Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen executive produces the first two movies of the anthology to premiere across CMC’s network of channels and HBO Asia’s 23 territories at the end of 2016
SINGAPORE, JULY 11, 2016 – 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 first two movies of the anthology will be played on CMC’s channels, and concurrently across 23 Asian territories on HBO and RED by HBO, with subtitles where relevant.
Hong Kong action director, Corey Yuen (The Transporter, X-Men), executive produces the first and second movies, set in ancient China at the end of the Qing dynasty, which 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.”
CMC is China’s top investor in local film production, having produced and co-produced more than 1,700 movies and TV movies, including Slave Mother (International Emmy® award winner for Best Performance by an Actress), and the winner of multiple Asian film awards, The Taking of Tiger Mountain (directed by Tsui Hark and starring Tony Leung Ka Fai).
HBO Asia previously collaborated with filmmakers in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia on various English language productions, including the fantasy series, Halfworlds, recently renewed for a second season, which is concurrently being shot in Thailand.
About HBO ASIA
Singapore-based HBO Asia brings the best of Hollywood to Asia first through its exclusive licensing deals with major Hollywood and independent studios, including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO and HBO Asia Original programmes produced exclusively for HBO viewers. Wholly owned by HBO (a Time Warner company), HBO Asia reaches 23 territories across Asia with six 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels: HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits and Cinemax, as well as Red by HBO, internet streaming platform, HBO GO, subscription video on demand service, HBO On Demand, and in China, 鼎级剧场 (ding ji ju chang). HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst and the DreamWorks channel in the region. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.
About China Movie Channel (CMC)
China Movie Channel (CMC) is a media organisation directly subordinate to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of P. R. China (SAPPRFT). Established in 1995, its services cover a wide range of areas, including broadcasting, content production, print media and new media. CMC’s flagship channel CCTV-6 is the only national movie network in China reaching over 1.09 billion people through basic subscription. CMC also offers 3 premium subscription channels, CHC Family, CHC Action and CHC HD, and has more than 2.8 million subscribers. CMC Channels have exclusive deals with all major Hollywood studios and over 95% of all Chinese movies and exclusive licensing deals with other European and Asian distributors. CMC is also the exclusive Chinese broadcaster for major international awards such as the Oscars®, Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globes. CMC’s streaming site 1905.com is one of the top film streaming websites in China.