Blockbusters in Bangkok: Hollywood mogul signs contract with Thai movie studio

Photo: The Studio Park
Photo: The Studio Park

One of Hollywood’s largest talent agencies, Agency for the Performing Arts (APA), recently signed a contract with The Studio Park to use the latter’s relatively new, state-of-the-art film production facility in the suburbs of Bangkok for upcoming movie productions.

APA represents some of Hollywood and the UK’s biggest names — from actors and directors, to production companies and studios. Managing director Andy Weltman flew to Bangkok in late May to finalize the agreement with the Thai studio, with a guarantee that Thailand would be the shooting location of the agency’s Hollywood film projects in the near future, Prachachart reported.

Although he refrained from revealing further details, the fact that APA’s previous client was Pinewood Studios — which brought us iconic films like the Harry Potter and James Bond series — is pretty convincing.

The agreement with APA is another major development for the Thai film industry, as it holds promises for more Hollywood films to be shot in the country. The Studio Park facilities, which opened in 2016, come at an apt time, riding on the wave of the the country’s increasing success in producing small to medium-sized feature films: Variety reported that movie shoots in Thailand increased by 60 percent last year since the launch of a greater rebate incentive for productions made in the country.

Photo: The Studio Park
Photo: The Studio Park

Sprawling over 2,400 sqm. in Samutprakarn province, The Studio Park brands itself as a fully-integrated studio for international productions. The studio includes various film sets, a sound stage, a backlot for outdoor shoots, and rental services for equipment, props, plus all the other nuts and bolts of movie-making. Previously, the studio was the shooting location for high-rating reality TV shows such as The Face Thailand and MasterChef Thailand.

Its parent company, Matching Maximize Solution Plc., invested a hefty sum of US$158 million (about THB5 billion) in hopes of turning the commercial property into the country’s “centerpiece of movie metropolis”.



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