(Netflix insiders refute this.)
When that Wall Street news hit, thats when we stopped having money to spend.
Korea and Japan neighbour to the east.
Prime Video and Disney+ stopped commissioning originals in Southeast AsiaGetty
Gaining profitability where its possible is now the name of the game.
This includes creating opportunities for first-time filmmakers and providing skills training for production staff across all levels.
Theres a human cost to the change, of course.
Netflix action thriller ‘The Shadow Strays’Netflix
Most staff are now searching for new work.
His team had overseen a slate of around 20-30 projects from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, we understand.
Her former colleague Yee Yeo Chang is also on board in a VP role.
Disney and Amazon declined to comment for this article.
andsuperhero action filmSri Asih.
Disneys decision to stop commissioning originals in the region came as more of a surprise to many industry professionals.
Around August 2023, many industry professionals in the region became aware of Disney+s plans to stop commissioning originals.
Several producers working in Southeast Asia said that Disney communicated the news of commissioning cutbacks to producers amiably.
They properly met with us, their partners, and explained the situation.
Whatever in minutiae, everything changed when profitability become paramount.
The objective at that point was about eyeballs, not profitability.
Then Wall Street said, Forget eyeballs.
We want our return on investment.
However, for smaller companies with less cashflow, the situation is more complicated.
For a relatively nascent production sector, this would prove a problem.
However, there was also talk of prosperity returning in the future.
These things come in cycles.
The market is getting smaller and thats the challenge, they add.
Some still see opportunity.
While CreAsia execs acknowledge the new-look market means focusing on development for the short-to-medium term, Dhar is bullish.
Now we dont compete in numbers we compete in quality, the said.
But now, with the fewer buyers, theyre looking for best quality content made by Indonesian producers.
Returns to traditional rights arrangements are also likely as streaming originals become less prevalent.
Streaming gave us a cushion to take a risk, said one producer based in Indonesia.
They taught us compliance from the creative, editorial side, to business, legal and finance.
Right now, its up to us as producers.
Zac Ntim contributed to this report.
