A major US film production is in talks to shoot in Johor. Johor executive councillor Lee Ting Han said so on 29 September 2026, as The Star reported. If you study at a film making school in Johor, or plan to, this news is about the kind of work that could be close to home.
The deal is not final. Lee said details will come out when the company makes its own announcement, which he expects by the end of the year. So treat this as a sign of where Johor is heading, not as a job offer.
What the state actually said
Three things came out of the same week, and they fit together.
First, the US production. Talks are between the US team and Film Johor, the state’s film office. Lee also mentioned several smaller local projects.
Second, the state moved its film unit to Invest Johor. A dedicated officer now helps visiting productions with filming permits and access to restricted locations.
Third, the Economy Minister spoke at Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Iskandar Puteri on the same day. He announced co-production deals with studios from Australia and South Korea, worth about RM92 million over two years (The Star, 29 September 2026).
Lee also said he hopes more Malaysian filmmakers will choose Johor over the Klang Valley. For a student, that is the line to remember.
Who works on a big foreign shoot
A foreign production brings its lead crew: the director, the director of photography and the heads of each department. The rest is often hired locally. That can include camera assistants, lighting and grip crew, runners, and data wranglers, the people who copy and back up footage on set.
Much of the work happens after the shoot as well. Editing, visual effects and colour work can go to local teams if the skills are there.
Nobody has published how many local jobs this shoot would create. Any number you read online is a guess until the production says it.
Which skills a student can build now
You cannot plan your studies around one deal. But the same skills are needed on any professional set, foreign or local.
- Camera and lighting basics. Know how to set up a light and read exposure. Camera assistants and lighting crew are hired for this.
- Set discipline. Arrive early, label everything and keep the set quiet. Big productions notice people who make work easier.
- Editing and file handling. Footage has to be copied, checked and organised every day. A student who can do this well is useful from day one.
- Visual effects and motion graphics. Post-production is where a lot of the work goes, long after the camera crew has left.
A course that covers camera techniques, editing and visual effects prepares you for most of these roles. If you are still deciding what to study, see how working adults fit a part-time film course around a job 或 which skills to build first.
What a day on a large set looks like
A day on a large production is long and planned to the minute. The call sheet, a one-page plan sent the night before, lists who arrives when, which scenes are shot and where.
Entry-level crew usually arrive first. Lighting and grip teams set up stands, cables and lights before the actors come in. Runners bring equipment, water and messages between departments. Camera assistants build the camera, clean the lenses and keep a log of every take.
Much of the day is waiting and resetting. A scene may be shot many times from different angles. Each time, lights move, marks on the floor change and the camera team checks focus again. People who stay alert through this, and who do not need to be told twice, get asked back.
When shooting wraps for the day, footage cards go to the data team. They copy each card to at least two drives and check that the copies play. Nobody wipes a card until that is done. It is simple work, but one mistake can lose a day of shooting.
None of this needs a famous name on your CV. It needs someone who has handled real equipment and knows the order things happen in.
What this news does not change
A single foreign shoot will not replace steady local work. Most film and video jobs in Malaysia are still in advertising, corporate video, television and online content. Those clients hire all year, while a feature film comes and goes.
So the safest plan is the same as before. Learn skills that work on any set: camera, lighting, editing and effects. A big shoot in Johor is a chance to use them, not a reason to learn something narrow.
It also helps to be realistic about timing. Productions of this size often plan for months before a single scene is filmed. Students who start training now will be further along if and when the shoot arrives.
Why studying at a film making school in Johor helps
A shoot in Johor hires people who can reach set on time, often before sunrise. Living nearby is a real advantage for entry-level crew work.
Iskandar Malaysia Studios is in Iskandar Puteri. A film making school in Skudai is in the same district area, a short drive by road. Travelling down from Kuala Lumpur for each early call time is a very different day.
The state’s new film officer also means local contacts matter more. Productions ask the film office for local help. Students with a showreel and good references are easier to recommend.
For a longer look at the choice, read whether you can study film in Johor instead of KL.
What to do this month
Do not wait for the official announcement to start. Three steps cost nothing:
- Build a short showreel from your best class work. Keep it under two minutes.
- Learn the names of crew roles and what each one does on set. Productions hire people who already know the language.
- Follow Film Johor and Invest Johor for news of the production and any call for local crew.
Not enrolled yet? A film making school in Skudai is taking questions about its next intake, and it is closer to Iskandar Puteri than any campus in KL.
Frequently asked questions
Is the US film shoot in Johor confirmed?
No. On 29 September 2026 the state said a US production is in talks to shoot in Johor. The company is expected to announce details itself, which Johor expects by the end of 2026.
Will a foreign film production hire students?
Productions usually hire local crew for support roles such as runners, camera assistants and lighting crew. They look for people who know how a set works. A student with training and a short showreel has a better chance than someone with none.
Where is Iskandar Malaysia Studios?
It is in Iskandar Puteri, in the Johor Bahru district. It has film stages, TV studios and post-production rooms, and it hosted the KL20@Johor event on 29 September 2026.
Do I need to move to Kuala Lumpur to work in film?
Not always. Most Malaysian production has been in the Klang Valley, but Johor is now trying to bring more shoots south. Living near the work helps with early call times, so check where shoots are happening before you move.
What should I learn first if I want to work on big film sets?
Start with camera and lighting basics and how a set runs day to day. Editing and file handling are also useful, because every production needs its footage organised. These skills carry over to any shoot, local or foreign.
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