David U. Lee is a Chinese-American Hollywood film producer and entrepreneur best known for co-producing the films ''The Forbidden Kingdom'', ''Shanghai'', and ''Inseparable''. He is the president of the film entertainment company Leeding Media, which he founded in 2008.

Early life and career

David U. Lee was born in Taipei in 1975. He earned both his BA and MBA degrees from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He started his film entertainment career as an intern in the Los Angeles office of Miramax Films in 1997. In 1999, he joined

Sony Pictures Entertainment Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Sony Pictures or SPE, and formerly known as Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc.) is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, ac ...

in the Strategic Planning and Corporate Development department. In 2000, Lee was recruited by Revolution Studios as one of the company's initial 20 employees. In 2002, he studied for an MBA degree while working at K1 Ventures, a private equity fund based in Singapore and Boca Raton, Florida. Upon completing his MBA in 2004, Lee joined IDG Asia, a subsidiary of IDG. There Lee oversaw IDG's foray into the Chinese film entertainment business, and launched the Chinese version of '' Variety''. In 2007, Lee was recruited by Harvey Weinstein to become the Executive Vice President of Asian Operations at The Weinstein Company, where he oversaw the company's Asian business as well as its US$285 million Asian Film Fund.

Film producer

In 2007, Lee co-founded SDJS/Havenwood Media and produced '' Already Dead'', an action-thriller starring Til Schweiger, Ron Eldard and Christopher Plummer, which was distributed by

. Lee was a co-executive producer of the Jackie Chan and Jet Li film, ''The Forbidden Kingdom'', which went on to become the most successful China/U.S. co-productions in history. In April 2008, Lee founded Leeding Media as a film entertainment enterprise dedicated to bridging the U.S. and Chinese film industries. He produced '' Inseparable'' starring Kevin Spacey. The company also orchestrated the nationwide release of '' The Spy Next Door'', starring Jackie Chan, the only non-studio foreign film released in China at the same day and date as in the U.S. Grossing over US$8 million, it became the highest grossing non-studio foreign film in Chinese history until the release of

Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Enzio Stallone (; born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, ) is an American actor and filmmaker. After his beginnings as a struggling actor for a number of years upon arriving to New York City in 1969 and later Hollywood in 1974, h ...

's '' Expendables''. In 2009, Lee advised China Film Group on the co-production of ''The Karate Kid'' remake, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, with Sony Pictures Entertainment. He also served as co-executive producer of The Weinstein Company's first Asian Film Fund production '' Shanghai'', starring John Cusack, Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat and Ken Watanabe.Internet Movie Database – Shanghai Page
/ref> In September 2011, Perfect World Pictures signed Leeding Media into a multi-year producing deal, making the company the first U.S.-based production company to secure a multi-year term deal with a Chinese studio. Films released under the collaboration include '' Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'', starring Nicolas Cage (grossed US$9 million); ''

The Last Stand Last stand is a position against overwhelming odds. Last Stand or The Last Stand may also stand for: Film and TV Film * ''The Last Stand'' (1938 film), an American film directed by Joseph H. Lewis * ''The Last Stand'' (1984 film), a film about ...

'', starring

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, film producer, businessman, retired professional bodybuilder and politician who served as the 38th governor of California between 2003 and 2011. ''Time'' ...

(grossed US$8 million); and '' Ender’s Game'', starring

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...

(grossed US$23 million).

Awards and recognitions

In March 2009, David was named an inaugural member of The Hollywood Reporter's Next Generation Asia, which celebrates the 20 most impressive young men and women in entertainment in Asia.

Filmography

Producer

* Inseparable (2011) * Shanghai (2010) * The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) * Already Dead (2007)

Distributor (China)

Potsdamer Platz (????)
* Insurgent (2015)
John Wick (2014)
* Divergent (2014) * Ender's Game (2013)
Parker (2013)
* Last Stand (2013)
Rush (2013)

Riddick (2013)

Hours (2013)
* The Longest Week (2012)
LOL (2012)
* Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012) * Blitz (2012) * 50/50 (2011) * Machine Gun Preacher (2011) * Alpha and Omega (2011) * Brothers (2011)
20 Funerals (2011)
* More Than a game (2010) * The Spy Next Door (2010)