Stars Collective, a filmmaker incubator launched in 2020 by Beverly Hills-based producer Peter Luo and backed by China, has announced two new Asia-led movie projects. The announcement was made during the American Film Market in Santa Monica. The projects include the first installment of a new horror franchise featuring Thai actress Kitty Chicha, as well as a crime thriller called “The Evil Sea” based on a real-life maritime incident.
The new horror franchise is described as being based on female ghost stories inspired by Asian folklore. The first film in the franchise, which is yet to be titled, follows the story of a bullied high school orphan played by Kitty Chicha. She stumbles upon a mysterious katana that is haunted by a vengeful geisha spirit. As unexplained deaths occur among her bullies, she unravels the truth behind the haunting.
“The Evil Sea” centers on an incident from 2011 involving the Chinese fishing vessel ‘M3792’. What started as a routine fishing expedition turned into a terrifying maritime ordeal. The film explores how a rebellion stemming from unfair work contracts escalates into a deadly conflict, with parties turning on each other in a fight for survival.
The film, executive produced by Peter Luo, features a talented cast including Haoran Zhang, Chenyi Guo, Menghe Wuliji, and Fenggang Liu. The producers of “The Evil Sea” include Kevin Feng, John Wu, Wang Yi, Dawei Ma, Jerry Shang, and Yong Pang.
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Peter Luo expressed his excitement about these projects and emphasized the mission of Stars Collective in his statement. He explained that the aim of the collective is to partner with talented creatives and provide them with opportunities to showcase their work to global audiences. He also mentioned the pride in making Kitty Chicha the face of the new franchise and expressed the collective’s eagerness to build on the success of these projects. Luo also highlighted the importance of diversity in the collective’s slate of commercial films.
These projects follow Stars Collective’s recent partnership with Hana Investment (China), the Chinese subsidiary of Hana Financial Group. The collaboration resulted in the establishment of a $300 million fund aimed at investing in various verticals including comics, films, games, collectibles, consumer goods, artificial intelligence, and metaverse technology.
By expanding its offerings and funding capabilities, Stars Collective aims to create more opportunities for filmmakers and creatives from Asia and promote their work on a global scale. With the announcement of the new horror franchise and crime thriller, the collective continues to build a diverse slate of commercially successful films. The projects promise to captivate audiences with compelling storylines rooted in Asian folklore and real-life incidents.
Stars Collective’s commitment to fostering collaboration between filmmakers and providing a platform for diverse voices ultimately contributes to the growth and development of the global film industry. Through these initiatives, the collective strives to engage audiences with unique and culturally significant storytelling. As their projects gain recognition and success, Stars Collective will undoubtedly continue to make a significant impact in the world of cinema.
