Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC)has opened Malaysia's first multiplex in the heart of downtown Kuala Lumpur:the nine-screen multiplex is located in Berjaya Times Square shopping mall.

The $5.8m (RM22m) multiplexclocked up 1,000 ticket sales on its first day of business on Jan 27 whichcoincided with the opening of Elektra and local production Tak OriTapi Ok. The multiplex, the 17th for GSC, has 1,570 seats in total,including a 48-seat premiere class auditorium.

GSC Berjaya Times Square isthe second of the four multiplexes that GSC aims to open in the next two years.Next up is a 13-screener sited at 1 Utama Phase two which is due to open bymid-year in time to catch the summer blockbusters.

Meanwhile, GSC has comeonboard as a co-investor for a Malay production Gol & Gincu (Goal &Lipstick). The $395,000 (RM1.5m) romantic comedy is produced by Lina Tan ofRed Communications and directed by Bernard Chauly.

'GSC has given advances toproducers for completed local films when it was appointed distributor. Co-investingin local films is a step further in developing the local film industry,' saysGSC distribution manager Yvonne Tan.

Last year, GSC collaboratedwith Red on Visits: Hungry Ghost Anthology, which marked its first forayinto production.