Raintree Pictures Launches Liang Po Po - The Movie

12 August 1998

Raintree Pictures Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS), launches its first movie, 'Liang Po Po - The Movie'.

Raintree Pictures aims to collaborate with experienced partners locally and in the region to produce quality, credible, mainstream, and commercially viable movies. The company is presently reviewing scripts from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Australia, and the United States and in discussion on several possible projects. When reviewing scripts, Raintree Pictures will look out for relevance to Singapore or the East to make the involvement meaningful either through the story, the casting, the opportunity for healthy exchange of ideas and the opening up of new territories. Budgets for these movies are determined by their appeal and marketability, and range from S$500,000 to S$10,000,000.

Movies green-lit are based not only on their appeal to local audiences, but to key regional and selected international markets as well.

Daniel Yun, Chief Executive Officer of Raintree Pictures says, "Singapore is a small market. We have to look beyond our shores. From a viability standpoint, our movies need to travel to other markets. What we want to produce is what I call a 'borderless' Asian product where the subject matter can be Singaporean, but the themes and treatments are universal. So that audiences abroad can also appreciate and relate to the movies."

Raintree Pictures values the importance of a good script, and it is one of its priorities to cultivate and nurture local talents in script writing. A session with local writers was arranged on 1 August 1998 to initiate the process. Writers were encouraged to submit raw ideas, story premises or treatments for consideration. Ideas identified can then be developed further with more experienced local or overseas scriptwriters. Raintree Pictures sees this as crucial to maintain the quality of the movies it produces. Of 100 ideas put into development, maybe only two will be made into movies.

Liang Po Po - The Movie
Raintree Pictures' first project features Singapore's very own, Liang Po Po. The character, acted by Jack Neo, made its debut on TCS Channel 8's Comedy Night in 1993, and has found a firm place in all Singaporeans' hearts, crossing social, language and cultural borders. From the young to the old alike, all remember and feel an affinity with this indomitable grandmother. Of the characters that Jack Neo has portrayed on Comedy Night, Liang Po Po is one of the most well-liked and popular characters on TV. During Liang Po Po's three-year run on Channel 8, ratings hit as high as 25% (691,000 viewers).

On the choice of Liang Po Po as its first movie, Daniel Yun explains, "We think it is a good idea to translate a successful television character or programme to the big screen, and Liang Po Po stood out from the rest for its mass appeal. The combination of Jack Neo, a popular comedian and the involvement of Eric Khoo, an internationally acclaimed director, in the production, provides for an interesting collaboration for our first movie. In some ways, it is a movie waiting to be made. Like Mr. Bean the TV series was made into Mr. Bean - The Disaster Movie, it is natural for Raintree Pictures to produce this movie."

Liang Po Po - The Movie will be made at a budget of S$800,000. It will star Jack Neo as Liang Po Po, and he is supported by a strong cast of local actors. To ensure greater appeal of the movie to the regional markets, regional artistes will be cast in the movie. The movie will be directed by Ding Mei Lian, a director at TCS. This will be her movie directorial debut.

The movie is produced in association with Zhao Wei Films who is responsible for the award-winning Mee Pok Man and 12 Storeys. Zhao Wei Films, led by Eric Khoo, will be able to ensure that the movie has good production values from his experience with the other two movies.

"Jack got us all rolling on the floor with laughter between takes of 12 Storeys. It was a great trip working with him and we have often spoken about collaborating again and I guess it is a natural progression to be involved with this movie with Jack...What a scream!" Eric exclaims.

Jack Neo is equally enthusiastic. " Liang Po Po was a big hit. For me to star in a movie based on Liang Po Po, and for me to write the screenplay is going to be an exciting challenge. I am going to approach the script and its characters in an honest and natural manner with no pretensions. As Liang Po Po is a Mandarin-speaking character, the movie will be predominantly Mandarin, about 80%, with splashes of Chinese dialects, English or Malay when the scene requires. I am confident that it will be a success!"

Daniel further elaborates, "I see Liang Po Po as Asia's Mr Bean, pitched between Peter Sellers in Pink Panther and Old Master Fu. If the character is fine tuned to not only appeal to Singaporeans but overseas audiences as well, the movie will gain greater exposure in the region and more people will get to enjoy the humour of Liang Po Po."

Liang Po Po - The Movie is scheduled to begin filming in September and targeted for release in the first quarter of 1999.

For more information, please contact:

Jason Yap Senior Manager Business & Marketing Tel: 350 5633Fax: 251 1916

David Leong Manager Business & Production Tel: 350 3938Fax: 251 1916