With two kung fu films, HBO cautiously tests the waters in China

Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia

Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia attends the “2nd Global Film Industry Value Chain Development Forum” during the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 15, 2015. (Photo by VCG via Getty Images)

For American film and TV show creators and distributors, it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing in China recently.

Online video portals have been ordered to limit foreign films and TV shows to 30% of their offerings, driving down licensing fees. Authorities are discouraging broadcasters from using imported TV formats to make programs such as “The Voice of China.” This spring, the government closed down Walt Disney Co.’s movie streaming service, and Apple’s as well.

That hasn’t discouraged HBO from testing the waters. On a steamy August morning, HBO Asia Chief Executive Jonathan Spink was tromping around Hengdian World Studios, China’s largest film and TV production base, passing popsicles around an outdoor set where filming was wrapping up on the premium channel’s first two original productions in China.

In the grove of bamboo, a dummy corpse dripping with fake blood perched on a fence as cicadas buzzed in the trees.  Another mannequin, hog-tied and strung up by a rope, dangled from a tree over a bed of large spikes. But this was no Chinese version of “Game of Thrones.” HBO Asia is moving cautiously out of the gate, with two made-for-TV kung fu movies, “Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So” and “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-ying.”

The Mandarin-language films are being co-produced with China Movie Channel, a division of state broadcaster China Central Television, or CCTV. China Movie Channel, also known as CCTV6, will handle distribution on the mainland, while HBO will air the films across Asia.

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