CREATING A REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT HUB
A new entertainment network aims to have local films screened around Asia-Pacific, and Malaysians will get to view productions from 10 countries in the region. DENNIS CHUA has the story
LOCALLY-MADE films and television programmes will increasingly be viewed by worldwide audiences soon, now that an international conglomerate has established itself in Kuala Lumpur.
Not only will China-based conglomerate, Belt And Road Film and TV Global Union, see to Malaysian works going global through its Southeast Asian subsidiary, Malaysia will also get to view films and TV programmes from 10 countries and more than 60 cities.
Its first Malaysian project kicks off next month — an actionpacked adventure that involves a young crew searching for a crashed World War 2 American military aircraft in the jungle of central Perak.
Titled C144, it will open in cinemas here, China, Hong Kong and the United States next year.
BRF-TGU executive director Don Cho said his company aimed to establish a worldwide network for film and television. 52 cities in China have joined in, to date.
“Kuala Lumpur is our first Southeast Asian city. Cities from Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam will follow suit next year,” he said at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with local film company Redboy Production at W Space in Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur recently.
Redboy is the producer of C144, which will be distributed by BRFTGU Southeast Asia in the region. It is the conglomerate’s first strategic partner in Malaysia.
Cho added that logistics for local films and TV programmes, major entertainment awards, such as the Oscars, and major concerts in the participating cities and countries will be part of BRF-TGU. Malaysia will be a prime location for the filming of Southeast Asian productions.
“BRF-TGU Southeast Asia is our main overseas representative. We have chosen Malaysia as the region’s headquarters because it has diverse talent in the performing arts, scenic locations, and credible producers and directors.
“We gave our decision much thought, and we are confident that Malaysia will emerge as a centre of world entertainment in the years to come,” said Cho.
BRF-TGU and its subsidiary Hollywood Tribute are promoting C144, produced by Aaron Lim and directed by Jack Wong.
BRF-TGU Southeast Asia and Hollywood Tribute Malaysia chairman Albert Foong, who was appointed by Cho in the same ceremony, said filming would be done in Kuala Kangsar, Perak and the Klang Valley between next month and March.
Foong said: “C144 was (loosely) based on true events, which took place at the scenic Gunung Bubu in the Bintang Range, near Kuala Kangsar.
“The characters are all fictitious,” he said.
The Malaysian cast are mostly first-time actors. They are Jasmine Leddar, Dyvianna James, Ibrahim Edward, Adery Chin and Koey Har.