Daniel Yu, former COO of Andy Lau's Focus Films, has joined Beijing-based Orange Sky Entertainment as vice general manager of Orange Sky Zhihong Film and TV Productions.

Hewill be over-seeing project development in his new role, an area he has been working on for various entitiesfor the past year in China. He will also work with the distribution arm of Orange Sky to expand its output, Yu told ScreenDaily.

It is understood Orange Sky, previously known as Chengtian Entertainment, will also establish a new production company Orange Sky Ying Hua. Former Orange Sky Zhihong general manager Wang Wei is understood to be heading the new company. Wang told ScreenDaily that the new company is still in preparation and declined to give further details.

Yu is the producer of Chinese filmmaker Ning Hao's sleeper hit Crazy Stone, which was one of the projects produced by Lau's Hong Kong based Focus Films. After leaving Focus Films, Yu shifted his business to mainland China. He also set up a mainland China base for Hong Kong production services company October Pictures, which he co-founded with Philip Lee, Rosa Pang and Tian Zhuangzhuang.

In June 2008, Ning Hao established Stoneman Films as a production company and artist management firm. Yu serves as chief producer of the company and is overseeing Ning's three upcoming projects.

In September, Yu also joined hands with Beijing-based filmmaker Tang Xiru and established First Cuts Features Inc, a company aiming to develop up-and-coming directors in the pan-Asia region.

Yu said he would continue to work on Ning's projects as independent producer and will work with Beijing-based First Cuts Features Inc as an adviser.

Orange Sky Entertainment, which was set up in 2006, encompasses artist management, film and TV production and music. Japan's Avex Group has invested in the company which is also the largest shareholder of Hong Kong-based Golden Harvest Entertainment.

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