Discovery Enters Doc Initiative in China

BEIJING: Discovery Channel and China’s State Council Information Office (SCIO) are launching China Imagica, a three-year joint production initiative aimed at producing documentaries that showcase unique aspects of China.

China Imagica will focus on docs that will highlight China’s people, places and things of "magical interest" that inspire awe and wonder. The first two productions to come from the new initiative are China’s Man Made Marvels: Ancient Beijing and Man Made Marvels: Building Sichuan. The two docs are schedule to start shooting soon, to premiere on Discovery Channel in the second quarter of 2011. A third doc, China, will debut on Discovery’s 3D channel next year. The production is one of Discovery’s first to be produced in 3D.

As part of the China Imagica initiative, Discovery’s producers, along with renowned filmmakers, will conduct talks and workshops to provide guidance to Chinese companies involved in the docs.

Tom Keaveny, the executive VP and managing director for Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP), said, “With its amazing history and culture, the possibilities for documentary content in China are endless. Adding to China’s many firsts in today’s technological and engineering achievements, we will be producing our first 3D series as part of the China Imagica initiative. We are pleased to partner with SCIO to tell these intriguing stories and provide our viewers all over the world with a window to the wonders of China.”