Golden Harvest aims high for studio revival

Classic studio logo for Golden Harvest

Earlier this year it was revealed that Hong Kong movie studio Golden Harvest, once an industry leader that gradually scaled down operations and closed its production wing in 2003, was on the comeback trail with new owners and aggressive plans to resuscitate its moviemaking arm and expand its distribution and theater operations in China.

In a more recent announcement executives revealed that within three years, the company expects to go from operating 12 to 600 theaters in China and go from producing zero movies per year to five. This would include at least one big-budget title per year.

The studio has already invested in upcoming fantasy actioner THE STORM WARRIORS and is planning a new movie with CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON producer Bill Kong that will revolve around female warriors in ancient China.

Studio founder Raymond Chow sold controlling stake in the company to Chinese businessman Wu Kebo back in 2007. Wu owns China-based Orange Sky Entertainment Group. Earlier this year Golden Harvest merged with Orange Sky’s production unit and was renamed Orange Sky Golden Harvest.

Why this news matters to martial arts and action film enthusiasts is that since the 1970s when it was founded by former Shaw Brothers executives, Golden Harvest emerged not only as the territory’s top film studio but as a leading producer of many of Hong Kong’s finest martial arts and action films. It has been home to genre heavyweights Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and John Woo and movies like FIST OF FURY, POLICE STORY and ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA. Golden Harvest also successfully invested in a number of Hollywood action films including ENTER THE DRAGON, the live-action TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES films, and even Ridley Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece BLADE RUNNER.

Under Chow’s management, the studio thrived where former rival Shaw Brothers floundered by allowing successful filmmakers like Jackie Chan and John Woo to have more creative freedom to do what they do best. Hopefully, the new management will be just as savvy. Regardless, this news, along with news of the recent revival of Shaw Brothers, means that Hong Kong cinema’s legacy will not only survive its once uncertain merger with the fast-growing mainland Chinese film market but likely prosper as it evolves and adapts.

If all of this leads to production of new martial arts and action films that live up to Golden Harvest’s former standards, we’re in for good times ahead.

Source: Associated Press via KMPH Fox 26

Tags: Golden Harvest

Thomas

echo-ing another post the only way this turns out well is IF real talent is brought in. That's real marial artists, quality writers for the bigger movies( although true hardcore action can succeed without the strongest stories), top choregrophers, and directors, DoP's and editors that know how to make the action look good and tell a story.

Pop stars need to be banished back to music, martial artists need to be kings again...maybe some acting lessons wouldn't go amiss but I can stand sloppy acting if the action is top notch, afterall amazing fight sequences, awe inspiring stunts and breath taking action is why I love martial arts action movies.

Martial Arts Movies

There is no way they can fail. Demand, by far, outweighs production. That's why we're seeing such a strong resurgence of these films and production companies. As long as they keep cracking down on piracy, and continue to keep costs low, its a win win.

darrinkemp

If Golden Harvest is serious what they need to do is bring back Jackie Chan,Sammo Hung,and Yuen Woo Ping as directors,and fight coreographers.

disaster

I just hope that they bring back the good old days and move forward and get back to their former glory The trend of all these non martial artist singers taking lead martial art roles has been doing my head in and i hope this puts some decent martial artists to the industry they rightfully belong and not some pretenders who cash in further on their pop careers!!! hope we won't be waiting in vain!!