Singapore/Beijing – Multi-award winning prod-co Beach House Pictures (BHP) has announced its expansion into China, opening a production office in Beijing.
Buoyed by the success of a number of its series filmed there recently, the new office aims to further strengthen its ties and content partnerships in China’s fast expanding content and pay-TV market.
Heading up Beach House Pictures China (BHPC), is Felix Feng. Formerly the Head of Business Development at Discovery Channels China and originally a senior producer at BHP sister company NHNZ, Feng has more than 10 years of experience in television production. He has worked across varied genres and broadcasters, which include Discovery China, NatGeo, NHK, Animal Planet, PBS and CCTV.
As GM of BHPC, Feng will spearhead creative development and strategic partnerships in China, while working closely with Maxine Lu, GM of Beach House Pictures Taiwan and Jim Ribbans, Head of Business Development at BHP to grow regional opportunities.
“We have spent a decade working in China and with the huge success of our recent series like China from Above, we believe that this latest expansion is timely,” said Creative Director Donovan Chan, “the country now has a genuine appetite for local content of an international quality, across multiple platforms.”
BHP’s award-winning Beach House Kids is also welcoming new key staff. John Marsh joins as its new Development Producer/Staff Writer working alongside Susan Oliver, head of the division.
Hailing from Los Angeles in the U.S, Marsh has 12 years of experience in writing and development. Some of his credits include Arthur (PBS), Rodney (ABC), The Noose (Channel 5) and The Proud Family (Disney Channel). In 2012, Marsh completed an MFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Marsh replaces Senior Development Producer, Marc Checkley, who is relocating to Geneva in August. Checkley, who has been with the company since 2014, will continue to work with BHP on specific projects and creative development.
“2016 continues to be a very busy year across all our divisions.” Managing Director Jocelyn Little said, “We are delivering 90 half-hours of kids content for Mediacorp’s OKTO and Channel 9 in Australia, launching a major global series for Nat Geo International and producing a ground breaking Borneo series for Discovery Channel. Expanding our talent pool and territories enable us to remain competitive and maintain our international growth.”