Mediacorp (which owns digital entertainment service Toggle) and HK Television Entertainment Company Limited (operator of PCCW's free television service ViuTV) announce their first collaboration to co-produce a 20 episode series, Bluetick.
The collaboration will see Toggle and ViuTV pooling the best of their production capabilities together. Viewers can look forward to an elevated production value not usually seen in local dramas. Filming will take place across Singapore, Hong Kong and various places in mainland China, enabling viewers to experience new sights and sounds and catering to new consumption preferences.
The suspense drama strengthens both Toggle and ViuTV's brand presence in Southeast Asia. This project aims to add on to the lineup of ViuTV’s original production. As the first co-produced Toggle Originals program, the project is fully supported by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
The co-production will cast artistes from Singapore and Hong Kong, exposing them to a diverse mix of talents from both territories, ranging from veteran actors to up-and-coming stars. Cast members include film-award-winning actor Wong You Nam (HK), veteran actors Liu Kai Chi (HK) and Law Kar Ying (HK), Mediacorp artistes Desmond Tan (SG), Ya Hui (SG), Jeffrey Xu (SG) as well as actress-model Sheila Sim (SG). ViuTV artistes Bonde Sham (HK), Scarlett Wong (HK), Dixon Wong (HK), Colin Chan (HK), Hailey Chan (HK) will also participate in the drama.
Based on Hong Kong author Ray Leung’s best-selling novel, Bluetick revolves around ten strangers who attend the funeral of their common friend. One of them, Bi Nianxia, sends a message to her deceased friend, only to receive a “blue tick”, indicating that the message was delivered and read. Nianxia brushes it off as a prank initially, but realizes that something is amiss when those who attended the funeral gets murdered one after another. She decides to investigate and the plot thickens with cliffhangers, unpredictable twists and an unforeseeable ending.
Mr. Anil Nihalani, Head Digital Products and Technology Mediacorp, said, “The collaboration with ViuTV marks another milestone for Toggle, and reinforces our commitment to delight our audiences with quality original content, up the ante with international production and casts that they can already relate to. Through this collaboration, we also hope to introduce Mediacorp’s wide content offerings to audiences in Hong Kong through Toggle.”
Ms. Doreen Neo, Chief Content Officer, Mediacorp, said, “We feel privileged to collaborate with ViuTV for this co-production. Having the opportunity to participate in a myriad of co-productions over the years, we hope to bring into this collaboration our production expertise and creative talents. With the strength of both platforms, Toggle and ViuTV, and a combination of production and acting talents from both sides, I am confident that we can create content that will resonate with viewers not just in Hong Kong and Singapore, but across Asia.”
Mr. Lofai Lo, General Manager of ViuTV, said, "It is a great pleasure to collaborate with Mediacorp. By forging a creative dynamic between our two production arms, we hope to produce a creative and unique drama series that blends the best of both cultures in Singapore and Hong Kong. Our collaboration enhances our ability to serve the Chinese audience in different parts of the world, and also heightens ViuTV’s production quality. By taking an initial step in international co-production, ViuTV can establish and strengthen its brand presence around the world, and further our mission to provide more variety and choices to our Chinese audiences."
Bluetick will be simulcast to audiences in Singapore and Hong Kong, via Toggle and ViuTV respectively. Scheduled for launch in September 2018, the series will commence filming in March and will be released over 20 30-minute episodes.
Source: PCCW Global Press Release