Creative Content Industry Guild or CCIG for short, just had their 4th Annual General Meeting yesterday, 28th March 2015 at FINAS, Ulu Kelang. There were many interesting issues and suggestions were raised during the meeting. First, there are still some confusion on CCIG's role. Then, there's still some doubt and hopes by experinced industry players.
CCIG is actually an accrediation body which was set up in order to recognize and identify the skills of industry player from all functions, from script writers all the way to editors. This includes actors, directors, special effect artist, sound mixers, and even includes non-film industries such as digital games. The scope is very wide. In short they are SIRIM of creative content industry personnel.
Why the accrediation needed? According to CCIG, by accrediating them, it would raise our industry standard and would enable more foreign productions to produce their films in Malaysia.
How does accrediating improves the industry standards? The accrediation is done by our own Malaysian experts. I do have respect on many of them. Yet, if we want to be recognized internationally as skilled film industry players, do we get accrediated from someone international or among ourself? Common sense would say, get someone well qualified who have higher standard than Malaysia to form a penal to qualify us.
Some topics on "Pitching" centre was also discussed. The idea is, in order to get funding from the center, one need to be a member of CCIG. I'm okay with that. But, they also mentioned, that you need to accrediated. The minimum requirement to get accrediated is to have a minimum 2 years experince in whichever field you want to get accrediated or must have done at least 2 films. So, how the heck a beginner can get fundings? At least for a short films. This in a way already putting a stop on new aspiring filmmakers with fresh ideas from get involved with this industry. Looks like you have to wait at least to years and work in the industry first before you can get accrediated and get a fund from "Pitching Center". Btw, nothing is confirmed yet until the center opens on 2nd April next week. I'll update on the opportunities available once I check it out.
Next topic I find interesting and have been a hot debate on the internet is the aim to make an Oscar winning film within the next 3 years in foreign language category. Realistically, with our current standard it's a bit far fetched. Unless we make several movies which are similar to The Journey, then it might be possible.
But then, there is a misconception in Malaysia on what makes an Oscar worthy movies. Instead of targeting for Oscar, we should target for internationally commercially successful movies. Why? It would be much easier than hitting the Oscar's bullseye. What? You still don't get it?
If you have read my review on Isyarat Cinta, I said the movie had the potential of becoming an international movie. It's still far away from an Oscar worthy movie, but not too far from commercially successful movie.
CCIG or Finas should identify how to improve a movie, not just making more and more assumptions. I didn't see any of them trying to improve or talked about the film scores. Everyone is talking about the directions, scripts and actings. Everything is more on visual. Not much effort was put in to improve on film score. Of course, film score is very specialise as you must be able to compose musics.
Secondly, to make great movies, it's not necessary to make an epic movie or big budget movie.
Third, there is nothing wrong to make ghost movies. Just make a great ghost movies. Japan, Korea and Thailand used to make great ghost movies. They were famous around the world. They still do make nice ghost movies. In fact, Malaysia could have the potential of making some unique ghost movies due to our diversed cultural background.
Fourthly, for full feature films, do not allow any films below RM300,000 budget and which takes less than 6 months to make it, to be shown on cinema. There are high possibility a low budget movie and/or produced in a very short period of time is a crappy movie. When we have crappy movies, whoever watch it and would think all other movies produced by Malaysian are crappy as well. They are indirectly spoiling our market.
Finally, new aspiring filmmakers need some sort of fund at least for a shortfilms. Some easy access would be appreciated.
Anyway, I am happy that Finas is giving heavily subsidised traning workshops on filmmaking. I myself have attended some of their workshops and I would suggest more people to take opportunity to attend them. I'm also thankful to the governement to make initiative by setting aside some funds for creative industry. I just hope the execution part will be done smoothly.
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