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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
In 1925, three Shaw brothers (Runje, Runme, and Runde) founded Tianyi Film Company in Shanghai. They also established a film distribution base in Singapore, where Runme and the youngest brother, Run Run (did the parents like Rs?), managed the precursor to the parent company, Shaw Organisation. Runme and Run Run then took over the film production business of its Hong Kong-based sister company, Shaw & Sons Ltd., and in 1958, a new company, "Shaw Brothers," was set up and a new studio built at Clearwater Bay. It officially opened in 1961 as "Movietown" and, at its height, was the largest privately-owned studio in the world.
Over the years the film company produced some 1,000 films. Some went on to be the most popular and significant Chinese-language films of the period, including popularized the Kung-Fu genre of films. In 1987, the company suspended film production in order to concentrate on the television industry through its subsidiary TVB. Film production resumed in limited capacity in 2009. In 2011 Shaw Brothers was reorganized into the Clear Water Bay Land Company Limited, its film production business being taken over by other companies within the Shaw conglomerate.
The studios situated on Clearwater Bay Road and Ngan Ying Road now sit empty, along with the former TVB headquarters (occupied 1986–2003) and the apartment blocks used to house Shaw actors. Next to them is the newer and in-use Shaw House and Shaw Villa. A new Shaw Studios was been built at Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate which opened in 2006.
2. The Explore
This, sadly, like the former ATV studios, was a fail. The place is massive and also very secure. While I was having a look along the private road between the apartment blocks and the studio I managed to set a PIR off! Enough externals to merit a report however. The only people who seem to have cracked this place are the HK Urbex folks. Their pictures are HERE and HERE
3. The Pictures
The former apartment blocks used to house Shaw actors:
img1734 by HughieDW, on Flickr
IMG1710 by HughieDW, on Flickr
IMG1711 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The (non) Security Tower:
IMG1712 by HughieDW, on Flickr
IMG1714 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1718 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1717 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1719 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Unidentified block:
img1720 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1721 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The massive former TVB headquarters:
img1731 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1722 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1730 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1732 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1733 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back entrance to the studios:
img1724 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In 1925, three Shaw brothers (Runje, Runme, and Runde) founded Tianyi Film Company in Shanghai. They also established a film distribution base in Singapore, where Runme and the youngest brother, Run Run (did the parents like Rs?), managed the precursor to the parent company, Shaw Organisation. Runme and Run Run then took over the film production business of its Hong Kong-based sister company, Shaw & Sons Ltd., and in 1958, a new company, "Shaw Brothers," was set up and a new studio built at Clearwater Bay. It officially opened in 1961 as "Movietown" and, at its height, was the largest privately-owned studio in the world.
Over the years the film company produced some 1,000 films. Some went on to be the most popular and significant Chinese-language films of the period, including popularized the Kung-Fu genre of films. In 1987, the company suspended film production in order to concentrate on the television industry through its subsidiary TVB. Film production resumed in limited capacity in 2009. In 2011 Shaw Brothers was reorganized into the Clear Water Bay Land Company Limited, its film production business being taken over by other companies within the Shaw conglomerate.
The studios situated on Clearwater Bay Road and Ngan Ying Road now sit empty, along with the former TVB headquarters (occupied 1986–2003) and the apartment blocks used to house Shaw actors. Next to them is the newer and in-use Shaw House and Shaw Villa. A new Shaw Studios was been built at Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate which opened in 2006.
2. The Explore
This, sadly, like the former ATV studios, was a fail. The place is massive and also very secure. While I was having a look along the private road between the apartment blocks and the studio I managed to set a PIR off! Enough externals to merit a report however. The only people who seem to have cracked this place are the HK Urbex folks. Their pictures are HERE and HERE
3. The Pictures
The former apartment blocks used to house Shaw actors:
img1734 by HughieDW, on Flickr
IMG1710 by HughieDW, on Flickr
IMG1711 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The (non) Security Tower:
IMG1712 by HughieDW, on Flickr
IMG1714 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1718 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1717 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1719 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Unidentified block:
img1720 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1721 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The massive former TVB headquarters:
img1731 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1722 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1730 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1732 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1733 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back entrance to the studios:
img1724 by HughieDW, on Flickr