Movies build ASEAN awareness

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 November 2012: Malaysia’s Information, Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, says hosting more film productions could build awareness for the ASEAN community which is due to commence in 2015.

The minister said: “The region’s cultural richness should attract more Hollywood and Bollywood film-makers to shoot on location, which is another way to boost awareness of ASEAN tourism.”

Malaysia’s multi-cultural and racial layers would appeal to a broad base of film producers, worldwide, but particularly China and India. The country also has cultural links to Europe through its Portuguese and colonial British architecture as well as the dominant Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures that make up Malaysian society.

The minister added: “Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, Malaysia’s Bujang Valley archaeological site and Indonesia’s Borobodur temple can be attractive background drops for movies and documentaries.”

The challenge is for the script writer to produce scriptinteresting s based on the background.

Under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural pillar, one of the three that go towards the establishment an ASEAN Community, enhancing regional identity and togetherness through cultural creativity is an important strategy outlined by its community blueprint.

The other two pillars are the ASEAN Security Community and ASEAN Economic Community.

“More cultural and social programmes should be promoted to build an ASEAN Community that is people-oriented and socially responsible,” he said.

Thailand is already a popular location in the region for foreign film makers. Japan, India, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Australia, Europe and the United States supply the most film production teams visiting the country.

Sourced: ttrweekly