Ministry Of Sound, Singapura

The long-awaited launch of Ministry Of Sound (MOS) in Singapore happens tomorrow night. Spain's Café del Mar, another past cult brand in club culture and history, is to open doors as well. Ministry Of Sound recently closed shop in Thailand after tightening of the Bangkok nightlife by the Thai authorities. Industry rumour is that MOS, in fact, considered sunny Singapore much earlier, even before Bangkok, but was scared off when a then local partner in consideration insisted on having Karaoke on the MOS menu.

If managed well, MOS might just provide some serious competition to Zouk - Singapore's only real clubbing institution and brand. Another strange addition to the Singapore nightlife landscape is the also recently opened Crazy Horse. And all these, a stone's throw away from each other in Clarke Quay. We're so excited - we can gallop back and forth and go crazy like Jay Z!! (Oops, wrong genre)

Check out the MOS Singapore website

ZoukOut: Thumbs & Toes Up!

Most would agree with reviews over the weekend that this year's ZoukOut 2005 was by far the best. It was well organised, well attended and well staged. The Main Stage and it's lighting was absolutely brilliantly engineered - one of the best we've seen. The roster of international DJs were at their best. The crowd was diverse, festive, playful and indulgent in their skinware. Drinks were served out in a jiffy which was pleasantly surprising.

Only suggestions for improvement would be to rid the long queues by better managing traffic into the arena. Oh, and also to lose the "Pearl Centre" Foot Reflexologists. It was indeed a uniquely silly sight seeing rows of foot masseurs, in their Chinatown garb and trade, at what is supposedly Singapore's "hippest and coolest" annual club/dance party event. (not quite sure of the FHM co-branding too)

Thumbs & Toes Up Nonetheless!

"KungFu Gecko" by Egg Story

Singapore's first bold entry into big budget animated feature film-making - KungFu Gecko by Egg Story Creative Productions - recently had their trailer unveiled at the American Film Market.

KungFu Gecko Synopsis
"Enter a world of small creatures where microscopic legends begin. A tiny tale about an unlikely band of accidental heroes, with little "Kungfu" and plenty of luck, overcomes all adversity and unexpectedly free a kingdom from the clutches of evil.

Saving the world in 2008!"

Watch the Trailer online at the Egg Story Website!

SFC grants seed money to six projects

As reported on ScreenDaily.Com
By Silvia Wong in Singapore 07 December 2005

Twelve new projects were shortlisted for a one-day intensive pitching session held last Thursday during the Asia Film Market in Singapore. The international jury panel consisted of Celluloid Dreams’ Michael Wrenn, Focus Films’ Elliot Tong, RGM Holdings co-executive chairman Devesh Chetty, Golden Village managing director Kenneth Tan and Singapore’s Media Development Authority Man Shu Sum.

Six winners were awarded including MediaCorp Raintree Pictures, Ground Glass Images, Oak3 Films as well as newcomers One Ton Cinema, Monsoon Pictures and Red Ink Media.

While the creative and artistic merits as well as commercial potential of the projects are some of the major assessment criteria, preference is given to projects set up as international co-productions.

"Singapore is heading in the right direction in encouraging co-productions. International collaboration is essential to raising awareness and developing the nascent local film industry," says Tong, Hong Kong’s Focus Films vice president of film production and acquisition.

The six winners:

Armful, action adventure
Produced by One Ton Cinema’s Kevin Lee

Nadra, period drama
Co-produced by Monsoon Pictures’ Christopher Chew and
International Entertainment Services’ Gary Rogers from
Australia

Fang, coming-of-age drama
Co-produced by Ground Glass Images’ Juan Foo and Red
Films’ Lina Tan from Malaysia

Tattoo, horror
Produced by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures’ Chan Pui Yin
and Seah Saw Yam
Director: Lee Thean-jeen

Charlie Company, horror
Written and produced by Red Ink Media’s Gilbert Chan

Titoudao, drama
Produced by Oak3 Films’ Lim Suat Yen
Director/writer: Goh Boon Teck

More on ScreenDaily.Com

Read the Official Singapore Film Commission Press Release

One Ton Cinema Debut Film Project Awarded Grant

We're excited to announce that a project in One Ton Cinema's debut feature film slate - ARMFUL - has just won a grant for development.

The pitch held last week was facilitated by the Singapore Film Commission and panelled by
a) Mr Michael Wrenn, Acquisitions, Pacific Office, Celluloid Dreams,
b) Mr Elliot Tong, Vice President of Film Production & Acquisition, Focus Films,
c) Mr Devesh Chetty, Chairman, RGM Holdings Pte Ltd,
d) Mr Kenneth Tan, Managing Director, Golden Village & SFC Board Member
e) Mr Man Shu Sum, Programme Director, Media Development Authority

ARMFUL

Logline:
A man loses his arm and the life he knows. Pushed to extremes, he becomes obsessed with getting even and seeks vengeance against those who have wronged him.

Genre: Action/Drama/Comedy
Language: Chinese (Mandarin & Dialects)
Status: Script In Development (Treatment Available)

Watch this space for development updates.