Melbourne – Looking Glass International (LGI), the Australian-based distribution company specialising in factual programming, has sold over seventy hours of programming to several broadcasters in Asia. The deals were brokered by Sales Manager Karen Lee from LGI’s Beijing office.
With natural history programming in demand, KBS (Korea) together with CCTV (China) has picked up blue chip wildlife documentaries The Unlikely Leopard and Big Cat Odyssey from 2013 Jackson Hole Honorees and award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert. Both one-hour documentaries are produced by Wildlife Films Botswana for the National Geographic Channels.
Narrated by Jeremy Irons, The Unlikely Leopard follows a young male leopard called Dikeledi through his life stages: from a clumsy cub and stubborn teenager to an independent adult. It is a “coming of age” story of a young male reluctant to leave home for the big wide world, especially when all his creature comforts are laid at his feet every few days from a diligent and tolerant mother.
In addition, CCTV (China) has also picked up martial arts and science programmes Fight Masters: Silat (1 x 60’) produced for National Geographic, A Quiet Revolution (1 x 60’) by Moving Bits, and the natural history documentary Fish Listeners of Setiu Lagoons (1 x 60’), an Apparat production in association with FINAS. Big Cat Odyssey has also found a home with Okto (Singapore).
TrueVisions (Thailand) has acquired a programming package that includes the multi award-winning series Discovering Animal Behaviour (2 x 60’ / 24 x 5’) produced by Alberto José Redondo Villa and Juan Carranza Almansa, and wildlife programme Desert Dreams (1 x 60’) from US producer Wild Horizons.
China has once again shown a desire for the company’s programming with Rare Media acquiring Rivers of our Time (6 x 30’), an Oak3 Films production for Channel NewsAsia, and First Flower (1 x 60’), a NOVA Production by Hamilton Land & Cattle, Inc. for WGBH in association with the Media Development Authority of Singapore, Bang Singapore Pte. Ltd., and ARTE France.
Wonder Hypermedia Corporation (Taiwan) has acquired the underwater series Undersea Edens (6 x 30’), produced in HD by Plankton Productions, and the travel and lifestyle series Travel Oz (95 x 30’), produced by Grainger Television (Australia).
Travel Oz
The Chinese Hajj, a one-hour documentary on the largest pilgrimage in the world, has been sold to Radio Television Brunei. The Infocus Asia production in association with China Intercontinental Communication Center for National Geographic Channels follows five Chinese Muslims as they undertake a journey of a lifetime.
Hong Kong has shown an appetite for lifestyle programming with TVBi acquiring the series Accidental Chef (8 x 30’), an Ochre Pictures for Channel NewsAsia International as well as Heritage Hunters (6 x 30’) from Sitting In Pictures for Channel NewsAsia International in association with the Media Development Authority of Singapore.
Hosted by a funky chef, Melvyn Lee, Accidental Chef tells us everything we do not know about the cities through the very private kitchens of two different families in each of these cities. At each city, Melvyn befriends two vastly distinct local families. His mission is to learn the culture and cuisine of these different social groups, be inspired and prepare a special meal for his newfound friends.
Lastly, Thoa Le Entertainment in Vietnam has picked up the fashion series Trend Makers (4 x 30’) produced by Oak 3 Films. Trend Makers is an energetic fashion and lifestyle cum travelogue series that delves into the heart of Asia’s fashion trendsetters from the fashion capitals of the continent – Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore. The series indulges in the latest Asian trends and fads in everything from street fashion, cosmetics, hair, styling and apparel, and immerses viewers into the fashion industry that is constantly evolving.
