NZ screen production group announces NZ China joint venture
New Zealand screen production group announces New Zealand-China joint venture partnership in Shanghai
The POW Group, a collaboration of leading New Zealand screen companies based in Wellington, officially launched in Shanghai this week with the announcement of a New-Zealand China joint venture partnership with leading Chinese animation company Nanjing Phoenix.
Held at New Zealand Central, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise’s business hub in Shanghai, the launch event brought POW together investors, production companies and media, from across Asia.
The POW Group are currently developing four Asian animation film and television projects, while continuing post production on their Korea-New Zealand TV show, Nori Rollercoaster Boy.
“Interest in our projects has been high. Asian audiences are crying out for true Asian stories… not pale imitations of Hollywood,” says POW Studio Chief Executive John McKay. “These stories will also have great appeal to Western audiences, providing them with moving and entertaining experiences they have not seen before.”
The launch was timed to coincide with the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival and Market, one of Asia’s largest gatherings of screen businesses and professionals.
“To operate effectively in Asia takes time and investment, along with maintaining a constant presence in the market,” explains McKay. “Our relationship with Nanjing Phoenix took three years to develop, but provides us with an established and credible Asia-Pacific partnership model.”
The POW Group is made up of POW Studios (Chief Executive, John McKay), Blueskin Films (Producer and Owner, Catherine Fitzgerald) and Admit One (Owner, James Partridge). Together they provide an end-to-end offering - creative development, pre-production, production, post-production, and sales and marketing. Also representing POW in Shanghai were Brian Steele (Chairman, POW Studios), Academy Award nominee Jason Canovas (Chief Operating Officer, POW Studios), Emma Robinson (Associate Producer, POW Studios), Ann Liu (Public Relations, POW Group).
Katie Frost from Screen Wellington was proud to
join POW at the event to represent Wellington’s continued
commitment to and support for the region’s creative
businesses and talent. POW Group is also grateful to NZTE,
whose continued support and guidance has greatly assisted
the group’s endeavours in Asia.