Ramuan Rahasia artwork

The still-in-progress film feature, Ramuan Rahasia.


The artwork is created by Yane.

Makan Exposè

Hey friends, check out another tv programme I'm directing. It's called Makan Exposè, where we deconstruct various Malay dishes. 8 x 1/2hr episodes. Thursdays on MediaCorp's Suria channel 8.30pm. Premiered on 18 February 2010. English subtitled.

These dishes are
Rendang & Lontong
Mee Soto & Mee Siam
Satay
Nasi Padang & Sambal Belacan
Laksa & Rojak
Ice-Kacang & Cendol
Sambal Goreng & Asam Pedas
Nasi Lemak & Roti John
Enjoy!

Ramuan Rahasia article in The Sun

Read the article here, published by The Sun, Malaysia's no 1 English newspaper. (The article is republished below) Original articles can be found here and here.

The Missing Ingredient
Singapore’s first Malay film in almost four decades has hit a snag
by Bissme S

After a nearly 40-year gap, Singapore is going to produce its first Malay feature film entitled Ramuan Rahasia (The Missing Ingredient).

The man behind this project is Singapore’s award-winning television director Sanif Olek. Ramuan Rahasia is his first feature film though he has directed several shorts and a handful of TV productions.

Ramuan Rahasia centres on a lonely elderly man, Pak Harun (played by Malaysian actor Rahim Razali), who lives in a big house in Pasir Ris with a live-in nurse-cum-maid called Murni.

The bitter old man complains about Murni’s cooking and tries to send her back to Indonesia. Eventually, it is her cooking that is instrumental in reconciling father and son.

The film also stars Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit, Rafaat Hamzah, Asnida Daud, J.A. Halim, Aminah Ahmad, Hasyimah Hamidon and Aaron Aziz.

"The Malay voice in Singapore is under-represented," Sanif, 40, says in an exclusive interview in Singapore recently. "Through Ramuan Rahasia, I hope to give a voice to my community here."

While Singapore has produced several feature films in English and Chinese, and even one in Tamil, not a single Malay film has emerged from the republic over the past four decades or so.

Indeed, Sanif is creating a milestone in the Singapore movie scene with this film, which is ironic on hindsight, as it was in Singapore that the Malay film industry was born.

The first Malay film was Laila Majnun (1933), directed by B.S. Rajhans and produced by the Singapore-based Motilal Chemical Company from Bombay.

Over time, the industry grew especially with the entry of the Shaw brothers (Run Run and Runme Shaw) from Hongkong in 1937 and the setting-up of their Malay Film Productions company. Later, a rival studio, Cathay-Keris Film Production, added to the number of Malay films being produced.

The golden age of the Malay film industry came after the World War II in the 1950s and early 60s which saw the birth of such glamorous and talented stars as our very own P. Ramlee, Siput Sarawak and Maria Menado.

But the advent of television soon put paid to the industry’s growth and in 1967, the Shaw Brothers closed down their studios in Singapore.

A few years later, in 1973, Cathay-Keris Film Production released its last film, Satu Titik Di-Garisan, marking an end to Malay film production onnthe island. The industry then shifted its operations to Kuala Lumpur.

The 1990s saw a revival of the Singapore film industry with emerging Singaporean filmmakers such as Eric Khoo and Jack Neo directing English, Chinese and Tamil films, but no Malay feature films – until now.

Sanif has completed 65% of Ramuan Rahasia using his own money but he is running short of funds.

He is now looking for new financing to complete the film, budgeted at S$350,000 (RM828,554), but he says it has not been an easy ride.

He admits the "big guns" are apprehensive about funding his film because they are afraid the movie might not be a success.

"There is always apprehension when something is not tested," he says, adding that he will have a better chance in getting investors’ attention if he was directing an English or Chinese movie.

"I grew up in a Malay environment in Singapore," he says. "If I make my film in Malay, it’ll sound more sincere. I’m not interested in making superficial films.

"Ultimately, this is not a wholly Malay film. It is a Singapore film. The theme is universal and even people in Africa can relate to it."

Sanif first became interested in film in a roundabout way. A camera he received as a gift from his father when he was a child triggered his passion for photography, and later moving pictures.

In 1996, he graduated from Singapore’s premier film school, the Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Department of Film, Sound & Video. He went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in media from Murdoch University’s highly-reputable School of Media, Communication & Culture, in Perth, Australia.

Sanif’s first short film, Lost Sole (Love Trilogy 1), in 2005 was screened in over 30 international film festivals from Hawaii, San Francisco, New York, St Petersburg and Montreal to Teheran.

It was in competition in eight of these film festivals and won two in 2008 – for best film on religion at the International Festival of Short Films on Culture (Jaipur, India) and best narrative film at Rahmat International Shortfilm Festival (Tabriz, Iran).

His second short, A La Folie (Love Trilogy 2), which premiered at the 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival in March 2009, was voted best short film at the 4th Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival that year.

Sanif says his works generally portray the theme of love and caring. "This theme has always appealed to me. I always get puzzled when people say they love you and care for you, then the next minute, they disappoint you."

Thank you Bissme for the great article.

NOTE: This film is still incomplete and appeals for funds/donations to finish the remaining 35% of shoot.

The Sun (23 March 2010)

An evening of LOVE.

"Take away LOVE and the earth is a tomb."

It has been more than 5 years in the making and finally on 14 February 2010, LOVE happened.

Ameen was finally completed and with it, the LOVE trilogy concludes. Lost Sole, the first film, was filmed in late 2005 and premiered in early 2006. à la folie, a spontaneous filming process that happened "without a script, but a concept and gifted casts", was filmed in 2007 but was only released in mid-2008. Finally Ameen, from a script written in late 2008, was filmed in early 2009 and finally released in early 2010.

All three films have been self-funded. I reflect upon the success of these films with bittersweet victory. Curious that these films have been more successful overseas than in this island I sweated blood and tears for in National Service as the token Malay Commando.

Lost Sole | LOVE trilogy #1 from Sanif Olek on Vimeo.

à la folie "like crazy" | LOVE trilogy #2 from Sanif Olek on Vimeo.

AMEEN | LOVE trilogy #3 from Sanif Olek on Vimeo.

Those who attended, I love you all! I'm humbled by your support. The LOVE journey has just began and there will be many more LOVE discovery, I tell you :)

(My humblest appreciation to Teater Ekamatra for accomodating their Black Box for this screening.)

The evening was also special because it was the first time a selection of edited scenes from my upcoming film feature debut, Ramuan Rahasia|The Missing Ingredient, was screened to the public. A year had passed since the first phase of the shoot was filmed (February 2009). Just recently, Cathay Keris Films, from the Cathay Organisation, one of three main local cinema exhibitors/distributors, has pledged it will distribute the film feature, possibly the first Singapore-made, Malay-Singaporean film since the late 60s. Thank you Cathay.

This film stars the legendary Rahim Razali. I'm forever grateful to him for agreeing to be in this film. To those not familiar (...shame on you!) with the man, he's the Laurence Olivier or Anthony Hopkins of Southeast Asian Cinema. Gifted Singapore-based actors like Aidli 'Alin' Mosbit, Rafaat Hj Hamzah, Asnida Daud, Aaron Aziz, J A Halim and Keagan Kang complete the cast list.

However more work needs to be done. More money still need to be pulled in to complete the remaining phases of shoots in Singapore and Sydney, Australia. It's puzzling to know that with such an impressive regional casting, bittersweet story consisting all spicy ingredients that could raze the cinema screens (ie love, music and food), it's still hard to pull in the money in Singapore for this "historic" film.

And for those curious why a certain local govt-based film agency not participate in this exquisite concoction, yet - go seek their feedback directly. I don't wish to pepper this blog space with speculation on rigid bureaucrats.

No, blockbuster actors like Chow Yuen Fatt, Jacky Chan, Brat Pitt, Fann Wong nor Angelina Jolie cannot act in my film because they cannot speak nor sing in Malay nor Indonesian in believable local accents, yes?

I look forward to Ramuan Rahasia's film premiere - there'll be lots of personal and professional stories to tell. The self-discovery, friends who walked away and lost, professional sacrifices by acquaintances and the new friends made along the way... the journey is a tale in itself lah. But it's all good :)

Life is full of surprises and I take the challenge with a sweet hazelnut Magnum, yes the ice-cream!

Close to 65% of footages are already in the can. Just a few more $$$ and this film will be complete. Thus, no belakang pusing, majulah kehadapan! :D

To those who missed the LOVE affair, you may get glimpses of it from Gumbira, Neil and Zalinah.

Thank you soo much.

Makan Angin (new series)

Food/cultural travelogue with Najip Ali and Chef Wan. Premieres 3rd February 2010, 7.30pm on MediaCorp's Suria channel, Singapore.

8 x 1/2hour episodes. Cities covered are Kuching, Penang, Malacca, Langkawi, Cameron Highlands, Kota Kinabalu, Bandung, Jogjakarta. A Dua M production.

Directed by Sanif Olek (eps 1-6 of 8). Filmed and photographic stills by Helmindra J. A. Halim.



Enjoy :)

à la folie January screenings

YOu are invited to catch à la folie | LOVE trilogy #2 screenings in January at the following events,
Singapore Short Film Awards 2010, 28 January @ 9pm

SMU Film Festival 2010, 31 January @ 8pm



à la folie first screened (World Premiere) at the 27th San Francisco Int'l Asian American Film Festival in March 2009 and subsequently received Best Short Film award at the 4th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival in August 2009. Thank you so much for your support.

LOVE is in the air.

LOVE is LOVE is LOVE.

L'AMOUR est dans le ciel. Pouvez-vous le sentir ?

à la folie - One year on...

Almost one year has past and this little gem of a film is still travelling and wow-ing audiences around the world. Alhamdullilah.

à la folie is screening @ Jakarta Int'l Film Festival on Dec 7, 4 pm, at Blitzmegaplex Grand Indonesia, within the S-Express:Singapore film programme.

à la folie first screened (World Premiere) at the 27th San Francisco Int'l Asian American Film Festival in March 2009 and subsequently received Best Short Film award at the 4th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival in August 2009.

This film has travelled to these festivals
27th San Francisco Int'l Asian American Film Festival (March 2009)
25th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (April 30 - May 7)
32nd New York Asian American Int'l Film Festival (Jul 23 - 26)
4th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (Aug 4 - 8)
32nd Montreal World Film Festival (Aug 27 - Sept 7)
5th Singapore Short Film Festival (Sept 13 - 21)
29th Hawaii Int'l Film Festival (Oct 15 - 25)
11th Jakarta Int'l Film Festival (Dec 4 - 12)
London Project: Slingshot (Jan 2010)

Thank you for your support and love.

KERETA SEWA [episode 8|final]

Episode 8 (final) of anthology drama series. Sanif Olek directs episode 1 & episode 8. A Shortman Films production. Premiere telecast 30 November 2009 @ 9.30pm on MediaCorp's Suria channel, Singapore.

Featuring "Mengaku Kalah" from the album, "Punca & Tindakan", by Imran Ajmain.



Enjoy :)

VANILLA [LAST episode, 5 Nov 2009]

Don't miss the LAST episode of VANILLA with the lovely chef Siti Mastura.
Schedule: 5 Nov @ 9pm on MediaCorp's SURIA channel. Thursday.

Thank you for watching :)