HOOQ calls for entries from Phl talents

HOOQ, the largest Video-on-Demand service in Southeast Asia, is embarking on Season 2 of the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild search for five scripts to be produced into pilot episodes.

With the success of the pilot season, HOOQ Filmmakers Guild once again gives filmmakers and film students a chance to turn their most imaginative TV series ideas into reality. Preliminary judging will be done by a star-studded panel consisting of the top film talents around Asia who will select five scripts to be turned into pilots. Together with HOOQ subscribers’ viewership, the grand winner will be chosen from these pilots and then produced into a fullblown series.

Sheila Paul, HOOQ Philippines country manager, said, “The second season is inspired by the success of Season 1. We hope that HOOQ’s continued support for filmmakers in the region via HOOQ Filmmakers Guild encourages more Filipino screenplay writers and storytellers to submit their scripts.”

Jeffrey Remigio, content and programming head at HOOQ Philippines, pointed out, “There are so many talented Asian filmmakers but it’s about time a Filipino makes it to the finals and take the prize.”

HOOQ named two new judges from the Philippines to complete the panel for this year: Agot Isidro, known for her portrayals in Changing Partners, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNot Enough and Mga Mumunting Lihim, and Jun Robles Lana whose directorial work includes Die Beautiful, Bwakaw and Anino sa Likod ng Buwan.

Agot said, ”We are very excited to see the depth of talent from the region’s filmmakers. I have always believed that all they ever needed was a good break and this is it.”

Direk Jun added, “These are truly exciting times for Asian filmmakers and I am very proud to be part of it.”

Along with the judges from the rest of the region, they will select five of the best scripts as finalists. The chosen scripts from the participating countries; Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia will be given $30,000 each to produce a pilot episode which will premiere on HOOQ. Regional judges will name the Best Pilot and soon be converted into a full series exclusively on HOOQ in 2019.

HOOQ Filmmakers Guild 2018 started midMay and will be open for entries until July 31. Applicants must be working as professionals in the movie industry with prior film production experience. They are to submit the script and treatment for a series with a maximum of 13 episodes for a single season to qualify. There will be no restriction to genre, however, submissions and productions must be in the language of the applicant’s country. For more details, log on to https://campaign.hooq.tv/filmmakersguild2018-ph.