Dated: 15 May 2010
Strengthening Singapore’s ongoing ties with Hollywood, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) today announced the launch of its latest project, a two-part reality based television series featuring legendary producer and Hyde Park Entertainment’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ashok Amritraj. Entitled Project Pitching and Development with Ashok or Project PDA for short, the MDA-originated series is also a commemoration to Amritraj for his achievements in Hollywood and the international film industry as he celebrates the production of his 100th film.
“Hyde Park is constantly on the look out for exciting projects, fresh talent and new cinematic stories. Through this project, we hope to discover the local talent in Singapore and what they can bring to the international filmmaking scene,” said Amritraj.
Project PDA, which will be broadcast at the end of this year on Singapore’s free-to-air channels, will see teams compete against each other for an internship at Hollywood’s prestigious Hyde Park Group. Winners will have the opportunity to hone their skills and learn from the best in the business. In addition, they also stand a chance of having their films co-financed by MDA and globally distributed by Hyde Park.
Commenting on the project, Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer at MDA said: ”Project PDA brings a touch of Hollywood to Singapore and is a result of our long-standing relationship with Hyde Park. With Ashok leading the panel, up-and-coming Singapore talent will be able to go beyond their comfort zones to face challenges that test both their creative skills as well as marketing and business know-how as they compete for the chance to work with Hyde Park.”
Singapore first established links with Hyde Park Entertainment in May 2008, when Hyde Park Entertainment established its Asian Headquarters in Singapore. The partnership saw the setting up of a US$75 million production fund for Hyde Park to acquire, develop, produce and distribute a slate of feature films for worldwide distribution. The partnership was subsequently extended last October to include Imagenation Abu Dhabi leading to the formation of the Asian headquarters, Hyde Park Imagenation Singapore.
Project PDA, which will be filmed in Singapore in August, will consist of qualifying and final rounds where contestants will pitch their film concepts to a panel of judges, consisting of Amritraj with leading Singapore filmmakers, and compete with each other on challenging tasks.
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Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA)
Formed in 2003, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) plays a vital role in transforming Singapore into a Trusted Global Capital for New Asia Media. MDA spearheads initiatives that promote industry growth in film, television, radio, publishing, music, games, animation and Interactive Digital Media. At the same time, in ensuring clear and consistent regulatory policies and guidelines, MDA helps to foster a pro-business environment for industry players and increase media choices for consumers. For more information, visit www.mda.gov.sg and www.smf.sg.
Singapore Film Commission (SFC)
The Singapore Film Commission (SFC) is an agency under the Media Development Authority (MDA) that facilitates and assists film development for Singapore. The SFC’s key areas of focus are: Funding, Facilitation and Promotion. Its mission is to nurture, support, and promote Singapore talent in film-making, the production of Singapore films, and a film industry in Singapore. For more information please visit www.sfc.org.sg
About Hyde Park Entertainment
Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group has established itself as one of the most prolific and successful major production companies in Hollywood -- responsible for such critical and box office hits as Bringing Down the House, Shopgirl, Premonition, Raising Helen and Walking Tall. Hyde Park has grown into a cutting-edge alternative to the traditional Hollywood studio system for filmmakers, by making it one of the few progressive global independent companies that encompasses most elements of a full-fledged studio. The company, which includes live-action, animation and cross-cultural cinema is capable of developing, producing and financing projects, as well as handling their international sales and marketing. With partnerships in Singapore, India and the Middle East, Amritraj’s Hyde Park has pioneered the effort to build a bridge between East and West by bringing together cinema and cultural exchanges and providing a platform for Indian and Asian talent to be showcased globally.
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