EXCLUSIVE: Asia-focused production, financing and sales outfit EST Studios has acquired international sales rights to Canneseries selection Streams Flow From A River, produced by Canada’s Fae Pictures.
06.04.2023 - 14:57 / variety.com
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief As recently as last month, government officials in the Malaysian state of Serawak, Borneo, told local media that their state needs to build a new film production facility like the Iskandar Malaysia Studios in the south of peninsular Malaysia. Serawak officials said that their state Premier had visited the studios and plans had been discussed with FINAS, Malaysia’s national film regulatory and financing body.
The illusion of glittering success was shattered last week by an undramatic regulatory filing across the border in Singapore. IMS had been sold to a foreign TV company for a tiny fraction of its construction cost.
The sale appears to crystallize more than $100 million of losses.GHY Culture & Media, a Singaporean company specializing in Chinese-language content, announced that it had bought an 80% stake in SMS, an intermediary company, for $2 million (RM8.84 million). GHY and SMS must then spend a further $6 million (RM26.5 million) to buy 100% of IMS from state-backed investment vehicle Granatum Ventures.
Total $8 million. Among the usual verbiage and deflection associated with a deal announcement, GHY’s filing revealed that, “based on the audited accounts of IMS for the financial year ended 31 December 2022, the net asset value of IMS is approximately RM 32,000,000,” or $7.3 million.
The facility is scarcely insignificant: “IMS owns and operates integrated film and television facilities in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, which includes film stages, television studios, water filming tanks and production support facilities. These include five state-of-the-art stages which are versatile working spaces, which also have stage pits for water filming and dry use, as well as two 12,000 square feet
.EXCLUSIVE: Asia-focused production, financing and sales outfit EST Studios has acquired international sales rights to Canneseries selection Streams Flow From A River, produced by Canada’s Fae Pictures.
Prince Edward has tried King Charles’ new “Coronation Quiche” as the recipe for the dish was officially revealed. The 59 year old royal - who was officially made Duke of Edinburgh on his birthday last month - joined The Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith in trying the official coronation pastry at a special Big Lunch at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday, attended by faith leaders from across the country.
“olive branch” to the estranged Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.The monarch has prominently featured a photograph of the controversial Duke and Duchess of Sussex in his official coronation souvenir program. Markle’s appearance is raising eyebrows considering she’s infamously not attending the historic May 6 event.The fun family photo was actually snapped in Clarence Gardens in 2018 for Charles’ 70th birthday, which explains the absence of Harry and Meghan’s babes Princess Lilibet, 1, and Prince Archie, 3.Of course some social media watchdogs are cattily calling out the dated image.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla have personally chosen a “Coronation Quiche” recipe that includes an ingredient loved by A-list celebs - edamame beans. The Royal Family’s official Twitter account has shared the recipe for the open baked savoury tart that can be made for the Big Lunches set to be held to mark the King and Queen Consort's crowning. It features cheddar cheese, spinach, tarragon and either broad or soya beans - also known as edamame.
A casting director who will help select the next actor to play James Bond in the popular film franchise laid out one major requirement for Daniel Craig‘s replacement.
After months of intense speculation, the star-studded musical lineup for King Charles ’ upcoming Coronation concert has now officially been revealed to the public. Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie are among the musical stars who will perform at the historic occasion to celebrate the crowning of the King and Queen Consort, the BBC has announced.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Michelle Yeoh, who made history by winning the best actress Oscar for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” last month, made an emotional return trip to her native Malaysia last week. She visited her mother in time for the traditional Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, and stopped by the grave of her father who died in 2014. In an Instagram post on Wednesday she said, “Brought Mr. O home. Without my parents’ love and trust and support, I wouldn’t be here today.”A post shared by Michelle Yeoh 楊紫瓊 (@michelleyeoh_official) Her trip home represented a promise that Yeoh made during her Oscars acceptance speech.
With the Coronation just around the corner, King Charles appears to be a "calmer person", according to body language expert Darren Stanton.The King and Queen Consort Camila, who will become 'Queen Camilia', will be Coronated on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. And experts believe King Charles will slip into his new role just fine since becoming much more "comfortable" at big events. Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, Darren explained: “King Charles was shown shaking hands and making a swift exit following the [Easter] ceremony.
The Crown Jewels are some of the most easily recognised and priceless artefacts in the world. Despite normally being stored in the Jewel House at the Tower of London and guarded by bomb proof glass and more than 100 hidden security cameras, several pieces were removed earlier this year to be fitted ahead of the Coronation.Traditionally, the historic items are only removed from their secure location for special reasons, such as the State Opening of Parliament - but it hasn’t always been that way.
More than 850 community and charity representatives from across the UK have been invited to the King’s coronation. Invitations to the May 6 service at Westminster Abbey in central London have been extended to more than 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients in recognition of their contributions.
Birthday blessings! Robert Downey Jr. rang in his 58th year by looking back at 57 — complete with a rare glimpse at his family life.
King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort's coronation guests are in for a special invitation. On Tuesday, the official invitation for the May 6 ceremony — which will go out to 2,000 people — was revealed.True to form, and tradition, the invitation, designed by Andrew Jamieson, has symbols of Charles and Camilla's new roles in the monarchy. Jamieson is a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator, who is also a Brother of the Art Workers’ Guild, which Charles is an honorary member of. The top of the invitation reads: The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla By Command of the King The Earl Marshall is Directed to Invite." The middle portion of the invitation is left blank, where the guest's name will be.Below are the details of the ceremony, which reads: «To Be Present at The Abbey Church of Westminster of the 6th Day of May 2023. The official invitation was originally hand-painted with watercolor, and the design — featuring the Coronation Emblem — will be reproduced and reprinted on recycled card with gold foil detailing.Charles and Camilla's invitation includes artwork that adds a personal touch and nod to their roles as king and queen consort. According to the release, „Central to the design is the motif of the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign.
Prince George is set to have a very special role in the coronation of his grandfather, King Charles III. On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace released the invitation for Charles' coronation — set for May 6 — with a detailed description of George's role in the service.George will be one of eight Pages of Honour who have been chosen to attend the coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort Camila next month.Throughout the coronation service, Their Majesties will each be attended by four Pages of Honour.
Tiger King star Carole Baskin is closing down her Big Cat Rescue sanctuary and transporting its wildlife to Arkansas.The closure was announced in a memo, written by Carole’s husband Howard Baskin and posted on the sanctuary’s website last week (March 27). The couple have also vowed to donate funds to the new sanctuary named Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, in which the wildlife are now headed.“Big Cat Rescue has entered into an agreement with Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, an accredited sanctuary in Arkansas, to move most of Big Cat Rescue’s cats to Turpentine Creek where we will continue to fund their care for the rest of their lives,” read the statement.“[Once the cats are moved,] we will sell the sanctuary property and use the proceeds to fund these species-saving projects in the wild.”Baskin further explained the closure by referencing the Big Cat Public Safety Act, or BCPSA – a federal law signed last year that prohibits private ownership of big cats including lions, tigers, cougars, cheetahs, leopards or any hybrid breeds.According to the statement, it was the high costs of maintaining the enclosure that led the couple to sell.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The high-profile film and TV production facilities Iskandar Malaysia Studios have been sold to Singapore’s GHY Culture & Media. GHY has paid RM8.8 million ($1.98 million) for an 80% stake in Studio Management Services, investment company, to RK Media Ventures Sdn Bhd and CL Media Holdings. According to a regulatory filing GHY and SMS must pay a further RM26.5 million ($5.99 million) within five days to state-owned Granatum Ventures to buy 100% of Iskandar Malaysia Studios. That gives a total purchase price of RM35.3 million ($8 million) for a controlling 80% stake. The remaining minority can be bought out in five years. The filing said that Iskandar Malaysia Studios’ net asset value at the end of 2022 was RM32 million ($7.23 million).
With the King’s big day set to take place on 6 May, Dr. George Gross, a visiting research fellow in Theology at King’s College London, has identified two “real messages” behind the Queen Consort's choice not to commission a new crown for her Coronation.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Mariëtte Rissenbeek, who heads over the Berlin International Film Festival along with Carlo Chatrian, has decided to step down after next year’s edition. Rissenbeek’s contract expires in March 2024, and she has opted to not renew it, according to the German culture ministry, which is the main financier of the festival. German Culture Minister Claudia Roth said she regretted Rissenbeek’s decision, but praised her for prompting a “generational change” within the leadership of the cultural institution. Rissenbeek, an industry veteran who previously worked as managing director of promotion agency German Films, has reached retirement age in Germany (at 67). The executive will step down after the 74th edition of the festival which she’s due to prepare with Chatrian.
King Charles has taken on a new ceremonial role with the British Army’s military engineers – following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen. Buckingham Palace announced that the King, 74, has become Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Known as the Sappers, the Engineers are multi-skilled soldiers and combat engineers who provide global military engineering and technical support to the armed forces and their allies.The King held an audience with Chief Royal Engineer Lieutenant General Sir Tyrone Urch at the Palace on 14 March.
James Bond in the 1980s.The Game Of Thrones actor explained in an interview with the Guardian how he considered gunning for the part after Roger Moore stepped down from the role following 1985’s A View To A Kill, until his agent convinced him otherwise.Asked about a rumour that he turned down the role of 007, Dance said: “No, of course I didn’t turn down James Bond! What happened was, my agent called and said: ‘I urge you not to do it. Just think how you’ll feel if you don’t get it.
An Amazon shopper has raved about a bargain find in the Spring Sale that helps to protect your home and offers "total peace of mind".