KUCHING: Sarawak has great potential as a destination for making and shooting a movie, with advantages on easy accessibility, less traffic and wonderfully polite people besides being culturally and geographically diverse.
Famous Singaporean comedian and actor Henry Thia, best known for his roles in ‘Money No Enough’, and ‘The Ghost Must Be Crazy’, said Kuching is more convenient compared to Kuala Lumpur (KL) where, even though nearer to Singapore, the bad traffic could mean wasting a lot of time in getting to a location.
“Flying into Kuching only takes 45 minutes, plus I like to eat bird’s nests. I like it here and this place has a lot of potential for film production,” he said.
Thia was here to attend the official opening of Star Crews Connection Agency Sdn Bhd, in which he is a business partner, held at a hotel here last Saturday.
In collaboration with locals, Star Crews Connection Agency provides acting courses and workshops, produces movie as well as offering event planning services, advertising and distribution of entertainment products.
At the event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Thia and the agency.
Dressed in a black suit, Thia appeared relaxed and in control, and greeted guests and the press with a joke about his petite figure that did not match the smart outfit as he was mistaken for a hotel staff by a couple of foreigners when walking towards the event room.
In encouraging people to have dreams, he said all great journeys start with a dream and with commitment, perseverance and the willingness to learn, even the dream of becoming a star is attainable.
“Everyone can dream to become a star or an artiste. Don’t look down on yourself. I started with a dream to become a star and thereafter joined short courses on acting to improve my skills. Moreover, I was illiterate. That was the biggest challenge. But I was willing to learn. If you have the will then you will learn it,” he said.
Star Crews’ executive director Teo Chiat Hua said the cooperation was aimed at developing the movie industry in East Malaysia by producing quality movies, conducting acting courses and grooming talents for future productions.
“As our movie industry is still at its infancy, we appreciate very much all the help we can get especially from experienced and popular artistes overseas.
“Movie production is a multi-billion ringgit industry with many opportunities for us to actively participate and share. Together, we can make this happen,” he added.
According to business partner Dominic Sim, the company’s first project would be shooting a local Mandarin movie entitled ‘Teacher Boleh Tahan’, which will involve all fresh local talents of all races groomed from its agency.
“The shooting would start in June and July. Henry together with two other Singaporean actors and actresses will also be staring in the movie taking minor roles as their purpose is to help and guide us,” he said.
In addition, the agency will also be conducting a series of workshops with the first being a short basic acting course for two days starting May 26, to be held at the Four Points by Sheraton, at a fee of RM5,500.
“Henry Thia and Hong Kong director Yu Jia Lun will also be conducting the workshop which will teach students about basic acting, how to face the camera, reading the script and so forth,” he said.
Thereafter, Sim said, the agency will then select the best students from the first batch to star in the upcoming local movie with the guidance of the overseas artistes.
At present, over 10 students have signed up for the workshop.
On future plans, Sim said the agency was also planning to make another movie to be named after the famous Sarawak local food ‘Kolo Mee’.
Also present at the event were Datuk Sim Kheng Hui, HK director Yu Jia Lun, Singaporean artistes Collin Chee, Emily Yeo Lee Ping and Alvin Giam and Star Crews Connection Agency executive director Annie Goh.