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Singapore-based producer AP Films clinches deal for major Hollywood feature film with cast and crew spanning three countries

SINGAPORE, 24 April, 2012— AP Films announced that the company's senior production team, helmed by AP Tan, has commenced screenplay and pre-production work on a feature film “I Do…”, an unconventional love story about the exploits of modern day lovers seeking true love only to find that only true love will seek them and bring about the best and the worst in them.

This film is a first tripartite collaboration among AP Films Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based production company, Knotty Ideas Sdn. Bhd of Malaysia, and Hollywood notables including Fred Caruso (Hollywood World Films) and executive-producer David Kang (DK Productions), founder of one of Tinsel town’s top casting agencies.
AP Tan, the Creator, Writer, Music and Film Producer, Director, plans to center the production in Hollywood, Los Angeles, including the casting of the film’s leading Hollywood actors and actresses. A.P has spent her past 10 years to research and complete the screenplay, with the support of her mentor, Daniele Suissa, alongside many good associates from around the world and few amazing Hollywood Gurus. And recently, worked closely with a Singapore writer, Angeline Yeo who co-wrote the Novel of “I Do…” with A.P.
AP will direct the film and this debut Hollywood feature target to be launched in February 2013, along with its Novel during the movie premier.
“I Do…” has attracted the attention of the who’s who of the film and media industry in Singapore and Malaysia, who were present at the “I Do…” signing ceremonial Event held today at Brussels Sprouts @ Big Splash. They include Singapore and Malaysia authorities such Mr Mohd. Nordin, Mr Kamil Dato Othman of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) Mr. Saidon Puteh of K-Perak Inc, MDeC, Malaysia.

Also present at the ceremony were supporting cast of “I Do…”: Switzerland-Malaysian actress, Deanna Zachary (Yussof) (Anna & The King ), Singapore based flamenco master Antonio Vargas (Strictly Ballroom, Mission Impossible 2) and Men’s Health Cover Model, martial arts fighter and aerialist Nick Beyeler from Switzerland.

“I Do” has been financed by AP Films Pte. Ltd. and private investor team with strong support of Knotty Ideas Sdn. Bhd, Hollywood World Films & David Kang Casting.
After receiving incentive film producing and directing classes from her only mentor, Daniele J. Suissa (Pocahontas, The Legend), AP has been receiving many good compliments and fantastic feedbacks especially from Ken Rotcop, who was featured in Oprah Winfrey show as The Grand Master of Pitching and a few tops movie producers in movie industry, that enough to encourage A.P to spread her wings without any hesitation to produce “I Do” as her 1st Hollywood Feature Films in Los Angeles. Before the pre production starts, this film of AP has already gotten its’ distribution deals in 3 Asia territories – Japan, Malaysia & Brunei.
Fred Caruso, the heavyweight Executive Producer Fred Caruso (Once Upon A Time In America, The God Father, We’re No Angels, The Presidio and dozen more blockbuster films), and Louis Race, the AD of the ever so popular ‘Indian Jones and The Temple of Doom’, have declared A.P as not a `1st time film director’ due to all her fine preparation work for “I Do” film project. Ken Rotcop told AP do not abuse and produce this beautiful original story as an independent film but be brave to go big and produce it like other features Movies.
Mike Fash, the British DOP of many famous movies and TV series, ‘The West Wing’, ‘The Confession’, “Betrayal’ has complimented “I Do” as certainly a wonderfully complex, extremely visual with a perfect ending love story, which need a talented female cast “Jane Henderson” and having loved “Black Swan”, this would also have the makings of an Academy Award performance.

Same goes to Hollywood Film Producer, David Kang of DK Productions (Rush Hour, He was A Quiet Man) said that it’s not an every day script like this that comes along their desk, this is a very original script and from the moment he started reading it, he couldn’t put it down. Same goes to the Executive producer, Noraini Hamidee of Knotty Ideas (Scarlet, My Way), from the moment she finished reading the script, she couldn’t pull herself out from finding ways to support and co-produce this beautiful story of AP’s and get it out on the big screens soon.

None of the least, AP’s best supporting business Partner in AP Films Pte. Ltd, Monique Kwok, who is AP’s strong back bone to support and lead her to this far to make “I Do” into reality as Hollywood Feature Films with the rest of her amazing Asia and Hollywood production teams.
Other than laboring for her current love, “I Do…”, A.P is simultaneously working on two other projects, namely “Get Hitched Mr Cupid”, a US$20mil, proposing to co-produce with Happy Madison, owned by top comedian Adam Sandler; and “Soul”, an action thriller rom-com collaboration, with Knotty Ideas Sdn. Bhd. that is slated to be filmed in multiple locations around the world including Switzerland, Singapore and Malaysia.

“I Do…” the movie and novel are expected to be released worldwide in February 2013.

InCinemas was at Brussels Sprout @ Big Splash to grace the ceremonial signing of the feature film project, I DO..., a collaboration between AP Films Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based production company, and Knotty Ideas Sdn. Bhd of Malaysia. It was indeed a moment of breakthrough for Singapore's and Malaysia's film industry as they take a huge step nearer to Hollywood. 

A.P. Tan, the writer-producer-director of I DO..., will begin production in Hollywood, Los Angeles, in August this year, with the film slated for a wide release in February 2013.
Why February 2013?, we asked A.P. in an exclusive 25-minute InC-terview with her. "It's Valentine month! And I hope my film can break into all markets because it is a film that tells us that the language of love knows no boundaries. Love is universal", said A.P. in an enthusiastic voice. 
I DO...has already secured distribution in Japan, Brunei, and Malaysia even before the film has even commenced production. Moreover, there have already been a couple of enquiries from Hollywood to distribute the film in the US. 

It looks like things are looking rosy for A.P. That's not a surprise because A.P. is one ambitious and determined woman. With a script that has gone through intensive research for the last ten years, and a production budget of US$3 million, a considerably large sum of money for a first-time director from Southeast Asia making a film in Hollywood, you have to give your thumbs up to A.P. not only for her perseverance, but her vision to pursue her dream of working in Hollywood. 

"When there's a will, there's a way. Honestly, whether my movie is going to be a box-office success or not doesn't matter, because I'm so proud that at least I've taken the first step, and give the younger generation of local filmmakers the hope that it's possible for anyone to realize their dreams", A.P. revealed. 
She also explained that the issue of being a first-time director was insignificant because great directors had their first time too! "If you believe in your creation, your product, you go all the way", A.P. said. 
And indeed she has gone all the way. 
She has secured a strong multi-talented supporting cast including Antonio Vargas, one of the world's leading Flamenco dancers, who famously starred as the gypsy father, Rico, in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom (1992), and choreographed the Flamenco segment for John Woo's Mission: Impossible II (2000), starring Tom Cruise. "I love flamenco. It's a fading art", she added. 

She has also rounded up some of Hollywood's veterans as part of her production team including Fred Caruso, who produced acclaimed films such as David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986), and was the production manager for American classics like Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972), and Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America (1984). 
"I'm just a small tiny Asian girl. I don't think any Singaporean producer knows Fred Caruso, so how can A.P. Tan know? It goes to show that anyone can meet anyone!", A.P. told us. 
But there are still challenges for A.P. to overcome in the near future. She has not settled her main cast, and hopes to attract a good cast from Hollywood. A.P. said, "I hope to work with stars like Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, or Hillary Swank, but it's difficult without good cash in the bank because their agents won't talk to you at all."
[Image of supporting actress Deanna Zachary singing Edith Piaf's 'La Vie en rose']

Still, she is inspired by filmmakers like Charles Chaplin, whose films not only entertained, but had life lessons to learn as well. When asked what her favourite film was, A.P. replied, "Any good movie is my favourite movie! But I like the classics most. Movies like Casablanca, and Somewhere in Time inspire me because they are always evergreen."
Let's wish her success in her journey to Hollywood to direct her first feature, I DO..., and we look forward to catching her film on the big screen in February 2013!