Man Shu Sum leaves for Mark Burnett1 min read
Reading Time: 2 minutesMan Shu Sum, director of Singapore Film Commission (SFC) and director of strategic relations has announced his resignation in a release on Monday.
In the statement, the Media Development Authority announced that Man will be leaving the MDA as of 14 May 2008, following which the 55-year-old industry veteran will join Mark Burnett Productions Asia as its acting Chief Executive Officer.
The company, located at the soon to be open Resorts World at Sentosa, is owned by American-British producer Mark Burnett, who is responsible for television successes such as The Apprentice, Survivor and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
His resignation has already sent waves through the local film circle — a sentiment shared by many within the industry. “When Mr Man was with the SFC, his showbusiness background helped create a mutual understanding between the filmmakers and the bureaucrats, resulting in less friction between the two camps,’ reminisces local filmmaker Royston Tan who worked with him on the critically acclaimed 4:30.
Mr Man stepped into office at the MDA in 2005 after leaving behind an impressive track record spanning over 30 years in four of Hong Kong’s most renowned television stations — TVB, ATV and RTHK amongst others. He then had a 19-year stint at the then Television Corporation of Singapore, producing well known and much loved programmes such as City Beat and Comedy Night. In 2000, he took on the role of Chief Operating Officer for SPH Mediaworks, and served as an executive adviser to Mediacorp Studios after the merger in 2005. Throughout his reign, he was known for his ‘own artistic vision and managerial style’.
Though Mr Man has resigned from the MDA, he continues to stay on as a board member of the Singapore Film Commission. MDA’s CEO, Dr. Christopher Chia, says a search is now on for Mr Man’s successor.
