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NEWS Monday 14 May 2018
DAY 7

JAPAN BUYS
CANNES TITLE CANNES Q&A:
TBA STUDIOS has closed an all rights deal
in Japan for Mikhail Red’s crime thriller
Neomanila with Aya Pro, which FRANCIS CHUNG
guarantees a theatrical release of
the film sometime this summer.
“We are thrilled to have a theatrical VP GLOBAL BUSINESS, HEAD OF US PRODUCTIONS CJ ENTERTAINMENT
release for this film outside the
Philippines,” says Cindy Sison, who
is newly affiliated with TBA STUDIOS How important is the Cannes What is your mission in Cannes?
and rejoins her former colleagues, market for you and your Aside from US productions, our biggest
Vincent Nebrida (President) company? mandate is to expand local production
and Tito Velasco. As a company, very important. Ever since outside of Asia. Hence, meeting with
“It’s great to be back selling Philippine our first movie was invited to Cannes, film-makers and producers from Latin
cinema. I’m happy to play a part in raising director Kim Jee-woon’s Bittersweet Life, America, India and even Russia will be
the profile of Philippine cinema on a CJ has had multiple movies invited in a priority this year.
global stage, especially in light of the various categories. The past three On the US side of things, our mission
approaching celebrations of ‘100 Years consecutive years including this one, is to always meet interesting film-makers
of Philippine Cinema’ in 2019.” we’ve had Chan-wook Park’s and producers who have a strong interest
Sison was formerly Head of International The Handmaiden, Byun Sung-hyun’s in making global movies outside the US © DR
Sales with Unitel Pictures International. The Mercillous and director Yoon Jong-bin’s studio system.
Prior companies include Santa Monica The Spy Gone North invited to Cannes. definitely want to expand our overall
Pictures, Trans Atlantic Entertainment What are your goals for the business. We love what Megan Ellison
and IRS Media International and was What type of product is in demand coming year? What is the focus of did with her company, starting off
instrumental in the Cannes Film Festival currently? your company? producing and financing movies that
placements of Howards End It differs market by market, but Our immediate goal is to go into were very unique to her colour and then
(Competition), My New Gun (Director’s dramedies are always strong. This is why production on our next US film, Hide expanding into distribution to further
Fortnight), The Music of Chance a lot of our remakes work so well in a lot And Seek directed by Joel David Moore, meet those needs. That’s definitely a
(Un Certain Regard). of the territories because Korean content later this year. We also have two more business model we are exploring as well.
Coming off a sold-out screening at the is always stable in producing strong films that will be going into production As mentioned we are also very keen on
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival dramedies. A lot of the territories we’re which we’ll be announcing soon, and expanding the horror/thriller business.
at the DGA in Los Angeles, where Timothy in want content that makes people laugh starting next year consistently two movies There’s a lot more of those coming out
Castillo won Best Actor, Mikhail Red’s and cry. In certain territories, horror is a year. The immediate focus of the from all our territories and with such
Neomanila continues to intrigue buyers. on the rise, similar to that in the US company is to consistently produce and a vast library, we will soon be announcing
TBA Studios is negotiating deals and we are very keen on making a finance English-language movies that are something unique that only CJ can
in several territories. ✦ Liza Foreman stronger presence in this genre as well. unique to CJ’s colour. From thereon, we offer in this genre. ✦ LF

EVENT

SPIKE LEE AND HIS WIFE,
PRODUCER TONYA LEWIS LEE,
WERE HONOURED YESTERDAY
IN CANNES BY THE BLACKHOUSE
FOUNDATION. BLACKHOUSE
© ROOFTOP CONTENT GROUP
HELD AN INVITE-ONLY BRUNCH AT
THE AMERICAN PAVILLION.

VR spectacle The Ark is first fruit VR spectacle
The Ark
from Rooftop’s immersive studio

OOFTOP Content Group, the and distribute VR, AR, XR and 3600 show will never been seen twice.
Amsterdam-based video productions for international clients “With Jan Maarten Groen, founder of
international distribution and and partners. A Film and former Sales Director
production company, Rooftop Content Group has also at Universal Benelux on board
R announced in Cannes that it announced that it is co-producing as Co-Founder and VR industry
has undergone a major rebrand and the VR spectacle The Ark, created talent Roger Rosweide as a partner
launched two new subsidiaries, Rooftop by industry veterans Uri Shizer, in Rooftop Immersive Studio, we have
Film & TV and Rooftop Immersive Shmuel Ben-Shalom and Avivit Rosinger, under one roof a great team focusing
Studio. co-founders of The Ark Experience. on conception, production and
After several years of distributing content Audiences experiencing The Ark will be distribution of high-quality VR content
for “traditional media” clients and faced with dilemmas throughout for clients, as well as launching
partners worldwide, all previous activities the show and are given the opportunity innovative immersive concepts”,
within Rooftop Content Group will move to shape a story of their own. Jordi van Even, founder of Rooftop
to Rooftop Film & TV, while Rooftop Each choice they make can unlock Content Group, said.✦
© DR Immersive Studio will create, produce a different storyline and the same Julian Newby

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