Documenting Change

Published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
22 September 2009

Documenting change
MAX KOH



The FreedomFilmFest returns for the sixth year with documentaries that explore how things has changed since the March 8 general election, writes MAX KOH

THE March 8 general election brought much change to the local political scene but did it change the lives of ordinary Malaysians?

That’s what Pusat KOMAS asked of budding film-makers as the theme, Real Change?, for this year’s FreedomFilmFest.

“We wonder if it has brought change to the lives of the ordinary Malaysians,” explains Komas director Anna Har. “We want to see what they have to say about it.”

FFF is an annual campaign that promotes socially-conscious film making with emphasis on human rights.

Earlier this year, Malaysians were invited to submit film proposals that related to human rights and changes after March 8, 2008.



We do not produce films just to put them on shelves, says Komas’ Anna Har

Three proposals were chosen and each was awarded a grant of RM5,000 to develop a film with the help of Komas.

Among this year’s first-time film-makers are lawyers Khaizan Sharizad Razak Dali and Seira Sacha Abu Bakar with No Silver Lining: The Perak Crisis. It sheds light on the Perak political crisis which occurred earlier this year.

“I think it’s great to have two lawyers help laymen understand the issue, especially with the qualifications that they bring,” says Har, formerly the creative director of a local television production house and who has since established her own company, Big Pictures Production.

Poet and artist Rahman Haron revisits the Kampung Memali incident in Al-Fatehah Memali while Soh Sook Hwa documents a group of 150 cyclists who cycled around the nation as part of the “Ride For Change” campaign in Kayuh.

“These stories are interesting. First, we have Rahman who seeks to find out how things have changed for the people in Kampung Memali since the incident in 1985, while Soh’s film explores how some Malaysians are willing to step out and do something for the country.”


Poet and artist Rahman Haron revisits the Kampung Memali incident through singer-songwriters Black and Meor in Al-Fatehah Memali


These three stories made it through the hundreds of applications because of the film-makers’ passion for the issue and relevancy to the theme.

“We get a good variety of proposals each year, but the problem is that a lot of people are angry or unhappy.

“Generally, people do not analyse the issue and have a very surface understanding of it.

“Through the process of film-making, we dig deeper into the issue. It becomes a process of awareness and learning for the film-makers, the crew and the people who come watch the shows.”

The films will be shown around the country next month. The best film will take home RM2,000 and the “Most Outstanding Human Rights Film” award.


Lawyer Khaizan Sharizad Razak Dali (right) with her film- No Silver Lining which she co-directed with Seira Sacha Abu Bakar

As attractive as the main prizes are, that is not the main objective.

“For me, it is an investment in young people who have something to say about issues in Malaysia and helping them develop the idea and see it get out to the masses,” says Har, who recently produced Gadoh, 70-minute feature film that explores our perception of identity and challenges our hatred of the “other”.


Scene from Al-Fatehah Memali

“It is to help them achieve it through the medium of film, and also to get people who are marginalised to speak up and be heard.”

FFF’s past winning films have done much to get attention paid to issues deemed controversial.

These include Justin Johari’s Who Speaks For Me? which tackled the rights of Muslims to talk openly about their religion in Malaysia, and Indrani Kopal’s She’s My Son which shed light on the relationship of a Malaysian transsexual and her mother.

There is also Fahmi Reza’s Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka that remembered the contributions by the political left in fighting for our country’s independence.

So have human rights improved in Malaysia, you wonder?

“Evidently not, with all the issues that are going on. There are still laws such as ISA and OSA and people’s rights are still undermined.

“But awareness is definitely improving with discussions and information made possible by the Internet.

“That is what I hope to achieve with FFF, to create more awareness and discussions and hopefully stir the people up enough to advocate change and press for better freedom and human rights.


Filmmaker and lawyer Seira Sacha donned a frog mask in No Silver Lining.

“But reception has been encouraging through the years. You find a good crowd attending our screenings every year from all walks of life.

“You find the regular uncles and aunties who come without fail each year, as well as the usual activists, young adults, and students,” adds Har.

With such subject matters which may raise a few eyebrows, Har is happy to note that the government has not done anything to muzzle or clamp down on Komas’ activities.

“I think it’s because it is a friendly event just like any other film screening. After the films, we have a short discussion where we will talk about the issues raised,” she adds.

“That’s why it is called FreedomFilmFest. We give space for people to talk about their rights, to explore their rights, to discuss their rights. It is an avenue for people to talk about issues like these.”

Apart from raising awareness, Har also notes that the films actually help the activists in their respective causes.

“We do not produce films just to put them on shelves. A lot of the films are used directly by activists to help them in their causes.

“One early film featured a lone woman who tirelessly lobbied against the incinerator project in Broga. Now, the incinerator has been stopped and the film-makers feel that the film, Alice Lives Here, played a big part in it.”

And Fahmi’s Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka caused many young people to ask what is in their history books. It made significant contributions to historical documentation not explored before.”

* The three films will be screened at The Annexe, Central Market on Oct 3 at 7.30pm and subsequently in Penang (Oct 10), Johor (Oct 24), and Kuching (Oct 31). Other award-winning films will be screened during the FFF as well which begins on Oct 2. Visit freedomfilmfest.komas.org.

We're Rock and Roll!

Published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
13 September 2009

Hope for the new generation (Merdeka)

Published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
30 August 2009

Hope for the new generation



IN a quaint Chinese restaurant with décor that recalls the bygone era of imperial China, erhu player Gan Boon We recalls the early days where he learnt the Chinese instrument in high school.

“I was really passionate about it. Playing and practising the instrument was all that I ever knew. I would practise my fingering whenever I could, on the bus or even at the dinner table,” recalls Gan.

“Unlike today, when children are easily distracted with so many things like computers. We could really be focused on what we love to do. I suppose it is harder to be skilled at one thing today.

“Though there are more opportunities today to pick up Chinese instruments, it is our own initiative and interest that drives the person to do well.”

Gan is the concert master and erhu player of the renowned Dama Orchestra. A former national erhu champion, he has been instrumental in defining Dama’s musical performances and has produced a number of its critically-acclaimed recordings such as September Tale and Spring Kisses Lover’s Tales. He has also performed in numerous cross-cultural projects such as the Gambus Musical Fusion concerts.

At the recent preview of Dama’s latest musical I Have A Date With Spring, Gan says: “What makes me proud of being Malaysian is that we are able to retain our own cultural identities while living harmoniously and peacefully at the same time.

“For example, I have seen Indians and Malays who come and enjoy our shows despite the cultural and language barriers.

“The 1Malaysia concept is very good. I really hope to see a unified nation and equal opportunities for all regardless of race, creed or colour, as exemplified by the recent decision to end the bumiputera quota system for businesses,” says Gan.

Dama Orchestra’s I Have A Date With Spring — The Musical is scheduled for October. — By MAX KOH

Going Digital (Merdeka Issue)

Published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
30 August 2009

Looking digital



FOR the new breed of local film-makers such as Amir Muhammad and the late Yasmin Ahmad, Hardesh Singh is the go-to guy for music scoring.

The composer-technopreneur has worked on films such as Amir’s Lelaki Komunis Terakhir, Yasmin’s Gubra and Deepak Menon’s Chalanggai.

Hardesh recently founded Popfolio which includes the Popfolio.net social music network, the PopTopus widget, and web TV network PopTeeVee, which has been garnering a lot of attention in the online world.

Hardesh attributes the success of Popfolio to the contributions of all people, and sustained by teamwork and passion.

“Everyone attached to Popfolio Sdn Bhd is there purely on the value they contribute, both as an individual and as a team member,” says Hardesh.

“We have a fair mix of Malays, Chinese and Indians, not that it matters to me, but it does go to show that everyone can compete on even ground, and that intelligence and passion has nothing to do with race.”

A multi-talented musician who has studied Indian classical music under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan in San Francisco, Hardesh believes that long-term policies are needed to support the creative industries which are driving towards the digital economy.

“The music industry has seen significant shifts, and is basically divided into two camps. Those who believe the glory days are over and are trying to cut their losses, versus the upstarts who focus on the digital economy and have a keen eye for new opportunities.

“Compared to five years ago, local music content is now so much more viable and the few acts who have embraced the new economy have shown that they can actually create decent careers out of it.

“If the government is serious about generating local content to drive the multimedia sector, then we must start acknowledging our local artists and creatives as a major part of that ecosystem.

“It’s fine to have a focus on the technologies that enable the digital economy, but it is worthless if there is no content to monetise.

“There are various content development grants, but what is lacking is a long term mechanism to develop and track the contribution the creative industries provide for our economy.”

So what does Merdeka and 1Malaysia mean to you?

“Merdeka is about acknowledging our past for what it is, and creating our future for what we want it to be. It is the next 50 years that really matter, not the past 50 years.

“I see no need to change the Malaysia that I know and love. She has many different layers, and we celebrate that by ensuring every individual has the right to be the best that he or she can be.

“I hope that the government will acknowledge the immense talent we have in the music sector and develop the appropriate mechanisms to foster its growth.” — By MAX KOH

Rising Pixie

Published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
30 August 2009

Rising Pixie




Fresh-faced Pixie Lott from Essex pooh-poohs comparisons to Lady Gaga and Duffy by showing she is a force to be reckoned with, discovers MAX KOH

BRITAIN has surely seen a flurry of rising female artistes — Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Estelle and Adele, to name a few in these past few years alone.

And now comes Pixie Lott, 18, who has been compared with the likes of trendsetter Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. But the rising star recently impressed the crowd at the MTV World Stage in Sunway Lagoon with her brand of soul-tinged pop.

“It is a real honour to be compared to the likes of Lady Gaga and Duffy. But I think I do offer something different,” says a slightly tired Pixie the day after her show.

“I suppose that because I am new, I am being compared to more established artistes in order to gauge who I really am,” she adds.

Her first single, Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh), has sky-rocketed to the top of the iTunes and UK Singles chart, and her debut album, Turn It Up, is due out on Sept 15.

So, who is Pixie Lott?

“That has been one of the hardest questions to answer. The best people to ask are my friends. I'm afraid I'll come across as cocky If I answer them myself,” she says with a laugh.

But Pixie then begins to throw out adjectives that she thinks will best describe herself, such as “ambitious, spontaneous, fun, and positive”.

“I am a person who will dare to do anything, especially when dared to.”

She recalls the times when she would sneak out of her house for parties without her parents’ knowledge.

Her nightly escapades were eventually found out when her mum saw pictures of her at parties posted by friends on Facebook.

“I made sure I was careful and didn’t take any pictures or anything like that. Can you believe that my mum has a Facebook account?”

Pixie was born Victoria Lott, and got her nickname because her mother thought she was a “tiny, cute baby”, like a fairy.

She started singing in church and went on to study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Pixie has appeared in the West End production Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and BBC One’s Celebrate The Sound Of Music as a student.

At 15, she turned up for an audition after reading the advertisment in The Stage. She found a manager.

After recording a few tracks, she then caught the attention of Grammy-winning producer and songwriter L.A. Reid who flew in to London to hear her sing.

“I was going to sing the song he liked on the CD but it wouldn’t work,” recalls Pixie.

“Instead, he asked me to sing the song I auditioned for my manager — Mariah’s Carey Hero.”

Pixie was then signed to Reid’s Island Def Jam Music Group, but after a change of managers and a bidding war, she signed to Mercury Records in Britain and Interscope Records in the US.

Pixie got to work with some of the finest songwriters and producers including American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, RedOne (man responsible for Lady Gaga’s string of hits), Greg Kurstin (Lily’s Allen songwriting partner), and Toby Gad (who worked on Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy and Fergie’s Big Girls Don’t Cry).

Before Turn It Up is out, Pixie is already kicking up enough publicity with her YouTube channel where she showcases her vocal prowess on covers by Kings of Leon (Someone Like Me) and One Republic (Apologise).

Recently, she has also been hailed by Britain’s Sunday Times as one of the “best and most naturally gifted female singers this country has produced in years.”

“It amazes me each time I hear something like that. I count myself really blessed and fortunate to have things like that said about me,” says Pixie.

The concert here marks the end of her Asian promotional tour and she beams as she talks about home and her friends.

“Oh yes, I do miss my friends like crazy, and my bed, and my room. My friends have never stopped texting me but it’s really hard to keep track when you’re on the road,” says Pixie who skipped the after-party to spend time with her family and friends, including one who happens to be here in Malaysia.

But her eyes are still fixed on her prize. “I love doing this, as I want to inspire people as how my idols such as Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston have inspired others. My goal is to keep building myself up and make a long-lasting career.

“Just the other day, I was at a Take That concert where 80,000 fans came to see the show.

“I think that would be my goal for now.”