Thoughts on Films

Episode 24: We Need To Talk About…Sinema Islam

When we say we, we don’t actually mean we. That’s because, fellow citizens of Earth, we are back with a new episode that…doesn’t really have us in it! This time we’re taking a(nother) little break from talking about films to make way for an event that took place in FINAS’s Pawagam Mini P.Ramlee called ‘Seminar Filem Islam: Falsafah, Nilai dan Cabaran’ (Islamic Films: Philosophy, Value and Challenges). It was organised by Centre for International Islamic Culture (CiTRA) of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA), this episode is a recording of a presentation by Dr. Norman Yusoff, where he talked about the relationship of Islam cinema and genre. So check out more stuff about cinema philosophy, classification and a thought or two about the value of Islam in silver screen art on the one and only film podcast in Bahasa Malaysia that touches the subject of Muslim Cinema! (Fact. We’ve checked)

Originally published on 31st May 2014.

Episode 23: The Highlands of Cameron

This week, the boys train their guns on the big one: James Cameron! Following on from their profile episodes on Christopher Nolan and Stanley Kubrick, Fikri and Muz take a closer look at the influential filmmakers career. Starting from the very beginning, they leave a lot of stones (but perhaps not all) unturned as they discover what made James Cameron the director he is today, and the key themes of his major films. All this and more on the only film podcast in the world to be done by two government servants! (probably)

Originally published on 24th May 2014.

Episode 22: Follow That Coffee!

Since Fikri and Muz banged on about the films of other people so much, they decided to change tack for this particular episode and beat their own drums. Offering an in-depth analysis of how these projects got started, the 22nd episode of Thoughts on Films look at their own efforts, ‘Kopi Dan Dia’ and ‘Following’. Find out why they considered it a success, and what they would have done differently if given a second chance, on the world’s only film podcast to be done in Bahasa Malaysia!

Originally published on 17th May 2014.

Episode 21: Six Degrees of Tom Cruise Separation

Something slight different for our 21st episode, boys and girls! This week they boys decide to take a step back from the more serious talks and interviews on films and filmmaking in Malaysia and beyond, and we’re…going to talk about films and filmmaking beyond Malaysia! This week, Fikri and Muz cast their eyes over the latest news from Hollywood and beyond, and give their comments on what we could all expect in the (near) future. Have a listen to them on the world’s only film podcast in Bahasa Malaysia!

Originally published on 10th May 2014.

Episode 20: An Inner View with Bebbra Charles Mailin (part 2)

We love Bebbra so much that we made 2 episodes just for her. This time all three of us discuss the Sabah film scene, Sabahan identity in her works and also her journey to make ‘Langat di Odu’, ‘Eye Love’ and ‘Kopi, Donut dan Bayangan Gadis Berambut Hijau’. All these and more in the one and only podcast to be recorded in Bahasa Malaysia!

Originally published on 4th May 2014.

Episode 19: An Inner View with Bebbra Charles Mailin (part 1)

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekalian…we need a new intro, to both the posts here and on the show itself. Nevertheless, boys and girls, Thoughts on Films brings to you its 19th episode! The only film podcast in the world to be recorded in Bahasa Malaysia is also almost-certainly the first to interview Bebbra Charles Mailin! The filmmaker, hailing from Sabah, has made a number of eye-catching short films, and she is currently teaching at the Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation, UiTM. In the first of this two-part interview, we’ll be looking at her academic career in the field of the arts, both as a student as well as a lecturer.

Originally published on 26th April 2014.

Episode 18: Three Colors of Malaysian Cinema

Ladies and gents, we’re back! A bit of (unintentional) break was taken, and no new episodes were recorded, so what better way to celebrate the end of that mini-hiatus by…not offering a new episode?

This episode is a very special recording that took place in the year 2007. That year, the Pusan International Film Festival (now standardized as Busan International Film Festival) focused on Malaysian cinema, and held a seminar entitled Three Colors of New Malaysian Cinema. It featured the late Yasmin Ahmad, Ho Yuhang, James Lee, Liew Seng Tat and Wong Tuck Cheong as panel members discussing the then-direction of Malaysian cinema, with an especial focus on the independents. Friend of the show Maz Irwan Azani was present during that session, and he has kindly provided us with a recording of the proceedings.

There are parts missing here and there, especially in the beginning and near the end, but nevertheless this recording provides a rare opportunity to listen to a part of Malaysian film history historicised in part by some of its most significant movers. Thanks once again to Irwan for the recording, and we hope you enjoy the only film podcast in the world to release a recording seven years in the making! (maybe)

Originally published on 21st April 2014.

Episode 17: Short Shorts

Boys and girls, welcome to the only film podcast in the world to be recorded in Bahasa Malaysia! Following on from last week’s episode, Fikri and Muz are still chilling in Phnom Penh, taking in the sights and sounds of short films from all over the world. This week, they look at a selection of the (many) short films they managed to catch in the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival. So go on, download and enjoy the only film podcast to talk about Cambodian films in Bahasa Malaysia!

Originally published on 5th April 2014.

Episode 16: Khmer Everyone!

Soksabai! This week, Fikri and Muz got together to bring you a very special episode … all the way from Phnom Penh, Cambodia! They are here to attend the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival in the nation’s capital, and after having been ripped off by tuk tuk riders, they sat down to discuss some documentaries they managed to watch. So kick back, relax, and take in the only film podcast in Bahasa Malaysia to be recorded in Cambodia!

Originally published on 1st April 2014.

Episode 15: The One Without A Script

Killing some time, Muz and Fikri decided to take a break from all the scripted stuff, and record this episode without any script whatsoever. They discuss more stuff about Malaysian cinema, especially its portrayal of historical events on the silver screen, and talk more stuff about…other things. How will it turn out? Only one way to find out on the world’s only film podcast in Bahasa Malaysia!

Originally published on 22nd March 2014.