Logan to produce ‘Blood Bond’
TWC vp’s contract expires this week
By Patrick Frater
Sept 29, 2009, 02:14 PM ET
HONG KONG — Bey Logan has set “The Blood Bond” as the first movie to flow from his new production company following his imminent exit as the Weinstein Company’s Hong Kong-based vice president. The picture is a stylized Asian actioner to be shot in English.
Logan is one of the higher profile names covered by TWC’s notice last week that it would shed a further 35 staff jobs. His staff contract expires Oct. 1 and will not be renewed. TWC will also close the Hong Kong office that Logan headed.
Logan now shifts to a new deal which covers his own productions and an ongoing acquisitions consulting role for TWC and its Asian film fund.
“It has been a fascinating three years with TWC. This is not the end of my relationship with the company, nor is it an end to TWC’s business in Asia. Rather it is a new phase in both,” said Logan. “I have long said that I want to produce movies. Well, now I’m going to.”
Logan will produce “Blood Bond” through his Hong Kong-based B&E Productions label, in partnership with China’s ACE Studio and Fundamental Films. TWC has U.S. distribution rights and Logan is in advanced negotiations with Birch Tree Entertainment to handle international sales in other territories.
“Blood Bond” will be the directorial debut of Michael Biehn (“The Terminator,” “Planet Terror”) who will also star as a former special forces operative on a dangerous trek with the female bodyguard of a wounded spiritual teacher. The picture co-stars American stage actress Phoenix Chou and also features Chinese model and Taekwondo ace Zhang Lan-xin and veteran Hong Kong actor Simon Yam. Production begins Oct. 15 in China.
Logan says his deal with TWC also covers remakes where “rights could be made available to B&C” for low-cost production in Asia. Another project on B&E’s slate is “Harlem Goes East,” a Blaxploitation movie set in China based on an original script.
TWC announced last week that, following a business review by consultancy Miller Buckfire, it would reduce staff through a process of layoffs and natural attrition. It did not specify who will be leaving. The company endured an earlier round of layoffs this year and now has slightly more than 100 employees. After the coming cutbacks it will sport a staff of 70-80.
