Yeo Chun Cheng

Ahead of the Asia TV Forum, Yeo Chun Cheng, assistant chief executive (industry) at the Media Development Authority (MDA), tells World Screen about how the organization is encouraging local producers as well as enticing international media companies to Singapore.

Through a variety of initiatives, Singapore's MDA has been actively supporting the creation of high-quality content in the tiny island nation, as well as helping producers get those shows out into the international market.

WS: How was the Singapore contingent at MIPCOM this year?
YEO: It was a good contingent this year. We had 24 companies. One of the biggest ever. We've been doing pretty well over the last few years. In fact, we have outgrown our space and one or two of the bigger companies actually had to move out of the pavilion because they wanted a bigger space.

WS: Is animation still the dominant genre for Singapore content companies?

YEO: Animation has been strong but our documentary companies are doing well too. There's a couple of companies doing formats. And we have dramas. We have a full spectrum.

WS: MDA restructured its financing mechanisms in 2011. Why was that necessary, and what has the impact been?
YEO: While it did serve its purpose, we decided we had to evolve with the needs of the industry and move away from the co-investment path. We needed to ensure that moving forward, companies are encouraged to fully own IP and make great products so that they can become profitable. So we decided, let's give grants to good proposals. Local producers loved it. In fact, it's one of the reasons why they are so excited now. They actually own the rights. That creates a sense of excitement among producers. We hope this will continue to spur them to create good and compelling stories which can travel internationally.

WS: What are your priorities for 2014 and beyond?
YEO: Serangoon Road is something we had been planning for three years and it's come out very well. The collaboration with HBO Asia and Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has been great. We'd like to do more of those. We're seeing a lot of local stories that appeal well to an international audience. Serangoon Road is a story set in Singapore in the '60s, but it's very international and a lot of work went into the research of that period, the way of life and culture. We saw a side of Singapore we've never seen ourselves! It's quite refreshing.

We've been doing very well on the film side the last two years. One of our young filmmakers, Anthony Chen, won the Camera d'Or for his film Ilo Ilo at the Cannes Film Festival this year. A lot of our TV guys are starting to do films. Some of the film guys are coming back to TV. Serangoon Road is seminal in many ways because it shows a certain level of TV production that we can aspire to. A number of people are doing high quality telemovies this year. So there's been a great interchange of elements between film and TV.

WS: What makes Singapore a strong Asian media hub?
YEO: Singapore has always been very international, more than any country in Asia. English is spoken, we have people from all nationalities, and most of the major pay-TV broadcasters are here. We are a great financial hub. There's security. The rule of law is clear, the government is effective, and things work. That's why people like doing business in Singapore.