By Mohamad Letfee Ahmad
KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Oct – Malaysian-based Hornbill Films Sdn Bhd and a United States film company, Stanulis Films Inc. will be establishing Malaysia’s first Entertainment and Media Centre here as a hub for film and television drama productions.
Hornbill’s founder/producer Ray Lee, 44, said the centre will have a post-production studio, a Virtual Reality/Online video game development hub for theme park and standalone product offerings and a movie-themed hotel and café.
“Subject to a business feasibility study by Hornbill and Stanulis, the Malaysian business will not just be confined to film production alone but we shall also look into developing some new media activities. This is very timely because Hollywood is expanding to Southeast Asia to create premium contents for international audiences and viewers.
“In order to promote ASEAN films, I shall have the opportunity here to use the characters and figures from my latest movie ‘Zombie Infection’ to be the design theme at certain floors. We are also considering an entire floor to be dedicated to famous ASEAN films and actors,” he said in a statement issued here today.
Lee said the joint-venture collaboration inked on Oct 14 with the Chief Executive Officer and President of Stanulis Film Inc., Steve Stanulis has also included the production of ‘Zombie Infection’ sequel as part of the deal.
“This Malaysian venture will consist participation of Anavlis Consultants Inc, a Wall Street financial services company and supported by Hong Kong-based Sun Capital (Hong Kong) Limited for strategic planning and coordination on the project. I am extremely excited that our first film project ‘Zombie Infection’ is now in pre-production phase. I am also privileged to be given the chance to co-direct a film project along with Steve and to see my Hollywood dreams fulfilled.
“This venture presents a golden opportunity for the ASEAN film communities to work together commercially with Steve in Hollywood for the right content to be promoted internationally. In particular, I look forward to working with him in my next sequel onsite shooting of Zombie Infection in Malaysia,” he said.
Lee said, both of them will be scouting out possible studio and filming locations in Malaysia by the end of this year as well as paying official visits to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), and Film in Malaysia Office (FIMO) to outline their new media plan.
In a separate statement emailed here, Steve Stanulis said he is looking forward to work with Hornbill Films to bring Hollywood films to Malaysia and vice versa.
“We believe this will be a homerun opportunity. This venture will bridge Malaysia and the United States as family in bringing constant premium contents in many different genres, which will create a new culture in the entertainment industry internationally as well as inviting regional new media companies to join forces in other Malaysian entertainment-related ventures,” he said.
–WE