I Have a Question——Splash Entertainment

CGGE：You have been in China market for a long time. What do you think is the biggest difference between the current China market and that 10-year ago?

Splash：Yes, the first series we produced in China was “Dive Olly Dive” which later became “Happy Little Submarines” which in turn become a GDC property. This showed them the way into copyright ownership which is the real business with added value that we are all in today. Disney for example is a huge copyright owning company. Remaining just a “work for hire” studio does not add lasting value at all. The biggest difference is the way China has evolved into producing truly international shows, though which still have a cultural integrity.

CGGE: The 2016 theatrical film Norm of the North has been released in more than 70 countries. And Lionsgate has said recently that this will be the “Year of Norm”. Will you consider releasing it in China and who will be your candidate distributor in China?

Our Chinese copyright owning partners are Dream Factory Group based out of Beijing who own the rights in two brand new “Norm of the North” feature films.

CGGE：You have been working with GDC for a long time, like Strawberry Shortcake, Dive Olly Dive. Especially Dive Olly Dive, it has been GDC’s famous brand and won a lot of box-office in local market. And why do you pick up GDC as your production partner and will you develop more Chinese production partners in near future? What’s the difference between Chinese production team and US team?

Splash：As previously mentioned GDC started as a pure work for hire company which supplied services on “Bratz” a five-billion-dollar line at retail worldwide, “Strawberry Shortcake” a three-billion-dollar line at retail and “Care Bears” and “Care Bears Cousins” again a mega billions brand at retail. They became full copyright owing partners on “Happy Little Submarines” which has its latest movie set for release in Children’s Week this summer. Except for some script work 100% of these movies are produced by GDC in China.

CGGE：You are preparing a new project called Symphony Street with Katherine Jenkins. Katherine enjoys a very high fame in the world and why she chose you to work together in this project? What is the project about? Why do you think it has a great potential in China market?

Splash：Katherine is a worldwide Classical singing star who has made several tours in China as well as the Rest of the World, she has been invited to perform at this year’s Wild Foundation Conference in China. Her love of music, which is truly the one art that binds together the whole world, led her to create “Symphony Street” which will probably be named “Music Town” in Chinese. Chinese parents especially want their children to learn and appreciate music of all sorts. This concept stars a mythical town that is divide into sections, Classical, Country, Rock and Roll and Jazz all populated by instruments of the Orchestra who get involved in all sorts of musical adventures.

CGGE：What stage now are for Symphony Street? Are you also looking for any Chinese partners to make it another “Dive Olly Dive” in China market?

Splash：We are in close discussions with a Chinese co-production partner on a series, movie and a series of webisodes. This format will allow worldwide distribution in a wide range of portals that children now use to obtain their entertainment.

CGGE：Symphony Street is a TV series. Will it be developed into theatrical movie?  As you know, now China’s movie market is much better than TV series in animation. Or it will be a game and what this game will bring to the younger audience?

Splash：Yes, a movie also but TV still drives merchandising way better than just a lone movie. We want both.

CGGE：With more and more business developed in China market, will you consider opening a Chinese branch for the local market?

Splash：With some of the friendships I have made in China I feel as if I already have a branch there.

CGGE：Any other words that you’d like to share with our Chinese production team? Any experience you can share with them?

Splash：Create your own ideas that you can own or at least partly own.

Thank you.

Reporter:Sophia