Arvin Chen Directing Cuba-Set Limited Series, Created by Meileen Choo
Ensemble Cast Includes Louise Wong, Nina Paw, Joseph Chang, Mauricio Henao, Camila Arteche, Sian Chiong and Mario Cimarro
December 5, 2023 – I.E. Entertainment, the global distribution outfit founded and run by the Suharjono sisters, Indra and Erlina, has come on board to handle worldwide sales for Cathay Film Company’s “Coolie” – a TV series inspired by the little-known history of enslaved Chinese ‘coolies’ in Cuba in the 1860s, amidst the backdrop of the Cuban War of Independence.
I.E. Entertainment will introduce “Coolie” to buyers for the first time at the upcoming Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) in Singapore.
The eight-episode English and Chinese language drama series is a global production from Meileen Choo’s Singapore-based Cathay Film Company and features a multinational ensemble cast from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cuba and Colombia. Louise Wong (“A Guilty Conscience,” “Anita”) one of Hong Kong’s biggest rising stars and a top model, stars as the female lead alongside veteran Hong Kong actress Nina Paw Hee-Ching (“The Way We Are,” “Lost in Time”), Taiwanese actor Joseph Chang (“Eternal Summer,” “Girlfriend Boyfriend”), Colombian actor and TV personality Mauricio Henao (“La Herencia,” “Panama”), and Cuban actors Camila Arteche (“El acompanante,” “Sergio & Serguei”), Sian Chiong (“La Mexicana y el Guero,” “Fidel’s Daughter”) and Mario Cimarro (“Romeo + Juliet, “Pasión de gavilanes”).
In the mid-1800’s, as the African slave trade was outlawed throughout the Americas, plantation owners in Cuba began trafficking indentured servants, “coolies” from China, and they were treated as slaves. ‘Coolies’ eventually integrated into Cuban society, fought for independence from Spain side by side with Cubans, and merged with the workers coming out of indentured servitude, providing a workforce for sugar cane and tobacco plantations, restaurants, laundries, shops and setting up the Chinatown in Havana.
The series “Coolie” follows a young Chinese girl, Chulin (Wong) who sets off from southern China to marry a political exile working on a sugarcane plantation in Cuba. There, she finds the sympathetic, non-slave owning plantation owner plotting for independence from Imperial Spain, aided by Chinese indentured servants and African slaves seeking freedom. The plantation owner’s spurned wife and her old lover conspire against them all to thwart their plans, igniting an escalating series of scheming and retaliation with the heart of Cuba hanging in the balance.
Distinguished film industry veteran Meileen Choo is the series’ creator and showrunner. Choo is known for having managed the prominent Cathay Organisation, a heavyweight name in Singapore’s film industry. “Coolie” is the debut series from Choo and her new Cathay Film Company banner.
“Coolie” is set to be directed by Taiwanese-American director Arvin Chen, who most recently directed episodes of Apple’s hit series “Pachinko” as well as films “Au revoir Taipei,” “Mama Boy,” and “Love in Taipei.”
In-Ah Lee (“Land of Plenty,” “Don’t Come Knockin’” “The Way I Spent the End of the World”) is the series executive producer. Ed Buhr (“Unhung Hero”) is producing.
The series will shoot in the Dominican Republic and Panama. Principal photography commences this month.
Indra and Erlina Suharjono said, “After reading the script and discussing at length with Meileen, we were fascinated by the world of ‘Coolie’ and the potential of an epic series which we feel has so much to say. Meileen has created a story that is fresh and truly visionary, which will undoubtedly connect with a global audience. We’re excited to bring such a compelling an exciting project to the ATF.”
Meileen Choo added, “Having worked with both Indra and Erlina before, I very much look forward to reuniting on this project and embarking on what we anticipate being a fruitful journey with distribution partners globally. With their combined experience and knowledge of the industry, I’m confident that I.E. Entertainment is well aligned to bring this story to market.