Two-year pact signed; first project is Fangs of War.

Canada-based Nakamura Group Advantage has struck a two-year first-look deal with Chengdu, China-based Middle Kingdom Studios.

Projects will potentially be structred as bi-laterial ot tripartite co-productions with China and Canada.

Matt Vegh [pictured] is president and CEO of Middle Kingdom.

The slate includes Fangs of War, a Dracula film set in 1944 Nazi-occupied Transylvania. Jim Donovan will direct the film, which will shoot in Europe and China. Ken Nakamura produces with Fang Yi Ning. Stealth Media Group handles international sales.

Other projects in Nakamura Group’s slate are political thriller Wireless”to be directed by Jerry Ciccoritti, actioner Dragon In The Dark written by Geoffrey Gunn and Matt Mistele, and dramas The BleedingGround and Lettres d’amour en Bejing.

“The benefits of the a co-production with China are quite obvious,“  said Nakamura. “A bi-lateral or tripartite co- productions will be deemed a Chinese audio-visual work by the China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and TV (SARFT), thus exempting them from the restrictive importation quota, which allows only 20 foreign films on a revenue sharing basis  into China per year. Moreover, the films will generate a buzz in the world’s largest markets by virtue of their guaranteed, theatrical releases. And lastly, has access to soft dollar funding which will mitigate a substantial portion of the investment risk.”

Vegh added, “I am incredibly excited to be partnered with TNGA. The appeal is that Canada has excellent directors, experienced producers, internationally recognizable cast and post-production staff, and world-class VFX and technology.  Meanwhile, China also offers: 1) established star elements both in front of and behind the camera ; 2)  a massive consumer market which reduces the dependence on a US theatrical pre-sale; 3) theatrical cross-over potential in the region (i.e. Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam);  and, 4) excellent production values for any film budget, anchored by two enormous sound stages”.

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