First Chinese Children’s Film “Little Journey” Starts Production in Hollywood

Recently, Candice Jiang (Chinese name Jiang Chen), a well-known Chinese host and actress, has taken on a new role as a film producer. Dedicated to promoting Chinese culture overseas, she participated in the investment and production of the first Chinese children’s film “Little Journey,” which began filming in Hollywood on June 14. Notable figures such as Chinese producer and supervisor You Jianming, principal of Golden Sunshine Academy Tan Ye, renowned young director Shi Tanxuan, and vice-chairman of the Los Angeles Chinese Film and Television Artists Association Ren Xiangdong were invited to the traditional Chinese-themed opening ceremony. The film “Little Journey” is set to be released on major platforms after completion and has already received invitations from several A-list film festivals.

Candice Jiang has recently added another layer to her identity as a renowned actress and host, now also serving as an overseas project investor and producer. Utilizing her experience both in front of and behind the camera, she founded Starbridge Picture and Starbridge Academy, focusing on children’s theater and film education overseas. Candice says, “Every child is like a star in the sky, unique and shining. They need the support and understanding of their parents, and at every stage of their growth, they need multiple ‘bridges’ to connect their interests and passions and realize their dreams. The initial purpose of Starbridge is to be such a bridge, accompanying children with love and dreams on their interesting journey of growth. We offer courses in public speaking, film acting, voice acting, scriptwriting, directing, shooting, and more. Film is not limited to acting; we encourage children with wild imaginations to write scripts and make films as part of their growth. For those with leadership qualities who want to express themselves through the lens, we teach them how to use the camera, storyboard, and convey their ideas visually. For children with voice talents, we help them become outstanding voices, whether in music, speech, or film. Our goal is to help children express themselves confidently. Confidence is the most important lesson in a child’s journey to adulthood.”

Candice Jiang, with her unique international perspective and high-quality resources at home and abroad, has built a mechanism for film training and delivery between China and the U.S. through Starbridge, creating a bridge to support the dreams of young people. In recent years, based in Southern California, she has been devoted to children’s theater training, aiming to comprehensively promote the filmization of children’s theater. She has also been actively involved in promoting and exporting Chinese culture overseas, helping “ABC” and American children learn Chinese and speak Mandarin.

Candice Jiang Unlocks New Role as Film Producer, Dedicated to Promoting Chinese Culture Overseas

As the first professionally produced children’s film by Chinese filmmakers in Los Angeles, “Little Journey” centers around a restructured family in the U.S. and, through the story of children’s interactions, attempts to enhance understanding between Chinese and American children with a light-hearted and pleasant visual style. As the producer of “Little Journey,” Candice Jiang has transitioned from actress and host to film producer. In an interview with the Los Angeles Post, she stated that the film took six months to prepare, from script to casting and filming. 

The film is directed by Icy Li (Chinese name Bingliang Li), who came to the U.S. in 2016 to study film production at USC and UCLA. During his studies, Director Icy Li won the “Best New Director” and “Best Student Film” awards for “Trifles” at the GSIFF Film Festival in Los Angeles and the Las Vegas Film Festival. His works showcase the characteristics of Chinese and American cultures, reflecting his unique insights from his life in the U.S. and Chinese cultural background. “Little Journey” tells the story of a single white father and a single Chinese mother forming a new family and how their two children move from conflict to understanding. The production team consists of graduates from USC’s film school, and the child actors were selected from over 30 auditionees. Candice Jiang hopes that children who love acting will develop well in their professional fields and achieve great success.

Starbridge Picture and Starbridge Academy Promote Film Education for Children and Youth Overseas

With the growth of the Chinese and international student filmmaker community in the U.S., film creation topics have become increasingly diverse. Young filmmakers are gradually forming their own unique styles, and films featuring Chinese children may require more attention from young filmmakers and the Chinese community. Both on and off-screen, Candice Jiang’s passion and dedication to children’s films are evident. From children’s film training to film production, she has been building a high-quality film ecosystem for Chinese people in Southern California, playing a role in cultural output and promotion. 

Starbridge Academy is currently dedicated to film education and training for children and youth, actively promoting cultural exchange between China and the U.S., spreading Chinese culture, and introducing more Hollywood stars and projects to China. Recently, she hosted the CCTV-6 film channel’s “World Film Tour,” inviting Hollywood filmmakers to help Chinese audiences better understand world cinema. In sports, Candice Jiang signed NBA star Tyrese Haliburton for business representation in China, expanding her business scope. She also assisted Hunan TV in inviting Western artists for the popular show “Singer 2024,” facilitating performance collaborations between Post Malone, JVKE, and Chinese artists, promoting cultural exchange between the two countries. In education, Starbridge Academy collaborates with Stanford child psychologist Dr. Cody Abbey, Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore’s acting coach Peter Frisch, and educators from major film schools to offer courses in film acting, voice acting, scriptwriting, vocal music, musical theater, and more. They aim to cultivate creative “little filmmakers” with professional skills. Starbridge Academy encourages children and youth to create scripts, direct, act, and film their works, offering an annual $100,000 scholarship to support their progress and growth. They also facilitate talent exchanges between domestic and overseas institutions and are set to form a strategic partnership with the New York Film Academy, providing top talent to leading companies like Hunan TV, Mango TV, iQIYI, Jiaxing Media, Giant Pictures, Caviar Entertainment, and director Yang Wenjun’s studio. They also link with the United Nations to let more Chinese children and youth voice their opinions at UN conferences. 

With the expansion of overseas artist agency services, Starbridge Picture’s overseas business includes global business representation for Hollywood stars and NBA players, as well as supporting Chinese artists going abroad. They have strategic partnerships with renowned Hollywood producer Frederic Golchan (known for films like “Kimberly Chaos Theory” and “Twelve”) and Star Trek director Keith Tsuji, leveraging extensive domestic and international film and business resources to provide comprehensive support for artist development.

Bridging Cultures: The Dream and Persistence of Actress Candice Jiang

“I am Jiang Xiaohua (little flower), a small yet infinitely resilient flower growing out of the cracks in the stone,” says Candice Jiang (Chinese name Jiang Chen), a renowned actress and host in China’s entertainment industry. She first gained fame as Sister Xiaodouzi on Golden Eagle Cartoon and has hosted shows such as “Happy Camp,” “Music Billboard,” and “Big Star Birthday Party.” Jiang has also delivered outstanding performances in TV dramas like “Little Daddy,” “First-Class Ex-Wife,” and “Hanson and the Beast.” Currently, she is pursuing her dreams in the U.S., wholeheartedly dedicating herself to the field of children’s theater and film education, facing new opportunities and challenges.

Arriving in the U.S.: Challenges of Language and Culture

At the peak of her career in China, Candice Jiang decided to move to the U.S., where she initially faced significant language barriers. In daily life, she found that her English proficiency was inadequate for complex communication needs. Jiang admits that, due to frequent interactions with Hollywood’s film resources, she often had to bring a translator. “When they speak too fast, you can’t understand anything,” she said. To overcome this, she dedicated over five hours daily to learning English, striving to adapt to her new linguistic environment. Additionally, she encountered practical difficulties such as renting an apartment and buying a car, which required high deposits and full upfront payments, making her acutely aware of the hardships of starting over.

Adapting to New Life: From Education to Cultural Preservation

Undeterred, Candice leveraged her sociability and noticed that many Chinese-American children struggled with fluent Chinese, while many U.S.-born children had a strong interest in different cultures and a keen desire to perform. This inspired her to establish a training program for children’s theater and film in the U.S. Candice’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2018 under the guidance of prominent entrepreneurs and investors like Sun Taoran and Yu Minhong. She co-founded “Prosper Future Education Technology” in China with her friend Hu Haiquan, securing significant investment. In 2019, she produced iQIYI’s first major children’s reality show “Fairy Tales Under the Stars,” achieving great success. These resources and experiences naturally formed the foundation for her educational endeavors in the U.S.

Expanding Networks: The Establishment and Growth of Starbridge

Candice Jiang founded Starbridge Academy, a children’s theater and film education center in South Irvine. Utilizing her extensive network, she quickly expanded the educational blueprint. She personally collaborates with experts like Stanford child psychologist Dr. Cody Abbey, Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore’s acting coach Peter Frisch, and New York Film Academy’s Kenneth to provide high-quality courses for children. Jiang believes that every child is unique, like a shining star, and needs bridges to connect their interests and dreams at every stage of growth. “Starbridge” aims to accompany and support passionate and dream-driven children on their journey, fostering self-confidence, which she views as the most crucial lesson for a child’s development. Currently, she collaborates with Hollywood director Jeffrey Jacob Abrams and renowned producer Frederic Golchan, offering multilingual services for children whose first languages are Spanish or Russian. Through immersive education, she hopes to maintain children’s interest and passion for diverse cultures in the U.S.

Cultural Exchange: Building a Bridge Between China and the U.S.

Remaining true to her roots, Candice actively promotes cultural exchange between China and the U.S. Through her agency, she introduces more Hollywood stars and projects to China. Recently, she hosted “World Film Tour” on CCTV6, engaging Hollywood filmmakers to help Chinese audiences better understand global cinema. In sports, Candice signed NBA star Tyrese Haliburton for business representation in China, expanding her business scope. She also facilitated Hunan TV in inviting Western artists to participate in the popular show “Singer 2024,” fostering cultural exchange between the two countries.

Growth and Giving Back: Success Lies in Love

Reflecting on her journey, Candice expresses deep gratitude to Hunan TV. She says, “Hunan TV nurtured and nourished me.” Her years of work not only honed her hosting and acting skills but also helped her amass a wealth of industry resources. Now, she aims to use her experience and resources to provide a platform for talented, passionate children to showcase their abilities.

“When I saw my mentor Yu Minhong donate all the desks and chairs from New Oriental during the pandemic and stand in the rain to help others, I realized that success isn’t the most important thing—giving love is.” Candice joined the “Charcoal Fire Alliance” charity, regularly supporting families and children in need. She hopes to one day give an English speech, sharing her growth story to inspire more young people to bravely pursue their dreams, undeterred by cultural and language barriers.

Baku, Azerbaijan – 25 July 2024 – Al-Baladi Holding, in partnership with Green Capital Management, announced today a significant $50 million investment aimed at taking the popular Qatari brands Go Crispy and Tea Time to the global stage. Over 400 new outlets are planned across 27 countries, beginning with a flagship launch in Azerbaijan.

A Vision for Global Culinary Influence

Mr. Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairman of Al-Baladi Holding, and Mr. Adnan Ahmed Zadeh, Chairman and Shareholder of Green Capital Management, outlined the strategic vision during a well-attended signing ceremony in Baku. Mr. Al-Attiyah shared, “Our initiative is set to not only extend our geographic reach but also to introduce the rich culinary traditions of Qatar to a worldwide audience.”

The expansion is expected to have a significant economic impact, providing substantial employment opportunities in emerging markets. Mr. Hany Al Sayyadi, CEO of Al-Baladi Holding, discussed the strategic impact: “By introducing Go Crispy and Tea Time into new markets, we aim to create thousands of jobs and significantly stimulate local economies.”

Mr. Khayal Jibov, Shareholder of Green Capital Management, highlighted the collaboration’s strength, “Our combined expertise ensures a robust approach to entering and thriving in diverse international markets.”

Go Crispy and Tea Time will adapt their unique offerings to cater to various global tastes, a strategy that promises broad appeal. “Each market will see a tailored menu that respects local culinary preferences while retaining the core identity that has made our brands so beloved in Qatar,” Mr. Hany Al Sayyadi added.

Both brands commit to sustainable expansion, focusing on environmentally friendly practices and community engagement. Mr. Jibov noted, “Our expansion goes hand in hand with our responsibility towards the environment. We’re committed to sustainable practices that benefit both our business and the communities we serve.”

Go Crispy, founded by Chef Hessa Al-Sulaiti in 2019, offers a healthier take on fast food with a focus on fresh, halal ingredients. Tea Time, established in 1998, blends traditional Qatari tea culture with a modern café ambiance, appealing to a wide demographic.

“The launch today is just the beginning of our vision to share our heritage globally,” concluded Mr. Al-Attiyah. “We are excited about the future as we continue to explore new markets and opportunities for innovation.”

Al-Baladi Holding invites stakeholders and culinary enthusiasts to follow their expansion progress. Updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content will be shared regularly on their website and social media platforms.

Contact Information:

• Company Name: Al-Baladi Holding
• Contact Person: Marynold Macalma, Marketing Manager
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +974 4444 5555
• Website: Visit Al-Baladi Holding
• City/State/Country: Doha, Qatar