SINGAPORE, Aug. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HOOQ, Southeast Asia's leading video-on-demand service embarks on Season 3 of the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild, a ground-breaking initiative designed to give a voice to budding filmmakers, elevate new talent, and bring the most compelling and captivating stories to an audience in Asia who crave high-quality content.
Bryan Seah, Head of Original Productions, HOOQ said, "We're thrilled to be bringing back the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild for the third season. We know that great stories have the ability to transcend boundaries, and as the leading video-on-demand service in the Southeast Asia, we want to give budding filmmakers the chance to share the stories that matter to them across the region. This isn't just about finding the next big talent, it's also a chance for filmmakers in Southeast Asia and India to really show what they can do".
Following the success of the previous seasons, which received an unprecedented number of entries from aspiring filmmakers with the desire to bring their creative visions to life, HOOQ is expecting over 500 entries to be submitted this year. In anticipation of increased submissions, HOOQ will also be increasing its investment for the development of each pilot episode by 30% to USD 40,000. This additional boost comes as an effort to further support Southeast Asia and India's emerging talent, and elevate the quality of content they produce.
Speaking about the launch of HOOQ Filmmakers Guild Season 3, Jennifer Batty, Chief Content Officer, HOOQ said, "We've had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented filmmakers in Asia since launching the initiative in 2017. Participation in the program and the submissions from aspiring filmmakers have blown us away, with many challenging traditional narrative conventions and breaking new ground. It really goes to show that Asia is brimming with a creative talent pool unlike any other. We can't wait to see this year's entries."
The judging format will follow the same rules where a star-studded judging panel consisting of the top film talents from around Asia will shortlist five scripts to be developed into pilots. The best out of the five pilot episodes, decided by HOOQ subscribers will be produced into a complete season which will later be aired on HOOQ.
Previous winners of the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild include:
BHAK, winner of the first ever HOOQ Filmmakers Guild
The winner of the inaugural HOOQ Filmmakers Guild, BHAK, which snapped up the grand prize for best pilot at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) in 2018, has recently clinched a nomination for best international web series at the RIIFF in 2019. The critically acclaimed colourful 'dramedy' which was written and directed by Arjun Chatterjee and Shreyom Ghosh from Big3 Media, tells the tale of two ambitious young filmmakers who, after being pushed around in Bollywood, decide to take matters into their own hands - leading to a vicious, roller coaster ride of frustration, passion, betrayal, and love for Indian cinema.
"Participating and winning the first ever HOOQ Filmmakers Guild was a great experience. When we came up with BHAK, we wanted to be daring in our approach to storytelling, and HOOQ gave us the opportunity to bring our creative vision to life. It's a project that we put our heart and soul into creating, and we are thrilled that it's getting the attention we believe it deserves," said directors Arjun Chatterjee and Shreyom Ghosh.
She's A Terrorist And I Love Her, winner of HOOQ Filmmakers Guild Season 2
Singapore's dark comedy entry She's A Terrorist And I Love Her was concluded as the winning entry for Season 2 of the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild. The show is about a down-on-his-luck man who's going through a number of personal and financial woes. Chased by a gang of millennial loan-sharks, he enters a sham marriage to make a "quick buck", only to find out that his new "wife" is an extremist, hell-bent on wreaking havoc in Singapore.
It was up against Thai action-comedy Split Second, Thai supernatural thriller Lucky Girl, Malaysian political thriller Babi! and Indonesian supernatural drama Klenix. She's A Terrorist And I Love Her has now gone into pre-production and will be available to view on HOOQ at the end of the year.
Terence Chia and Haresh Tilani, directors of She's a Terrorist and I Love Her! said, "In a world full of talented film and media professionals, it can sometimes be difficult to create something that stands out and has a unique voice. With She's a Terrorist and I Love Her!, we dared to be different in expressing our creative vision and direction whilst trying to find comedy in the edgiest of themes. We are grateful to HOOQ for this opportunity and we're sure audiences will love the series when it's complete."
How to participate in the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild
The HOOQ Filmmakers Guild Season 3 commences from today and will be open for entries until 30 September 2019. Applicants will need to submit their entries to www.genero.com/hooq.
Entrants must be either in film school or working as professionals in the film industry with prior film production experience. They are required to submit a script and treatment for a mini-series or a full series with a maximum of 13 episodes for a single season in order to qualify. There are no restrictions to genre, however submissions and productions must be in the language of the applicant's country.
Submissions will be accepted from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Notes to Editors
HOW TO GET HOOQ
HOOQ is available to view online from www.HOOQ.tv and as an app from the Apple Store and Google Play Store. Simply sign up and login, to access HOOQ's extensive library of International and Asian hits.
ABOUT HOOQ
HOOQ is the leading video-on-demand service for emerging markets in Asia, delivering over 12,000 hours of local, regional and Hollywood films, shows and live TV to its users anytime, anywhere and on any device. Started as a joint venture in January 2015 by Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros, HOOQ has built an entertainment destination deeply rooted in its understanding of consumers' needs and habits. HOOQ currently operates in the Philippines, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Singapore, with a combined population footprint of over 1.7 billion people.
For more information, visit HOOQ.tv
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Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190805/2543076-1-b?lang=0
