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SEOUL -- These days, the benefits of attracting
globe-trotting film crews are becoming more obvious to governments and
film industry personnel around the world.
As various territories learn to market their strengths
-- be it spectacular locations, a well-equipped shooting environment,
low costs, highly skilled crews or other incentives -- competition is
heating up.
Asia seems to represent a particularly diverse range
of options for international productions. As the region's film
commissions and shooting services arrive at the annual BIFCOM exhibition
in Busan this October, there also is a sense that standards across Asia
are being raised.
"Asian film commissions are definitely becoming more
targeted and assertive in addressing the competition," says Deborah
Gabinetti, director of the Bali Film Center.
One example is the number of soundstages that are
being built. This spring, Toho will finish a $42 million upgrade of its
studio in the Tokyo suburbs, with two new 7,100-square-foot soundstages,
bringing the complex's total to 12. In Hong Kong, the Shaw Group has
opened five new soundstages in its $200 million Shaw Studios, including
a 70-foot-tall, 21,000-square-foot stage that ranks as one of Asia's
largest.
Last year, Workpoint Entertainment opened a studio in
Bangkok, and new stages are also planned from Bali to Busan. Meanwhile
China's massive Hengdian World Studios is adding soundstages to its
impressive collection of backlots. At the same time, post-production
facilities are under construction at Toho and the Shaw Studios and in
Busan.
Studio space and facilities may be a prerequisite for
major international shoots, but the deciding factor in shooting a film
in a particular territory is often the expense. To this end, both high-
and low-cost locations are becoming aware of the need for tax breaks and
other kinds of financial incentives.
Taiwan was the first in the region to introduce tax
breaks in 2004, and China also offers a corporate tax reduction from 25%
to 10% for international co-productions. This year, Seoul got into the
game by offering a 25% refund on all in-city spending, up to a limit of
$100,000 per film. The Seoul Film Commission also provides free airfare
and accommodation to production staff engaged in location hunting. Other
regions including Thailand and Bali are in talks as well with their
respective governments to introduce incentives.
However, given the difficulty of navigating local
regulations and customs, film commissions also realize they need to
fine-tune the level of service they provide.
Gabinetti sees progress on this front. "These days
there is greater communication in the region, especially the
establishment of the Asian Film Commissions Network, a much more
professional and coordinated structure in attracting foreign
productions."
Dubbed AFCNet for short, the network comprises 35 orgs
from 11 countries and has been involved in joint promotional efforts and
training.
This year, AFCNet added the Thailand Film Office, the
Gold Coast City Council of Australia and the Film Development Council of
the Philippines as members, and will publish an AFCNet directory with
information about locations across the region.
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