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WHILE its crews were filming Asian entertainment news from Berlin to Hong Kong to Hollywood, the producers were reviewing and editing footage. At the same time, co-workers were cutting new trailers and producing promotional flyers.
This whirlwind of activity marked the weeks before Singapore-based FCCE Asia Pacific's trip to MIPTV in Cannes. FCCE Asia Pacific – a content and distribution company – travelled to MIPTV from 12 to 16 April as part of a 15-member delegation of Singapore companies led by the Media Development Authority (MDA).
This was FCCE Asia Pacific’s second time attending MIPTV as part of the MDA-led delegation. This year, the company took the opportunity to launch a new programme Films & Stars Asia.
What is MIPTV?
MIPTV is an annual international media market for co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content across all platforms. Held in Cannes in France, the event represents a huge opportunity for Singapore firms to make new contacts, explore co-production possibilities and market their content to international buyers.
MDA led a delegation of 15 Singapore media companies under the Singapore Pavilion for MIPTV 2010, held from 12 to 16 April. This was MDA’s 10th MIPTV expedition.
It was also the first time that Singapore was selected as the event’s Country of Focus. Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore’s Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, gave an opening address, while media specialists from Singapore formed two panels to discuss the topics Co-Producing with Singapore and From Singapore to the World.
Check out the highlights from MIPTV 2010:
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"It is the first show of its kind to bring together the latest in film and celebrity news from Asia and Hollywood in a weekly TV magazine-style programme, so it is an exciting new venture for Singapore to be part of," said Mr Ian Jones, Managing Director, FCCE Asia Pacific.
He added: “We find that being part of the MDA delegation gives us a particular position as a Singapore media company.”
Indeed, FCCE Asia’s goal to focus on the Asian entertainment market dovetails nicely with Singapore’s goal to become a trusted capital for New Asia Media. For this year’s venture to MIPTV, MDA focused on several strategic fronts:
- Stereoscopic 3D content
- Internationalisation
- Asian-themed content
Stereoscopic 3D Content
In view of rapid 3DTV developments on the display and hardware front, MDA’s strategy has been to boost the development of 3D content in tandem, and build an industry of 3D production experts to meet future demand. This has been greatly boosted by the establishment of a S$10 million 3D development fund in 2008 to support 3D content creation in Singapore.
Since November 2008, when Singapore hosted the world’s first stereoscopic 3D festival (3DX: Film Entertainment and Technology Festival), Singapore has gone on to nurture 3D production and post-production as well as stereoscopic 3D animation companies. So, for the interim, conversion facilities will allow the stock of 3D content to be increased, while new films are already being made in stereoscopic 3D.
Internationalisation
Internationalisation was once again a key focus at MIPTV. MDA continued to seek opportunities for co-productions aimed at global markets and to forge partnerships to co-create content, applications and services for the world.
Co-production treaties are an important means to achieve that goal. For example, media companies and professionals from Singapore are collaborating with their counterparts from United Kingdom and Australia under the joint MDA-Southwest Screen Content Co-Development Scheme and the MDA-ScreenWest Cross-Media Development Initiative respectively.
Asian-themed Content
Asia is experiencing an increasing appetite for Asian-produced content. Localised content, especially drama, is a big hit with Asian viewers. Economic growth in the region, coupled with rising consumer spending power, has fanned the demand for lifestyle and factual entertainment programming that focuses on the region.
Singapore producers are meeting this demand by producing Asian-themed content. For example, Channel NewsAsia's Kungfu Kitchen, a reality series that challenges apprentice chefs to master time-honoured culinary skills in a short span of time, is a response to the growing interest in Chinese culture from around the world. The series will be distributed by Indigo Films & TV.
Other examples of Asian-oriented content include Sun Tzu: War on Business – a 13-part reality series featuring dot.com millionaire and The Apprentice runner-up, James Sun. Viewers will follow Sun as he helps to turn businesses around using the principles found in The Art of War, an ancient Chinese text. Co-produced by The Right Angle Media and China Multimedia Networks, this series will be distributed by BBC Worldwide and will premiere across Asia on Channel NewsAsia International in the first half of 2010.
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