Friday December 8, 2006
Malaysian superhero
By MUMTAJ BEGUM
It is about time Malaysia has its own caped crusader. After all, surely villains and heroes do not only populate the United States and Japan, right?
Fittingly, to suit Malaysians’ sense of humour, our first “spider-man” is a bit of a clown. Plus, he’s neither drop dead gorgeous nor outstanding. What is impressive is that Cicak-Man is the first Malaysian film that involves heavy computer graphics (CG) – almost 500 CG shots were incorporated into the film – and the story’s not focused on romance. It is more about learning and respecting oneself. Oh, did we mention that it is a comedy?
According to Yusry Abdul Halim, director of the film who doubled up as head of the special effects team on Cicak-Man: “We (KRU production) wanted to do a film that’s never been done before in Malaysia – a film that showcases computer graphics because I know what we can do with computers.
“And, really, I just wanted to put something different out there.”
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Saiful Apek (right) and Yusry Abdul Halim play best friends in Cicak-Man. |
This nobody suddenly has to become somebody, especially when he learns what his boss (Aznil Nawawi) – who happens to be really evil (is there a different sort of villain?) – is planning. What better way to do this than to have an alter-ego.
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Leading lady Fasha Sandha (above) had to wear winter clothing while filming in Putrajaya as the film is set against a fictional city named Metrofulus (pic below where the weather is cold. |
Although it only took 35 days to shoot the actual footage, the post-production work took Yusry and his crew a total of 15 months to complete. Yusry did a lot of shots against a green screen to add elements during post production.
Seeing that the budget for the film is well below RM2mil, Yusry decided to implement CGI in scenes that would have been do-able by Hollywood’s fat budget.
“There is a scene in the film in which a trailer overturns at a bridge. In Hollywood, they would have just filmed it with a real trailer. We can’t, because it’s time-consuming and expensive. So we did the scene using computer graphics.”
Actress Fasha Sandha who is the leading lady in the film found the whole experience of working against a green screen for the first time a tad disconcerting. But she soon got used to it.
The one thing that gave her a headache, however, was the fact that she had to wear winter clothing while filming in Putrajaya!
“The film is set in a fictional city where the weather is cold so we were all wearing clothes to suit that. It was hard at times – because only God knows how hot it was – but it was well worth it. Having seen the completed film, I am so proud to be a part of it.”
Fasha admitted she’d be the first one to sign up if there was a sequel. “The movie is so different and amazing.”
Yusry said that it was neither the amount of work and energy he spent on the film nor the special effects that was the hardest part about making this film.
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The city Metrofulus |
“I got an amazing cast and crew and the companies that were backing us up were supportive all the way.
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The evil Prof Klon (Aznil Nawawi) appears to have the upperhand as Cicak-Man is captured and bound. |
“At the same time, I know not everyone will like the film but overall I have been receiving positive feedback,” said Yusry.
Yusry himself is a fan of superhero films – he laughed and recalled that his ambition when he was five was to be Superman – and he’s mighty proud of Cicak-Man.
“I don’t know if Malaysians can accept a film about superheroes, but the success of this film would open up a lot of different avenues in the local film industry.
“Should this film be successful, I plan to make a sequel. I already have a story in mind. And technically the sequel is going to be far more complicated.
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Cicak-Man (Saiful Apek) fighting baddies in the film Cicak-Man. |
“But the movie industry is all about economy, and we are businessmen.”
Still, the biggest question is why Saiful Apek was chosen to be Malaysia’s first ever caped crusader.
When Fasha was given the script, she did not quite grasp the concept of the film.
“I couldn’t imagine Saiful in a superhero role,” said Fasha.
But she was quick to defend Yusry’s choice. “Cicak-Man is a comedy and very much in Saiful Apek’s field of expertise, so he is the right person to play our first superhero. Saiful is very talented and naturally funny without even trying to be funny.”
Whatever the reaction from the audience may be, Yusry conjectured that looking back he would say: “... that I was proud to have ventured onto a whole new territory.”
Cicak-Man is showing in cinemas nationwide.
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