13 New Singapore Films Next Year, New Converged TV Formats on Show,
and More at Asia TV Forum & Market - ScreenSingapore 2012
SINGAPORE, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore will
be a hub of media activity come 4 - 7 December when more than 4,000
film and television trade delegates from 60 countries converge in
the island state to trade, market and screen their content at the
Asia TV Forum & Market ScreenSingapore 2012.
The event promises to be exciting as it combines a converged
film and television market with global industry players, including
studios, broadcasters, production houses, distributors and
financiers in attendance.
Singapore's film and television
industry players are expected to have a strong showing at the
event, with over 100 local media companies showcasing more than 600
hours of the best in local content at the Singapore Pavilion.
On the film front, local filmmakers will be making Singapore proud with its bumper crop of 13 new
films to hit the market. These includes horror films, comedies,
documentaries and coming-of-age stories about love, marriage
and parenthood.
The 13 new Singapore films are
The Wedding Diary II; Ah Boys to Men II; That Girl in
Pinafore; Ghost Child; Mister John; Menstrual Man;
Taxi Taxi; Wa is for Wayang; 3 Peas in a Pod; Afterimages; 3.50;
Red Numbers and Pickles.
For the details on the films as well as their expected theatrical
release dates in Singapore, please
refer to Annex A. Seven of these new films will be featured
at "Sneak Peeks", an event organised by the Media Development
Authority of Singapore (MDA) to
market Singapore films to
international distributors.
Today, the production volume of Made In Singapore films has doubled; rising from just
six Singapore films in 2002, to 13
new Singapore films for next year.
Box office takings jumped 1.5 times in 2011, with earnings of
SGD$9.2m, compared to SGD$6m in 2002. Singapore also continues to have one of the
largest film exhibition sectors in this part of the world.
The Wedding Diary II to make its World Premiere
in Singapore
Of the 13 films, The Wedding Diary II by Clover Films has
been selected as the Closing Premiere of ScreenSingapore. As part
of its world premiere, the cast and director will be walking the
red carpet at Golden Village Cineplex, Vivo City, at 8:30pm on 6 December.
Said Mr Lim Teck, Managing
Director, Clover Films and ScreenSingapore Board Member, "We are
proud that The Wedding Diary II is selected as the closing
premiere at ScreenSingapore. The global spotlight will certainly
help boost the film's profile, as well as add buzz and vibrancy to
Singapore's film scene."
The Wedding Diary II is produced and distributed by
Clover Films (Singapore), Golden
Screen Cinemas (Malaysia), Asia
Tropical Films (Malaysia), Star
Chinese Movies (Hong Kong),
Satellite Television Asia Region (Malaysia) and Mega Cineplex (Malaysia).
It has a strong Asian cast, including veteran Singapore actors Jack
Choo and Marcus Chin, as well
as Malaysia's Aniu
(Homecoming, Ice Kacang Puppy Love), Hong Kong's Elanne
Kwong (Love Lifting, The Wedding Diary) and
Taiwanese singer-actress Cynthia
Wong (Devotion).
Singapore filmmakers go on
to the global stage to share insights with international film
community
With ScreenSingapore's spotlight on Asia, local filmmakers will share their
personal perspectives gained from years of working in the
China market, and on financing and
co-production matters with international filmmakers:
- Film director Jack Neo will speak at the film co-production
& financing panel on "South East
Asia: New Filmmaker, New Money" (6 December). Mr Neo is a
32-year veteran of the film and television industry and a Cultural
Medallion winner. His films have achieved overseas success in
Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia. His film I Not Stupid was
named one of the Ten Best Chinese Movies at the 8th Golden Bauhinia
Awards. In 2009, he was voted The Most Popular Male Artist at the
18th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in
China.
- Mike Wiluan, Chief Executive, Infinite Studios will be
moderating the film co-production and financing panel on
"South East Asia: New Filmmaker,
New Money" (6 December). His company, Infinite Studios, has
invested in film and television content with global partners from
Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. Mr Wiluan's company is currently
shooting Serangoon Road, one of South East Asia's largest television
co-productions, with Australian Broadcasting Corporation and HBO
Asia.
- Kenneth Tan, Assistant Chief
Executive Officer (Assessment), MDA, will be the moderator for the
Film Keynote panel featuring Bona Film Group's Yu Dong (5 December) and "Theatre Innovation: A
Conversation with Dolby" panel (5 December). Mr Tan was the former
Managing Director of Golden Village and Chief Executive Officer of
MediaCorp Radio and Chief Operating Officer of MediaCorp TV.
- Joachim Ng, Director (Industry
Operations), MDA, will moderate the animation co-production and
financing panel (6 December). Mr Ng is responsible for overseeing
MDA's industry operations, including, converged content.
Converged Singapore
productions and new TV formats on show at ATF/SS 2012
Moving from film to broadcast, our local media industry will be
showcasing their content innovation, particularly on the converged
format.
For instance, Singapore
companies will showcase converged content, such as the
highly-successful The Kitchen Musical, a musical television
drama by The Group Entertainment which was nominated for "Best
Drama Series" in the International Emmy Awards 2012. Operating on a
fresh format i.e. TV musical, the series is expanding its footprint
to Asian countries such as Vietnam, Philippines and even as far as US and UK, in
the form of a theatre musical, book and adaptations of its TV
series.
Still on content innovation, MediaCorp will showcase its latest
transmedia drama, 96°C Cafe. The mini drama will be telecast
online in xinMSN and continue its run as a 20-episode serial on
Free-to-Air TV and stars Tay Ping Hui, Chris Tong, Cynthia
Koh, Desmond Tan,
Julie Tan and Ian Fang. The drama's theme song is also
supported under MDA's Development Assistance grant, which provides
funding support for original Singapore compositions.
Television programmes made by Singapore production houses are seen by
audiences in over 70 countries around the world.
Dialogue, networking and collaboration opportunities
With Singapore's continued
efforts to tap opportunities for Singapore companies in the China market, MDA is supporting the
China-Singapore Dialogue where Singapore TV producers can network
directly with representatives of China's top broadcast stations for
collaboration in dramas and documentaries. This will be attended by
some 50 producers including representatives from China Central
Television (CCTV), Shanghai Media Group, MediaCorp and
MyChinaChannel. Melvin Ang,
Executive Director, MyChinaChannel and Executive Director mm2
Entertainment will also share his experience on working in the
China market at this session.
In line with the converged market, MDA continues to place
emphasis on cross-content collaboration. To further catalyse such
projects, MDA is organising a business matching session on 5
December bringing together local film, television and music talent
with international players for such collaboration
opportunities.
Said Mr Yeo Chun Cheng, Assistant
Chief Executive Officer (Industry), Media Development Authority of
Singapore (MDA), "This market
provides tremendous opportunities for global media players to
capitalise on business opportunities created by Asia's expanding media sector, and to do so
from Singapore, a great place to
inspire talent and create compelling international content. The
various platforms that MDA has created will bring people together,
and those who know how to tap on them will certainly find their
time at the market to be extremely rewarding."
The 500-sq m Singapore Pavilion, located at H02, G02, G13 and
J02 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre Hall C, Marina Bay Sands comprises a good mix of
companies from a good mix of television, film, music, animation,
and media services sectors, mirroring the converged nature of the
market. Catch a preview of selected Singapore content at the Singapore Pavilion at
https://www.youtube.com/user/MDASingapore.
The Singapore entertainment and
media market is projected to have a 5.8 per cent compounded annual
growth rate, while Singapore's
digital spending is projected to grow at 10 per cent per annum from
2012 to 2016 according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global
Entertainment & Media Outlook 2012-2016.
About Media Development Authority (MDA)
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (www.mda.gov.sg) promotes the growth
of globally competitive Animation, Broadcast, Film, Games,
Interactive Media, Music and Publishing industries. It also
regulates the media sector to safeguard the interest of consumers
and promotes a connected society. MDA is a statutory board
under the Ministry of Communications and Information
(www.mci.gov.sg).
13 new Singapore
films for 2013
|
Annex
A
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
S/No
|
Title
|
Synopsis
|
Language
|
Director
|
Production
Company
|
Expected
Release Date
|
1
|
* Taxi! Taxi!
|
'Taxi! Taxi!' follows the trials
and tribulations of a retrenched microbiology scientist, Professor
Chua, as he turns to taxi driving after several failed job
attempts. He befriends a veteran driver, Ah Tau. The two men, polar
opposites of each other, from educational level, personality,
attitude towards life and even the languages they speak,
eventually find themselves interdependent and influencing each
other in positive ways.
|
Chinese
|
Kelvin Sng
|
SIMF Management, RAM
Entertainment, PMP Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, SgLanded,
Scorpio East Pictures
|
3 Jan 2013
|
2
|
Pickles
|
Five unlikely characters
form a film company to achieve their individual dreams. Arvind, a
metrosexual male, who dreams of becoming a great filmmaker starts
forming his team. There's Sruthi, his childhood friend;
Walter, a James Cameron wannabe director; Thanes,
the ruthless dictator; and finally, Kaly the village
playwright. Clueless about filmmaking, this team of misfits
attempt their childhood dream of producing a film.
|
English-
Tamil
|
JK Saravana
|
Tantra Films
|
Jan 2013
|
3
|
Ah Boys to Men
II
|
This army story depicts
the enlistment of young boys, who have lived a sheltered life. In
the army, life is no longer a bed of roses. It's a place where boys
undergo harsh military training and face life's challenges, such as
in their relationship with family, friends and bunkmates. The boys
learn to be responsible, and their enlistment marks their
transition to manhood.
|
Chinese
|
Jack Neo
|
J Team Productions &
mm2 entertainment
|
7 Feb 2013
|
4
|
The Wedding Diary
II
|
Soon after marriage,
Weijie and Zhixin face pressure to conceive. When it finally
happens, the couple realise that having a child is not a
matter concerning only them, but actually involves their
families too. Will parenthood be a bed of roses? Or does the
arrival of their baby mark the start of many challenges to
be faced by the young couple?
|
Chinese
|
Adrian Teh
|
Clover Films, Golden
Screen Cinemas, Asia Tropical Films, SCM, Mega Cineplex
|
14 Feb 2013
|
5
|
Red Numbers
|
'Red Numbers' revolves
around a guy, who, according to a fengshui master, only has
three lucky minutes in his miserable life. His fortune is wrapped
up with a greedy family whose grandfather holds the key to the
winning combination in the 4D lottery.
|
Chinese
|
Dom Ow
|
Supernova
Media
|
22 Feb 2013
|
6
|
* Ghost Child
|
Unable to come to terms
with death of her mother, 15-year old Kim suddenly has to deal with
a new mother in her life. Na, her stepmother hails from a remote
village in Indonesia. A series of mysterious and strange
incidents starts to occur at the family home when she arrives in
Singapore.
|
Chinese
|
Gilbert Chan
|
Gorylah Pictures, mm2
Entertainment, Clover Films
|
21 Mar 2013
|
7
|
3.50
|
When a young Cambodian
girl is abducted from her village, a brash American documentary
filmmaker ventures deep into the underbelly of Phnom Penh to rescue
her, and crosses paths with various other lives affected by the
city's harsh rules of survival.
|
English
|
Eysham Ali & Chhay
Bora
|
Supernova
Media
|
June
2013
|
8
|
Afterimages
|
'Afterimages' is about a
group of artists who burn cameras as offerings to the dead, and in
return, receive a collection of footages from hell in the form of
short horror movies.
|
English
|
Tony Kern
|
Mythopolis
Pictures
|
Aug 2013
|
9
|
* Menstrual
Man
|
There are men who squirm at
the mention of a woman's period. And then there's Muruganantham, a
man who went as far as to analyse strangers' used pads in his quest
to produce low-cost sanitary napkins for India's poor. In telling
Muruganatham's inspiring story, "Menstrual Man" underscores the
role of social entrepreneurship in combating poverty, and
highlights the importance of economic empowerment of women to
enable a better world.
|
English
|
Amit Virmani
|
Coup
Communications
|
TBC
|
10
|
* Mister John
|
An Irishman whose
marriage is in crisis travels alone to
Singapore after the
sudden and suspicious death of his
estranged brother, and
soon
finds himself immersed
in the
daily life of this man
he never
truly knew.
|
English
|
Fran Borgia
|
Akanga Films
|
TBC
|
11
|
* That Girl In
Pinafore
|
'That Girl in Pinafore'
revolves around four teenagers - Jiaming, Xiaopang, Haoban and
Caogen. The story follows the teenagers' efforts to bring business
back to a struggling folk music pub, and the blossoming love
between Jiaming and May, an ardent fan of Singaporean folk
music.
|
Chinese
|
Chai Yee Wei
|
mm2
Entertainment
|
TBC
|
12
|
3 Peas in a
Pod
|
'3 Peas in a Pod' is a
story about friendship, love and obsession. Three university
students from three different countries are good friends whose love
lives are intertwined with one another's. Just before they graduate
and go back to their respective countries to embark on their
working lives, the three friends decide to go on a road trip in the
country they've been studying in for the last 4 years: Australia.
Little do they know, this farewell holiday is a trip that will
change their lives forever.
|
Chinese-English
|
Michelle
Chong
|
Huat Films
|
In
development
|
13
|
Wa is for
Wayang
|
'Wa is for Wayang' is
about an immigrant boy from India who gets caught between a clumsy
teacher who vows to preserve a fading cultural art and an obsessive
school principal who strives to rid the aged old tradition.
Discover the new family comedy about hope, values and harmony that
is told through a misfit Indian boy and the mystical Chinese
Opera.
|
English
|
Raymond Tan
|
Brainchild
Pictures
|
In
development
|
* Supported under MDA's
Production Assistance Grant
Scheme
|
Information accurate as at 21 Nov 2012
|
SOURCE Media Development Authority