James Schamus and his firm, Symbolic Exchange, inked a first-look deal with China's Meridian Entertainment. (Photo : Reuters)
James Schamus, a renowned Hollywood executive and producer, inked a first-look deal with Chinese start-up Meridian Entertainment through his New York-based TV and film production firm, Symbolic Exchange.
The two firms will co-develop Chinese projects, on top of Meridian providing development and production funding for the U.S. company.
Schamus, who has succeeded in his Chinese ventures such as the Ang Lee film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," will be the chief creative and strategic advisor to Meridian, who currently aims to expand investments outside China.
"While we continue to build our portfolio in China, the world's fastest growing film market, we know that the foundation to success is still great films by great filmmakers, working globally across cultures, and this is precisely the track record that James brings to our venture," Meridian CEO Jennifer Dong stated.
On Schamus's part, he said that "there's nothing more exciting in this business than being able to work with people as they build something new from the ground up."
"Jennifer and Meridian's ambitions are paired with an independent spirit that will allow us to work on a broad array of projects together, in the U.S., in China, and around the world," the Hollywood executive added.
The recently founded Meridian Entertainment (Beijing) Co. Ltd. has poured investment to various Chinese titles, including the blockbuster hit "Running Man."
Dong was previously affiliated with CFG-TA Digital Cinema Investment Co. Ltd. as its managing director and general manager, and with the TA-Christie Digital joint venture Universal Cinema Services Co. Ltd. as its CEO.
Meanwhile, Symbolic Exchange Productions, LLC, has recently hired Joe Pirro as its production chief.
Schamus, the former Focus Features CEO, is a professor at the Columbia University's School of Arts, teaching film history and theory.
