London based Trinity Filmed Entertainment Ltd (Trinity) is demonstrating how real time data can be used to increase the longevity of Asian films as they begin a new Knowledge Transfer to Innovate (AKT2I) project with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
The partnership research will develop a unique multilingual film asset and license management database programme, with an accessible content management system, which can be linked with a web search engine that would allow the business to find new opportunities amongst current trending topics that are related to the content.
The CineAsia label, acquired by Trinity in 2015, now represents the largest catalogue of Chinese films (from Greater China area including the Mainland, Hong Kong & Macau SAR and the region of Taiwan) in the UK. In the last 2 years, Trinity CineAsia has had great success in releasing some of the most prominent Chinese films in cinemas.
Cedric Behrel, Managing Director at Trinity, said: "Working with De Montfort University on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership is a great opportunity, and we are very grateful. Creating a content management system to enable us to use real-time data more effectively to increase the life cycle of a film is a great for Asian Cinema. This is a real opportunity to add value to the industry in the long term."
Incorporating financial support from Innovate UK, the AKT2I projects help businesses work with universities on a short, targeted innovation project or concept, which has the potential for significant impact for the business.
Darsheet Chauhan, Knowledge Exchange officer at DMU, said: “We are really excited to be working on this innovative and exciting AKT2I project with Trinity Filmed Entertainment Ltd. The project will allow DMU to provide digital transformation expertise to allow Trinity Filmed Entertainment to expand and meet customer needs and enhance audience engagement.
“The knowledge gained through this project will complement DMU’s curriculum on teaching design in an Arts and Festival environment and showcase how DMU can support to deliver the aspirations of the UK Digital Culture policy”.
DMU’s knowledge exchange team recruited experienced researcher in Creative Industries Dr. Hiu Man Chan to collaborate with the team at Trinity Filmed Entertainment. She has a PhD degree in Journalism and Communications as well as over 15 years of industry experience in international film circulation and collaboration for non-studio films.
Dr Chan has previously worked with Trinity on a AHRC funded public impact project, based around unlocking the issues around film distribution mechanisms.
She said: “I feel proud to have received this funding from Innovate UK to work on a project for the creative industries. “I am driven to make this a successful case so that fellow researchers in the arts and culture can be inspired to embrace the interdisciplinary and international transformation that the UKRI has been advocating. What we have created together is unique and will certainly benefit the UK’s overall film industry."
Speaking about the project, AKT2I associate Dr. Bo Zhao said, “The partnership's goal is to create a data hub that integrates Trinity's existing film data and daily operations with external data sources and social media so that it enables more efficient film data management and rapid responses to trending topics and events."
Harvey Brown, who is now also working on this funded project with the team at Trinity, added that the company are “working on something truly innovative and game-changing for how independent film distributors can be organiser and operate internally”. Mr Brown joined Trinity Filmed Entertainment in 2022 via the UK’s Film Distribution Association’s Distribution Traineeship programme.
Posted on Monday 17 April 2023