Giorgio Parisi
Nobel Prize–Winning Physicist | Pioneer Of Complexity & Uncertainty | Global Science Keynote Speaker
Ellen Eliasoph
Founder of Warner Bros. China | Pioneer of China's Integration into Global Film Markets | Award-Winning Producer | Board Member, Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
Ellen Eliasoph is the veteran film executive who opened Hollywood's door to China. As the first U.S. studio executive based there, she founded Warner Bros. China and produced hits with Stephen Chow, Jackie Chan, and Zhang Yimou. Now leading Starry Dome Productions and a Board Member of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, she offers audiences three decades of frontline insight on East-West storytelling, AI, and cultural exchange that spans millenia and is weaving the future of global media.
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Ellen Eliasoph biography
Ellen R. Eliasoph is a veteran film studio executive and producer who has spent her career building bridges among Greater China’s film industry, Hollywood, Australia, and the global film market. As the first Hollywood executive based in China, she opened Warner Bros.’ Beijing office in 1993 and went on to import “The Fugitive” as the first official Hollywood release in the country, setting the template for U.S.-China film collaboration and triggering the start of a relationship that extended into joint film and television production, and the building of cinemas and Hollywood-branded theme parks.
Eliasoph is best known as the architect of Warner Bros. China, where she managed the China importation and releases of “The Matrix”, “Harry Potter”, “Superman”, and “Batman” movie series and other landmark Warner Bros. titles. As Managing Director of Warner Bros. Pictures China, she spearheaded the establishment of Warner China Film HG Corp., the first and only Sino-foreign joint venture film studio approved by China, and oversaw acclaimed co-productions including “The Painted Veil” (starring Ed Norton and Naomi Watts) and “The Warlords”, (starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro). During this period, Eliasoph also co-founded and produced the USA National Pavilion at the massively attended (73 million visitors) 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
In 2011 she founded Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, and later led Perfect Village Entertainment, a joint venture between Village Roadshow and one of China’s leading game creators, Perfect World, as CEO and lead producer. Across these roles she produced films that achieved both commercial and critical success, including Stephen Chow’s “Journey to the West”, Jackie Chan action comedy “Bleeding Steel”, and Zhang Yimou’s acclaimed “Shadow”.
Founder of Starry Dome and Board Member of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art
Eliasoph now leads Starry Dome Productions, her independent studio dedicated to stories that bridge Asian and Western societies and confront the defining challenges of the post-industrial world, from climate change to AI. Its debut film, “Neither Donkey Nor Horse” (2024), won a Student Academy Award, and its slate spans the eco-thriller “Waste Tide”, animated feature “Black Mountain”, “Jade Clouds”, and historical drama “The North Remembers”, works that reflect a deliberate pivot beyond the old Hollywood-China axis toward pan-Asian, Asian Australian, and global storytelling. She is a member of the Executive Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild of America and a Board Member of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. A summa cum laude graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, she is fluent in Mandarin and Japanese.
As an entertainment speaker, Ellen Eliasoph offers three decades of frontline experience at the intersection of the world’s most consequential film markets, plus a clear view of where the industry is heading. She gives senior audiences a nuanced, deeply informed perspective on how East and West see each other through film, social media and AI, and on the new global storytelling opportunities opening as that landscape shifts. Audiences leave with sharper instincts for cross-cultural storytelling, IP development, and the global media landscape ahead.
Ellen Eliasoph Speaking Videos
Advice for Shooting Film in China
2021 U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit: An Update on China
Ellen Eliasoph Keynote Topics
A comparative look at how Eastern and Western storytellers approach climate, nature, and humanity's place within them, from ancient cosmologies to contemporary blockbusters. Eliasoph draws on her career across Hollywood, China, and Australia to show how cultural framing shapes which climate stories travel globally, which fall flat, and what this means for filmmakers, brands, and policy communicators.
Few executives have operated as deeply on both sides of the U.S.-China divide as Ellen Eliasoph. She unpacks how each country sees artificial intelligence, in industry, society, and law, and what those divergent paths mean for global business leaders, investors, and creative companies that aim to build across borders.
WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu: China's social platforms run on a different logic than their Western counterparts. Eliasoph offers a clear-eyed comparison of how content, commerce, and influence actually work in each ecosystem, and what global brands, media companies, and policymakers need to understand to communicate effectively in both worlds.
From the box office to gaming to streaming, China has become one of the most consequential and most misunderstood entertainment markets in the world. Drawing on three decades on the ground, Eliasoph maps the industry's structure, key players, regulatory dynamics, and the real opportunities for cross-platform IP development, branding, and co-production.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Ellen Eliasoph
Why Ellen Eliasoph?
Booking Ellen Eliasoph is a strategic choice for any organization grappling with U.S.-China relations, global media, AI, or cross-cultural strategy. She is one of the very few executives with three decades of operational experience at the highest levels of both Hollywood and Chinese cinema, having founded Warner Bros. China, produced films with Zhang Yimou, Stephen Chow, and Jackie Chan, and now serving as a Board Member of the Smithsonian National Museum of
Asian Art. Fluent in Mandarin and Japanese and a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, she brings audiences a level of nuance, credibility, and insider perspective that almost no other speaker on this subject can match. Book Ellen Eliasoph through Aurum Speakers Bureau for events on global media, U.S.-China relations, AI, and cross-cultural leadership.
Did Ellen Eliasoph found Warner Bros. China?
Yes. Ellen Eliasoph became the first Hollywood executive ever based in China when she opened Warner Bros.' Beijing office in 1993. As Managing Director of Warner Bros. Pictures China, she imported "The Fugitive" as the first official Hollywood release, managed the China releases of the "Matrix", "Harry Potter", "Superman", and "Batman" franchises, and spearheaded the establishment of Warner China Film HG Corp., the first and only Sino-foreign joint venture film studio approved for operation in China.
What films has Ellen Eliasoph produced?
Across her tenure at Warner Bros. China, Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, and Perfect Village Entertainment, Eliasoph produced or executive produced films including "The Painted Veil", "Turn Left, Turn Right", "The Warlords", Stephen Chow's "Journey to the West", Jackie Chan action comedy "Bleeding Steel", and Zhang Yimou's acclaimed "Shadow". "Neither Donkey Nor Horse" (2024), the initial production of her independent film company Starry Dome Productions, won a Student Academy Award.
What topics does keynote speaker Ellen Eliasoph cover?
Ellen Eliasoph speaks on U.S.-China relations through the lens of film and media, comparative approaches to AI between the U.S. and China, the differences between Chinese and Western social media ecosystems, climate storytelling across cultures, and the structure and future of China's film, television, and gaming industries. Her talks are designed for senior executives, investors, policy leaders, and entertainment companies navigating cross-border strategy. Book Ellen Eliasoph through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring her unmatched East-West perspective to your event.
How to book Ellen Eliasoph as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Ellen Eliasoph as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Ellen Eliasoph's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Ellen Eliasoph or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Ellen Eliasoph speaking fee?
Ellen Eliasoph speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Ellen Eliasoph to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Ellen Eliasoph.
How can I contact Ellen Eliasoph?
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Can I book Ellen Eliasoph for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Ellen Eliasoph is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Ellen Eliasoph for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
