DreamWorks Jeffrey Katzenberg Unveil Plan for Shanghai Dream Center !

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation and Chinese partner Li Ruigang, Chairman & CEO of China Media Capital, together with representatives from the Shanghai government unveiled today designs for the 15 billion yuan ($2.4 billion) and 463000 square meters entertainment complex in Shanghai, expanding Hollywood's growing ties with China.

From Associated Press: The "DreamCenter," will open in 2017 and will have a 500-seat IMAX cinema with international film festivals and red carpet events in mind, bars, restaurants and performance venues, the companies said. It will also showcase a "Dream Avenue" theater district modeled on London's West End and New York City's Broadway.

The project is led by "Kung Fu Panda" and "Shrek" maker DreamWorks Animation, Chinese investment fund CMC Capital Partners, whose owners include state-owned companies, and Hong Kong developer Lan Kwai Fong.

"This will become the world's third great urban center of entertainment and arts alongside New York's Broadway and London's West End," said DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg at a news conference in a former cement factory, which will become one of the performance venues.

The area near the 2010 Shanghai Expo site in the city's west will also include the headquarters of animation production company Oriental DreamWorks, a joint venture between DreamWorks and Chinese partners which will produce "Kung Fu Panda 3."
Below, a digital rendering of the 500-seat IMAX cinema.

The 15-hectare (40-acre) site includes eight outdoor events plazas. The project gives Shanghai an opportunity to diversify beyond its status as a financial and manufacturing center by adding media and cultural industries.

Another project highlighting Hollywood's influence in China is Shanghai Disneyland, the first Disney park on the Chinese mainland. It is scheduled to open in the city's Pudong district at the end of next year. Below, a rendering of the future Dream Center office buildings in Shanghaî.

Here is another short video of the announcement ceremony.




Pictures: copyright Dreamworks Animation

First Digital Artworks of Dreamworks Shanghaî Dream Center ?

Are these two "night and day" digital pictures showing the Dreamworks Shanghaî Dream Center announced yesterday? Not sure... According to the pictures caption: "Photo taken on August 6, 2012 shows a design sketch of Oriental DreamWorks at night in Shanghai, East China's municipality. The construction of Oriental DreamWorks, a joint venture set up by DreamWorks Animation and Chinese partner, will start in Xuhui district on the west bank of the Huangpu River on August 7, 2012. Oriental DreamWorks will be the flagship company at a new media center for film, TV production and digital entertaiment."

So although it seems to be located in Shanghaî Xuhui district like Shanghaî Dreamworks Dream Center is supposed to be, it might be pictures showing the new Dreamworks China animation studios but not the "entertainment zone" itself. Or may be it shows the real thing, and in this case it means that the Dream Centre will be a waterfront entertainment zone which will simply include some attractions, which will explain why Katzenberg spent a lot of time yesterday to explain that it won't be really a theme park. Have a look at these two pictures anyway and if you've missed yesterday's article announcing this big news you'll find it HERE.



Pictures: copyright Oriental DreamWorks-Xinhua