US movie director James Cameron is to open a joint venture in China to provide 3-D filming technology there.
CPG China Division, a new arm of Cameron Pace Group, will offer three-dimensional camera technology but will not be involved immediately in producing films, Cameron said on Wednesday.
Tianjin North Film Group, a film distributor, and Tianjin Hi-tech Holding Group are also involved.
The Cameron Pace Group, formed 12 years ago with camera guru Vince Pace, earned $US58 million last year renting 3-D cameras to crews producing films, concert videos and sports broadcasts.
''We're not going to tell Chinese film makers how to make movies. We are going to help them make a transition to 3D production technology as cost effectively as possible, and in a way that doesn't inhibit creativity," he said in an interview in Beijing.
The move follows a number of other announcements by Hollywood in China.
The next Iron Man film will be co-produced in China under a joint agreement between Walt Disney Co, Marvel Studios and DMG Entertainment.
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, the maker of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, plans to open a theme park worth 20 billion yuan ($US3.14 billion) in Shanghai by 2016 with Chinese partners.
Cameron directed Titanic and Avatar, which set a global box office earnings record of a $US2.8 billion.
