Gold House Studios launch starts with Karen Fukuhara horror film
Gold House is entering production with a new studio, led by Christine Yi and a slate spanning horror, IP, TV and digital projects.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Gold House Studios launch plans are now out in the open, with Gold House moving from cultural campaigning into film, television and digital production, Variety reported.
The new studio comes from Gold House, the cultural platform tied to the Gold Open movement and the Gold Gala. According to Variety, Gold House has spent eight years building influence in entertainment and culture, including campaigns around more than 800 film openings such as “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
Gold House Studios will develop and produce both original projects and stories based on existing intellectual property across film, TV and digital media, Variety reported. The unit will be run by Gold House veterans Christine Yi and Brian Nemes.
What is Gold House Studios?
Gold House Studios is the new production arm of Gold House, focused on developing and producing stories for screens rather than only supporting releases and cultural campaigns. Variety reported that its slate includes scripted films, television, IP-based projects and an unscripted digital series.
Yi will lead the studio, while Nemes will oversee IP and development, according to Variety. Both executives will produce every project on the Gold House Studios slate.
Yi, who previously ran operations at Gold House Ventures and remains general manager of Gold House Labs, told Variety that Gold House wants to make stories with “leading roles for Asian Pacific talent” and cultural detail that feels fresh. She also said the studio’s top measure of impact will be whether its work can reach audiences beyond its own community.
What is on the Gold House Studios slate?
The first major title on the slate is “Akiya,” a horror film starring Karen Fukuhara of “The Boys” and Robbie Amell of “Upload” and “Code 8,” Variety reported.
The film follows a married couple who relocate to Japan to fix up an akiya, meaning an empty rural home, before finding that the place is haunted by yōkai from Japanese folklore and a demon woman called Yotsume Baba. Austin Osanai Everett will write and direct the movie, which Gold House Studios is producing with Ranger 7 and Collective Pictures, according to Variety.
The slate also includes “This Way to Home,” described by Variety as a road-trip dramedy from writer-director Mel Mah.
On television, Gold House Studios is developing “American Yokai,” an atmospheric horror project from Keto Shimizu, who served as showrunner on “Legends of Tomorrow,” Variety reported.
The studio is also putting IP at the center of its plans. In a partnership with Ranger 7, JEA and Striker Entertainment, Gold House has obtained film rights to “Slitterhead,” the Japanese cult game from Bokeh Game Studio. The game was created by Keiichiro Toyama, known as the creator of “Silent Hill,” according to Variety.
Gold House said more IP-inspired projects are planned, though Variety reported that further details have not been disclosed.
What else has Gold House produced?
Variety reported that Gold House’s previous financing and production work includes Sean Wang’s “Didi,” Vera Miao’s “Rock Springs” and Laufey’s “Madwoman” music video. The new studio also has an unscripted digital series scheduled to start filming in New York City later this year.
Bing Chen, Gold House CEO and co-founder, told Variety that Gold House Studios reflects the company’s belief that stories are a powerful force for human connection at a time when audiences are split across platforms, algorithms and identities.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.