Iskandar Malaysia Studios (IMS) is a studio complex located at a twenty hectares (49 acres) site in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia,[1] It targets the Asia-Pacific region.
| Iskandar Malaysia Studios | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Operational |
| Type | Film Studios |
| Architectural style | Modernism |
| Completed | 2014 |
| Website | |
| iskandarmalaysiastudios | |
History
editPinewood Shepperton plc (now Pinewood Group) entered into a strategic agreement with Khazanah Nasional Berhad (the investment holding arm of the Government of Malaysia) in connection with the development of a new film and television studio facility in Iskandar, Malaysia. Construction began towards the end of 2010, with completion initially expected by the end of 2012. The project designers were GDP Architects, Kuala Lumpur[2] and structural engineer Hossein Rezai of Web Structures.[3] The facility officially opened on 14 June 2014.[4]
In July 2019, Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios was rebranded to Iskandar Malaysia Studios and the affiliation with Pinewood Shepperton plc ended.[5][6]
In March 31, 2023, Singaporean entertainment company, GHY Culture & Media announced its intent in a filing on the Singapore Exchange to acquire 80% of majority stake in Iskandar Malaysia Studios.[7] Later, on April 9, Khazanah Nasional's wholly-owned special purpose vehicle, Granatum Ventures, has entered into a definitive share sale agreement to divest its 100% stake in the studio to Studio Management Services (SMS), a consortium led by its current Malaysian management team in partnership with GHY, to attract foreign investment as well as to brought the economic and social benefits to Malaysia.[8]
In June 2023, Deputy Finance Minister, Steven Sim said that Khazanah only divest its shares in Iskandar Malaysia Studios to looking for a new partner which could better manage the studio, but did not sold the studio's assets.[9][10]
Stages, TV studios and facilities
editThe facilities in the studio complex include 9,300 m2 (100,000 sq ft) of film stages, ranging from 1,400 m2 (15,000 sq ft) to 2,800 m2 (30,000 sq ft). The first two at 1,400 m2 (15,000 sq ft) while the other two at 1,900 m2 (20,000 sq ft). The biggest stage at 2,800 m2 (30,000 sq ft) has a water tank for productions that require work on or under water.[1] There are 2 TV studios, each at 1,100 m2 (12,000 sq ft).[1] The studio holds Southeast Asia's largest paddock tank measuring 65 m (213 ft) x 65 m (213 ft) and 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) deep and a deep water tank with a diameter of 18 m (59 ft) and depth of 5.6 m (18 ft).
Productions
edit- Marco Polo (Netflix)
- Lost in the Pacific (2015)
- Projek Komedi Warna (2015) Astro Warna / Mustika HD / On the Go
- Elak-Elak (2015) Astro Warna
- Star Quest (2015) Astro Wah Lai Toi
- Asia's Got Talent Season 1 (Auditions & Semi-finals Episode) (2015)
- Astro Classic Golden Melody (2015) Astro AEC
- Gempak Superstar (2016)
- Sembang Teh Tarik Kaw (2016)
- CS Go: Minor Championship Asia (2016)
- Hi-5 (2017)
- Crazy Rich Asians (2017)
- The Voice 决战好声 (Singapore/Malaysia edition) (2017)
- T2 Asia-Pacific Table Tennis League Season 1 (2017)
- Gegar Vaganza (Final) (2017)
- Asia's Got Talent Season 2 (Auditions & Semi-finals Episode) (2017)
- Hello, Mrs. Money (2018)
- Asia's Got Talent Season 3 (Auditions & Semi-finals Episode) (2019)
- Strike Back Season 7 (2019)
- Enemy Within (2019)
- Sembilan (2019)
- Disney's Wizards of Warna Walk (2019)
References
edit- ^ a b c "Johor set to become Malaysia's movie capital". thestar.com.my. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ "GDP Architects » Pinewood Studio". gdparchitects.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios: Film". e-architect. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios officially opens and is in full swing". Pinewood Group. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (11 July 2019). "Pinewood Pulls Out of Iskandar Malaysia Studios Partnership". Variety. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ "Pinewood Group pulls out of Iskandar Malaysia Studios, says report". The Edge Markets. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ Amir Yusof (6 April 2023). "Singapore-based GHY Culture to acquire Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Johor". CNA. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Khazanah divesting entire stake in Iskandar Malaysia Studios". Free Malaysia Today. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Khazanah sold Iskandar Malaysia Studios but kept assets, says Sim". Free Malaysia Today. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ Soo Wern Jun (13 June 2023). "Khazanah still a stakeholder of Iskandar Malaysia Studios but looking for partners, Finance Ministry says amid sale accusation". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 21 June 2023.