Lucasfilm studio sa Singapore, isasara na ng Disney
A general view shows Disney's Lucasfilm's new animation production facility building, the Sandcrawler in Singapore on January 16, 2014. The award-winning Sandcrawler building was officially opened on January 16, as its regional headquarters for Lucasfilm Singapore. AFP PHOTO/ ROSLAN RAHMAN
Isasara na sa mga darating na buwan ang visual effects and animation studio ng Lucasfilm sa Singapore, dahil sa ‘economic reasons’ ayon sa parent company nito na Disney.
Ang Singapore studio ay itinayo noong 2000s ng Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), na itinatag ng Star Wars creator na si George Lucas at isa sa dibisyon ng Lucasfilm.
Sa loob ng maraming taon, ang tahanan nito sa Singapore ay ang kapansin-pansing gusali ng Sandcrawler, na pinangalanan sunod sa Star Wars transport na naging inspirasyon sa disenyo nito. Ibinenta ng Lucasfilm ang gusali noong 2021.
Filmmaking legend George Lucas (L) and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (R) attend the opening of Disney’s Lucasfilm’s new animation production facility, the Sandcrawler in Singapore on January 16, 2014. ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP
Sa isang pahayag ay sinabi ng Disney, “Over the next several months, ILM will be consolidating its global footprint and winding down its Singapore studio due to economic factors affecting the industry.”
Hindi naman binanggit ng Disney kung gaano karaming empleyado sa Singapore ang maaapektuhan ng pagsasara.
Ayon sa Disney, noong Pebrero ay una na silang nagbawas ng pitong libong mga trabaho sa buong mundo, na bahagi ng kanilang reorganisasyon, dahil humina ang tradisyunal na negosyo nito sa telebisyon at sa harap na rin ng mahigpit na kumpetisyon at pagbagsak sa bilang ng subscriber ng kanilang streaming service na Disney+.
Filmmaking legend George Lucas (L)and Kathleen Kennedy (R) president of Disney’s Lucasfilms pose with Stormtroopers (back) and Darth Vader (L) characters from Lucas’ Star Wars films at the opening of Disney’s Lucasfilms’ new animation production facility, the Sandcrawler in Singapore on January 16, 2014. STEFANUS IAN / AFP
Sa isang joint statement ay sinabi ng Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) ng Singapore at ng Economic Development Board (EDB), “Lucasfilm’s decision to wind down its Singapore operations is in response to changes in the industry and business conditions.”
Ayon pa sa pahayag, “The global media industry is facing disruption from rapid technological advancements, while studios are coping with challenges relating to talent and profitability.”
Ang Singapore studio ang nasa likod ng high-profile Hollywood productions gaya ng “Iron Man,” “The Avengers,” at Star Wars films.
