Montage

MATTER,

One Two Jaga

Si Pemikir

One Two Jaga was a local film that has triggered a phenomenon that has hit the
country's film industry. The film was directed by famous local director, Namron.
Basically, this movie was intends to tell society about police officer that involved in
corruption. The film also tells us about the living conditions of illegal immigrants
working in Malaysia.
In terms of actors involved in the film, the main character who stole the attention
was certainly the two main characters which was Hassan casted by Dr Rosdeen
Suboh. He plays the character of a antagonist police officer and contrasts to his partner, Hussein's
casted by Zahiril Adzim who was a protagonist police officer. Hassan and Hussein were assigned
to do their jobs together. Both of these actors have successfully play their characters together very
well.
There was a lot of lesson that people can learn from this movie. First and foremost, the film aims to
educate the audience on the importance of taking care the welfare for the oppressed such as the
illegal immigrants. This group should not be willing to suffer because of the shortcomings they face.
Secondly, the most useful lesson were about the realities of the police world. Although they serve
the people and the country, they were also exempt from crime and corruption.

Wira

Abdul Aziz Zulkifly

The greatest thing about this film is its fight scenes, which have a touch of
edginess and danger.
It is awesome, this movie director, Adrian Teh engaged well-known Indonesian
action choreographer-cum-actor Yayan Ruhian, who also has a role in the film.
Acting-wise, leads Hairul and Fify are rather stiff. The interaction between the
two, which is key to show the love between the siblings, looks artificial and lack
chemistry.
The ones who impressed me the most with their acting skills were Dain, who
plays the villainous Raja, and Hilal Azman who plays Munaz, Hassan and Zain’s
father.
One of the most intense scenes in the movie is when Raja visits Munaz to talk
about their hostile relationship and their children. Both of them complemented each other well, and
executed the scene excellently.
Personally, Wira is not a bad Malaysian film to spend your time watching. You will definitely feel the
adrenaline rush.

Montage ISSUE 12 19

YOUR REVIEWS M

Silence

Alexander Joseph

Director Martin Scorsese provides us with an excellent film that forces us to
rethink our worldview and our faiths.
We see Father Rodriques (Andrew Garfield) and Father Garupe, 2 priests
travelling to Japan to spread Christianity being put to the test of faith. The film
centers around the philosophy of one's religion and one's desire for matrydom.
The Japanese authorities were not happy with Christian presence and began
killing priests but found that making matrys out of them only makes the Japanese
Christian converts stronger in faith. The government then sought another way to stop Christianity
and that is to instead reduce priests into apostates rather than killing them which would lead the
Christian converts to question their new faiths.
This was the test put to Father Rodrigues as he is forced many times to choose either to leave his
religion or watch the poor Christian converts die very slow deaths. His love for God came in pride
thinking that his test was in his faith and that he should not undermine the work for God's glory by
52 giving into apostasy. In the end, he realized that perhaps his true test is not in his faith but rather
73 God was testing his humility. He thus accepted the government's demands to apostasize in order to
save the Christian villagers from suffering.
The movie is truly thought provoking as we ask ourselves what does God want us to do if we were
in Father Rodrigues' shoes. Should we denounce our faiths to save people or should we watch them
suffer so as to preserve the sanctity of God? Martin Scorsese has turned this question into a brilliant
film.

Frozen 2

Thomas Lau

Frozen 2 is the long awaited sequel to its record setting predecessor, Frozen.
Screen time wise the two sisters Elsa and Anna shared it better here than in the
first film which was refreshing to see. I loved how they introduced a new conflict
between Anna and Elsa as well as Elsa’s growing insecurities. As perfect as she
was, she was not without her doubts.

Scorewise, Frozen 2 feels like just a tad bit of a drop from Frozen. Nonetheless
it was still enchanting, inspirational and very fitting for all the right scenes. My
favourite has got to be Kristoff’s solo after Anna left him all alone. It was done
in reminiscence of an 80’s or 90’s music video, something which no doubt was lost on the young
audience.

Overall, it was a decent film filled with attractive visuals and good pacing. The storyline was
executed well, not stale at all. Elsa emerges with a brand new outfit which signified her growth,
which was apt as the fans of Frozen have grown up as well and could relate to them even more.

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MATTER,

Abominable

Wolf Whistler

Abominable is about adventure and growing up, both themes
are nothing new. However, the setting based in what seems to
be China alonside with a scrappy looking main character in Yi
breathed fresh air into the tried and tested overarching plotline.
Three friends and a Yeti against the world to travel far away from home mirrors the likes of
Avatar: The Last Airbender in style, humour and in some parts, setting.
Abominable starts off with second rate pixar animations. It honestly looks downright
choppy at some parts which was distracting. As the story progressed however, I found
myself drawn into the story of friendships, goodwill and growing up. Honestly it was a
splendid blend of all those things dashed with some action and a bowl full of adventure.
Of course, Everest proved to be the cheek-pulling cutesy yeti that he was meant to be. No
doubt we’ll be seeing him in stores soon enough.
8/10 movie. Above average script, fantastic storyline and an alternative, chinese-centric
movies with spot on cultural values.

send it

to us at

Thoughts of
a movie

MANIC

FARISZUAN ISSUE 12 19

Have you heard of

hobbies collecting movie tickets?

Before this, we only looked

at social networking sites that

went viral such as an antique

collectors, old coin collectors

and stamp collectors only. But is

it still relevant for someone who

supported local films in this era?

It was noteworthy that a man

named Ahmad Fariszuan Azhar

made collecting movie tickets for

his free time.

Questioning which local

movie was his favorite, he chose

the movie Bu..Kasih Suci.

“This movie genre is a

56 family and drama genre. I really
73 liked this movie because its
storyline was very good and looks

like Christopher Nolan, ” he said.

He stated that the number

of movies he watched for a month

was dependent on the number of

movies that were released on that

month. If there were 20 movies in

the month, then he would watch

20 movies.

Asked how he divides

the finances between movie

tickets and meal expenses, he

himself answers for the monthly

expenses, which he has set aside

earlier for each section. After all,

it didn’t matter to him because he Therefore, it is not possible that them everywhere. Plus, I’m a
planned it 2 or 3 months earlier. in the future, grandchildren will forgetful person. It’s just rare.
“I got a free ticket for never see anymore movie tickets Whenever I came home from
the premiere. For example One in paper shaped. For him, a watching a movie, I would keep
Piece The Movie. That movie movie ticket is the main evidence a movie ticket in a safe place. It
will launch in Malaysian cinema. that someone has already seen was just a free time for me to kept
So, the cinema CEO invited me the movie as well as a memory them in the photo album, ” he
to promote it to others after mark for future reference. said.
watching that movie, ”he said. “The most important thing
He collected movie tickets here is collecting the movie tickets Have you heard of
because for him, it was an iconic will give aesthetics value to future collecting movie tickets
thing. He said movie tickets in generations,” Wan said. as a hobby?
cinemas across the country are “I used to lose movie
heading towards paperless soon. tickets by accidentally placing

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Before this we used to have that month. did not include transportation and
collection hobbies such as If that month were to release 20 snacks but it was not a problem
stamps, coins, antiques but movies, then I will watch all of because I planned 2 or 3 months
how about movie tickets? For them. in advance.
Ahmad Fariszuan Azhar, going
to the movies has been a lifelong How do you split your Not only that, there are also free
passion of his and a part of that money between movie showings due to special events.
passion has led him to collect all tickets and meal, car and For example One Piece the
the movie tickets for the movies other expenses? movie. That movie will launch in
that he has gone to. Malaysia soon. So they invited

What do you like most
about watching local
movies?

The local film market is very For the expenses I have so far me to promote it to others after
tight. The drama/love genre been prepared for each section. watching the movie on their
is dominant but that’s what Only occasionally there will expense.
Malaysians love to watch. I don’t be special cases of multiple
care what genre I watch as long screenings. I also try to obtain Since when have you
as the “execution of concept” free tickets. Free on behalf of the been interested in
in a movie is beautifully carried. screening media and sometimes watching movies in
Sangkar for example. Sangkar the distributor of the movie studio cinema?
was claimed by production to be also gives tickets to me for free.
Malaysia’s first MMA action movie For example the recent Godzilla Since 2014.
but the execution of the concept & Avengers movie in KL. Even
was disappointing. In the end it though the tickets were free, that
was more of a drama rather than
an action movie.
Compare that to the movie Bu
Kasih Suci. The typical genre
of this movie is the family and
drama. In addition, the execution
of the film is fantastic. The film’s
execution is similar to Christopher
Nolan’s.

Overall, my favorite genres are
action and family.

How often do you watch
in a month?

The amount of movie I watch a
month is uncertain. Depending
on the number of movies released

Montage ISSUE 12 19

58
73

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What was the first movie memory. Looks like our people are movie always appeared as ads in
you watched in the now feeling nostalgic just like when multiple platforms several months
cinema? the Cathay and Rex movie theatres before the movie was released.
were closing down. The proceeds of the film are worth
The first movie I watch in the It is impossible for generations in a whopping RM26.7 million.
cinema is Magika in 2010 at the the next 30 years to feel the same This means that a consistent quality
TGV Wangsa Walk, KL. way. Aesthetic values ​are important. end product are among the biggest
contributors to draw in movie goers
Who are the most Have you ever lost your to the movies to support local films.
impressive local directors? ticket accidentally after
Why? watching it? How would you feel if a
viewer did not watch a
None other than the late Tan Sri Yes, I had lost my ticket by accident movie but only watched
P Ramlee. The vision he produced when I got home. This is because I it online as on the netflix
was quite impressive. He directed put it everywhere. When I wanted portal site?
a movie that has become a to kept the ticket into an album, I
masterpiece and is still rather fresh began to forget where I placed it. Depends on which portal they
until today. That happens only rarely. Mostly, I watches. If they watch on legal
For the modern director, many keep the tickets in a safe place. In portals like netflix, iflix, it’s the
directors impress me. But the my free time, I will laminate them second best way after supporting
best has got to be Khabir Bhatia nicely into the photo album. them by going to the cinema.
because his films will usually have Maybe they could just go that way
his signature. Watch any movie with In your opinion, how do you because they didn’t have time to
great cinematography, that movie encourage our community watch local movies in cinema.
must definitely be his. to go to the cinema and On the other hand,if they watched
watch a movie? through illegal portal types, that is
Why are you interested in up to them. If they know the value
collecting movie tickets? We can see this from the of movie producing process were
perspective of Malaysian animated difficult, they will certainly not do
The reason is, collecting tickets films. Starting from the recent so by watching the illegal portal,
are so iconic. After all, our movie movie, Upin Ipin Keris Siamang especially for the local industry.
tickets are slowly going paperless. Tunggal. Their crew took 5 years to
Plus, collecting movie tickets is produce the animated film.
proof that I’ve watched the movie. The promotion and marketing of
Don’t forget that the act is also a that movie was great as well. That

BRINGING
HIGH
FASHION
TO THE
TABLE



Montage ISSUE 12 19

“My dream of becoming a film young aspiring filmmakers. Finale met was Allen Yeoh, one of the

director brought me to my Studios owe their success to the main directors and Vince Loke

current career as a wedding fresh and vibrant ideas from their who is very young and talented

cinematographer.” talent pool who are part of the photographer.

generation that understands their

Teoh Ting Wei, the creative client’s mentality. This helped set “We tried to gather all the young

director of Finale Studios always the current trend on wedding high talents who are passionate about

wanted to become a film director. fashion videography that Finale photography or videography into

He started out with gigs in Studios are known for. the wedding photography career

wedding cinematography to learn such as ours where our unique

more about the direction and According to Ting Wei, the selling point as one the company

technical works related to film. process of starting this company with very young talent will shine

Somehow along the way he found was not a piece of cake, and brightly in this field,” said Ting

himself doing it full time. during the early stage of starting Wei.

“I used the wedding couples this company, the first person he

as my subjects to try my various

ideas of cinematography and

directions in the wedding video.

I had some skills in photography

and cinematography so I tried to

implement them in the wedding

videos to improve myself as a

creative director,” explained the
62 young director about his passion.

73

People from the current
generation are making their
wedding more fantastic and lately
its been all about the high fashion.
The concept of the personalised
wedding video will be proposed
to a couple by the creative
director and when the couple
accepts the idea, their wedding
will be more complete than they
realised it could be.
Finale Studios is still a new
company, being founded back
in 2018. The company is young,
being formed by a group of

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“In Malaysia, there is no proper and labour constraints. They proposed by the production. So
institute to properly educate look for freelancers according far, their clients have mostly been
people about videography or to the skills and also seek good from the younger generation at
photography skills and techniques. self discipline and good attitude the age range of 25 to 35, who
Those who enter this industry do in them because their attitude is are are more inclined to agree to
so solely on their passion in this, important to work for companies the concepts that Finale Studios
without the complete relevant which deals with various kinds of come up with Photography and
skill set and it’s rare to get new customers. Cinematography.
talents so if we meet someone
with similar interests then we will The young director also said that There are some differences
definitely collaborate and try new they usually prefer clients that between local photographer
things according to the talent are open minded because it is and cinematographers. For the
available.” easier to communicate with those regular photographer, their main
people and also to make them objective is to record the whole
Finale Studios usually hires 2 to 3 agree with the arguably lavish and procedure from A to Z much
freelancers because of its budget grandiose high fashion concepts like a documentary, but when it

FINALE STUDIOS ISSUE 12 19

comes to cinematography, it is new to this industry and it requires usually focus on the makeup artist
more towards directing, they will a high degree of creativity and because the client pool tends to
keep looking for the content, directing as well. hire their. Finale Studios however
such as more heart pulling does use Facebook to promote the
scenes or cinematic scenes which Finale Studios does collaborate business. A major collaboration
attracts the audience or client with several famous makeup happened between Finale Studios
with new types of shots that are artists around Penang for their and local wedding platform,
unexpected. Cinematography is production but they do not Bridalgram, where they share lots

64
73

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of information about weddings of creativity people used to post the other races hence before we
not only for videographers but content in social media inspires us accept any jobs from the other
also photographers, emcee, and to come up with the most trendy races, we make sure that we fully
much more, all in one online ideas which is truly what high learn the important rituals in other
platform. Finale Studios are one of fashion is all about; trend setting. cultures beforehand to highlight
the vendors in this revolutionising in the final product”.
channel of personalised weddings “Our clients are mostly Chinese
sans conventional wedding and they usually go for weddings Finale Studios hopes to bring
planners. during the end of the year from high fashion cinematography
Inspiration November to February. We even further into wedding videos
usually have more clients during and make it a staple, a must have
“We usually get our inspiration for that time.” for every young couple out there.
the wedding videography from Most certainly, they are making
social media such as Facebook, “Clients from other races make up their mark in Penang and in due
Instagram and even Tik Tok where less than 10% of our total clients. time they are certain to have
we can peer into the latest trends Admittedly we are more used to some competition. After all, blue
through those mediums. The level the Chinese weddings and not oceans don’t stay blue for long.

Connecting
with the
wanin

ng fisherman

Montage ISSUE 12 19

68
73

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Andrew Han is a self-taught independent documentary coming into their village to obtain information. “I
filmmaker from Malaysia whose interest is in totally understand if they suspect I’m a spy from the
environmental and human rights issues. He picked up developer or state government, but after spending
his first camcorder in 2009 and has been producing time with them and explain to them my intention,
many short films ever since. Over the years, the they agreed to allow me to film their story.
approach towards independent filmmaking has been
developed into something he calls ‘minimalist’ and a Can you tell us some of the technical
form of ‘guerrilla-filmmaking’ where he highlights the aspects used during the shooting of
sharp relief and juxtaposition of montages to focus this short film such as cinematography,
the issue into a provoking perspective, all done with a camera movement and so on?
shoe-string budget. Part of why he makes such films is
to encourage more people to consider telling stories Andrew used a mixture of methods such as handheld
through filmmaking by way of demystifying the idea and ‘fly on the wall’. He also used a canon XA11 and
that it is a complicated and cost-intensive activity to DJI Osmo. For audio, he used a microphone on the
venture into. protagonist with an Iphone and a lapel microphone.
“During the protest, I used a directional microphone
What led you to produce the short film, (Rode mic). I also use my DJI Phantom 3 advanced for
Doa Seorang Nelayan which broaches the all my aerial shots.
issue on the welfare of the working class,
titularly the fishermen when their rights Can you tell us how you got involved in
are abused by the state government? the film industry and what led you to get
involved in this industry?
According to Andrew, he saw the possible plight that
the coastal fishermen will be facing if the reclamation Andrew said he got interested in filmmaking after
in the south of Penang starts. He also noticed that attending the Freedom Film Fest in 2007. It was
their voices were not captured and understood actually a research assignment that he was undertaking
properly by the general public. “Therefore I decided as a master student of literature and was researching
to document their struggles and thoughts on such on independent filmmakers and their stories.
a development which is not sustainable at all in the
hope that awareness will be spread and more people In your opinion, what are the qualities
will reject this reclamation project.” that are needed by local Malaysian films
to reach the same level as rising films
Can you tell us about some of the such as in Indonesia, Thailand and the
elements of humanity that can be found Philippines?
in this short film?

Andrew says that there is a strong connection between “A filmmaker must have the ability to recognise a
nature and faith, in this case, it is Encik Zakaria’s, who good protagonist and human story. It is their ability
is the main actor in this short film whose faith in the to illustrate complicated issues to the audience via
sea which he depends upon. “If the sea is gone, so documentary film.”
will the faith and identity of the people from the south
of Penang disappear”, Andrew said. Where do you see the future of the local
film industry in the next five years?
What are some of the challenges or
obstacles encountered by you and your I think that the independent film industry will continue
production team during the process of to thrive slowly. The content they produced will also
making Doa Seorang Nelayan? change and filmmakers will need to adapt to it. For
example, a short documentary will be much more
According to Andrew, making connection with the relevant compared to a long form one. This is due to
fishermen there required patience and persistence. the nature of media consumption these days that are
This is because they were not immediately open mainly through social media.”
to the idea where an outsider or Chinese person

THREE WOMENMontage ISSUE 12 19

Call Her Ganda is a historical and she was found dead solicited Jennifer at a disco.

documentary film where with her head plunged into a On discovering that Jennifer

Jeniffer Laude, a Filipino motel room toilet. A military was transgender, he brutally

transgender murdered her,

woman, is brutally leaving her to be

murdered by a found by her friend

U.S. Marine. Call and the motel

Her Ganda was receptionist.

shown during

the International In this case, Virgie

Human Rights Suarez reveals the

Documentary Film truth of Jennifer’s

Festival on 9th death from inside

November 2019. the courtroom,

70 Three women and a transgender
73 intimately invested investigative
journalist,

in this case - an Meredith Talusan,

activist attorney, determined to

Virgie Suarez, bring international

a transgender attention to the

journalist, Meredith case, wrote sharp

Talusan and and swift in the

Jennifer’s mother, form of essays for

Julita “Nanay” The Guardian and

Laude galvanize a Buzzfeed.

political uprising, Meanwhile,

pursuing justice and Jennifer’s mother,

taking on hardened Julita finds herself

histories of US effectively at the

imperialism. center of a political

uprising, inciting

According to the fellow protestors

documentary film with a tenacious

directed by PJ Raval, the 26 recruit in an unfamiliar land, voice, fights harder for her

year old Filipina transgender Joseph Scott Pemberton rights and also protests to

woman was a sex worker was on liberty leave when he get justice for her daughter’s

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N ONE PROBLEM

death. discrimination made some Even though they dislike my
Philippine citizens wary that arrival, I’m comfortable with
A female centric cast, Call Ms. Jennifer’s murder would the situation and the job I do.
Her Ganda follows a trio of go unpunished. Currently, I’m writing about
willful women as they take on This is due to Jeniffer’s death transgender, transexualism,
some of the most
powerful institutions and LGBT in my
in the world. The articles and for my
film screening of Call blogs.”
Her Ganda forges
personal tragedy exposed to gender-based Mr. Raval effectively
of a transgender violence and discrimination of captures the
woman, human the transgender community. sense of outrage
rights activism, In finding the truth in the surrounding the
U.S imperial rule in Pemberton case, Jeniffer’s events with amazing
the Philippines, a death brings hope and light to location shots.
little known history the society. Although, the
and profoundly repetitive scenes
humanistic geopolitical could have been
investigative exposé. better used to explore Ms.
Jeniffer Laude’s life. Yet even
The documentary, directed with these shortcomings, Call
by PJ Raval also delves into Her Ganda which the phrase
frictions between the two ‘Ganda’ means beautiful and it
countries, Philippines and remains commendable for its
America and raises questions focus on the case.
over the Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA). In this case, One transgender artist, Regina Besides that, the crime
Pemberton as the accused states that LGBT community against Ms. Laude will not be
protected by American service would not be easily accepted forgotten by her family and
personnel and is said to have by society. Transgender the Philippines citizens. “My
allowed past crimes to go women are now seeking for life has value,” Ms. Laude once
unpunished. legal liberalisation, equality in declared. She was right, and
public use and human rights. this documentary film takes
The filmmaker, PJ Raval that truth to heart.
also notes that the military “I as a transgender woman
influence on the case and fight with other male and ▲ Director PJ Raval bravely addressed
widespread transgender female artists to strengthen my
position in the organization. transgender issues in Philippines.





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