Telefe and Shanghai Media Group Ink Co-Production Deal

BUENOS AIRES: On the heels of a mission to the People’s Republic of China spearheaded by Argentina’s president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Telefe have delegates announced a co-production deal with Shanghai Media Group.

Alejandro Parra, Telefe’s international business director, and Michelle Wasserman, the head of international distribution, programming, formats and production services at Telefe International, were responsible for closing the deal.

Together with Shanghai Media Group and associate producers CTN and SVP, Telefe is working on the first Chinese/Latin-American co-production titled Heartbeats, a telenovela.

“Heartbeats tells the story of a group of modern Chinese youths who look to fulfill their dreams through art,” said Wasserman. “This original idea we’ve penned for our partners at SMG and adapted with them is being produced in China, specifically Shanghai. The cast and scenery are Chinese. The production team is also Chinese in its majority but is led by Argentine directors and producers, among others. The telenovela, currently in pre-production will initially have 40 episodes in season one, with a 40-episode second season in the works. Heartbeats has a social mission, in addition to entertaining, educating and teaching. The Shangai Film Art Academy is involved in this mission due to the fact that the greater part of the story is told in its facilities.”

“Even if Telefe has produced for Russia, the U.S., Colombia and Mexico, among others, it’s the first time it participates as associate co-producer investing much more than know how in a foreign telenovela,” added Parra. “Throughout 15 years of international experience we’ve embarked in different projects, with some 40,000 hours in over 300 time slots around the world. We’ve produced and sold content, as well as produced original content. We’ve co produced and offered production services, but this is probably the most challenging project we’ve been involved in toward the consolidation of the Oriental market. China was a potential market for us for many years, and now it’s a reality.”