By Marinel R. Cruz
A two-member Korean team from the Asian Film Commissions network or AFCNet was in Manila recently for a three-day visit, Philippines Film Export Services office chair Digna Santiago said. AFCNet head of secretariat Park Kwang-su (also the director of the Asian Film Market held in Pusan in October) came with his assistant Kevin Kang. They visited post-production facilities toured scenic spots in the country and met key players in the movie industry from Feb. 11 to 13, Santiago told INQUIRER Entertainment. The trip is part of continuing efforts of the Department of Tourism and the Film Development Council to promote the Philippines as an alternative film site.
Film production network
Founded in 2004, the AFCNet is a network of Asian film commissions and organizations that actively pursues movie production in Asia by building a convenient working environment. It has 36 members from 11 Asian countries. The Philippines, under the PFESO, is its newest member.
Perfect for int¡¯l productions
On Feb. 13, INQUIRER Entertainment spoke with Kang on the phone while his entourage was on a Subic safari. He said he was impressed with International Academy of Film and Television, a film school within Bigfoot, and planned to co-produce a film with the Cebu-based studio.
¡°The film industry in the Philippines has an interesting workflow. It¡¯s perfect for international productions,¡± Kang observed. ¡°It¡¯s also an advantage that majority of Filipinos can speak English.¡±
Meanwhile, a Bollywood film outfit is about to start shooting here in March. The movie, an action-comedy titled ¡°Loot,¡± will be shot in Subic and Metro Manila, Santiago added.
Last month, Huseifa Lokdawala, chief operating officer of Popcorn Motion picture PVT Ltd. And producer of ¡°Loot,¡± was in the country with a five-member crew for pre-production.
Lokdawala is one of eight top Bollywood filmmakers who visited Manila as part of the DOT¡¯s Film Tourism¡± project.
According to Santiago, six Indian producers from five film companies are scheduled to arrive on Feb. 29 for a familiarization tour. (Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)
|
|
