As a lifelong fan of nature documentaries and a connoisseur of cross-cultural collaborations, I am thrilled to see the BBC Studios’ “Asia” series making its way to China! The opportunity to witness David Attenborough’s soothing voice narrating stories from the Himalayas to the Western Pacific is simply too exciting for words.
The highly anticipated BBC Studios’ nature documentary titled “Asia,” narrated by none other than David Attenborough, is set to debut in China on November 5th across various platforms. This exciting announcement was made by Nick Percy, the president of global markets at BBC Studios, during a forum held at BAFTA in London on Friday at the Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum.
The seven-episode series, filmed over almost four years, is set to premiere on Dragon TV as well as streaming services such as iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku, and Bilibili. This is made possible through collaborations with Shanghai Media Group and Phoenix TV. The series takes viewers from the Himalayas to the Western Pacific, showcasing captivating wildlife tales like those of elephants in Sri Lanka that have mastered the art of halting buses for a snack, and sea snakes partnering with fish to hunt in the ocean depths.
Percy additionally emphasized the growing collaboration between BBC Studios and Shanghai Media Group, such as the forthcoming Chinese version of BBC’s enduring crime series “Silent Witness,” named “Forensic.” This adaptation was revealed at Mipcom just a few days ago.
In its second iteration, the forum attracted more than 230 professionals from the industry. Jasmine Pang, who holds the position of Director for European Affairs at Phoenix TV, disclosed that negotiations are ongoing to expand the availability of British content in China. “We are collaborating with the U.K.’s Department of Business and Trade to either boost the current quota or designate a special quota specifically for British movies and television shows,” Pang explained. “There’s a significant fan base in China that appreciates British films and series,” Pang stated, referencing recent achievements such as Michael Caine’s film “The Great Escaper” at the Shanghai Film Festival and the BBC series “Inside No. 9,” which quickly sold out theatrical screening tickets in under a minute at the Shanghai Grand Theater.
The entire day’s gathering was graced by Li Liyan, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in the UK; Fang Shizhong, head of Shanghai Media Group; Luo Yi, deputy director-general of Shanghai’s Culture and Tourism Administration; and Rupert Daniels, director for creative, consumer, sports, and education at the UK Department for Business and Trade.
I, Roy Lu from Linmon, had the honor to represent the Chinese streaming and production sector alongside other esteemed professionals: Chen Zhaoling, COO at Youhug, Geng Danhao, senior VP at iQIYI, Fan Qing, producer at Tencent Video, Zhang Hao, director of content and production at Bilibili Factual, and Kong Lingzheng, planning supervisor at Zhao Dongling Studio. Together, we made our collective voices heard in this industry.
The U.K. contingent consisted of André Renaud, a high-ranking executive in global format sales at BBC Studios; Daniel Pearl, a creative mastermind at Lion TV; Oliver Parker, director of hit films like “Johnny English Reborn” and “The Great Escaper”; Tony Reed, a creative production head at BBC Studios Kids & Family’s animation department; and Evan Leighton-Davis, the owner of Heatseeker Media and Takedown Pictures.
As a dedicated cinephile, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement when I hear about Liverpool’s untapped potential in the world of film. It’s no secret that this city has been captivating cameras more than any other U.K. location save for London. This fact was recently emphasized by Gary Millar, President of Liverpool China Partnership, who truly believes that Liverpool could soon rival its larger counterpart as a hub for cinematic brilliance.
Participants in the meeting were Jane Turton, CEO from All3Media, Richard Bradley, a co-founder at Lion TV, President Yang Wenhong from Shanghai Broadcasting Film & Television Producers Association, Yang Xiaopei serving as CEO at Xixi Pictures, and Yang Wenhong presiding over XG Entertainment.
As a movie connoisseur, I firmly believe that quality transcends geographical boundaries. We don’t strive to create films for local or global audiences, or vice versa. Instead, our focus is on crafting compelling narratives that resonate with people everywhere, regardless of their location. A tale skillfully told, whether it’s rooted in the intimacy of a domestic setting or the grandeur of a global backdrop, has the power to captivate universal hearts.
At the event, Shanghainese actors Lu Yi (“Never Close Your Eyes”) and Huang Yi (“Wrong Carriage”) were present as well. Regarding U.K.-China collaborations, Lu expressed his thoughts saying, “In terms of platforms for collaboration, I believe there’s a wealth of opportunities beyond traditional media channels like TV films. New media, short-form videos, and collaborative projects in this area offer unique potential compared to more conventional methods. This new realm of collaboration provides us with greater flexibility.
Huang explained, “Many international media platforms like Netflix and the BBC are showing interest in the Chinese market, not just for stories, but also to gain a deeper understanding of China’s cultural heritage. With its 5000-year history, China offers numerous viewpoints to explore the culture more comprehensively, delving into its rich heritage, including the abundant world heritage sites. This gives rise to a multitude of perspectives that can contribute to a program rooted in China’s profound history.
Huang noted that after viewing BBC’s shows about Chinese history and culture, they differ somewhat from our own productions. From an outsider’s viewpoint, this approach offers a truly distinct way of learning about another culture. It’s quite intriguing for me personally to see it unfold.
A variety of forthcoming Chinese TV productions, some even collaborations with Britain, were showcased during the event.
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2024-10-25 19:47