Eric Khoo, Mike Wiluan on film commissions supporting ASEAN co-production

Filmmakers Eric Khoo and Mike Wiluan spoke about the necessity for film commission support on ASEAN co-productions at this year's TIFF Lounge series, part of the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival.

The panel was moderated by Ichiyama Shozo, programming director, Tokyo International Film Festival, who executive produced the Japan-Singapore-France co-production Spirit World.

Khoo directed Spirit World, whose production partners were Knock On Wood (Japan), MI Movies (France), and Zhao Wei Films (Singapore) while Wiluan helmed the Singapore-Indonesia-Japan-UK co-production Orang Ikan.

Both filmmakers highlighted the importance of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) co-productions having the support of their regional film commissions. "I feel also that for Singapore, it's important that we have the film commission support. They help in a lot of ways to support these productions," said Khoo.

"A co-production needs a Singaporean producer but they can work with a foreign director. I'm so happy that the Singapore Film Commission came on board, and also Japan came on board [for Spirit World]. Having that support is key," he added.

He also cited the welcome that Japan gave the incoming production. "In terms of the hospitality and all that was given to us in Japan, it was just for me the ultimate shoot. I don't think I could experience this again." 

Wiluan's production only received official funding from Singapore with production partners Gorylah Pictures, Tigon Pictures and Zhao Wei Films, and UK-based SC Films International. He says that he and others in the Indonesian production industry are "working very hard to get an official coproduction treaty" for Indonesia.

"I'm hoping that it will change within the next couple of years and that will allow us to have more opportunities for official co-productions. Indonesia has 270m people, it's the largest country in ASEA and has so much great diversity."

He added: "For so many years people have been using Indonesia as a great destination for shooting on location. But we try to work with the government to sell Indonesia not just as a cheap or beautiful location, it's more than that.

"We have a talented and mature film industry, we have great producers and great, experience collaborating with other countries." 

Khoo also noted that fostering a good environment for international crews is key to the success of any coproduction.

"We had a team of eight [Singaporean] production crew, the Japanese production crew which included wardrobe and fantastic set design, and then we had the French with Catherine [Deneuve, who stars] - makeup and stylists," he explains.

"There was a lot of camaraderie. Everybody felt that, we woke up in the morning excited to get onto location. It was this strange, beautiful, all-encompassing trip."