International Co-Production with China: Navigating Filmmaking Without Boundaries
This panel intends to allow panelists from both sides to address practical issues involving international film coproductions in various countries (including China), e.g., tax/rebates and production incentives, speeding up the approval process, currency conversion, international crew vs. local talent development, infrastructure and local tech support, and international management standards of physical production, including distribution, etc.
Moderator
Patrick Brzeski, Asia bureau chief, The Hollywood Reporter
Panelists
Christopher Bremble, Founder and CEO of Base Media, Producer, Wish Dragon (2021)
David U. Lee, Founder and CEO of LEEDING Media, Producer, Distributor
Rance Pow, President of Artisan Gateway, International Film and Cinema Advisory
Randy Greenberg, Executive Producer, The Meg 2 (2023)
Speakers
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Patrick BrzeskiAsia bureau chief, The Hollywood ReporterOriginally from the American Midwest, Patrick Brzeski has been based in the Asia-Pacific region as a business and culture reporter since 2007. After a period of freelancing for the Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, Time and others, he joined The Hollywood Reporter as an Asia-based correspondent and online editor in 2012. In 2015, Patrick was named THR’s Asia bureau chief, tasked with managing the magazine’s coverage of the boom in cross-border investment between China and Hollywood. In 2017, he won the Southern California Journalism Award for best personality profile. Current areas of reporting include the shifting dynamics in U.S.-China film trade, South Korea’s high-flying creative industry, Japan’s resurgent anime business, and the role of Asia in the growth prospects of global streaming services. Patrick is based in Tokyo.
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David U. LeeFounder and CEO of LEEDING Media, Producer, DistributorDavid U. Lee is the founder and CEO of Leeding Media, a production, distribution and advisory company that serves as a bridge between the U.S. and Chinese entertainment industries. Since 1997, Lee played instrumental roles in several groundbreaking transactions with aggregate value of $200+ million. He advised the sale and acquisition of one of the largest film slates between Content Partners, TIK and Lionsgate in 2021. He executive-produced Anthony Mackie’s Outside the Wire, Johnny Depp’s The Professor, Jackie Chan and Jet Li’s the Forbidden Kingdom, John Cusack, Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat’s Shanghai, Jiang Wen’s Gone with the Bullets, Shanghai Fortress, and Possessor: Uncut. He provided casting support and talent management for Rogue One: A Star Wars story and XXX Return of Xander Cage. As a distributor, he oversaw the sale, marketing and theatrical distribution of Ender’s Game, Ghost Rider 2, Rush, Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Only the Brave as well as a library distribution of over 500 titles including Million Dollar Baby, Underworld, Gosford Park, Whiplash, Law Abiding Citizen, 3:10 to Yuma, The Fighter, Parker, Riddick, AVA, Breach and Baggio: Divine Ponytail.
Lee was named as an inaugural member of The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation Asia issue honoring rising stars of Asia’s media and entertainment industry. He received his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California in 1997 and 2004, respectively.
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Christopher BrembleFounder and CEO of Base Media, Producer, Wish Dragon (2021)Founder and CEO of Base Media, Bremble began his career as Writer / Director (Rocket’s Red Glare), before founding Base FX in 2005, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for HBO’s The Pacific in 2010, and securing Emmy’s for the team on Boardwalk Empire (2011) and Black Sails (2013). In 2012 Bremble developed a Strategic Alliance with Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light+ Magic, leading to a ten year collaboration on films such as Pacific Rim, Transformers: Age of Extinction, and The Force Awakens. The studio’s recent work includes Thor Love and Thunder, Kenobi, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Spirited, Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Skeleton Crew.
In 2016 Bremble started Base Animation; the studio’s first film, Wish Dragon, financed in partnership with Sony Pictures, Sparkle Roll and TenCent Pictures, was released in 2021 by TenCent Pictures in China and premiered on Netflix where it finished #4 on the features list for 2021. The animation team has since completed work on the films Ainbo, Seal Team, White Snake II, Goodbye Monster, My Little Pony and Out of The Nest. Bremble is currently producing the Wish Dragon sequel due in 2025. He is an active speaker at events and universities across China, where he has lived since 2002.
Base Media has offices / teams in Beijing, Wuxi, Xiamen, Kuala Lumpur and Los Angeles.
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Randy GreenbergExecutive Producer, The Meg 2 (2023)RANDY GREENBERG is an executive producer and senior entertainment and media industry executive with an emphasis on business affairs, marketing and distribution business. He has been involved in the green-lighting, marketing and distribution of 200+ films, and his strategies have produced over $5 billion in theatrical box office. He has executive produced four feature films – “Meg 2: The Trench” (2023) and “The Meg” (2018) for Apelles Entertainment and Gravity Pictures, a part of CMC, which became the #1 U.S/China Co-Production ever in terms of worldwide box office, “Cowboys and Aliens” (2011) and “Dylan Dog: Dead of Night” (2011). In addition, Greenberg was the Co-Executive Producer on the Netflix animated TV series “A Tale Dark & Grimm” (2021).
Greenberg co-founded the Resolution Talent & Literary Agency, was the EVP Marketing & Business Affairs for comic book entertainment company, Platinum Studios, was the Head of International Theatrical Marketing and Distribution at Universal Pictures, VP International Theatrical Marketing at MGM/UA Pictures and an Account Executive & Publicist at Dennis Davison Associates (DDA).
Greenberg is in development on several feature films and television series.
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Rance PowPresident of Artisan Gateway, International Film and Cinema AdvisoryRance Pow is the Founder and CEO of Artisan Gateway. A 27-year veteran of the international film and cinema industry, Mr. Pow oversees all corporate development, client management, and product & services delivery. He previously served as VP Asia, AMC Entertainment (1995), and VP, CBRE (1984), the world’s largest commercial real estate services company.
Established in 2003, Artisan Gateway delivers film & cinema business development, investment, research & market intelligence services to clients and partners worldwide. From a staffed presence in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh, and Los Angeles, Artisan Gateway matches local industry knowledge with a broad network of industry relationships to advance client goals.
