EXCLUSIVE: Peter Luo’s LA-based finance and training vehicle Stars Collective has teamed with Chinese-based documentary production company Meilin Culture on an international co-production agreement to team documentary films and TV projects.
The first projects of the deal will be the feature films Chinatown and Panda and the limited series Across the Ocean. The subjects of these documentaries cover a range of cultural topics, including Chinese cuisine, nature, history, and human-interest issues.
Chinatown is a documentary film focusing on Chinatown districts around the world. Working from the perspective of culinary styles and classic dishes, the film is billed as a “vivid presentation of the personal stories behind the cuisine and the cultural charm of different regions.”
Panda — which will focus on the endangered species — is the first installment of the documentary film series Fantastic Beasts in China. Synopsis reads: The series records pandas’ survival stories as well as the beautiful moments of their lives. Through the unique perspective of natural ecological conservation scholars, the film aims to convey the concept of respecting nature and caring for the environment, fostering a beautiful vision of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Across the Ocean explores real stories of the Chinese children sent to study in America at the end of the 19th century, who went on to learn and apply advanced technology. Synopsis reads: The series showcases the profound impact they had on modern China’s science, education, and culture upon their return from America. The documentary will combine in-depth interviews with on-site filming and scene reenactments.
“Our partnership with Stars Collective is a milestone moment for Meilin Culture and signifies real strides in our strategy to export and introduce Chinese culture to the world,” said Yu Xu, CEO of Meli. “We’re doing this by expanding international cooperations, enhancing international communications, and making entertaining content that travels across borders. Stars Collective specializes in Hollywood’s film and entertainment industry with international content, so they are perfect strategic partners for us.”
Stars Collective founder Peter Luo added: “Documentaries have always been a popular genre among audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and in recent years have seen a significant increase in popularity thanks to increasing availability of streaming platforms which make it easier for audiences to access and consume them. As an art form, documentaries now more than ever are capturing the cultural zeitgeist and generating a lot of excitement, so Stars Collective is happy to lean into this with our partners at Meilin and deliver unique content with commercial subject matter and inimitable Chinese perspectives.
