Yesterday I went to visit the film studio and it was amazing. Walking into the lobby was like walking into a different world. They claimed to be the premiere film destination in SE Asia, and after seeing this amazingly designed and decorated lobby, I believe it. The studio also houses the International Film Academy, and I saw students from all over the world milling around there. Chinese, Koreans, Australians, Americans, and people with accents I couldn't place even.

There was a really nice looking cafe in the lobby and huge flat screen monitors everywhere showing clips of the studio's work and bits I am guessing relate to the film school also inside.

The producer I was there to meet eventually came down, got me a guest ID and took me into the guarded interiors of the place. First we went to the post production suite where they had an amazing Final Cut Studio setup with multiple large flat screen monitors. The editor was working on the movie they are considering having me join in on, and I have to say it is much higher quality, and higher budget, stuff than at the last place I worked in Hollywood. They even had an action sequence choreographed by a noted Hong Kong action director. Much of the CGI was very rough, "work in progress" kind of stuff, so I can see why they might be seeking help to bring up the level.

Next we went to meet the COO of the company. Surprisingly, he knows my publisher and has been trying to get him to do his movie out there. The COO said that although the plan was to have some FX done in house and some outsourced to the larger houses in LA, they were considering investing in everything needed to be able to do it all in house. It was not a small investment though. They seemed really excited at the possibility of having a guy in town, with Hollywood experience, who could be available to help with projects like that.

Next we went to meet the CGI department, which was relatively small at 5 guys, but they do some incredible, high quality work. They showed me a number of clips from different projects and some of the "work in progress" material from the current film. FInally we went to see the head of post production. He also seemed to really like the idea of having a Hollywood experienced guy living in town that they could call on when needed. At that time, he apparently just got an email from the director who had decided that he wanted all the special FX and CGI done in house, and none of it in LA, which just increased the need for my help.

Basically, should I sign on, it would be short contracts centered on a single project, so I wouldn't be giving up doing my own thing as I was concerned about. My salary would be all tax free, and I would have access to all that amazing gear. I will be going back to meet with them again, later in the week, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

So I talked to the senior producer at this largest film studio here in Cebu City, Philippines, and was quite surprised to find that it's basically another UFO FIlms... just a LOT bigger. The owner, a guy named Michael I'm told, is just a guy who loves movies and wants to do his thing. Unlike UFO, though, they 300 employees, offices in Hong Kong and Singapore and 4 sound stages around this city. They have 3 Red 1 cameras, and 3 Arri 35 mm film cameras and full post production facilities. Also, unlike Phil at UFO, this guy continues to direct the movies he wants to direct without Universal putting the smack down on him.

Although I was originally thinking I might not be interested in this gig, in lieu of doing my thing, I have to admit the guy is starting to make it sound very enticing. Basically I would be meeting directly with the owner of the company, and director of the film they are currently making. Of course, salary and hours will be important to me, but who knows? I could be getting into this place at a level where I might be able to make some of my own ideas come to light. I wonder if I could convince them to do an anime movie?

On another note, last night I was invited out by a different group of Koreans and they took me to a restaurant called Rain, which is right around the corner from where I live, but I had never seen it. We ate many varieties of Korean food, and drank Soju into the wee hours. The thing is, while we were there a large group of Korean girls came in. They were tall, slim and beautiful. A couple of them I have seen around before. Most of the night they were looking over to me, smiling and waving. As we left, the girls, with big smiles, all waved and said "bye-bye". The guys I was with even asked if I wanted to stay behind with the group of girls while they left. I'm not concerned. I know I'll see them again soon.