Tsai-Ming Liang and Yeo-Yann Yann, made us proud when they were respectively clinched as the Best Director and Best Supporting Actress in the most prestige Chinese movie award ceremony at the international stage – the 50th Golden Horse Award which was held in Taiwan last Saturday.
Prime Minister, Najib Razak delivered his congratulation message towards both of the winners via his Chinese Facebook Fanpage “Ah Jib Gor”, said that the Government always encouraged the creative industry, adding that he hoped Malaysian artistes and movie makers would continue to shine overseas.
However, instead of benefiting from others’ reflected glory, Najib Razak should tell us when the movie “the New Village” can be released to the public if he is sincere about his pledge to encourage local movie production.
The New Village was sent to the Film Censorship Board for a review on September 4, 2012. After the review by the Board, which is consisted of three committee members, they agreed on November 9, 2012 to release the said movie without any cut on August 22, 2013 and rated it as a P13 movie.
However, The New Village was objected by several pro-UMNO social media bloggers and non-governmental organisations, who have all suggested that the film’s content glorifies communism. Following that the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ordered the Film Censorship Board to conduct a second review and postpone the premier screening of the film.
To date, after The New Village was sent for a second review for a period of 4 months, we still do not hear any response from the Film Censorship Board on whether the film is free to hit the silver screen. This is a total contradiction to Najib Razak’s message, that our Government has been encouraging the local movie development.
In order to “encourage the local movie production”, Najib Razak’s primary task is to ensure the early release of The New Village. The National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) should also amend the restricted rules and regulations in providing funds.
For an example, a fresh filmmaker who wishes to apply for the maximum fund of RM30,000 to shoot a 15 minutes short film, documentary or animation, at least 60% of the language used must be Malay.[1]
Apart from that, a filmmaker who wishes to apply for “Dana Pernerbitan Filem Kenegaraan dan Warisan”, the same fund awarded to the production of Tanda Putra, the movie must be 100% in Malay[2]. These limitations no doubt have greatly restricted the development of local Chinese, Tamil and English movies.
According to the statistics provided FINAS, most of the local movie production have failed to make ends meet. There were 76 local movies being screened in 2012, with an average production cost of RM1.65 million and they have collected an average box office amounted to RM1.28 million. From January to September 2013, there were 50 local movies being screened, the average production cost is RM2.04 million but only collected an average box office of RM1.21 million. As such, financial aids from the government are important to promote local movie production.
Thus, if Najib Razak is serious in encouraging the local artistes and local movie production to shine at the international movie arena, he should amend the restricted rules and regulations and wider the room of creativity amongst the local movies.