Janet Yang, the outgoing president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has found her next gig — and she’ll have some powerful partners by her side.
South Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM announced Tuesday that Yang, CJ Group chairwoman Miki Lee and Domink Ng, CEO of East West Bank, are joining forces to oversee a new content development label named First Light StoryHouse. The venture will be funded and supported by CJ with the mission of “identifying and supporting authentic Asian and Asian American stories and introducing them to global audiences.”
“In Miky Lee and Dominic Ng, I’ve found kindred spirits — true champions for cross-cultural storytelling,” said Yang. “Given CJ’s game-changing contributions to global culture and Dominic’s commitment to building cultural bridges, we’ve discussed our aligned interests over many conversations and have decided to create a venture together.”
First Light StoryHouse will cultivate scripted TV and film projects led by Asian creators spanning a variety of genres, themes and cultural perspectives, according to the partners. The label will invest early in the development phase as a co-producer to “help bring compelling, market-ready projects to life,” later teaming with other studios, production companies and streamers on production and distribution.
“Through high-quality film and scripted TV content that showcases the Asian diaspora, the label aims to elevate historically underrepresented perspectives in both Hollywood and the international entertainment industry,” the trio said in a statement.
Some of CJ’s recent high-profile output could be seen as a model for the new venture. The company co-distributed and co-financed Celine Song’s poignant diaspora love drama Past Lives with A24, earning nominations for best picture and best original screenplay at the 2024 Oscars. The company remains best known as the studio behind many of Korea’s biggest global film successes, such as Bong Joon-ho’s multi-Oscar-winning Parasite and Park Chan-wook’s highly anticipated next feature, No Other Choice, which premieres in competition at the Venice Film Festival next month.
“Recent successes from Asian storytellers have shown the potential and authenticity of their stories,” added CJ’s Lee. “Through this effort, we aim to spotlight these voices, believing in the power of storytelling to bridge cultures. Janet Yang and Dominic Ng have long championed this mission, and together, we are committed to empowering these stories on the global stage.”
Lee, Yang and Ng will provide “strategic direction” to First Light StoryHouse, while CJ ENM’s head of global film business, Jerry Kyoungboum Ko, will manage its day-to-day operations.
While following very distinct paths through the industry, Lee, Yang and Ng have each devoted their careers to improving the prominence of Asian storytelling on the world stage. Lee, as the influential vice chairwoman of Korea’s largest entertainment conglomerate, played a key role in globalizing K-content, backing Oscar-winning hits and establishing CJ ENM as a dominant force in international film and television (the company also owns Hollywood banner Fifth Season). Yang, a trailblazing Hollywood producer and the first Asian American president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has long advocated for Asian representation through landmark titles such as The Joy Luck Club and Over the Moon. As chairman and CEO of East West Bank, the largest independent financial outfit headquartered in Southern California, Ng has transformed the institution into a major financial backer of cross-border entertainment ventures, while also championing cultural initiatives like the Academy Museum. Together, the trio brings formidable creative, institutional and financial leadership to their shared mission.
“At East West Bank and beyond, I’ve long strived to support artistic endeavors that are forces for good,” added Ng. “This joint effort behind First Light StoryHouse will serve as a powerful connector between the East and West, fostering deeper understanding and expanding opportunities for creative voices. I’m honored to help build this bridge alongside CJ ENM.”