Metan Global & ENTree Pictures Presents EMPRESS A movie based on the book, Empress by Evelyn B. McCune, that details the rise of the 16 year old girl who through her intellect and cunning went from a concubine to one of the most memorable emperors in Chinese history.
THE BOOK Wu Zetian s life story is chronicled in a bestseller book by author Evelyn B. McCune, Empress. Empress is the captivating epic of one extraordinary woman who would become the only female emperor in all of China s history. The story of Wu Zetian, set against the backdrop of medieval China, reveals not only an age of horrifying barbarism, daring treachery, and precarious power, but also an eternal culture of sophistication and enlightenment. Empress was published in 1994 and has been a topseller. Metan has the exclusive rights for a film adaptation.
THE FILM Empress, the film will focus on Wu Zetian s life in a unique and western perspective. The story has been told in China many times but this will be the first time it will be told through an international view point. Unlike traditional Chinese depictions, Wu, is not out for power. She is an intellectual modern woman who is trying to find her equal. As a concubine she finds her equal in the emperor, but it is his son that she ultimately falls in love with. She learns how to rule from the father, but it is the son s inaptitude that pushes her into politics. She thrives in the role and eventually becomes the empress, bringing on a golden age of China. She later recounts this story to a western poet, who much like her has struggled throughout her life. As she lives in exile she tells her of the intrigues of life as a concubine, being in love with a father and his son, and more importantly her acceptance of the throne to protect her children.
CHARACTERS Empress aims to cast some of the most famous Chinese actors as well as Chinese actors from North America/ England that speak perfect english. This would make the movie viable in the international film market. WU JIAO- A brilliant mind, bold, and resourceful. She becomes the concubine of the emperor Taizong but ultimately falls in love with his son Gaozong. She assumes power to help those that she loves. TAIZONG - The emperor. Taizong is an intelligent and a benevolent ruler with no natural heir. He is intelligent and loves only his wife, that has passed away. He admires Wu for her mind, encouraging her to excel. GAOZONG- The heir to Taizong. Gaozong is a lover more than a ruler. He falls in love with Wu at an early age and loves her till his last breath. It is to help him that she learns to wield power. He is the third side of the love triangle. JULIANA - Wu s confidante in exile. She is a poet that catches Wu s eye. As a duke s daughter she left England to pursue an education in Venice. One day hearing of the wealth of knowledge in China she decided to make the journey there. She provides the western perspective to the story of Wu Jiao. 4
XI AN The government of Xi an has shown great interest in Empress, the film. They will show their support by providing Empress with costumes as well as locations. The Chinese government is interested in showing this popular Chinese story from a western perspective. At the time of the film Xi an was the seat of power in China. Wu Zeitan s life span, 625-705 AD, fell during the golden age of China. Trade on the silk road was thriving and the Tang dynasty had brought China into the new world. At a time like this Wu rose and furthered China by supporting the arts. 5
PRODUCTION SCHEDULE JUNE 2015 AUGUST 2018 OCTOBER 2018 DECEMBER 2018 MARCH- JULY 2019 AUGUST- NOVEMBER 2019 Start Development & Screenplay Secure Financing Partners (For Production) Finalize Screenplay Green Light Pre-Production Principal Photography
PRODUCER: LARRY NAMER LARRY NAMER, an entertainment industry veteran with over 40 year s professional experience in cable television, live events and new media, is a founding partner of Metan Global, a venture created to develop and distribute entertainment content and media specifically for Chinese speaking audiences in China and abroad. An accomplished entrepreneur, Mr. Namer is the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, a company now valued at over $3.5 billion USD, and the creator of several successful companies in the United States and overseas. JOON CHOI JOON H. CHOI, has had 20 years in the entertainment industry. His experience ranges from production to distribution. He was formerly the CEO of CJ E&M America, the U.S. subsidiary of powerhouse Korean conglomerate CJ, pushing out on multiple fronts with Asian inspired content. Prior to that he was the Head of Film Business at CJ Entertainment (the largest studio in Asia) and produced about a 100 films including such modern classics as Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Thirst, A Bitter Sweet Life, The Good, The Bad, The Weird, working with international renown directors such as Junho Bong, Chanwook Pak and Jiwoon Kim. He also initiated and produced several Co-production projects with Japan and China. PRESENTED BY: METAN GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT METAN is a global entertainment company that produces and distributes premium content across Film, TV, and Digital specifically for the China market. METAN has worked with the biggest Hollywood / China studios including Warner Brothers Entertainment and Huace TV & Film, to develop and produce innovative new programming for the China market and serving the 1.4B Chinese audience Founded by Marty Pompadur (former Chairman of News Corp Europe) and Larry Namer (co-founder of E! Entertainment), METAN has offices in Los Angeles, Beijing, and Shanghai; and consists of media, branding, and business professionals that serves both Hollywood and China. ENTree PICTURES ENTree Pictures develops, produces, and acquires content for a global audience. Their primary focus is to bridge the opportunities between Asia and North American media markets. ENTree is led by Joon H. Choi, an experienced industry veteran with 20 years in global film development. In the last 4 years alone Joon has developed 5 features and 3 television shows. These were all co-productions, financed and produced by US, Korean and Chinese entities. ENTree is unique in it s understanding of the two markets, as well as it s relationships with the prominent players in Asia and the United States.
PRODUCTION PLAN Production Budget: Investment Structure: Soft Commitments: Historical Consultant: Writer: Director Consideration: $40-45M USD (Dev. Included) [TBD] 51% China Equity / 49% TBD (Foreign Partner) $10M USD by Xing Guang Can Lan (subsidiary of Wanda) Professor Yanshen Liu (The deputy general director of National Committee of Industrial Education under the Ministry of Education in China) Ron Bass (Rain Man, Joy Luck Club) Sophia Coppola Marie Antionette Patty Jenkins Wonder Woman Kathryn Bigelow Zero Dark Thirty
OPPORTUNITY & BENEFITS LOW COST ECONOMICS. A Chinese co-production allows access to vast locations for filming within China. Labor resources and other materials are available at low cost for construction of filming sites, props / costumes, etc. The results are high production quality at a more efficient cost basis. DEMAND FOR CO-PRODUCTION FILMS. Studios and distributors are eager to attach themselves to the few projects that are classified as coproductions. There is an increased attraction for new co-production projects which opens up more resources available for the film and future projects i.e. distribution, marketing, capital, etc. CONSIDERED AS A LOCAL FILM. China still adheres to a strict quota system for imported movies that enter into China (34). These films are still subject to a lesser box office share of 25% and additional taxes and tariffs. Co-production films are immune to the quota system and benefit with a 43% share of box office revenues and subject to only 10% income tax. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Empress already has soft commitments for partial financing in China through an affiliated company of Wanda Group (Biggest Distribution in China and Owns AMC theaters all over US). Brand integration will generate more revenue stream GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. The film meets all the criteria for SARFT approval and perfectly aligns with government mandate to bring Chinese culture and history to the world audience.
CHINA FILM INDUSTRY Empress will be an international release. Being a historical Chinese story, part of it s revenue will come from the China. China s box office revenues breached the $8.6B USD threshold by 2017 representing nearly an estimated 30.5% growth from 2016. Meanwhile * the US box office grew -2.5% in the same time. SCREENS MARKET RESEARCH BOX OFFICE GROWTH IN CN ($B) 2013 4 2014 5 2015 7 2017 Chinese Screens 50,776 2017 Chinese Screens Built 26/day 2016 to 2017 Chinese Screens Growth 23% (41,179 to 50,776) 2017 - Top 10 Grossing Films in China 2016 2017 7 9 0 2 5 7 9 $Billions USD 1. Wolf Warrior (Domestic) - $854M 2. The Fate of the Furious (International) - $393M 3. Never Say Die (Domestic) - $334M 4. The Ex-File 3: Return of the Exes (Domestic) $306M 5. Kung Fu Yoga (Domestic) - $255M 6. Journey to the West: Demons * Strike Back (Domestic) - $240M 7. Transformers: The Last Knight (International) - $229M 8. Youth (Domestic) - $225M 9. Dangal (International) - $193M 10. Coco (International) - $189M Hollywood $5.37B CHINA BOX OFFICE 2017 $8.6B Domestic $4.62B
CONTACT INFORMATION LARRY NAMER lnamer@metanmedia.com JOON H. CHOI joonchoi03@gmail.com