China Goes to Hollywood

By James Hirsen

Hollywood is in the midst of a major investor makeover. In a way that has never really been seen before, cash from China is flowing into the entertainment capital of the world, and coming along with it are influence on industry content, power over project production, and control of media messaging.

Start-up entertainment companies have been popping up with seasoned chief executives at their helms, particularly heads that were formerly in charge of prominent Hollywood studios.  Additionally, some high-profile entertainment companies have been increasingly looking to overseas business entities for financial assistance and greater access to foreign markets. Business arrangements such as these typically involve huge amounts of investor money. The problem with the Hollywood-China connection is that, regardless of the way in which things appear, Chinese companies may end up being beholden to the Chinese government. [more...]