Mark Simon, owner of Orlando studio A&S Animation Inc, recently returned from the 2nd International Forum on China Culture Industry, where he was a speaker and guest of the Chinese Government. “In China, the use of the word “culture” often means “entertainment” and the purpose of the forum was to educate and improve China’s entertainment field in film, TV, animation and print”. More details on Mark’s trip, including a couple of photos, can be read here:

Right: Mark Simon at the 2nd International Forum on China Culture Industry

“Simon’s lecture dealt with how to increase the amount and quality of China’s indigenous animation through the funding, education of and production of animated shorts. His comments caught the attention of China’s academics, government officials and animation studios. He was invited to return to China next year to tour and consult at the new soon-to-be-opened Sunchime Animation Studios, one of the largest in the world.

The Forum took place in China’s Shanxi Province, in the heartland of China. In addition to the events at the forum, the organizing committee also treated the participants to symphonies and concerts and be a part of the opening ceremonies of the Pingyao International Photography Festival. Pingyao is known as the world’s oldest city of commerce at over 2,500 years old.

China is looking to turn from a planned society into a market driven society. Inviting industry experts, such as Simon, is helping them produce entertaining and successful product for China and abroad.

Asked about his trip, Simon states, “China is absolutely amazing. It’s hard to describe the trip briefly, but it is much more progressive than I was lead to believe. Due to their size, we will see the entertainment industry grow in China to amounts never thought of in the United States”.

Right: Mark Simon with Shen Weichen, Director of Publicity, Shanxi Province, China

Source: publicity release.