“Beast of Burden” set as 1st China-New Zealand co-production

PanARMENIAN.Net - Big-budget animation feature “Beast of Burden” has been set up as the first movie to be made under a co-production treaty between China and New Zealand. A string of other projects is now set to connect the two nations’ film and TV industries, after years of slow build-up, Variety reports.

“Beast,” an animated family film now in pre-production, is the story of a mythical creature and his son who learn to realize their potential by standing up to challenges. The film, whose Chinese title translates as “The Legend of the Magic Elephant,” is being co-directed by Kirby Atkins with China’s Huang Jun. It is produced by New Zealand’s Huhu Studios and China Film Animation with Huhu’s Trevor Yaxley and CFA’s Huang as producers.

Talent agency WME is responsible for sourcing English-language voice cast. U.S. distribution is set through the Weinstein Company, while the film will be released in mainland China through China Distribution Company.

New Zealand unusually has both film and TV treaties with China, but they went largely unused for several years.

“Beast” emerged from a series of initiatives intended to match the skill, finances and storytelling strengths of the two industries. Huhu participated in a delegation to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing organized by the New Zealand Film Commission in December 2014. The NZFC China Co-Production Development Fund then provided initial financing.

“Beast” is the first of 17 projects that the two companies are currently discussing. A project and slate signing ceremony was held as part of the Partnering for Success – China-NZ Co-Production presentation with China Film Co-production Corporation at the Beijing Film Market in April 2015.

“We in New Zealand should realize that we are an Asian country, and should take advantage of being largely in the same time zone as the world’s second largest film industry,” said the NZFC’s CEO Dave Gibson. “It turns out that we are highly complementary.”

“Beast” is preceded by “The Wonder 3D,” a live action family action adventure, which is structured as an unofficial tripartite co-production. With Willow Shields, Jacqueline Joe and Leo Wu as the leads, the story sees teenagers racing to save the Earth after traveling in a super-powered rainbow that upsets natures natural balance.