Hollywood Legends Scorsese, De Niro and DiCaprio Celebrate Historic Collaboration in "The Audition" at the Spectacular Studio City Opening
Iconic Stars of Studio City’s Short Film –
First Hollywood Production Tribute to Macau
MACAU, Oct. 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Studio City, the thrilling new Hollywood-inspired, cinematically themed entertainment and leisure destination, came under the global spotlight today when Hollywood legends Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Academy award-winning director Martin Scorsese and acclaimed director and producer Brett Ratner, made an unprecedented appearance in Macau, revealing their historic collaboration of ‘The Audition’ - the first Hollywood production tailor-made for Macau.
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The Studio City inspired short film marks the first time that the three screen giants have collaborated on a film production. It also heralds a new landmark for world-leading, innovative, leisure destination focused entertainment in Macau and Asia.
Presented by Melco Crown Entertainment (“MCE”) and RatPac Entertainment, "The Audition" premiere sets the stage for the grand launch of the highly-anticipated and glamorous US$3.2 billion integrated resort, Studio City. The high-profile short film is helmed by Academy Award-winning director Mr. Scorsese and depicts mega-stars Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt playing themselves as they vie for the same part in a fictitious movie.
"The Audition" has been produced by acclaimed Hollywood director and producer Brett Ratner, with MCE’s Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lawrence Ho, and Co-Chairman, Mr. James Packer, serving as Executive Producers.
Home to a world of ‘firsts’ in best-in-class entertainment attractions, Studio City, together with the historic Hollywood short film is the realization of Melco Crown Entertainment’s vision to establish Studio City as Asia’s Entertainment Capital, delivering highly innovative entertainment offerings to support Macau’s development into a world-leading leisure and tourism destination.
“When we first envisioned building a cinematically-themed integrated resort in Macau, we wanted to bring the best of the best of entertainment to the world,” explained Mr. Lawrence Ho, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melco Crown Entertainment.
“It, therefore, made perfect sense to commission a star-studded Hollywood production to fully conceptualize our goal to reimagine entertainment for Asia. We are extremely proud that we were able to work with the world’s greatest director and actors who are true icons of Hollywood, to successfully produce the first Hollywood movie for Macau.
“Our Hollywood-inspired film enables us to present Studio City and its ‘next generation’ of world-class entertainment offerings on the world stage and stands testament to our goal to enhance Macau’s non-gaming proposition in Asia and internationally.
“As an entertainment industry leader with deep roots in Macau, I strongly feel that Studio City is a world-class leisure entertainment destination and I sincerely hope that the people of Macau will share our pride in this short film and the property,” he said.
Melco Crown Entertainment’s Co-Chairman Mr. James Packer added: “There is no better way to introduce a movie-themed resort than with four of the biggest entertainment icons in Hollywood. We are delighted to be working with some of Hollywood’s best actors and its humbling to have them here in Macau gracing our new resort on this important day. Studio City’s official opening represents a key milestone in our strategy to develop Macau as a truly world-leading tourism and entertainment destination, I am extraordinarily proud of what we have achieved here.”
Acclaimed Hollywood producer and director Mr. Brett Ratner commented: “This incredible and unprecedented collaboration is a perfect union between the arts and commerce, resulting in a breakthrough piece of film. It truly sets the stage for the ground-breaking, world-class entertainment offerings at this incredible, cinematically-themed resort.”
Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese said: "We all loved making The Audition. It was great to have the new Studio City in Macau as our setting, because it has the feeling of the most fantastic Hollywood set ever designed. You can feel the love of movies and movie history there—in fact, I felt it at every stage of this project, starting with my discussions with Lawrence Ho and James Packer and their team. Working with my old friends Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio again, with Brad Pitt for the first time, all on one project—there was a tremendous creative energy and humor that was infectious. We were given the creative freedom that we needed, and the trust. Altogether, it was a wonderful experience."
Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro shared his excitement at being part of the opening of the cinematically-inspired leisure and entertainment destination: “It’s an honor to be working with Martin Scorsese once again. I am delighted to be part of ‘The Audition’ and to celebrate the inauguration of Studio City. It is a ‘must-see’ destination for all visitors looking for a unique and immersive experience.”
The World Premiere of “The Audition” was screened as part of a series of events celebrating the Grand Opening of Studio City. From late evening today, Studio City will be publicly airing its 16-minute Hollywood short film ‘The Audition’, transporting all Macau visitors into a truly Hollywood world with Studio City’s one-of-a-kind entertainment offerings.
Studio City – This is Entertainment.
For further information on Studio City, please visit: www.studiocity-macau.com, follow us on Sina Weibo at www.weibo.com/studiocity and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/studiocitymacau
For our latest press releases, visuals and multimedia, please visit: www.studiocitymacaumedia.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) growth of the gaming market and visitation in Macau and the Philippines, (ii) capital and credit market volatility, (iii) local and global economic conditions, (iv) our anticipated growth strategies, (v) gaming authority and other governmental approvals and regulations and (vi) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “target”, “aim”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “design”, “on track”, “believe”, “potential”, “continue”, “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this release is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
About Melco Crown Entertainment Limited
Melco Crown Entertainment, with its American depositary shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ:MPEL), is a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities in Asia. Melco Crown Entertainment currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), a casino hotel located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated urban casino resort located in Cotai, Macau. Melco Crown Entertainment's business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), which comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau, and the newly opened Studio City (www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated entertainment, retail and gaming resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation's subsidiary, MCE Leisure (Philippines) Corporation, currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreams.com.ph), a casino, hotel, retail and entertainment integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. For more information about Melco Crown Entertainment, please visit www.melco-crown.com.
Melco Crown Entertainment has strong support from both of its major shareholders, Melco International Development Limited ("Melco") and Crown Resorts Limited ("Crown"). Melco is a listed company on the Stock Exchange and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is Co-Chairman, an Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Melco Crown Entertainment. Crown is a top-50 company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and led by Mr. James Packer, who is also Co-Chairman and a Non-executive Director of Melco Crown Entertainment.
About Studio City
Studio City, when it opens, is set to take Macau’s entertainment destination proposition to unprecedented new levels, by providing a ‘next generation’ of outstanding entertainment-driven leisure destination experiences that will help the territory’s evolution into a truly international tourism center.
The Hollywood-themed studio-concept resort is a thrilling new cinematic inspired entertainment and leisure destination and is designed to be the most diversified entertainment offering in Macau. Ideally located on Cotai, close to the Lotus Bridge immigration point connecting Hengqin Island and a future station-point for the Macau Light Rapid Transit, Studio City will deliver more world-class entertainment amenities than any integrated resort in the market.
Studio City’s stunning Art Deco facade includes the “Golden Reel”, the world’s highest figure-8 Ferris wheel which straddles the resort’s two-tower hotel at a height of some 130 meters. The integrated resort will provide the ultimate in sophisticated leisure entertainment, hotel, retail, dining and lifestyle experiences.
The resort’s innovative entertainment offerings include “Studio City Event Center”, a 5,000-seat multi-purpose entertainment center designed to host live concerts, theatrical and sporting events; and “Studio 8”, a 300-seat live-audience TV broadcast studio for reality and game-show productions distributed in the Asia region. The entertainment experiences also include a magic theater “The House of Magic” and a Warner Bros. Batman-themed 4D flight simulation “Batman Dark Flight”, a 4,000-square-meter family entertainment center “Warner Bros. Fun Zone” for kids filled with Warner Bros.’ and DC Comics’ franchise characters and play-rides, together with “Pacha Macau” which will bring Ibiza-style nightlife to Macau.
Studio City is destined to deliver an unparalleled leisure entertainment and hospitality experience, strengthening the depth and diversity of Macau’s leisure, business and tourism proposition as a leading visitor destination in Asia.
For further information on Studio City visit: www.studiocity-macau.com and follow us on Sina Weibo at www.weibo.com/studiocity.
The photos are also available via AP PhotoExpress.
For investment community, please contact:
Ross Dunwoody
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +853 8868 7575 or +852 2598 3689
Email: rossdunwoody@melco-crown.com
For media enquiry, please contact:
Maggie Ma
Senior Vice President,
Corporate Communications & PR
Tel: +853 8868 3767 or +852 3151 3767
Email: maggiema@melco-crown.com