Talent scout for film, animation industry

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1. Siringan (third left) with SK Tampasuk II Kota Belud teacher and pupils, who won best short film. He is flanked by KPSKTM permanent secretary Datuk Bruno Vun (fifth left) Hassan (left), and the Userguide Films co-founders Poon and Yap (back, right).

KOTA KINABALU: The Holiday Film Camp program is an ideal avenue to unearth local and nurture young talents in the film and animation industry.

Speaking at the program’s closing ceremony here yesterday, Resource Development and Information Technology (KPSKTM) Minister Datuk Siringan Gubat said: “It is our job to provide this platform and this course fulfills our goal to do so especially among primary school pupils.

“If the interest and commitment of these students is continually nurtured, they can produce something more interesting that can be put forward. It is hoped some of the participants will continue to be interested in filming, script writing, acting and so forth after this program,” he added.

The inaugural program involved 60 pupils and teachers from last year’s Sabah Screen Fest top five schools, namely SJK (C) Chung Hwa Kota Kinabalu, SK Koporingan Tuaran, SK Inanam Dua, SK Nampasan Ranau and SK Tampasuk II Kota Belud, and SK St Aloysius Penampang.

“The work of SK Inanam Dua last year, Kasih Si Badut, was selected in the top 10 best plays at the Kuala Lumpur Drama Festival 2015, organized by TV3 and TV9.

“The results will be known at the end of this month. Hopefully the work is able to raise the name of the school and the Sabah Fest Screen program,” said the minister.

During the three-day course, participants had the opportunity to learn from Hassan Muthalib, the self-taught artist, designer, animator, film director and writer who is recognized nationally as the Father of Malaysian Animation, and Peninsula Malaysia’s The Userguide Films co-founders, Benji Yap and Jonathan Poon.

Each school was able to produce a short film and SK Tampasuk II Kota Belud’s work, TONNY, won the best film during the duration of the program.

The program is a spinoff of the free-of-charge Film Camp Kota Kinabalu sessions held by curators Moses Wong and Katak Chua at the ministry.

According to the duo, the camp focuses on building filming foundation starting from primary school children.

Film Camp Kota Kinabalu hopes to extend the program to secondary school students and beyond in the future.