Fremantle’s Singapore-based label Beach House Pictures has announced two new documentaries: Panda School, a three-part wildlife series narrated by comedian and actor Jimmy O. Yang, and The Secret Weapon of China’s First Emperor, a one-hour historical documentary co-produced with China Media Group (CMG), both of which are distributed by Fremantle.
“Panda School” (3 x 60 minutes) follows baby giant pandas as they acquire the skills necessary for life in the wild at a conservation facility in the mountains of Sichuan Province, China. The series was produced for Nat Geo EMEA in partnership with Fremantle, which holds Nat Geo’s international distribution rights outside of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Hannah Hoare serves as series director. Nell Gordon and Drew Jones will serve as executive producers for Nat Geo, and Donovan Chan will executive produce for Beach House Pictures.
Yang, widely known for his work on HBO’s “Silicon Valley” and the film “Crazy Rich Asians,” narrates all three episodes.
“I love pandas and I love Chinese culture. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned about these cute, fluffy creatures since narrating the show. This is one of the jobs I really enjoy. ‘Panda School’ has all the drama of a coming-of-age story, packed with maximum cuteness,” Yang said.
The Secret Weapons of China’s First Emperor (1 x 60 minutes) examines how Qin Shihuang rose from regional ruler to unifier of China’s rival states more than 2,000 years ago, and the military innovations such as mass-produced bronze weapons and standardized equipment that enabled him to raise an army at unprecedented speed and scale. Produced in partnership with CMG, which granted exclusive access to the project, the film leverages immersive restorations and recent archaeological discoveries. The imperial burial complex, which spans 22 square miles, remains unexcavated. Fremantle holds worldwide distribution rights outside of China. The title has already been sold to CCTV in China and SBS in Australia.
Chan and Rob Sixsmith will serve as executive producers on Beach House Pictures’ Secret Weapons. Wein Han and Tian Yuan will serve as executive producers for CMG.
“We are always looking for stories that combine unique access with universal audience appeal,” said Donovan Chan, Creative Director of Beach House Pictures. “‘Panda School’ is an uplifting, endearing, character-driven series with humor and true emotion that follows the journey of pandas to tell a purpose-driven story to conserve an iconic species. ‘The Secret Weapon of China’s First Emperor’ offers incredible access alongside cutting-edge archeology, bringing new insight into one of the most fascinating and important chapters in Chinese history. These documentaries reflect the breadth of storytelling we are proud of and highlight our commitment to telling premium fact-based stories that entertain, amaze and resonate around the world.”
The announcement follows a string of recent commissions for the company, including a co-production with Sonic Gods in Singapore called “60 Day Hustle,” bringing the Amazon US format to local audiences. “The Longest Wait,” a feature-length documentary about the Indonesian national soccer team. “Ed Stafford’s Rite of Passage” is a six-part adventure series co-produced with Arrow Media. and “Ski Dreams,” which chronicles Singapore’s first professional alpine skier on his way to the Winter Olympics.
