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Tag: CreAsia Studio

  • Banijay Asia shoots for the stars with Thailand’s first space reality show

    Banijay Asia shoots for the stars with Thailand’s first space reality show

    MUMBAI: Space just got a primetime slot. Banijay Asia, in collaboration with SERA (Space Exploration & Research Agency) and Truevisions Now, has unveiled Race to Space Thailand, a genre-bending reality format that will see one Thai citizen catapulted from dreamer to astronaut.

    Produced by Deepak Dhar’s Creasia Studio, the show marks the first time Thailand will select and send a citizen into orbit. SERA, which partners as the backbone of the mission, will work hand in glove with Creasia to turn this ‘out-of-the-planet’ spectacle into a reality.

    “As an Indian creator, it fills me with pride to see our ideas travelling beyond borders,” said Creasia Studio Banijay Asia Endemol Shine India Founder & Group CEO Deepak Dhar. “Thailand is just the beginning. The format will soon resonate in India as well as across South East Asia.”

    For Banijay Asia, the mission goes far beyond entertainment, it’s a milestone in exporting Indian-born creativity to global frontiers. The series blends science, aspiration, and showbiz, democratising space travel and inviting ordinary citizens, regardless of background, to compete for an extraordinary chance.

    Truevisions Now’s Ongard Prapakamol called it “a gateway to global-scale content and a new frontier for Thailand,” highlighting how, for the first time, everyday Thais will be in contention for a shot at space.

    Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India Group CDO Mrinalini Jain described it as “a landmark concept that embodies aspiration, innovation, and inclusivity.” SERA co-founder Joshua Skurla added that the project would “inspire an entire nation” while confirming India is next in line for lift-off.

    With Season One ready for launch in Thailand and India’s chapter waiting on the launchpad, Banijay Asia’s Race to Space could well be reality TV’s boldest leap yet proof that the sky is no longer the limit.

  • Forensic foodie drama to simmer on Indonesian screens courtesy Deepak Dhar’s & Banijay’s CreAsia

    Forensic foodie drama to simmer on Indonesian screens courtesy Deepak Dhar’s & Banijay’s CreAsia

    MUMBAI: An unlikely pairing of forensic science and gastronomy is set to tantalize Indonesian viewers as CreAsia Studio cooks up My Chef in Crime, an eight-part drama commissioned by local streaming platform Vision+.

    The series—equal parts CSI and MasterChef—follows a disgraced forensic investigator turned chef who must clear his name after being fingered for his rival’s murder. His unorthodox application of forensic techniques to food science catches the eye of a female detective who happens to be his old school crush, setting the stage for a sizzling mix of crime-solving and culinary chemistry.

    CreAsia Studio, the brainchild of television veteran Deepak Dhar and television giant Banijay Entertainment, has assembled a pan-Asian creative team that boasts Thai producer Pornmanus Rattanavich and scriptwriter Nitikarn Pinmuangngarm, with Indonesian director Sondang Pratama stirring the pot.

    “This show is a testament to our commitment to championing innovative narratives from South East Asia,” gushes CreAsia Studio executive vice-president Jessica Kam clearly delighted with her menu of talent.  “We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with the talented Thai and Indonesian creators as well as Vision+ to bring this groundbreaking concept to life.”

    The production appears designed to blend local flavours with global appeal—a recipe becoming increasingly fashionable in streaming circles.

    Vision+ managing director Clarissa Tanoesoedibjo seems equally gung-ho about the offering: “My Chef in Crime is exactly the kind of high-quality, engaging content that excites us,. We believe this show will set new benchmarks in the crime genre, and we are delighted to be partnered with CreAsia Studio to make it a reality ” she declares, perhaps hoping the show will help her platform gobble up market share in Indonesia’s competitive streaming landscape.

    Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India founder & group CEO Deepak Dhar added: “At Banijay Entertainment, we are always looking to push creative boundaries and redefine storytelling. My Chef in Crime is a bold, original concept that reflects our commitment to delivering premium entertainment across the region. We are confident that this unique mix of crime, food, and romance will resonate with audiences and  reinforce CreAsia Studios  position as a powerhouse of compelling storytelling.”

    Production is set to begin this summer, with the series expected to land on screens early next year. Whether audiences will develop an appetite for this unusual concoction remains to be seen, but CreAsia Studio is betting that viewers are hungry for something that breaks free from formulaic crime dramas.

    For Banijay Entertainment, which has been steadily expanding its Asian footprint, the stakes are high. Dhar calls the concept “bold” and “original”—adjectives that rarely describe television these days. But in a region where food and entertainment are cultural obsessions, combining forensic investigation with culinary artistry might just prove a recipe for success.

  • Deepak Dhar launches CreAsia Studio and appoints Jessica Kam-Engle

    Deepak Dhar launches CreAsia Studio and appoints Jessica Kam-Engle

    Mumbai: Banijay Asia and EndemolShine India founder & group CEO Deepak Dhar today announced Banijay Asia’s strategic expansion into South East Asia, with the formation of a new entity – CreAsia Studio. With a focus on local collaborations to create local originals and produce local Banijay IP adaptations, he announced the appointment of CreAsia Studio as the EVP & business head Jessica Kam-Engle. She will report to Deepak Dhar, and be responsible for driving business strategy and growth in the key markets of South East Asia – Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. An established Film/TV producer and studio executive, Jessica has more than 20 years of experience working in the region, with brands like Disney+, HBO Asia, Warner Media Entertainment Networks, MTV Networks/Viacom, MGM Gold Network, Dow Jones Newswires, Celestial Pictures

    Talking about the development, Deepak said, “Given Jessica’s unparalleled experience in the Asian market, Banijay’s global IPs and marquee concepts, exciting local collaborations and a focus on India as a production hub for the region, CreAsia Studio is our next growth engine.” He further added, “We’re confident of Jessica’s leadership to steer us towards a leading presence in the region. Her appointment is also a testament to our commitment to tapping into newer markets and diversifying our portfolio in the vibrant South East Asian entertainment sector.”

    Talking about her new innings, Jessica Kam-Engle said, “It’s my privilege to join the  Banijay family, and I am excited to lead the strategic expansion in South East Asia. There are vast opportunities to develop local and global IPs with the pool of creative talent from this region, leveraging Banijay’s world-class content production expertise and its global distribution clout.  I am looking forward to exciting collaborations with key players in the region.”

    Jessica was most recently head of content and development for Disney+ in APAC, during which she commissioned more than 60 scripted and non-scripted original series across the region with notable commercial hits including Korean dramas Moving, Big Bet, and Connect; Japanese live-action Gannibal; Chinese series Taiwan Crime Stories, Delicacies Destiny; and Bahasa series Wedding Agreement, Mendua, Call My Agent, Teluh Darah. In 2017-2021 Jessica was Head of Original Production for HBO Asia overseeing its original productions across Asia in 10 languages, including TV series like Workers, Invisible Stories, The Talwars: Behind Closed Doors, Folklore, Food Lore, Grisse, The Teenage Psychic 2, and feature film The Garden Of Evening Mists. Prior to HBO, she was an independent film producer, based out of Beijing and Hong Kong from 2008 to 2016, during which time she produced 10 feature films including the critically acclaimed The Piano in a factory.

    This latest move complements Banijay’s existing activity and presence in the region driven by its global distribution operation, Banijay Rights, which continues to handle format licensing across the region in collaboration with Dhar and the team.