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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN PR) |
ABS-CBN Corporation, the premiere media and entertainment company in
the Philippines, has officially partnered with Electric Entertainment, a US
film and television outfit headed by Filipino-American producer Dean Devlin,
for an upcoming American crime drama series titled "Off Tropic". Set
in Cebu, the series will be aired in the United States via WGN America. This
monumental partnership would mark ABS-CBN's first venture into Hollywood
production.
"This is a first of many strategic partnerships and collaborations
with partners from all over the world and we are thrilled that we are
partnering with a formidable team, Electric Entertainment, to line produce the
US series for them," said Ruel S. Bayani, head of ABS-CBN Corporation's
international production and co-production division which has partnerships and
collaborations with other companies from Southeast Asia, US and Europe. On the
other hand, Devlin stated that ABS-CBN has been instrumental in developing
talents in front of and behind the camera and thinks that the collaboration is
slated to perceive the entertainment business in the Philippines.
"Off Tropic" is a wonderful opportunity for Filipino talent
as majority of the cast will be from within the country. In fact, the female
lead star will be a Filipina actress who will star alongside American actor
Christian Kane who has starred in a string of television series including Angel,
Leverage, The Librarians and Into The West. The series also happens to be
Devlin's television production debut in the Philippines with Filipinos
considering that the Electric Entertainment chief executive officer and the
series' executive producer is set to write its first two episodes and direct
its finale. Devlin has been globally renouned for producing hit blockbuster
films such as Independence Day, Godzilla and The Patriot. The series'
production in Cebu is slated to begin in November.
Also present in the contract signing aside from Devlin and Bayani were
ABS-CBN chairman Mark L. Lopez, ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo L. Katigbak,
ABS-CBN chief operating officer for broadcast Cory V. Vidanes, "Off
Tropic" co-executive producer Francis Dela Torre, line producer Steve Lee
and actor Christian Kane.
