InCinemas was at Brussels Sprout @ Big Splash to grace the ceremonial signing of the feature film project, I DO..., a collaboration between AP Films Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based production company, and Knotty Ideas Sdn. Bhd of Malaysia. It was indeed a moment of breakthrough for Singapore's and Malaysia's film industry as they take a huge step nearer to Hollywood.
[Image of A.P. Tan (right) celebrating with her film production partners]
A.P. Tan, the writer-producer-director of I DO..., will begin production in Hollywood, Los Angeles, in August this year, with the film slated for a wide release in February 2013.
Why February 2013?, we asked A.P. in an exclusive 25-minute InC-terview with her. "It's Valentine month! And I hope my film can break into all markets because it is a film that tells us that the language of love knows no boundaries. Love is universal", said A.P. in an enthusiastic voice.
I DO...has already secured distribution in Japan, Brunei, and Malaysia even before the film has even commenced production. Moreover, there have already been a couple of enquiries from Hollywood to distribute the film in the US.
It looks like things are looking rosy for A.P. That's not a surprise because A.P. is one ambitious and determined woman. With a script that has gone through intensive research for the last ten years, and a production budget of US$3 million, a considerably large sum of money for a first-time director from Southeast Asia making a film in Hollywood, you have to give your thumbs up to A.P. not only for her perseverance, but her vision to pursue her dream of working in Hollywood.
"When there's a will, there's a way. Honestly, whether my movie is going to be a box-office success or not doesn't matter, because I'm so proud that at least I've taken the first step, and give the younger generation of local filmmakers the hope that it's possible for anyone to realize their dreams", A.P. revealed.
She also explained that the issue of being a first-time director was insignificant because great directors had their first time too! "If you believe in your creation, your product, you go all the way", A.P. said.
And indeed she has gone all the way.
She has secured a strong multi-talented supporting cast including Antonio Vargas, one of the world's leading Flamenco dancers, who famously starred as the gypsy father, Rico, in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom (1992), and choreographed the Flamenco segment for John Woo's Mission: Impossible II (2000), starring Tom Cruise. "I love flamenco. It's a fading art", she added.
[Image of Antonio Vargas performing an impressive Flamenco routine!]
She has also rounded up some of Hollywood's veterans as part of her production team including Fred Caruso, who produced acclaimed films such as David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986), and was the production manager for American classics like Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972), and Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America (1984).
"I'm just a small tiny Asian girl. I don't think any Singaporean producer knows Fred Caruso, so how can A.P. Tan know? It goes to show that anyone can meet anyone!", A.P. told us.
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But there are still challenges for A.P. to overcome in the near future. She has not settled her main cast, and hopes to attract a good cast from Hollywood. A.P. said, "I hope to work with stars like Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, or Hillary Swank, but it's difficult without good cash in the bank because their agents won't talk to you at all."
[Image of supporting actress Deanna Zachary singing Edith Piaf's 'La Vie en rose']
Still, she is inspired by filmmakers like Charles Chaplin, whose films not only entertained, but had life lessons to learn as well. When asked what her favourite film was, A.P. replied, "Any good movie is my favourite movie! But I like the classics most. Movies like Casablanca, and Somewhere in Time inspire me because they are always evergreen."
(You can read the synopsis of I DO... here!)
Let's wish her success in her journey to Hollywood to direct her first feature, I DO..., and we look forward to catching her film on the big screen in February 2013!