Singapore – The Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) seeks to develop new strategic and creative alliances across the region and signs a series of memorandums to solidify these relationships at the sidelines of Screen Singapore.
Launched at Screen Singapore in December last year, SAAVA, a non-profit organisation for media content producers, endeavors to advance creative developments, promote co-productions, nurture talents and stimulate business collaborations between its members in the region.
The first relationship that was inked into effect is a collaboration with the crowd-funding portal Pozible. An Australia based platform, the portal specialises in raising financing for creative projects, and clients have enjoyed a high success rate through Pozible’s network and tailored efforts. Through this alliance, Pozible provides SAAVA members with additional privileges, including lower fees and special marketing efforts.
Singapore based producer and co-founder of SAAVA, Justin Deimen of Advent Media Group was the man who brought together this partnership with Pozible. “Finding the money to make a film is one of the hardest things for a producer. But production costs are quite low in our region, and the amounts that can be raised from crowd funding can become quite significant in comparison to the budget. This partnership with Pozible opens up a new option for our members to access funding. There are so many amazing stories in Southeast Asia that needs to be told, and we hope this collaboration with Pozible encourages the creation of many new films”.
The second memorandum to be signed was the formation of an alliance with the Motion Picture Association of Cambodia (MPAC), an association that represents producers, directors, talents, distributors and exhibitors in the kingdom. The relationship opens up the opportunity for all MPAC members to become SAAVA members. The two associations have also designed plans for joint workshops, foster more co-productions between the countries, and for SAAVA to assist in the setting up of a film institute in Phnom Penh.
Chhay Bora, one of Cambodia’s most renowned directors, and the president of MPAC, is excited about the partnership, “I first got to work with Gin Kai, the founder of SAAVA on our film ‘3.50’. The project showed how a co-production that brings together the best efforts from different countries could produce incredible results. The memorandum with SAAVA multiplies this collaborative spirit across more areas, into talent development, content production, distribution, and education. It will spur the growth of the Cambodian media industry and also enable us to contribute our part to the growth of the region.”
The third memorandum is for a co-production between co-founder of SAAVA, Chan Gin Kai and American producer Ross Campbell. The project, an English language feature film titled ‘The 100 Yards’, is a sports-themed drama targeted at the growing international demand for faith-based and impact content. The film will be shot in the Philippines and draws financing, talent and crew from around the region. A compelling story with a combination of Western and Asian stars, the film is targeted at the worldwide market.
Chan Gin Kai of Silver Media Group said of the co-production, “People are more inclined to compete, when the better way is to collaborate. This project is an example of how a few companies from Southeast Asia can team up to handle a project from overseas. We can bring together the best from the region to show parties beyond that this is a good place to produce their film. We have, in our region, the competencies, facilities and talents to match the best in the world.”
