Digital Domain aims to be a game-changer in China

Digital Domain, an Oscar-winning visual effects provider, has revealed plans to become a "game changer" in the Chinese market.

The Hollywood-based company helped to produce blockbusters including "Titanic," "Beauty and Beast" and the "Transformers" films.

VR creation will be the company's core business in China, according to Daniel Seah, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Domain.

"Hollywood is probably the most conservative place for business. There are only six studios in L.A., in Hollywood, which occupy the entire Hollywood industry. So it is really difficult for us to do any reform for business model in U.S. But in China it is a different thing where we are unique. (We have) the best talented people around the entire Digital Domain. They actually made a very different bargaining power when we move to China. Because Chinese studios may consider us as perhaps the only one who can not only make films, commercials and virtual reality. And we are not only in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, but also in Taipei and India," said Seah.

He also says he's optimistic about Digital Domain's business in China. 

"China's box office will be the biggest in the world. So the movie industry in China is rising up so fast- not only movie industry, but also TV drama industry as well. So when budgets are rising up so fast that totally make sense for us to immediately move into China market. We believe that the China market is going to be our NO.1 market in the future. With our best talented people from U.S. and with our best talented artists here plus our newly opened India studio, we can be the most cost-efficient in the world," said Seah.

As part of its plans to expand its business in China, Digital Domain has announced a partnership with domestic firms Talent Television and Film and Cenic Media. 

The new strategic partnership includes the production of TV Drama "Ten Years Late," which tells a workplace story in multiple Chinese cities. Digital Domain will provide visual effects and virtual reality (VR) for the drama.

[File photo: AP]

Daniel Seah says his company feels it’s the right time for Digital Domain to tap into the VR market. "We also believe that VR can be another smart phone revolution and I believe the improvement for VR goggles and hardware will be faster than anybody can imagine," said Seah.

In 2018, Digital Domain expects to stage virtual concerts featuring late Taiwan pop diva Teresa Teng in Hangzhou. 

"Teresa Teng is the only one. And nobody can actually compare with her in the Chinese community. When we are talking about young generation they are probably saying that wow those songs belong to the last generation, not even this generation. But if you are going to karaoke, it doesn't matter which karaoke you go, Teresa Teng's songs are always on those top song lists if you check it out. So I must say the market is still huge," said Seah. 

"The idea is not about Teresa Teng herself, I think it is about the technology. If we can create human beings, it is does not matter if the person is still alive or people who passed away; if you can recreate he or she, even someone who does not exist anymore, that could be a very futurized technology. The application is massive," Seah added.