What can we do to nurture and support aspiring Malaysian filmmakers?

Question

Malaysia is full of aspiring and talented filmmakers who're starting to gain recognition internationally at the major festivals. With an abundance of ideas, passion and perseverance, there are no limits to how far they can go.
Check out other personalities from Malaysia at http://malaysia.promo.yahoo.com/answers/

Answer 1

There are many people out there that are eager to find their voice but find themselves in various obstacles to achieve their dream goals.

As a Malaysian by myself, I realized that there are many restrictions that must go off in order for filmmakers to go. Among those are:

1. Have a one-stop centre / production facility where film crews are able to gain access to high-quality film-making or post-production equipment at an affordable rental rate for anybody (rich or poor). Hence companies involved in film equipment say Arri, Avid, Chapman (dollies), Kodak stocks.. must be willing to offer very low rates to promote effective film-making.
2. Build a database whereby aspiring filmmakers can look for crew members and actors that they can ask them to participate in their project. This database will be handled by the FINAS agency so that anyone can look to them for casting and so on.
3. Not only FINAS and Tourism, but private banks / TV networks will have to participate more by soliciting sufficient amount of funds that could cover the entire production including buffer time.
4. If you can't write an original script, you can adapt one! Thus, novelists and playwrights should consider selling the rights of their plays or novels for adaptation at a low price. With that you already have a script already! For example, Stephen King sold the rights of the novella The Apt Pupil to Bryan Singer (Superman Returns) for just $1 only!
5. Everyone involve must understand that film costs a lot of money and unless the ringgit rate is not up to the expected standard, we may have to work at a lower rate.
6. The current rules of Malaysian censorship is crap. They must scrap the current administering mentality and replace with something like in U.S or Singapore. Look at how Spinning Gasing was badly butchered by censorship board!

For those steps above, speed is essential, which is why there must not be any bureaucracy or too many procedures which could be much of a hassle - hence transparency.

Answer 2

Since Malaysia is about limits, make those limits clear. So that people can abide by those limits. If they create something not contravening those limits then it must be let go to public.

Create an environment conducive to aspiration and talent.
Create an environment conducive to International recognition.
Create an environment conducive to ideas passion and perseverence.

So now we have got the limits bordering around the conducive environment let's make the rules together let me start:

a) Aspiration & Talents- 1 million dollars does not a great movie make.

b) International Recognition- is outside Malaysia, so Malaysian rules don't apply except in Malaysia.

c) Ideas, Passion, and Perseverence- Just Do It!!

Answer 3

In Singapore, Jack Neo has become quite successful as a film-maker. I think his success is due largely to the S'pore Govt's support. His earlier shows were openly mentioned by the ex-PM during his public rallies to the whole country. Once the people get to know and hear about him, they are curious and will watch his movies.

Young aspiring Malaysian filmmakers should be given a chance to venture out in bigger ways.

It is important that the Min of Communications, Culture and Arts or other relevant ministry give active support by promoting such talents. Organise some sort of local film festival and let their films be shown.

There needs to be more open-mindedness on the part of the people on top. If they keep wanting to push religion and a particular culture there, then, there will be little progress.

The world is changing so much and so must the Govt of different countries be open to changes.

Answer 4

Personally... I used to watch local films when I was much younger and I remember lovin it! What's happening now is that I'm spoilt for choice. Flipping the channels in abundance, I consider the visuals, i.e. setting, costumes, do the actors say something tacky, then I click on 'info' to read the summary only if I'm not turned off already (all this in 5 - 8 seconds). Local films rarely pass the mark.

Demanding? On the contrary, I think I'm a typical viewer.

To win us over, ensure exceptional QUALITY and then work on the appeal with great marketing (if we've seen enough good local films, we'll be convinced).

However, to achieve real and speedy change to our biased mindset, the film making industry must pool together instead of fighting lone battles. Embark on a campaign to make Malaysian films appealing starting from the product and drive towards making this happen. Will anyone take charge here? Yasmin?

Answer 5

Malaysian Movies

Answer 6

Hi Yasmin. Firstly, I think you're a shining beacon of hope for the Malaysian film industry.

In all honesty, no one wants to do something for free. And if you want to get paid for it, you got to do or make something that a lot of people want.

Wanting to make a movie and wanting to make a movie that sells are two different things. If a film maker is doing the latter, then you gotta look at what people want.

Unfortunately for the Malaysian audience, we've grown up watching formulaic movies, be it American blockbusters, or Bollywood dance fest or Malay weepies.

And those kinds of movies are the ones broadcasted the most. And the ones that sells.

Most Malaysian movies are formulaic but production techniques used are still a long way off from foreign movies.

But that is something that one can easily learn from.

So, education is one way.

But just because you know how to work the camera, or lighting or sound, it's all meaningless if the story sucks.

What's missing in Malaysia are the storytellers. Except for you, Yasmin, and all the other young up and coming film makers that are cropping up, very few are pushing the envelope when it comes to the storytelling.

There has got to be more to our lives than weepie rags-to-riches, boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl-back, overly-melodramatic story lines that the current crop of scriptwriters can come up with.

So, another way is to cultivate good stories. Not sure if it's something that can be taught tho'.

Now, sometimes, there are good stories but the powers that be think that they're not suitable for public viewing. These powers that be are the ones that are doing the most damage.

As viewers of movies, we view what they allow us to view. New thoughts/ideas are most times deemed not suitable for public consumption. That's why our tastes in movies have not progressed much.

These people need to loosen up. They need to realise that new ideas/thoughts does not necessarily corrupt.

New storylines can be told without obscene/violent/sexual elements. Look at the art stuff coming out of Europe or Korea or elsewhere. We don't even have to go too far. Look at Yasmin's films.

But most importantly, these people need to realise that the public is ready for new things. We're in a progressive country. We can't be shielded forever. Otherwise, how are we gonna grow?

So, that's what I think anyway.

Answer 7

I believe the main objective is to get the audience watching the films. To do this, please tone down the number of unrealistic stories (ie. cerita cinta buruk) and make the stories as realistic as possible. I know the problem lies mostly with the latter as making things too realistic may not please the censor boards. I just hope that the censor board can get more lenient on their works cause I believe the more liberal the film maker can be, the better will the product be. I think the film industry should be as liberal as the currently booming and revived Indonesian film industry, which I think partly-caused by the ouster of the Suharto regime.

Only a good film which is not your boring typical story will get more and more people coming back for future releases. Not to forget, indie film makers should be given ample slots whether on the television or the cinema to have their masterpiece shown. In this, we need support not only from fellow filmmakers but also from television station and cinema operators.

Answer 8

We, as normal Malaysian, should always support Malaysian movies by watching them, and give constructive critics.

But, Malaysian filmmakers should be more creative and innovative. I watched Gubra and Sepet. The way you present them what makes them interesting to watch, besides making you `think`.
Another movie that attracts my attention is Cicakman. KRU has boldly took old idea from Hollywood and makes it `Malaysian`. Brave gamble from them, but I would think it as a success.
So, the FATE of Malaysian movies mostly depend on filmmakers theirselves. Would you support `Malaysian films` if there is same-old boring idea? Even if its 'Hollywood films', you won't get my support.

Answer 9

A good storyline (one that lasts 90 to 120 minutes) doesnt really need a large budget. But in order to dream up a good storyline is another thing! I'd say the trick is divided into three parts, read, read, and read.
Read anything you can get your hands on. Fiction, non fiction, classics, bestsellers especially, masters, national geographic(magazine not tv), popular science, readers digest. medical journals, law journals, Faust, Sheldon, Grisham, Forsythe, Asimov, Ahadiat even, politics, culture, romance novels(no matter how tacky), spy, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi, you get the drift. To know a little bit about everything is not such a bad thing.
After ten years or so of non-stop reading, you 'll figure out who's a good writer and who's not and also by then you'll have developed a fairly active imagination and figure out a nice little inexpensive story fit for your typical film festival award winning movie. Also, find printed versions of 'the making of ...' So there!

Answer 10

Malaysia has many great filmmakers. Most tele-movies are really good. Movies... well... need some work. It's really puzzling as I thought, as audiences need to fork out RM6-9, movies have to be of a higher standard than tele-movies. Malaysian film makers need to realise that there's tough competition out there. In fact from all over the world.

I'm from Singapore and I can see that Malaysians and Malay speaking Singaporeans would love to support Malaysian films but we do not want to be shortchanged. We will give credit when credit is due. We are not waiting for the late P.Ramlee's standard, just simple watchable films with great acting. I don't care if some famous singer acts (which is usually a HUGE mistake in most situation). Audiences want to watch something that compel them to get their bottom off the comfort of their couch, travel to the cinema, pay for tickets which they don't actually have to.

Message to filmmakers - > investing in filmmaking education will never hurt you. If it's too expensive, watch 'the making of" part of the DVD.

Message to Yasmin -> I love your movies. Please make more. I've passed DVDs of Sepet to my friends in the US and UK and they absolutely love it.