ID :
341749
Thu, 09/18/2014 - 11:16
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Independent Films The Way To International Acclaim - Hollywood Producer

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian film makers need to focus on producing independent and quality films that reflect their passion and sincerity to gain international acclaim, said Hollywood producer and double Academy Award winner Roger Christian. Christian, the creator of the lightsaber in the original Star Wars movie, said it was important that film makers produced stories they were proud of instead of just to fulfil market demand. "Major film studios produce for profit. When you leave the cinema, you forget all about it (the film seen) and just want to see what's next. "But independent movies that are made with passion, when people leave the cinema it continues to touch their heart and it stays in their mind," he said at the 'Guru SPEAK' session on Thursday, part of the KL Converge 2014 event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here. Christian said Malaysian film makers were not encouraged to compare the industry here with Hollywood as there was major differences, especially in terms of capital to produce films. The producer noted that even in Hollywood, there were independent film makers who received international recognition, including the 'holy grail' of the film industry - the Academy Awards. "For example, Slumdog Millionaire, The King's Speech and 12 Years A Slave, all won the Best Picture award at the Oscars and all were made independently," he said. Christian won two Academy Awards for set decoration on the science fiction classic Star Wars and best dramatic short film for The Dollar Bottom. He added that aspiring film makers needed to be tough and to keep pitching their ideas in spite of hurdles along the way. "There will always be people who say 'No' to you. But you need to believe in yourself and continue writing, improve yourself. For example, find a mentor who can help you in your scripting," he shared with his audience. Christian noted that even Star Wars film director George Lucas was met with negative feedback when he first came up with the idea as science fiction was a new thing then. But Lucas persevered and managed to turn Star Wars into a box office hit, he said. Film and Television students from a private Malaysian university, Limkokwing University, George Mugambi of Kenya and his Indonesian friend, Grycellicia Arsyanti, found the session interesting and inspiring. Mugambi and Grycellicia told Bernama later that they wished the session was longer to allow for interaction with the Hollywood producer. Local film director and part-time lecturer Syed Mohamed Benyahya said the session was refreshing for industry players, including him, as it gave the opportunity for all to learn from an industry expert. KL Converge, a multi-platform digital content and creative industry conference and exhibition organised by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and National Film Development Corporation (Finas), runs until Friday. It is premised on the convergence of communications, broadcasting, digital technology and creative content like films, animation, music and drama. --BERNAMA

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