Hong Kong-based international sales agent Golden Network is making its first move into production with a three-picture slate which it will co-finance with Korea's NeGa Corporation.

The slate includes Japanese picture Fatal End (working title), to be directed by Hibeo Nakata, while local star Fruit Chan is set to direct Public Toilet. Fatal is being co-produced with Japan's Taka Ichise and Matthew Jacobs.

The third picture, Crying High School (working title), is being made by Korea's Ki-Hyung Park, director of 1998's Whispering Corridors (Yeogo Goedam).

All three pictures are budgeted in the $800,000 to $1m range. NeGa's Cho Sung-Kyu also takes a producing credit and Golden Network will handle world sales. The trio, to be delivered in late autumn, will be given theatrical and digital video releases.

Golden Network's Carrie Wong said: "Production involves a higher risk than sales, but it is not excessive if budgets are kept under control. And now that Asian films are beginning to travel in other Asian countries, the upside is good."