Pinewood, Iskandar, Marco Polo

What’s the possibility of a drama which is shown to the world being filmed and produced from Iskandar Malaysia? Apparently, it’s already happening today. Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios (PIMS) is currently shooting a drama called ‘Marco Polo’ in Iskandar. No idea when this would be ready but if this is really true, then it is another tiny good news for Iskandar. As per announced, Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios has projected a RM1.8 billion in direct local spending and will create 1,700 freelance jobs for locals within the next eight years. If you divide is by 8 years, this is unfortunately still small, only around 200 freelance jobs for locals. Oh yeah, the Marco Polo series is expected to make its television debut in the US by the fourth quarter this year.
However, do bear in mind that possibilities remains big if everything really falls into place. Within PIMS, there are 100,000sq m of film stages, internal and external water tanks with green screen capability, 2,229sq m of TV studios, 12.14ha of backlots, 6,689sq m of production offices and workshops, and digital state-of-the-art post-production facilities and services. PIMS was build within a 20ha land at a cost of RM550 million and was completed last year.
One colleague just asked me few days ago if I agree that Iskandar is suffering from oversupply. I told her that whether it will have an oversupply could not be seen now because all the units which are approved or in progress have yet to be completed, all are still building. Perhaps we can see more clearly towards end of 2015 whether there are really oversupply. In the mean time, I told her that if she is doubtful, she can continue to concentrate in Klang Valley which she said, ‘Yes, I think that’s better for me’. As at today, I have yet to own any Iskandar property though if you ask me would I buy within the next 12 months, my answer is still, ‘Yes’.
written on 26 June 2014
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