Judging Panel Selects 10 Original Screenplays For Pilot Development With The Top 5 Going Into Pilot Production
HOOQ – the largest Video on Demand service in Southeast Asia and India, announced today 10 titles have been selected for pilot development From its second installment of HOOQ Filmmakers Guild, to compete for the top 5 spots and produce their scripts into a full pilot episode.
The inaugural HOOQ Filmmakers Guild pilots have gone on to win various awards including the Grand Prize for Best Television Pilot at the 22nd Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), Best Comedy Programme for Indonesia and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Singapore at the inaugural Asian Academy Creative Awards.
Following the success of last year’s run to seek out budding film talents in Asia with great ideas who are in need of a platform to turn their unique stories into reality, a campaign was launched for filmmakers to submit scripts and treatments for television series and the selected ideas will each receive up to USD 30,000 to develop and produce a pilot episode that will debut on HOOQ. The best out of these pilot episodes, decided by HOOQ subscribers and a star-studded judging panel consisting of the top film talents around Asia, will be commissioned into a full series produced and aired on HOOQ.
Jennifer Batty, Chief Content Officer of HOOQ, commented, “We are so excited to present 10 outstanding scripts that have been commissioned for pilot development! As a big supporter of the local film industry, HOOQ Filmmakers Guild was set up with the aim of developing the next generation of Asian film talents by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their craft through mentorship and guidance From the Guild’s renowned panel of judges. We are extremely impressed with the quality of ideas From the submission and we are sure that audiences will get HOOQ’d on the final 5 pilots produced. Stay tuned for the completed pilots that will be live on the platform early next year!”
10 finalists emerged From this year’s submissions received by HOOQ over a 2-month period From all over Southeast Asia. The 2018 selections are Shunya (India), Klenix (Indonesia), The Headscarf (Indonesia), The Loser Minister (Indonesia), Babi! (Malaysia), Per Kilo (Philippines), Queen of Crowns (Singapore), She’s a Terrorist and I Love Her (Singapore), Lucky Girl (Thailand) and Split Second (Thailand).
Thai judge Banjong Pisanthanakun, renowned for the commercially successful box office topper Shutter, commented, “The diversity and quality of submissions we had received far exceeded my expectations. With a wide range of genres and styles, From period drama, horror, comedy to science fiction, we have witnessed the immense talent of Asia’s very best through this competition!”
“This is my second year on the judging panel and I continue to be blown away by the high standard of submissions and I am heartened to know there are many diamonds in the rough in this booming industry! Congratulations to all filmmakers who have been selected!” said Indonesian judge Mouly Surya, director of critically acclaimed and award-winning film Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts.
Filipino judge Agot Isidro, award-winning actress adds, “The submissions were not only great but they were original and had distinctive Asian cultural flavours and elements. The creativity of this year’s submissions were very impressive and I look forward to seeing the pilots!”
Judging was based on the relevance and potential appeal to Asian audiences, demonstrable creativity in storytelling and most of all, a well told Asian story with an original point of view.
Fellow Filipino judge Manet Dayrit, an award-winning veteran in the Filipino film industry, was impressed by the entries, “We have selected 10 of the best entries that best represents the spirit of Asian storytelling and we cannot wait for audiences to see the end product in the form of a pilot.”
The 10 entries that have been earmarked for pilot development span a range of genres are Shunya (Zero) (India), Klenix (Indonesia), The Headscarf (Indonesia), The Loser Minister (Indonesia), Babi! (Malaysia), Per Kilo (Philippines), Queen of Crowns (Singapore), She’s a Terrorist and I Love Her (Singapore), Lucky Girl (Thailand) and Split Second (Thailand).
The final pilots will be available on HOOQ in the first quarter of next year and the best pilot will then be commissioned into a full series.
