- David U. Lee
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David U. Lee is a Chinese-American Hollywood film producer and entrepreneur best known for co-producing the films The Forbidden Kingdom, Shanghai, and Inseparable. He is the President of the production company, Leeding Media, which he founded in 2008.
Contents
Early Life & Career
David U. Lee was born in Taipei, Republic of China in 1975.[1]. He earned both his BA and MBA degrees from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He started his film entertainment career as an intern in the Los Angeles office of Miramax Films in 1997. In 1999, he joined Sony Pictures Entertainment in the Strategic Planning and Corporate Development department. In 2000, David was recruited by Revolution Studios as one of the company's initial 20 employees. In 2002, he took a hiatus from the entertainment industry to pursue a MBA degree while working at K1 Ventures, a private equity fund based in Singapore and Boca Raton, Florida. Upon completing his MBA in 2004, David joined IDG Asia, a subsidiary of IDG. There David oversaw IDG's foray in the Chinese film entertainment business, in addition to launching the Chinese version of Variety Magazine trade publication. In 2007, David was recruited by Harvey Weinstein to become the Executive Vice President of Asian Operations at The Weinstein Company, where he oversaw the company's Asian business as well as its US$285 million Asian Film Fund.
Film Producer
In 2007, David co-founded SDJS/Havenwood Media and produced Already Dead, an action-thriller starring Til Schweiger, Ron Eldard and two-time Emmy winning actor Christopher Plummer, which was distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.[2] David was also a Co-Executive Producer of the Jackie Chan and Jet Li starring film, The Forbidden Kingdom, which went on to become the most successful China/U.S. co-production in history.[3][4]
In April 2008, David founded Leeding Media as his production company and structured a joint venture with Xinhua Sports Entertainment Limited (XSEL) to co-launch Xinhua Media Entertainment (XME).[5] Under David's leadership, XME produced Inseparable starring two-time Academy award-winner, Kevin Spacey, who is the highest profile foreign actor to be featured in a Chinese film.[6] XME also orchestrated the nationwide release of The Spy Next Door (starring Jackie Chan) as the only non-studio foreign film released in China day-and-date with the U.S. Grossing over US$8 million, it became the highest grossing non-studio film in Chinese history until the release of Sylvester Stallone's Expendables.[7][8]
In 2009, David advised China Film Group on the co-production structuring of The Karate Kid remake, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith with Sony Pictures Entertainment. He also served as Co-Executive Producer of The Weinstein Company’s first Asian Film Fund production Shanghai, starring John Cusack, Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat and Ken Watanabe.[9]
In September 2010, Leeding Media discontinued its JV with XSEL.
Awards and Recognitions
In March 2009, David was named an inaugural member of The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation Asia, which celebrates the 20 most impressive young men and women in entertainment in Asia.
Filmography
• Inseparable (2011)
• Shanghai (2010)
• The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
• Already Dead (2007)
References
- ^ http://www.cheers.com.tw/doc/page.jspx?id=40288abc2a35f04b012a3b8764bf059b
- ^ Internet Movie Database - Already Dead Page
- ^ Internet Movie Database – The Forbidden Kingdom Page
- ^ Box Office Mojo
- ^ Xinhua Finance Press Release
- ^ Internet Movie Database – Inseparable Page
- ^ Internet Movie Database – Leeding Media Page
- ^ Box Office Mojo
- ^ Internet Movie Database – Shanghai Page
External links
- Internet Movie Database Page
- Bloomberg Piece on Hollywood vs China's Censorship July, 2011
- LA Times Article, July 3, 2011
- International Film Finance Forum - Singapore 2011
- International Film Finance Forum - Cannes 2011
- Screen Daily Article, February 17, 2011
- San Jose Mercury News Article, November 16, 2010
- Screen Daily Article, September 28, 2009
- Screen Daily Article, March 6, 2009
- Screen Daily Article, January 16, 2009
- China Daily Article, March 25, 2009
- Screen Daily Article, November 25, 2008
- Xinhua Finance Press Release, April 14, 2008
- Bloomberg Interview, English
- Reuters Interview, English
- EBC News Interview, Chinese
- ERA News Interview, Chinese
- Hello! Hollywood Interview, Chinese
Categories:- American people of Chinese descent
- American people of Taiwanese descent
- Living people
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