Overall, China is propelling Asia – Pacific’s growth (including Indonesia, Malaysia) with Box Office revenue across Asia -Pacific expected to grow to $21.11 billion by 2020 and thus continue to emerge as important growth markets for Bollywood.
THE JUNGLE BOOK COMPLETES 100 DAYS AND CREATES HISTORY!!!
The Jungle BooK completes 100 days and creates History. That apart The Jungle Book is back in more cinema halls. Disney’s The Jungle Book adds one more feather in its glittering cap!!! The live action & epic adventure has already set the record of being the Highest Grossing Hollywood Film of all time in India, and raised the bar when it comes to marketing English movies in the country. Directed by Jon Favreau and starring Neli Sethi, The Jungle Book now completes 100 days of its running in Indian theatres on 16th Jul, 2016!!! The film’s total Box -Office collection so far is a whopping 260.28 crores (Gross Box Office) and 187.40 cr NBOC, thus setting a benchmark for English films in India. And if these benchmarks are not enough, encouraged by a surge in demand, driven by the audience’s unparalleled love for the wild adventure, the Studios is all set to bring back the magic of Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo & Shere Khan to more screens. The film will now be screened at 25 additional screens in the country.
