Warner Bros. hosted a small gala in Beijing on Wednesday night to officially inaugurate its new China office, which now houses the company’s film, television, home entertainment, games and corporate teams in the country.
A bevy of Warner Bros. executives, including CEO Kevin Tsujihara, and local industry players were on hand for the event.
“Warner Bros. has been producing world-class films and TV shows for almost 100 years, and we look forward to sharing our expertise with our partners in China as well as with up-and-coming talent to benefit the entire entertainment industry,” said Tsujihara, addressing the reception. “And, in the spirit of true cultural exchange, we are eager to learn from our partners and share great Chinese stories with audiences around the world.”
Studio veteran Richard Fox, executive vp international, and Gillian Zhao, managing director of Warner Bros. China since August 2016, were also in attendance. Zhao added: “Today marks an important next step for Warner Bros. in China.”
Warner Bros. opened its first regional office in China in the 1930s. Reflecting the rise of the country’s film market in the decades hence — it is now the world’s second-largest box office territory — Warner Bros. today operates a full-fledged joint venture studio in Beijing, Flagship Entertainment, which is developing a slate of Chinese-language films. The venture is a partnership with China Media Capital.
