The Malaysian Insight

FILM producers and directors are keeping their fingers crossed that their flicks will do well now that cinemas have reopened post-Covid-19.

They are happy with Putrajaya’s decision to open cinemas but fear it will not be the same as before the pandemic. 

Director Amir Muhammad hopes people will throng cinemas on August 6 to watch Roh, film produced by his company Kuman Pictures.

“It’s in the hands of God. We aim for everyone that watches it saying it was a worth watching. We have not set a collection target for this film,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Roh, a horror movie, is set to be the first movie in local cinemas after the movement-control order. It was to hit the silver screen on March 19 but the MCO a day earlier brought the curtains down on cinema.

“Roh was made to air in cinemas, so we decided to go through airing it with the same standard operating procedures even though there are risks,” Amir said.

His crew is willing to accept the fact they might earn less as fewer people might watch the movie.

Amir said after the cinema, the movie will make its way to paid channels for those who did not want to risk a cinema outing owing to Covid-19.

Director Al Jafree Md Yusof said the industry should brace themselves for this as cinemas will also practise social distancing.

However, he is confident his comedy Mencari Rahmat will pull in the crowd.

“The people need something to cheer them up… we have been facing with Covid-19 from early of the year. 

“Everyone is stressed out and we hope this film will bring much-needed relief,” Al Jafree said.

Mencari Rahmat was screened in several closed-door viewings and film festivals for the last two years. 

The movie was supposed to start its cinema run on June 28 but is now awaiting new dates but wants screenings before year-end. 

Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah showed the movie earlier this month when he checked on the SOP of cinemas by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council. 

Roh and Mencari Rahmat are two local movies which postponed their premieres following the MCO.

Other movies affected by MCO include Zombitopia, Eye on The Ball, Kenderaan Berat Kiri, Masuk Jawi and Salina.

Another producer, Muzzamer Rahman said National Film Development Corporation (Finas) should launch a campaign to promote cinema-going. 

“Finas ought to help via back-to-cinema campaign or watch-local-movie campaign. They should promote local movies or movies that feature Malaysia,” said the Takut ke Tak movie producer.

The government announced a RM100 million loan via the national economic recovery plan (Penjana) to help movie and television companies to produce content in the next six months. 

Al Jafree, who founded Komuniti Filem Titiwangsa (Komfit), welcomes the move but said they need to see the funds.

“We will see how Finas handles the major problems plaguing the local film industry.” 

He said Roh will be a yardstick to determine how well movies can do during these trying times. 

“Roh is important as it is a gauge if other films will do well.”

Cinema operators said business is good since they reopened on July 1. 

The Golden Screen Cinema chain saw positive response for a few international movies even though the movies were available online. 

“This is a good sign. This shows people are coming back to cinemas as they do not have the right technology for viewing at home,” GSC Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Koh Mei Lee told the Malaysian Insight.

She was referring to the sound systems and the cinema “ambience” that can’t be replicated at home. 

“The animation Digimon Adventure, which is a GSC exclusive, is now the biggest film in Malaysia for the past two weeks,” she said in an email interview. – July 18, 2020.