::..Sunday, April 27, 2003..::

[kAy� straight from the heart�]

Just finished with Each Other. Everytime I see Frankie, I�m inspired and would like to be like her--the ability to write that creates such beautiful end-products. That requires good command in English. I, in a way, lack of that type of that talent as I�m used to communicate using ermm..� street slang. How am I going to communicate with corporate people when I use �ain�t gonna� instead of �am not going�? Isk isk..terok btol! ENGLISH KARAT!

The enthusiasm I feel when the theme song is played is somehow unexplainable. The character, Frankie (played by Cheryl Samad) depicts what some us face right here in this so- called cosmopolitan city. The ups and downs of surviving alone without the ones you love around you is just� tough. You are indeed lucky to end up being successful and achieve what you planned from the very beginning, but the deepest sympathy goes to those who skidded out of the paths. And who are to blame? They, themselves, for being stupid and na�ve? The society for the already- horrendous panorama? We are humans with brains and it is all ours to evaluate. Some may throw that disgusting look when this matter is brought up and at this moment, you just don�t have to ask whom they�re going to point their fingers at. You just simply know what it is going to be. Amidst those previous groups� views, there are some who look at the other part of the leaf� yeah, the optimistics. Their existences are a blessing to the �bad children� who eventually realize their wrong doings and seeking the guidance to find their way out.

Urm� where was I? Yeah, about this particular show. A very nice drama from raw, talented Malaysians who don�t always get the chance to express their creativity in their own ways. Do I sense some unfairness here? The black sheep of the entertainment, especially the filming industry? Or is it because of our community�s mind setting?

Okay, since I mentioned about OUR way of thinking when it comes to entertainment, I would like to share my opinions about people around us. The productions of new local films in Malaysia are non-stop. Amongst the movies that are publicized in a year, can you simply point out the one that is REALLY great? Zilch! Where do they go? Now this is the answer you can obtain indirectly from the viewers themselves. Look among us! More than 50% of the movie goers (I am talking about those local movie fans) won�t buy tickets for �complicated� stories. Take Spinning Gasing for instance. Teck Tan did a great job of portraying the lifestyles that most of us find it as� disturbing. I know, I know, this is Malaysia and we still hold firmly to our �budaya ketimuran� but can�t they face the fact that our way of thinking is already �contaminated� by the �budaya barat�? And the result? Spinning Gasing didn�t make it to the BOX OFFICE list. Sad but true.

Look! It�s Yusuf Haslam�s movie coming out! Oh great! Another dan-aku-sanggup-meredah-lautan-api-demi-cinta-kita film. Pathetic is the first word that pops out of my mind. Need not I to clarify why. Not that I am being unsupportive. I admit that I DO watch them, only that I find most of them are just �an insult to my intelligence�, like dad always says. * sigh*. Why wasting 7.5 million for 5 �intelligence- insulting� movies per year when you could just produce one good quality film that is inspiring? It is definitely a long journey of survival to our sensitive-and-not-hypocrite producers.