My viewpoint on local film regulation/censorship.

[reproduced from SINdie]

"We continue with a series of responses from local filmmakers on the current regulation and/or censorship system in Singapore. This is an ongoing project initiated by a group of students from LASALLE. Discussions and exchange of views are encouraged between members of the public and arts practitioners on the regulatory issue of films in Singapore. View our previous interviews here.

We find out what local filmmaker, Sanif Olek has to say:

1. During the process of making a film, have you ever felt restricted by any regulatory boundaries set by MDA? If yes, in what ways?
Telling stories is an intuitive, instinctive process. I let my stories flow. My work in television trains me a lot about restrictions. Nevertheless, I don't see restrictions as limitations. There are other ways of telling your stories and communicating your ideas effectively. But if one needs to shoot a scene of someone "licking" ice-cream, I'm afraid there are no other ways of presenting someone "licking" the ice-cream, are there?

2. If for artistic purposes, would you make a film which you know might attract censors or cuts but still continue to do it anyway? Why?
I want to tell my stories effectively and avoid sensationalism for the sake of being sensational. I shoot something because there is something that I want to communicate. You can't fool the audience if your film is not sincere. I don't shoot a film on purpose to attract negativity. I think the panel in the censors are getting smarter. There are 6877000000 people in the world who wants to see your film, with or without censors.

3. In the Arts Community Position Paper, it is suggested that regulation should be implemented in place of censorship, as the former involves objective classification that is not politically-motivated. What is your view?
Can you rephrase your question, please? This question is too cheem for my heartland intellect lah.

4. Two of MDA’s guiding principles behind its regulatory work are to uphold community values and to safeguard national and public interest. What is your view?
State whatever they like. Yes we can find all of these in their mission statement.
However, I do agree that Singapore is multiracial and race and religion are very delicate issues. Some adult individuals are mentally-deranged when it comes to these things and still need the government to look after them. *not insulting the intellectually-handicapped here - please stick to context*

5. Have you participated in any discussion programmes or feedback consultations with regards to content regulation initiated by MDA? Would you participate in future? Why?
Was invited but most of the time didn't go because 1. invited at the last minute or 2. couldn't be bothered as most of the time these panels treat these discussions like primary school social class (?) sessions. I got bills to pay (don't we all..?), and that's very important for struggling artistes like myself. Yes would love to come.

6. What do you have to say about the censoring/banning of content in films screened in local theatres which are still obtainable on the Internet?
There's so much the MDA or any censorship bodies can do but ultimately I think PARENTS are still responsible to what their kids watch on the internet. Technology is so advance these days for the parent to utilise to regulate what they want their children to watch.

Thank you SINdie.

An invitation to celebrate LOVE.

You are invited.

Sanif Olekʼs LOVE Trilogy kicks off the new Sinema Export!. The LOVE trilogy, comprising of the short films LOST SOLE, À LA FOLIE and AMEEN, have won numerous awards and screened at numerous international film festivals. Director will be in attendance with selected cast. The Q&A session will be moderated by Nicholas Chee, Managing Director – Sinema.

Sinema Export! is a new event programme that will screen award-winning and acclaimed selection of local films. All sessions will be followed by a Q&A session.

Sinema Export! Sanif Olekʼs LOVE Trilogy
Tuesday, 12 October 2010, 8pm
Sinema Old School
Admission is FREE, entry by tickets which can be booked from Sinema.sg

The films in Sanif Olekʼs LOVE Trilogy have been independently produced by reeljuice.

1. LOST SOLE | Bawean, Malay, Hokkien | 17mins | PG
Synopsis: Hj Sabtu discovers to his dismay that his slippers have gone missing after Friday noon solat at Kampung Glam. How far can he go without his sole? The search for his slippers leads to self-discovery.

~~~Awards & Selected Screenings~~~
Best Film on Religion, Int'l Festival of Short Films on Culture 2008, Jaipur
Best Narrative Film, Rahmat Int'l Shortfilm Festival 2008, Tabriz, Iran
Hawaii International Film Festival, USA
Tehran International Shortfilm Festival, Iran
Open Cinema Festival 2007, St Petersburg, Russia
Rhode Island International Film Festival 2006, USA
Montreal World Film Festival 2006, Canada
New York Museum of Modern Art 2006, USA
San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival, USA
Emirates Film Festival, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Indianapolis International Film Festival, USA
Vancouver Singapore Film Festival, Canada


2. À LA FOLIE (LIKE CRAZY) | English, Malay | 12mins | M18
Synopsis: Set on Serangoon Road in Singapore's "Little India" quarter, the mythical characters of Sinta, Arjuna and Rawana from the classic Ramayana text are reincarnated in this present-day postmodern, rock-and-roll remix.

~~~Award & Selected Screenings~~~
Best Short Film, 4th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2009, Indonesia
27th San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival (USA, World Premiere)
25th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (USA)
32nd New York Asian American Int’l Film Festival (USA)
32nd Montreal World Film Festival (Canada)
5th Singapore Short Film Festival
29th Hawaii Int’l Film Festival (USA)
11th Jakarta International Film Festival (Indonesia)


3. AMEEN | Malay, Arabic | 14mins | NC16
Synopsis: Johan is infatuated with Yati and Sharifa, two girls from the Islamic Madrasah school. What exactly does Johan have up his sleeves in order to get the girlsʼ attention?"

AMEEN آمين is defined as a supplication or prayer asking for God’s help. “O Allah, respond to (or answer) what we have said”. (Source: Islamic – Dictionary.com)

~~~ International Film Festivals ~~~
26th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2010, USA (World premiere)
34th Montreal World Film Festival 2010, Canada
30th Hawaii International Film Festival 2010, USA

Thank you, Sinema + Singapore Polytechnic + Singapore Malay Film Society.

*UPDATE* Read the screening review here.

AMEEN premieres in Singapore

The film, AMEEN, finally premieres in Singapore.
Date: September 28 2010.
Event: Sinema Showoff!
Time: 7.30pm
Admission is free by tickets.

AMEEN is an official selection @
26th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (USA, World Premiere, 2010)
34th Montreal World Film Festival (Canada, 2010)
30th Hawaii International Film Festival (USA, 2010)

Director’s Statement
As a child, I attended six years of Islamic madrasah school while concurrently attending secular education at a public primary school. Subsequently, I attended secondary education at a Methodist missionary school.

With this diverse education, I feel blessed that I had the privilege not many boys at that age could experience. I remember that in all these institutions, a consistent education persisted – to love a fellow human being and accept one another unconditionally. Nevertheless I often pondered if sexuality and spiritually can co-exist while watching the lovely Ustazahs (female Islamic teacher) preach from the Quran and listening to the melodic hymns during weekly chapel services.

NOTE: The LOVE Trilogy of LOST SOLE, À LA FOLIE (LIKE CRAZY) & AMEEN will be screened at a Special Session on Tuesday, 12 October.

International screenings in September 2010

AMEEN
Event: 34th Montreal World Film Festival ❛le Festival des Films du Monde❜
Date: September 2, 3
Link to website here.



LOST SOLE
Event: 3rd Vancouver Singapore Film Festival
Date: September 17
Link to website here.


Thank you so much for the love and support.

An icing on the cake.

Just sharing...

The drama, "1988...Segaris Sinar", about the lives of seven bosom friends who grew up together in an orphanage, received two thumbs up from the Committee as it was a good example of creative story-telling. The MPAC lauded the producer’s efforts to incorporate history into the drama as it looked at how the orphanage, which was set in the 80s, shaped the children’s upbringing and their individual perspectives that subsequently impacted the decisions and choices they made as adults. The drama was found to be well-produced, with good chemistry between the actors and smooth transitions between scenes and plots. In addition, the drama conveyed good moral values such as standing up for oneself and maintained a high standard of Bahasa Melayu.

The Malay Programmes Advisory Committee (MPAC) report, 2008/2010.

1988... Segaris Sinar "Constellations" was conceptualised by reeljuice. A production of Shortman Films, the drama series was directed by Sanif Olek.

Thank you for the love and support. Keep watching television :)

Politically correct

Nationality: Singaporean
Ethnicity: Baweanese-Malay
Religious affiliation: Islam
Full-time National Service: (1989)1991-1993|1st Company|1st Commando Battalion|SAF

I'm shocked and angered upon reading this article. I'm shocked how an individual can be so naive about jihad. More importantly am angered because another blacksheep has jeopardised my freedom as a Singaporean. How much more marginalised do we have to be? Would my family and friends be subjected to further scrutiny because of this?

Don’t let my pictures fool you. I was one of only two Malay boys enlisted to the exclusive 1st Commando Battalion unit that year among hundreds of Malays my age. It has been that way annually eversince, last I heard. Why this (under)representation? Read your politics.

Islam and all other religions are meant to be a spiritual aslyum to all human beings, not to be used as a weapon against one another. All religions are good in their own way. Please do not let Muhammad Fadil Abdul Hamid's case affect your judgement on the rest of Muslims.

Majulah Singapura!

*1989 ratio of Malay to non-Malay recruits 1:150.
1993 ratio of Malay to non-Malays during ORD 1:60.
Both of us ORD together, bodies intact.
The Commandos adhere to SAF safety regulations at all times ;)

Spotted during "Bulan Bahasa Melayu 2010"

Spotted @ Boon Lay Bus Interchange, Singapore, during "Bulan Bahasa Melayu 2010"

Which Malay universe does the copywriter for this fancy Malay tagline come from?

Maaf, saya tidak faham lah.
(click on photo to magnify)

A moving letter in support of Ramuan Rahasia.

I'd like to share this which came to my inbox a few days ago. Gestures such as this pushes me on to keep going in this journey.

Dear Sanif

My name is SX and I recently came across news articles about you making our country's first Malay language feature film in 4 decades. As a young Chinese Singaporean who is just about to learn to make sense of his place in this society, I began to realise the importance of reconciling the Malay roots of this country. Your film is very important not only to the Malay community but the rest of Singapore too, who are in a process of questioning and creating our identity, faced with rapid globalisation and the influx of immigrants into our country.

I recently graduated from school, reading Communication Studies in university and was thus exposed to the history of our film industry, which had a vibrant and thriving Malay film industry, something which my parents said they fondly remember. Your Malay-language film may not be similar to films from the Cathay-Keris period but it will bring back sentiments of the older days.

As such, I would like to support by pledging a sum of $50 to support your film. As a fresh graduate, I don't have much resources to offer but the gesture my little amount would be a great honour and opportunity for me to do something meaningful for the film community and for Singapore. Do let me know how I can transfer the money to you.

All the best to the making of Ramuan Rahasa!

A gesture with a big heart. I am moved and truly humbled. Thank you SX, you have given me another reason why I NEED to complete this film.

[NOTE: Ramuan Rahasia needs S$350K to shoot & post-production]

Radio interview @ Bfm 89.9 [Kuala Lumpur]

Bfm (Business 89.9fm) is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Listen to the interview here.

Ramuan Rahasia article in Utusan Malaysia

Read all about it here, published originally by Malaysia's Utusan Malaysia "Malaysian Courier" on May 19 2010. Utusan Malaysia is the number one selling Malay-language daily in Malaysia.

Tidak mahu berhenti berharap

Oleh SHAZRYN MOHD. FAIZAL
shazryn.faizal@utusan.com.my

BIARPUN masih baru dalam bidang pengarahan filem, hakikatnya pengalaman yang diraih lebih sedekad dalam bidang penerbitan televisyen di Singapura tidak boleh dipertikaikan.

Bukan sekadar dikenali dalam dunia televisyen tetapi, Sanif Olek juga cemerlang sebagai pengarah filem pendek.

Buktinya, tiga filem pendeknya yang dirangkumkan dalam trilogi LOVE iaitu Lost Sole, A La Folie dan Ameen kesemuanya sudah menjelajah dunia serta menerima pelbagai pengiktirafan dan mendapat pujian ramai pihak.

Berbekalkan pengalamannya itulah, akhirnya Sanif memberanikan diri untuk mengorak langkah sebagai pengarah filem cereka pula.

Menggunakan judul Ramuan Rahasia, Sanif meletakkan harapan yang cukup tinggi untuk filem cereka pertama yang diterbitkan oleh syarikatnya, Reeljuice itu apabila ditayangkan.

Sementelah, Ramuan Rahasia juga merupakan filem Melayu dari Singapura yang pertama selepas empat dekad republik itu tidak menghasilkan filem Melayu selepas era Cathay Keris dan Shaw Brothers.

Memang Sanif atau nama sebenarnya Mohamad Sanif Olek mahu melihat filemnya itu mencapai kejayaan yang mampu meletakkan kembali nama Singapura di peta perfileman nusantara khususnya.

Malah, dia begitu optimis dengan jalan ceritanya yang begitu kemelayuan dan mampu menarik perhatian ramai untuk menontonnya kelak.

Namun, sinar yang diharap akan terus menerangi jalannya itu nampaknya semakin ditelan kabus apabila penggambaran filem tersebut kini tergendala seketika.

Semuanya kerana faktor kewangan yang membantutkan seketika proses penggambaran yang kini sudah pun siap 65 peratus.

"Bukan mahu mendabik dada tetapi saya begitu yakin dan percaya dengan kemampuan filem ini yang dapat pergi jauh.

"Malah, saya juga berazam untuk membawa filem ini ke serata dunia menerusi festival filem antarabangsa yang pernah saya sertai sebelum ini.

"Kerana itu, saya mahu mencari dan menemui mana-mana pihak yang sudi untuk membantu saya dari segi dana bagi meneruskan projek filem ini," katanya penuh jujur dalam satu pertemuan bersama Hits di ibu negara, baru-baru ini.

Demi cinta dan minatnya yang begitu mendalam terhadap filem, Sanif langsung tidak lokek untuk mengeluarkan dana dari poket sendiri iaitu $350,000 dolar Singapura (RM850,000) untuk menyiapkan sebahagian filem itu.

Jika semua berjalan lancar dan ada pihak yang sudi menaja serta membiayai projek filem Ramuan Rahasia dalam waktu terdekat ini, Sanif akan meneruskan penggambaran filem tersebut dengan secepat mungkin.

"Apa yang saya lakukan ini bukan untuk diri saya sendiri tetapi juga untuk mengembalikan semula kegemilangan industri perfileman Melayu Singapura.

"Saya menerbitkan dan mengarahkan filem ini juga bukan kerana faktor kenegaraan tetapi atas nama kesatuan Melayu Nusantara.

"Bagi saya, budaya Melayu memang sesuatu yang cukup unik dan apabila ditonjolkan dalam medium filem, ia mampu menarik perhatian ramai khususnya masyarakat dunia untuk menontonnya.

"Setidak-tidaknya, kita memiliki sesuatu yang mampu membuka mata mereka dalam menonjolkan keunikan budaya Melayu itu sendiri," tuturnya penuh merendah diri yang turut menulis lakon layar Ramuan Rahasia bersama temannya, Gene Sha Rudyn.

Pada pertemuan itu, Sanif sempat mempertontonkan sedutan filem Ramuan Rahasia kepada Hits dan apa yang boleh dikatakan, ia cukup mengagumkan.

Bukan sengaja memuji melangit, tetapi melihat hasil kerja Sanif menerusi filem itu memang sewajarnya dipuji.

Ramuan Rahasia bukan sekadar terletak kepada kekuatan jalan ceritanya yang mengetengahkan tentang kasih sayang, cinta dan kekeluargaan.

Tetapi, ia juga cemerlang dari aspek teknikal khususnya sinematografi yang dipersembahkan dengan cukup indah.

Menyambung bicara, Sanif tidak mahu audiens menonton Ramuan Rahasia sebagai tontonan untuk hiburan semata-mata.

Sebaliknya, dia mahu penonton menyelami intipati filem tersebut yang dapat menghubungkan diri mereka dengan perjalanan cerita itu.

"Filem ini sememangnya begitu tebal dengan jiwa Melayunya dari segala aspek dan kerana itu, saya mengetengahkan masakan sambal goreng sebagai subjek utama Ramuan Rahasia.

"Memang sengaja saya pilih sambal goreng kerana ia begitu dekat dengan masyarakat Melayu dan uniknya, berlainan negara, berbeza jugalah cara masakannya.

"Sambal goreng dijadikan sebagai metafora dalam filem ini dalam menyatukan kembali hubungan antara seorang ayah dan anak selepas perginya orang yang tersayang dalam hidup mereka," cerita graduan Jabatan Filem, Bunyi dan Video, Politeknik Ngee Ann di Singapura pada tahun 1996 ini lagi.

Selain itu juga, Sanif menyelitkan beberapa buah lagu klasik popular di kalangan masyarakat Melayu seperti Si Jali Jali, Pesan Kakek dan Sayang Di Sayang bagi memperindahkan lagi filem Ramuan Rahasia.

Mengambil makanan sebagai tema dalam sesebuah filem, hakikatnya bukanlah sesuatu yang asing kerana sebelum ini pun ada pembikin filem antarabangsa yang sudah berbuat demikian.

Antaranya adalah filem Eat Drink Man Woman arahan Ang Lee, Chocolat (Lasse Hallström), Babette's Feast (Gabriel Axel) dan Like Water For Chocolate (Alfonso Arau).

Filem Ramuan Rahasia dimantapkan lagi barisan pelakonnya yang bukan calang-calang dan kerana itu jugalah, Sanif begitu teruja sekali gus berbangga mengarahkan filem ini.

Menerajui filem ini ialah seniman handalan tanah air, Datuk Rahim Razali yang memainkan watak Pak Harun.

Selain itu, beberapa nama hebat dari Singapura yang turut menerajui filem tersebut ialah Aidli 'Alin' Mosbit yang memegang watak sebagai Murni, Rafaat Hamzah (Rosli) dan Keagan Kang (Dave).

Malah, aktor kacak popular, Aaron Aziz juga berlakon dalam filem ini sebagai pelakon pembantu.

Sambil menghela nafas panjang, dia tidak pernah menyangka filem pertamanya itu dibintangi oleh barisan pelakon hebat dan mantap terutama sekali Rahim.

"Tidak pernah saya menyangka untuk seorang aktor ternama seperti Rahim mahu berlakon dalam filem arahan pengarah baru seperti saya.

"Rahim memberitahu saya, dia tertarik untuk berlakon dalam filem ini adalah kerana skrip dan jalan ceritanya.

"Saya cukup hormat dan menggemari lakonan serta hasil karyanya sejak dari filem Abang lagi. Dia sendiri sebelum ini ada menghubungi saya bertanyakan tentang perkembangan filem ini.

"Saya cuma berkata kepadanya kalau sudah ada bajet yang mencukupi, penggambaran akan diteruskan dan dia akan sabar menanti untuk melunaskan tanggungjawabnya," jelas Sanif yang turut memilih Australia sebagai lokasi filem ini selain Singapura.

Thank you Shazryn for the wonderful article.