Singapore's MediaCorpRaintree is cranking up production with two new projects set to shoot.

Principal photography willbegin this month for I Not Stupid Too, sequel to 2002's smash hit INot Stupid.

'I Not Stupid is a break-out hit and the most successful Singaporefilm. In Hong Kong alone, it was showing in theatres for more than five months,grossing $640,000 (HK$5m),' said Raintree CEO Daniel Yun.

The original was alsoreleased in China, Malaysia and Taiwan. Yun expects the sequel, also directedby Jack Neo, to reach a wider audience.

The $900,000 (S$1.5m) sequelis a co-production between Raintree and Scorpio East Entertainment, a localhome video company. The Shanghai Film Group was announced earlier as a partner,but Yun said the collaboration did not work out due to script differences.

In August, Raintree willstart 1318, a $1.2m co-production with Hong Kong's Springtime Stage andImpact Entertainment. Hong Kong's Clifton Ko is directing while Hong Kongveteran singers Alan Tam and Hacken Lee will star together with Singapore'sFann Wong and Christopher Lee.

The comedy is about theclash of culture between Hong Kong and Singapore and is due for release during2006 Chinese New Year.

Also in production are a$3.6m animation Sing to the Dawn and Leap Of Love, a $2m romanticcomedy (now under new director Jean Yeo who has replaced French-Venezuelan FinaTorres). The Maid and One Last Dance are both in post-production.

'Given the decent trackrecord from the past seven years, we are moving Raintree's business to adifferent level. We'll make more medium and big budget productions withinternational stars [after 1318],' said Yun.