A new player has entered the film industry and is ready to revolutionize the field. Longtime entertainment investor and producer Rocky Shi and Co-founder Claire Wan have launched TAOST (The Art Of StoryTelling) with the aim of producing and financing animated features and series.
Yet, that’s just the beginning of this production company’s goals. TAOST, a company focused on incubating content while developing its own unique IP exploitation pipeline, seeks to connect creators, investors, and studios to every aspect of the production process, starting with global animation.
With a focus on creative collaboration, TAOST aims to bring both Eastern and Western stories to international audiences. Through TAOST, Chinese IP will adopt models of western storytelling, and western IP will be adjusted to enter the Chinese market. This unique IP pipeline will give the animated industry a much-needed breath of fresh air and uplift new, lesser-known voices.
However, TAOST’s ultimate goal is to complete its own IP pipeline, helping content developed by the TAOST team expand beyond film and television. The company’s long-term ambition is to build technologically advanced immersive experiences for audiences.
TAOST is in the process of developing an internal project management platform and a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) to serve not only film investors but also professionals of any industry. This DAO will harness the power of the blockchain and act as a hub for independent producers to fund projects and receive profits. This will also ensure that contracts are upheld throughout the production process and revenue will be equitably shared among both artists and investors.
As TAOST’s CEO, Rocky Shi has years of experience in film production, with a focus on animation. Shi also has a wealth of knowledge in international investment, particularly as a global entrepreneur with years of investment management under his belt. As the founder and CEO of London-based Rise Entertainment and the Managing Director at Beijing Topwin Investment Group, content creation and financial production have always been top of mind.
Shi is also an artist and holds a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Additionally, he cultivates interests in cryptocurrency, smart contracts, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), global markets, and more, including the trending phenomenon known as digital art.
Shi co-founded TAOST in October 2021 with John Tsai, who serves as the company’s CTO. The burgeoning company now includes four employees, including Claire Wan, head of Chinese Business Development and Investor Relations.
Whether you’re an independent filmmaker in need of support, a potential partner looking to develop an incredible IP, or an investor searching for the next groundbreaking project, look no further than TAOST. With the mission to make creative collaboration easy, seamless, and inclusive, this is undoubtedly an entertainment company to watch out for.
