 
Prepped to pop
By Patrick Frater 5/23/06
Geographically it's easy to identify where Southeast Asia lies on the map. Economically, though, the region is wildly diverse, ranging from the highly organized and super-high-tech Singapore to isolated and desperately poor Myanmar.
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New attitudes give Philippine biz a boost
Digital technology, government support, new facilities and a sense of adventure in local filmmakers conspired to give the Philippine industry a shot in the arm. The government pushed for a reduction in amusement taxes from city mayors. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also cracked down on piracy, instituting tougher laws and stricter penalties.
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Auds ignore quota cuts
Is the Korean film industry firing on all cylinders, or stricken with a case of irrational exuberance? That is the question as the year 2006 adds even more superlatives to the recent performance of Korean cinema. As money pours into the biz, production is booming, setting off a mad scramble for experienced crew members and equipment (producers have taken to borrowing cameras from Japan and China). |
Strength in numbers
Increasingly, Latin American producers are trying to reduce their reliance on Euro prod'n coin, giving them greater independence and speeding up the assembling of finances. It's also a safety net if Europe's co-producing interests shift to other territories. Argentine helmer Sergio Mazza typifies this new approach with his feature, "Triple Frontera" (Triple Border), with producers from countries in Mercosur. |
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