Starting up a new film company is never easy.
Industry veteran Jeff Robinov had two things in his favor. An impressive track record with ties to some of film’s heaviest hitters and the ears of Chinese investors.
Fosun International Ltd is investing in Robinov’s new company Studio 8, which will have a combined equity and debt around $1 billion.
Before founding Studio 8, Robinov served as a top executive at Warner Bros Pictures Group for 17 years, most recently as President of Warner Bros Motion Pictures Group, until he left last year. He has some of the best talent relationships in the business, including Christopher Nolan, Ben Affleck, and Baz Lurhmann.
Fosun International “is optimistic about the future prospects of the Chinese film industry. Through the Transaction, the Company hopes to introduce Hollywood’s advanced and sophisticated film making expertise and technique, movie concept and technology and complete production and publication systems into the China market, in order to drive the development of the Chinese film industry.
The Chinese film market continues to play a large role in Hollywood’s plans for future revenue. The new Transformers: Age of Extinction makes extensive use of that connection, including prominent Asian characters and settings. Chinese censorship concerns continue to hover over the industry’s blossoming ties to the country.