Bt50 billion sought for hollywood dream world

[george]

Bt50 billion sought for Hollywood dream world

Published on Aug 30, 2003

A group of companies is looking for investors for a grandiose plan to turn Thailand into the "Hollywood of Asia".

The Hollywood of Asia project will cost Bt50 billion and include a film studio, a theme park, a university, a golf course, a Grand Prix race circuit, and a hotel and housing complexes.

A monorail will connect all facilities on the purpose-built complex, which will also include satellite broadcast facilities.

The umbrella firm for the group of companies behind the project is Location Thailand, headed by Australian-born Ric Lawes.

It wants investors to put up Bt50 billion to build the facilities.

Location Thailand and its partners will build a state-of-the-art international multistage film production studio, an "eco" theme park, and a transport service including stretch limousines for visiting stars.

It also said it would build an internationally accredited university for degrees in disciplines suited to the film industry.

A monorail will connect all the facilities, which will also include an international golf course, a Grand Prix race circuit, and hotel and housing complexes for movie crews and their families.

"The capital investment in this project will translate into more than 20,000 jobs in Thailand," Lawes said.

"[it will also] contribute to a massive increase in tourism, and an estimated increase in gross domestic product for goods and services of around Bt 1.2 billion per annum."

The first stage of the project would take seven years to build, and it would take 15 years to full completion.

"The average US film can be filmed in Thailand at less than half the cost of a US production," Lawes said.

"With ongoing problems from the Screen Actors Guild and unions like the militant Teamsters, costs in the US are always likely to be an issue. Delays in production are extremely costly and can break a producer."

But Lawes admitted that even with lower costs, Hollywood movies made in Thailand could still exceed their budgets.

An example of this is ' The Beach', a movie shot in 1999 in a number of locations around Thailand.

The first step in the Hollywood of Asia project was to identify local personnel with the experience to represent Thailand at an international level, Lawes said.

"The next step is to train and educate people to handle the increase in demand for crews and equipment," he said.

"Unfortunately, the current market situation bogs down at around three major productions happening at one time."

Lawes said the Hollywood of Asia project section handling the educational aspects would conduct 15 hours of lectures weekly, and about 40 hours practical instruction working on productions. This was the only way to enhance accreditation among Thai involved in the movie industry, he said.

Ken Ywin

-- THE NATION 2003-08-30

[Dr. Burrito]

Ran across this in a search on google about one of the principals.

Whatever happened with this laughable idea anyway?

Dr. B

<font color='#000000'>Bt50 billion sought for Hollywood dream world

Published on Aug 30, 2003

A group of companies is looking for investors for a grandiose plan to turn Thailand into the "Hollywood of Asia".

The Hollywood of Asia project will cost Bt50 billion and include a film studio, a theme park, a university, a golf course, a Grand Prix race circuit, and a hotel and housing complexes.

A monorail will connect all facilities on the purpose-built complex, which will also include satellite broadcast facilities.

The umbrella firm for the group of companies behind the project is Location Thailand, headed by Australian-born Ric Lawes.

It wants investors to put up Bt50 billion to build the facilities.

Location Thailand and its partners will build a state-of-the-art international multistage film production studio, an "eco" theme park, and a transport service including stretch limousines for visiting stars.

It also said it would build an internationally accredited university for degrees in disciplines suited to the film industry.

A monorail will connect all the facilities, which will also include an international golf course, a Grand Prix race circuit, and hotel and housing complexes for movie crews and their families.

"The capital investment in this project will translate into more than 20,000 jobs in Thailand," Lawes said.

"[it will also] contribute to a massive increase in tourism, and an estimated increase in gross domestic product for goods and services of around Bt 1.2 billion per annum."

The first stage of the project would take seven years to build, and it would take 15 years to full completion.

"The average US film can be filmed in Thailand at less than half the cost of a US production," Lawes said.

"With ongoing problems from the Screen Actors Guild and unions like the militant Teamsters, costs in the US are always likely to be an issue. Delays in production are extremely costly and can break a producer."

But Lawes admitted that even with lower costs, Hollywood movies made in Thailand could still exceed their budgets.

An example of this is ' The Beach', a movie shot in 1999 in a number of locations around Thailand.

The first step in the Hollywood of Asia project was to identify local personnel with the experience to represent Thailand at an international level, Lawes said.

"The next step is to train and educate people to handle the increase in demand for crews and equipment," he said.

"Unfortunately, the current market situation bogs down at around three major productions happening at one time."

Lawes said the Hollywood of Asia project section handling the educational aspects would conduct 15 hours of lectures weekly, and about 40 hours practical instruction working on productions. This was the only way to enhance accreditation among Thai involved in the movie industry, he said.

Ken Ywin

-- THE NATION 2003-08-30</font>

[BlackRain]

Hilarious, obviously it didn't happen

[Dr. Burrito]

Hilarious, obviously it didn't happen

Well, who comes up with this sort of stuff anyway? 50 billion baht? What did this fellow think, that he was in Dubai or something?

Gotta give this Lawes fellow credit though for having cajones big as a bowling ball or admit he was, or possibly still is, completely off his rocker.

Dr. B

[Boater]

from what i hear, this is earmarked for Hua Hin, there is already a 5,000 Rai site reserved

[AFKAFSinLOS]

Bt50 billion sought for Hollywood dream world

Published on Aug 30, 2003

A group of companies is looking for investors for a grandiose plan to turn Thailand into the "Hollywood of Asia".

The Hollywood of Asia project will cost Bt50 billion and include a film studio, a theme park, a university, a golf course, a Grand Prix race circuit, and a hotel and housing complexes.

A monorail will connect all facilities on the purpose-built complex, which will also include satellite broadcast facilities.

The umbrella firm for the group of companies behind the project is Location Thailand, headed by Australian-born Ric Lawes.

It wants investors to put up Bt50 billion to build the facilities.

Location Thailand and its partners will build a state-of-the-art international multistage film production studio, an "eco" theme park, and a transport service including stretch limousines for visiting stars.

...

-- THE NATION 2003-08-30

'2008-07-15 14:19:03']

from what i hear, this is earmarked for Hua Hin, there is already a 5,000 Rai site reserved

Already...?

Edited July 15, 2008 by AFKAFSinLOS

[teej]

Bt50 billion sought for Hollywood dream world

Published on Aug 30, 2003

...

-- THE NATION 2003-08-30

'2008-07-15 14:19:03']

from what i hear, this is earmarked for Hua Hin, there is already a 5,000 Rai site reserved

Already...?

They were waiting on work permits from Sunbelt:

"You said 5 weeks."

"Noa, I say 5 Yeaa."

Doh!