Peter Shiao

'''Peter Shiao''' ({{zh|s=萧培寰|p=Xiāo Péiyuán}}) is a cross border entrepreneur, film and media producer, financier, marketer, social activist and commentator, who, throughout his multi-industry career, has sought to unite the East and West.

He is currently the Founder and CEO of Immortal Studios,<ref>{{cite web|title=Immortal Studios|url= http://immortal-studios.com/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> an original content studio focused on developing stories derived from the Wuxia genre (martial arts, fantasy). His father, Shiao Yi,<ref>{{cite web|title=Shiao Yi|url= https://www.thewrap.com/immortal-studios-wuxia-marvel-cinematic-universe/|accessdate=11 October 2021}}</ref> was one of the best-known Wuxia novelists.

He has been quoted extensively on all things Hollywood-China in ''The Economist'', CNBC,<ref>{{cite web|title=CNBC - Is there really money to be made in Chinese movies?|url= https://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/23/monster-hunt-broke-china-movie-records-but-cinema-profitability-unclear.html|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> ''The Guardian'', ''The Los Angeles Times'',<ref>{{cite web|title=The Los Angeles Times|url= https://www.latimes.com/california/00000179-a479-d2eb-ad7f-ec7b337f0000-123|accessdate=11 October 2021}}</ref> ''The Los Angeles Business Journal'', National Public Radio,<ref>{{cite web|title=NPR - How China's Censors Influence Hollywood|url= https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/18/407619652/how-chinas-censors-influence-hollywood|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> ''The Hollywood Reporter'', ''Shoutout LA'' <ref>{{cite web|title=Shoutout LA|url= https://shoutoutla.com/meet-peter-shiao-founder-creator-ceo/|accessdate=11 October 2021}}</ref> ''Sampan'',<ref>{{cite web|title= SAMPAN - Harvard China Forum Marks Century of Revolution|url= https://sampan.org/2011/04/harvard-china-forum-marks-century-of-revolution/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> China Daily and many others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hollywood Reporter - The Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment opens to uplift|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gate-opens-uplift-85105|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

==Hollywood-China career==

Shiao previously founded Orb Media Group,<ref>{{cite web|title=Orb Media Group|url= https://www.orbmediagroup.com/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> a company focused on producing, financing and marketing films and online games with transformational themes that unite the international and Chinese markets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hollywood Reporter - Falcon Partner Holdings Invests in Orb Media Group (Exclusive)|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/falcon-partner-holdings-invests-orb-744997|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

Prior to Orb, Shiao was Founder and CEO of Ironpond, a US and China based producer and financier affiliated with the China Film Group. It was the first private equity style fund for films in China for both English and Chinese language films.<ref>{{cite web|title=Variety - Orb Media Opens Chinese Production Unit |url= https://variety.com/2013/biz/asia/orb-media-opens-chinese-production-unit-1200780612/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

Shiao also co-founded Celestial Pictures from which he produced Restless (1998 film),<ref>{{cite web|title=Baltimore Sun - Using diplomacy to film in China Movie: A U.S. producer making a romantic comedy has to negotiate location shoots, casting and script revisions.|url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1997-10-18-1997291081-story.html |accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> which The New York Times billed as "the first English-language movie to be filmed in contemporary Beijing and the first United States-Chinese co-production."<ref>{{cite web|title=The New York Times - FILM REVIEW; Getting to Know Beijing in Romances|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/26/movies/film-review-getting-to-know-beijing-in-romances.html|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

In 2009, Shiao founded the US-China Film Summit, a gathering of thought leaders and content creators in American and Asian entertainment, held annually with the Asia Society, the Motion Picture Association, the Producers Guild of America <ref>{{cite web|title= Producers Guild of America|url= https://www.producersguild.org/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> and the China Film Co-Production Corporation. The US-China Film Summit underwent a name change in 2019 and is now known as US-Asia Entertainment Summit.<ref>{{cite web|title= Hollywood Reporter - Fraught U.S.-China Relationship Comes Into Focus at Asia Society Summit|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fraught-us-china-relationship-comes-focus-at-asia-society-summit-1252657 |accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

He was appointed as chairman of entertainment and media of Asia Society Southern California in 2010, helping to unite China and Hollywood entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|title= Asia Society - Chinese Movie Mogul Promises New Party Leaders Will Open Market to Hollywood|url= https://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/chinese-movie-mogul-promises-new-party-leaders-will-open-market-hollywood|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

Shiao has spoken extensively at conferences, including at the Milken Summit,<ref>{{cite web|title= Milken Institute - China's Growing Movie Industry: Does It Still Need Hollywood? |url= https://milkeninstitute.org/videos/chinas-growing-movie-industry-does-it-still-need-hollywood|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> Harvard Business School, Harvard China Forum,<ref>{{cite web|title= SAMPAN - Harvard China Forum Marks Century of Revolution|url= https://sampan.org/2011/04/harvard-china-forum-marks-century-of-revolution/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> Variety's Future of Film Summit,<ref>{{cite web|title= Variety - U.S.-China Summit Set to Expand|url= https://variety.com/2013/biz/asia/u-s-china-summit-set-to-expand-1200616130/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment, the Game Summit and the US-China Film Summit.<ref>{{cite web|title= The Wrap - Fifth Annual US-China Film Summit Hits Los Angeles in November|url= https://www.thewrap.com/fifth-annual-us-china-film-summit-hits-los-angeles-in-november/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

==ChinaWeek and California-China Relations==

Since 2014, he has served as founder and Chairman of ChinaWeek,<ref>{{cite web|title=Business Wire - ChinaWeek Announces Speakers for Inaugural California-China Business Summit on May 11, 2016|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160509005315/en/ChinaWeek-Announces-Speakers-Inaugural-California-China-Business-Summit|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> a nonprofit organization partnered with the Los Angeles Times which hosts and presents an annual series of large scale events throughout Southern California. Past event partners have included the Getty Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Milken Institute, Huntington Library, University of Southern California, University of California - Los Angeles and the Bowers Museum.

Shiao also founded the annual California-China Business Summit <ref>{{cite web|title= Los Angeles Business Journal - Uncertainty at California-China Business Summit|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2018/may/18/uncertainty-california-china-business-summit/|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> with then California Governor Jerry Brown under ChinaWeek, and played a pivotal role in mobilizing the California-China Strategic MOU signed by Governor Brown and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He has also testified in the CA Legislature in support of developing closer economic and cultural ties with China.<ref>{{cite web|title=LA Business Journal - Los Angeles Well-Positioned for China Relations|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2016/may/09/los-angeles-well-positioned-china-relations/?page=1&|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

Before his career in media, Shiao served as policy and political staff on the California State Senate and was responsible for the California Senate Committees on the Pacific Rim, the Entertainment Industry, and Rebuilding Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|title= UCLA 2015 Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference Speaker Bios|url= https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/2015-wilbur-k-woo-greater-china-business-conference/speaker-bios|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

==Shaolin Temple==

Shiao has also worked closely with the Shaolin Monastery,<ref>{{cite web|title= USC US-China Institute - Shaolin Temple And The 21st Century|url=https://china.usc.edu/shaolin-temple-and-21st-century|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> known also as the Shaolin Temple of China, to share Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen lineage globally, including chairing the Shaolin Summit <ref>{{cite web|title= First Shaolin Summit Celebrates 1,500-Year-Old Birthplace of Eastern Martial Arts, Chan (Zen) Buddhism|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42783851|accessdate=12 October 2021}}</ref> and heading the Shaolin US Association.<ref>{{cite web|title= HuffPost - Shaolin Kung Fu: An Interview with Abbot Shi Yongxin|url= https://www.huffpost.com/entry/interview-with-abbot-shi-_b_867850|accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> He also oversaw the North American region for the reality show, K-Star, a joint production by Shaolin Temple and Shenzhen Media Group on finding the next martial arts action hero.<ref>{{cite web|title= China Daily - Global Kungfu stars gather at Shaolin Temple|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-09/10/content_685369.htm |accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shiao, Peter}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Chinese film producers