By Mohd Ishak

Why It's called a Daniel Yun film

Check out the credits for Liang Po Po-The Movie and you would see that it's called a Daniel Yun film.

But the director is Teng Bee Lian of the Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). What's going on?

The trend since the '70s has been to give artistic ownership to its director. Hence a Steven Spielberg Film or an Eric Khoo Film.

So why has Liang Po Po- The Movie has not been billed as a Teng Bee Lian film?

" The director was only appointed after the conceptualisation of Liang Po Po, which was done by me. She was not there right from the start," explained Daniel (above) in an interview yesterday.

Daniel, who is also chief executive officer of Raintree Pictures, proudly said that never has any executive producer been as hands on as he has on this movie.

That is partly because Liang Po Po is Raintree's debut production.

"In a way, it is my showcase," said Daniel.

He said that this would not always be the case.

" Our next movie, by Hong Kong director Derek Yee, would be a Derek Yee film," he said.

LIKE A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE

Even if Liang Po Po - The Movie fails to break box-office records in Singapore, it will be remembered as the first to be marketed like a Hollywood movie.

That is largely due to the involvement of United International Pictures (UIP), the multinational company which distributes films by such Hollywood studios as Universal and Paramount.

"Never before have you seen teaser trailers of a local movie in our cinemas," said Mr Roger Pollock, managing director of UIP in Singapore.

The press interviews over the last two days were also Hollywood style. Such one-on-one interviews with the cast and director in lavish hotel suites were only seen here in the past for international stars.

"Basically, it's how we've always done things for movies which are worth this sort of marketing. Liang Po Po is a quality movie, so I don't see why we should market it differently from a Hollywood blockbuster."

Mr Pollock said Liang Po Po will also be screened here in Malaysia. And there are plans to distribute it elsewhere in the region as well.