- 3 months ago
In this interview, she opens up about stepping away from fame, rediscovering her craft, and what she wants future filmmakers to remember about the Malaysia she helped shape.
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00:00It can take you anywhere, this industry.
00:03It can pull you apart too.
00:04So you really need to know and be grounded
00:06when it comes to wanting to know why am I doing it?
00:09Besides the passion, besides the talent that you may have,
00:11what is it?
00:12I don't want to do a film because I want to be out there.
00:15I want to do a film so people know that I come from Malaysia
00:17and I'm a Malaysian actor.
00:19The whole conversation was supposed to be
00:22about my work.
00:22learning so much about you.
00:24But we've learned so much more about people around you.
00:26Yeah, I don't really like talking about myself, that's why.
00:29What am I as an actor?
00:31Why am I saying this?
00:32And why am I feeling this at this point?
00:35It's like world building.
00:36It is.
00:36You are building this world, right?
00:46Welcome back to another episode of Life Confessions
00:49where we are very excited, of course,
00:51to have yet another amazing guest join us.
00:54I get excited having guests like the one
00:58that's sitting next to me today,
01:00the amazing Datin Sophia Jane, actress.
01:03Hi, Terry.
01:04I love having you on Light FM
01:07when you joined Lea and myself
01:09and we learned about you through the music that you chose.
01:11Yeah.
01:11And it seems like whenever you do interviews,
01:16we never get to really talk about so much that you do
01:19because you've done so much, right?
01:22Do you find that you...
01:23Quietly, I do a lot, yeah.
01:25Yeah.
01:25And while people keep wanting to go back
01:28to particular movies that you've done
01:30and amazing, memorable scenes as well,
01:34what do you find is something that
01:37you're most proud of,
01:39of all the things that you've done so far?
01:40I think I've been proud of everything that I've done.
01:45Even the regrets that I have, I'm proud of, you know,
01:48because everything I do is...
01:50Any choices that I've made
01:52in the beginning of my career till today
01:54has always been quiet and conscious.
01:57So, you know, and I think...
02:00And I embark on the journeys that I have
02:03with all the roles that I've done,
02:05all the productions that I've been involved with.
02:07And, you know, and I am proud of all of that
02:10because I always walk away from the sad,
02:14from the work that I've done.
02:16And I learn something new all the time.
02:19Right.
02:19So I think that's also helped me to grow as a person,
02:22to grow as a person in the industry as well,
02:25and steady myself and be able to be,
02:32to work with clarity in a very, you know,
02:34this industry can be very turbulent at times.
02:37So I think that's, yeah.
02:41So I'm very proud of everything that I've done.
02:43Yeah, you should be
02:44because your body of work is incredibly extensive
02:47and not every actress,
02:50no matter Malaysian or not,
02:52has had a career as long as yours.
02:54Someone who's had continuous work
02:57and great, great things to work on as well.
03:00Like you said, you're proud of everything that you've done.
03:03And you've been a part of this industry long enough
03:06to have seen how it's progressed as well.
03:08And some of the feedback that we hear in the industry
03:12is that it's changed the way things feel behind the camera.
03:16Do you feel like it used to be more personal
03:20and now it's gotten colder the way films are made?
03:24Is there a difference that you feel from the way it began
03:27and now things are, now as things stand today?
03:29I mean, everything has evolved.
03:31I mean, politically we have evolved.
03:33Economically we have evolved.
03:36And how we see things in general.
03:38You know, the different dimensions of our landscape
03:42has also changed a lot from the 80s up till today.
03:48You know, like before we didn't have platforms,
03:52we didn't have digital.
03:53And now we do where everything's immediate.
03:56And I think probably,
03:58and I'm not going to say that's the cause,
04:01but I think right now at this point of my career,
04:03I can see that there are a lot of struggles
04:08struggles.
04:09Struggles meaning
04:10producers, writers, or directors
04:14wanting to tell, you know, more intimate stories,
04:17stories that relate to the Malaysia that they are in now today.
04:21And how, you know, at the end of the day,
04:23when you make a film,
04:24it has to make some kind of margin.
04:26Is there more of a pressure now for films to do financially well?
04:35Because, okay, I think maybe I need to explain a little bit here
04:38that grants have been a big part of Malaysian film for a very long time.
04:43Yes.
04:43Right?
04:44And they're still important now.
04:46Yes, they still exist.
04:47They still exist.
04:47How much is that balance now between
04:50making a movie that is
04:53because you have the money granted by a grant
04:56and then making it financially viable as well, right?
04:59Yeah.
04:59So that's something that you have to look at
05:01100 steps or 100,000 steps beforehand, right?
05:04Before you want to even embark on
05:07thinking of writing.
05:08For instance, even if I wanted to write a script,
05:11let's say,
05:11I would have to think about the logistics,
05:14location,
05:14and how we can make it viable
05:16with the money that you think you can raise
05:19to start a film,
05:20you know,
05:21and to make sure that people are at least paid
05:23sufficiently well,
05:25you know?
05:26So, and then you have the grants.
05:27And then with the grants also,
05:29which is a great thing,
05:31you know,
05:31I mean,
05:33for the government to be able to
05:35endorse that
05:36in that sense,
05:37you know,
05:38financially.
05:39But we also have to take a look at the bigger picture
05:41of how
05:42like Finas,
05:47which is a,
05:47which is our,
05:48you know,
05:49film institution,
05:50national film institution.
05:52What do you want
05:54out of these grants
05:55and the films that are being made?
05:57Right.
05:57What content?
05:58What,
05:59where do you want to see it?
06:00Hmm.
06:01And how do you want it to grow?
06:03Because it's not just about
06:04giving out money.
06:06Right.
06:06And have somebody make a film.
06:08Right.
06:08Because there's been people who've
06:10received grants
06:11and never made the film.
06:14You know,
06:15it makes the news sometimes.
06:16And then you go,
06:18okay,
06:18so what are the criterias?
06:19I mean,
06:19these are all questions that we need to ask.
06:22Even,
06:24you know,
06:24you don't have to be in the industry
06:25to ask these obvious questions.
06:28So,
06:28but my question would be
06:30with that money,
06:32you want to see something substantial
06:34grow out of it.
06:36You know,
06:36what do you want to see?
06:38Like,
06:38as an,
06:39as an actress,
06:40because
06:40you are in a position
06:42to be able to choose
06:43what you make
06:44as well.
06:45You're one,
06:46you're a person who
06:47has been,
06:48I think even from the beginning,
06:49you've been very,
06:50um,
06:51conscious of
06:52roles that you've taken.
06:54Right.
06:54And now,
06:55being as well known
06:57as you are,
06:57you are in an even better position
07:00to be able to choose
07:01the projects
07:02that you work on.
07:03How do you make that choice?
07:04I look at,
07:06um,
07:08the narratives.
07:10I look at,
07:11um,
07:12who's actually writing the story
07:15and how it is written.
07:18Um,
07:19and I think
07:19being
07:20more personally involved
07:22with production,
07:23meaning,
07:24not meaning
07:24being a collaborator of sorts,
07:27but being able to
07:28collab in a sense
07:33where my input
07:35as an actor
07:36counts.
07:37Right.
07:37So that means
07:38even as an actor,
07:39you can still contribute
07:40to,
07:41um,
07:41how the character
07:42is developed
07:43and even the story.
07:44And the story.
07:45Yeah.
07:45Because,
07:46you know,
07:46I'm not just an actor,
07:47I'm also an audience.
07:48Right.
07:49Right.
07:49I watch films too
07:50and I look and see
07:51how a film develops,
07:53how a story develops,
07:54how a character develops,
07:55um,
07:56and what,
07:57what is it that,
07:58that the story
07:58wants to say,
07:59you know.
08:00and,
08:01and I think
08:01at this point
08:02in my career
08:03and even before
08:03when I started,
08:04you know,
08:04when I started working,
08:06um,
08:06earlier in the days
08:08was actually
08:09to,
08:10to be able
08:11to be a part
08:12of a film
08:14that can be identified
08:17as a Malaysian film.
08:19Right.
08:19Right.
08:20Regardless of
08:21who's in it,
08:22regardless of,
08:23um,
08:24the,
08:25the language
08:26that we use.
08:26Right.
08:27You know.
08:28Something that reflects us.
08:29Us.
08:29As of,
08:30you know,
08:31because we are so diverse
08:32in our culture
08:33and our people
08:35and,
08:36and it doesn't make sense
08:37that we can identify
08:38other people's films
08:40by just looking
08:42at a particular landscape
08:43or,
08:43or just seeing the person
08:45or hearing the language
08:46and,
08:47and us not being identified
08:49soon enough
08:51or quick enough
08:52to go,
08:52that's a Malaysian film.
08:53Because we are unique enough
08:55to be able to hear that.
08:56And a lot of people
08:57don't really know
08:57about Malaysia
08:58in that sense.
08:59through films.
09:00Through films,
09:00yes.
09:01Right.
09:01We will know about history,
09:03people know about location,
09:04but people don't really know
09:05us
09:06and the diversity
09:07that we have
09:08and carry.
09:09Yeah.
09:10And,
09:10um,
09:11film has always been,
09:12you know,
09:12the greatest tool,
09:14I believe.
09:14Yeah.
09:15To share.
09:15To be able to share that,
09:16you know,
09:17globally.
09:18So,
09:19um,
09:19that's what I,
09:20I work towards
09:21and I work towards,
09:22um,
09:22probably smaller productions
09:25who also have
09:27the same,
09:27um,
09:28vision that I have,
09:29um,
09:30or the same goals
09:31that I have
09:32when it comes to me
09:32telling a story.
09:33So,
09:34that's how I,
09:35um,
09:36navigate myself
09:37in the industry.
09:38Yeah.
09:39You're a very passionate person
09:40when it comes
09:41to your work,
09:42which of course
09:42makes sense
09:43because that's how
09:44you've sustained,
09:45um,
09:46a career that's,
09:47that's lasted
09:48decades.
09:50Well,
09:50there are other actors
09:51who are longer
09:53than me
09:53and still here.
09:54Absolutely.
09:55And they're not being
09:55talked about either.
09:56Which we should,
09:57right?
09:57Yes,
09:58absolutely.
09:59Yeah.
09:59And,
10:00but you,
10:00there was one point
10:01in your career
10:02where you actually
10:02also stepped away.
10:03You stepped away,
10:04you took some time,
10:05was,
10:06and then you came back.
10:06Yes.
10:07Tell us about that moment
10:08of stepping away
10:09and then deciding
10:10to come back.
10:10What were the factors
10:11that you had to consider?
10:13Well,
10:13I guess when,
10:16okay,
10:17if you want to use
10:17the term stepping away,
10:19which,
10:20um,
10:20which I did,
10:21um,
10:23because I got married
10:24and I got married
10:24really early,
10:25uh,
10:27at 23.
10:28And I think,
10:30uh,
10:30the biggest ruckus
10:31that was stirred
10:32by that,
10:33that,
10:33you know,
10:34me taking the,
10:35making that decision
10:36to get married
10:37at such an early age
10:39was the fact
10:39that I was
10:40going to leave
10:42the country
10:42with my husband
10:45at a point
10:48of my,
10:49at the peak
10:50of my growing career.
10:51Right.
10:51I wouldn't even say
10:52it was a career
10:53at that point,
10:54you know,
10:55but it was
10:55a growing career
10:56that grew really,
10:57really fast
10:58and,
10:59you know,
10:59and I was doing
11:00so much at that point
11:01and then
11:02I got married.
11:03I got married
11:04and I left
11:04for Indonesia
11:05because my husband
11:06had a stint there
11:07for a few years.
11:08So,
11:09so that was
11:09my stepping away.
11:10so that was
11:11a good five years,
11:13I think,
11:14you know,
11:15and,
11:15and I think
11:17at that point
11:18of my life,
11:19being married
11:21and I had,
11:22and I started
11:23a family,
11:23having children,
11:25it gave me time
11:26to reflect
11:27on what I do,
11:31how I do it
11:32and,
11:32and why I do it.
11:34You know,
11:34my career,
11:35the profession
11:36that I,
11:37that I chose,
11:38you know,
11:39and,
11:39and,
11:41and because of that,
11:42I think
11:43when I came back,
11:45I came back stronger
11:45and I came back
11:47more matured
11:49and being able
11:51to realize
11:52that,
11:53okay,
11:53this is how
11:54I want to,
11:57you know,
11:58continue
11:58working
12:00professionally.
12:01You know,
12:02it's not just a hobby,
12:03it's a profession
12:03and being able
12:07to work closely
12:08with people,
12:09as I mentioned
12:10just now,
12:10who,
12:11who are also seeking
12:12to tell stories
12:14that are,
12:15that are personal
12:16to many of us
12:17as Malaysians.
12:18Right.
12:18You know,
12:19which doesn't really
12:21get the fundings
12:22of sorts
12:22because it's really hard.
12:25It is really,
12:26really hard.
12:27So therefore,
12:27and I take my hat off
12:28to producers,
12:30you know,
12:30who go out there
12:31and just do it.
12:32Right.
12:32And just do it.
12:34The reason why I ask
12:36is because
12:36many actors
12:38and actresses
12:39are impressed
12:40by what you did.
12:41Not everyone
12:42would be brave enough
12:43to take that time away
12:45from a growing career.
12:48You hear it all the time
12:49in entertainment
12:50that they tell,
12:51they tell us
12:52that we've got
12:52a shelf life.
12:53We've got to make
12:55full use of that time
12:56that,
12:57that we have.
12:58But you were brave enough
12:59to actually take that time
13:00and then come back to it.
13:02Did you know
13:02you were going to come back
13:03at that point?
13:04I knew I was going
13:05to work again.
13:07I just didn't know when.
13:09I did not know
13:10when that time
13:11would come.
13:12And I'm not a planner.
13:14You know,
13:15I'm not a planner.
13:16But I used full use
13:18of the time
13:18that I was away
13:19to embark
13:21on learning
13:22different languages,
13:24learning different cultures,
13:25learning,
13:26watching,
13:27you know,
13:27world films
13:28and understanding
13:30history
13:30and the context
13:32of people
13:33of different,
13:33you know,
13:34different countries
13:34and different eras
13:35through film.
13:37You know,
13:38and thinking,
13:38okay,
13:38how can we do that
13:39for our own,
13:40you know,
13:41film landscape here?
13:42And so it's interesting
13:45because there are a lot
13:46of young producers
13:47and directors
13:48and writers
13:49who are,
13:50you know,
13:50who embark
13:51on that journey
13:52as well
13:52and probably
13:54you don't see,
13:55you know,
13:55their work
13:55being talked about
13:56enough
13:57or even shown here.
13:59Right.
14:00But it's talked about
14:01in other parts
14:02of the world.
14:03That's so sad.
14:04Well,
14:05it's elevating
14:06in a sense
14:07that you actually
14:08do get to do
14:09what you set out to do
14:11which is you want
14:11people from
14:12different parts
14:13of the world
14:14to see,
14:15to watch
14:16and to have
14:17curiosity
14:18about
14:19what is it
14:21that Malaysian storytellers
14:22actually tell.
14:24But we want to
14:25celebrate them here
14:26as well.
14:27Yes,
14:27yes,
14:27we do.
14:27We do.
14:28And we need to.
14:29We need to do that
14:30and that's why
14:31I always say that
14:32a lot of things,
14:33important works
14:33that are done
14:34by,
14:34you know,
14:35different actors,
14:36producers,
14:36directors,
14:38writers,
14:38they're not talked
14:39about enough
14:40because they're not
14:40probably popular enough,
14:42you know,
14:43and that's the wave now,
14:45isn't it,
14:45to be popular
14:46and to be out there,
14:47which is,
14:47you know,
14:47that's what we need to do.
14:48We have to be out there.
14:50But talent is also important.
14:52Yes.
14:53Sometimes the popularity,
14:54it may seem,
14:55can outweigh
14:56the talent
14:57of someone
14:58because we've heard
14:59the stories
15:00of how
15:01veterans
15:02have mentioned
15:03that
15:04they're losing out
15:05on roles
15:06simply because
15:08their following
15:09on social media
15:10isn't as large
15:11as the following
15:12of another person
15:14and
15:15it seems like
15:16sometimes
15:17when it comes
15:17to casting,
15:19they may cast
15:19a person
15:20simply because
15:21they have
15:22a large
15:22online
15:23presence
15:25and not necessarily
15:26the talent
15:27that goes along
15:28with that.
15:29Do you see
15:30that happening?
15:32I believe,
15:34well,
15:34I don't think
15:35it affects
15:35the older generation
15:37because
15:38we don't have
15:40that many followers
15:40anyway.
15:41You've got a lot
15:42of followers.
15:43I wouldn't call you
15:45the older generation
15:45either.
15:46But those numbers,
15:49but those numbers,
15:51okay,
15:52if you take a step back
15:53and you look at
15:53the 80s and 90s,
15:54when you talk about
15:55people who come
15:55and watch your work,
15:56that's the audience,
15:58and why do work
16:00if nobody's going
16:01to watch it.
16:02But there's a
16:04different set of
16:04audience and
16:05today's audience
16:05is a bit different
16:06as well because
16:07they can follow you
16:08on whatever platform
16:10that you're on.
16:11It doesn't mean
16:12that they know
16:12anything about
16:13what you do
16:13or even care
16:14about what you do.
16:15They just look
16:17at you because
16:18you're,
16:18I don't know,
16:19beautiful or
16:20more interesting
16:21than their life
16:22is.
16:23Maybe,
16:23I don't know.
16:24And you sort of
16:25want to project
16:26that life and
16:27world
16:27into your own.
16:29So it's,
16:31I mean,
16:31well,
16:31there's psychology
16:32going on there
16:33but it's very
16:34interesting for me
16:35as an actor as well,
16:36the psyche
16:37of these followers
16:39or,
16:40you know,
16:40and the things
16:41they say,
16:42you know,
16:42on the comment section
16:44and because of that,
16:49I think the reality
16:50is
16:51that's why
16:55maybe,
16:56maybe,
16:56maybe,
16:57when you look
16:58at today's
16:58TV work
16:59especially,
17:00nothing budges.
17:03It doesn't budge.
17:04Right.
17:05Meaning,
17:05the stories don't budge.
17:07The narration
17:08doesn't budge.
17:09Right.
17:09And how an actor
17:11or director
17:12or producer
17:12approaches the work
17:14or the narrative
17:15also does not move.
17:17You mean there's no growth?
17:18It's stagnant.
17:18There's no growth.
17:19Okay.
17:20Right?
17:20There's no growth
17:21because apparently,
17:23apparently,
17:25the stories that I've told
17:26that are
17:26just mimicking each other
17:29is what
17:31the audience...
17:32Right.
17:33It needs to fit this
17:34more
17:34that has been proven.
17:36Proven, yes.
17:37So don't steer away
17:38from what
17:38you believe
17:39has been working.
17:40If it ain't broke,
17:41don't fix it.
17:42Don't fix it.
17:42Just keep making
17:43the same thing
17:44over and over again.
17:44But at the same time,
17:46that wasn't how
17:47it was in TV
17:47when I started out.
17:49We had a diverse
17:51range of stories.
17:56I was directed
17:57and, you know,
17:58worked with people
17:59who came from
17:59all parts of Malaysia.
18:01Right.
18:01You know,
18:02they weren't just
18:02KL-centric stories.
18:04They were also,
18:04you know,
18:05that involved characters
18:06that came from
18:07Sabah and Sarawak,
18:08for instance.
18:09And how this collaboration
18:12of people
18:16of Malaysia
18:16that is,
18:18you know,
18:18produced on screen
18:20was amazing.
18:21Trying different things.
18:22Trying different things.
18:23But it didn't seem different,
18:24you know.
18:25It didn't seem different.
18:26It seemed just right.
18:27When it's all a variety,
18:28nothing seems different
18:29because everything
18:30is so unique.
18:31It's just mimicking.
18:32Oh, sorry, yeah.
18:33If you're talking about that.
18:33Yeah, back then
18:34because everything
18:35was so diverse.
18:36Yeah.
18:36So it was unique.
18:38Nothing,
18:38everything was unique
18:39and not unique
18:40at the same time
18:40because everyone
18:41was trying something.
18:42Exactly.
18:42Because it was also
18:43a time where
18:45Malaysia was trying
18:46to find its footing
18:47when it came to storytelling.
18:50Right.
18:50You had the 70s.
18:51You had P. Ramli
18:52and, you know,
18:52that golden era
18:53of Jalan Ampas
18:54and Cathay Chris
18:55and all that.
18:56And then there was,
18:58then it's sort of like,
19:01I don't know,
19:01something happened.
19:02And then when you come
19:04to the 70s,
19:04I mean, listen,
19:05we're talking about
19:06history of film
19:07in Malaysia, right?
19:08And then the 70s
19:10and then it started again.
19:11And then you had
19:12the Rahim Razalis.
19:13You had the Ahmad Yatims,
19:15you know,
19:15who are now telling
19:16patriotic stories,
19:18stories of families,
19:20middle class.
19:21So things were changing
19:24and then you go,
19:27okay, what's next?
19:28And then you had the 80s.
19:30You had Nasi Jani
19:31who was a rebel,
19:32you know.
19:33And then you have
19:34Yuweha Jisari,
19:35Arman Saleh,
19:36Shoymi Baba.
19:37Shoymi Baba, yeah.
19:38You know,
19:39who were doing,
19:39again,
19:41different things.
19:41Also a woman.
19:42And a woman,
19:43yes.
19:44And so all these
19:46different perspectives
19:46were given that platform.
19:51You know,
19:51there wasn't questions of
19:52who's going to watch this film?
19:54It was like,
19:55let's make a good film.
19:56Let's just make it.
19:57Let's tell this story.
19:59Yeah.
19:59You know.
20:00And it's interesting
20:01because these films
20:02also travelled the world
20:03and conversations
20:04were sparked.
20:07Just what films should do.
20:08Yes, exactly.
20:09So it's not,
20:10it's nothing personal,
20:11meaning like,
20:11I don't want to do a film
20:12because I want to be out there.
20:14I want to do a film
20:15so people know that
20:16I come from Malaysia
20:17and I'm a Malaysian actor.
20:18Yeah.
20:19You know,
20:19so,
20:20yeah,
20:21so now and then
20:21you come now
20:22to this era
20:23of storytelling,
20:26TV predominantly,
20:28where,
20:28as I said,
20:29it just,
20:29it mimics
20:30the last
20:31and the past,
20:32but it does not move on
20:34because of this
20:34proven
20:35formula.
20:38Right.
20:38You know,
20:38but it does not
20:39progress the people
20:40in the industry.
20:41Right.
20:42So you have,
20:42so we come back
20:43to the young actors
20:44where,
20:45when you read a script,
20:47you don't question it.
20:51Oh.
20:52Just,
20:53you just read it
20:54and you do it
20:54and you acknowledge it
20:55and you just do it.
20:57And I understand
20:58that young actors
20:58need to do things
21:00a lot to be out there
21:01because you want
21:02to be out there
21:02so that you can get
21:03more jobs.
21:04But if you
21:05stay at this certain point
21:07where
21:08you don't think
21:09going for acting workshops
21:11or acting classes
21:12to learn the skills,
21:15to learn that
21:16it's not just about,
21:17you know,
21:19verbalizing your dialogue,
21:21then we have a problem
21:22because who's going to be
21:23the next generation
21:23of actors?
21:24You see that happening?
21:26Oh, yes,
21:26I do.
21:26Right.
21:27I do.
21:28And the ones
21:28who are really talented,
21:30who are really,
21:31you know,
21:32who went to university
21:33or they went to school,
21:35you have Aswara here,
21:36and because they're
21:38not the package
21:39that, you know,
21:40producers want
21:41or big studios want,
21:43then they kind of like
21:45end up probably
21:46sometimes not even
21:47performing.
21:48They end up doing
21:49something behind the scenes.
21:50Overlooked?
21:51Passed over?
21:52Not passed over,
21:54but I just feel that,
21:56so the question is now,
21:58talent over popularity,
22:00if you want to talk about
22:01being honest about it.
22:02and I think,
22:04and I think,
22:04and that's basically it.
22:06That's so worrying.
22:07It is worrying.
22:08And then,
22:09and then these young talents
22:10who are actually
22:11really good at what they do,
22:12at their craft,
22:14you know,
22:14they do a lot of things,
22:17but people,
22:18again,
22:18don't talk about it.
22:19They do a lot of plays,
22:20they do a lot of
22:21small indie films,
22:23you know,
22:25and they're so smart,
22:26and yet,
22:28they're not deemed
22:29important for this industry
22:31to grow.
22:31Do we need more
22:33platforms
22:34where this type of work
22:36can be featured?
22:38Because,
22:38because of the fact
22:39that they're indie films,
22:41larger distributors
22:42are not willing
22:43to take them on,
22:44but streaming platforms
22:46seem to be almost
22:47the perfect place
22:48for them to make
22:49their content available.
22:50But will streaming platforms
22:52take this content
22:53and air it?
22:54I think they are,
22:55you know,
22:56slowly but surely.
22:57But we can't take our time
22:59doing it either
23:00because of the fact
23:01that,
23:02you know,
23:02we were once,
23:04you know,
23:04a country that was spoken of
23:06and suddenly now
23:07we are being led by,
23:08you know,
23:10our other Southeast Asian
23:11counterparts.
23:12Yeah.
23:14And I just feel like,
23:16what have we been doing
23:18this past 30,
23:1940 years?
23:20Right.
23:20You know,
23:21so it's,
23:23and,
23:24you know,
23:24we have all these
23:25town hall discussions
23:27and expressions
23:29and all that,
23:30but,
23:30you know,
23:30it's,
23:32we've got to stop talking
23:33and start doing.
23:34And I think,
23:35and I think,
23:36for me especially,
23:37sometimes it can be
23:38a bit frustrating,
23:39so we all come
23:41to the conclusion
23:42that,
23:43you know,
23:43we just have to
23:44keep on doing it.
23:45We just do,
23:46we just work,
23:46we just keep on working
23:47because,
23:48you know,
23:49we don't have the upper hand
23:50when it comes to
23:51constructing structures
23:52in your,
23:53in the industry,
23:54but we can carry on
23:55talking about other
23:56people's works
23:56that we find
23:58interesting enough
23:59for people to have
24:00a conversation about.
24:01Right.
24:02To highlight it.
24:02Yeah,
24:03to highlight it
24:03and we have to
24:04keep on doing that,
24:05you know,
24:06so,
24:06yeah,
24:07so that's where we are.
24:08I feel,
24:08that's my,
24:09my take anyway.
24:10And your take
24:11is a valid one
24:12because not only
24:13have you been a part
24:15of the industry
24:15and grown with
24:17the industry
24:17in many ways,
24:19but you also know
24:20so many people,
24:21you've been a part
24:22of so many
24:22different projects
24:23that,
24:24that
24:25to not
24:27listen to
24:28what you have
24:29to say
24:29would be at
24:30the detriment
24:31of someone
24:32because your opinion
24:33probably holds
24:35more weight
24:35than many others
24:37when it comes
24:37to knowing
24:38what you're talking
24:39about.
24:40You feel you're
24:40not heard sometimes.
24:42Oh,
24:42I just say
24:43what I want to say.
24:44I mean,
24:45you can't force
24:46people to listen
24:47or to hear you,
24:48but I mean,
24:49I'm just saying
24:50that I just do it
24:51as often as I can.
24:53Even like on,
24:54on my Instagram,
24:55which is,
24:56I think,
24:56the most boring
24:56Instagram account
24:58ever for an actor,
24:59but,
25:00you know,
25:00it's not just
25:01about promoting
25:01what I do,
25:02but it's also
25:02promoting what I watch,
25:04what I think
25:05is potentially viable
25:06as a story,
25:09other talents
25:10that I feel,
25:11oh,
25:11this person needs
25:11to be talked about
25:12and I feel like,
25:14you know,
25:14that's doing something
25:16for my community,
25:18you know,
25:18and it's not just
25:19for the people
25:20in the industry,
25:21it's also about
25:21the audience
25:22and younger,
25:23and the younger set
25:24of,
25:24you know,
25:25people now
25:26who are also
25:27trying to find
25:28something
25:28a bit more,
25:31something that
25:31they can be
25:32in touch with.
25:33Meaningful?
25:34Yeah,
25:34meaningful,
25:35something that
25:36affects you,
25:36affects you,
25:37because at the end
25:38of the day,
25:38that's what films
25:39are supposed to do,
25:39that's what stories
25:40are supposed to do,
25:41they're supposed
25:41to affect you
25:42in a way,
25:43regardless how
25:44you're affected,
25:45but it should
25:46open up something
25:47for you to feel
25:49or discuss about.
25:52An experience,
25:53right?
25:53An experience,
25:53yeah.
25:54And I feel
25:55perhaps this whole
25:57exercise of producing
26:00or acting
26:01or whatever
26:01is overlooked
26:02also because
26:02we don't have
26:03that meaningful
26:04discussions,
26:07you know,
26:07after a premiere,
26:08you know,
26:09it's always about
26:09how did you
26:10feel about,
26:13I don't know,
26:13there's nothing
26:14related to what
26:14your work is.
26:16And you go,
26:17I want to talk
26:17about my work,
26:18not about what
26:19I'm wearing today,
26:20you know.
26:20It seems to be
26:21what everyone
26:22wants to know.
26:22So I just,
26:23you know,
26:24so I do my work,
26:26I do my marketing
26:27and I try as much
26:28as I can to divert
26:29from questions
26:30that don't have
26:31any relevance
26:31to the story
26:33that was made
26:34and just concentrate
26:36on that.
26:37Right.
26:37You know,
26:37because that's what,
26:38as an actor,
26:38that's my marketing.
26:40Right.
26:40I'm supposed to talk
26:41about what I do,
26:42why I did it,
26:43what the story is
26:44and why it's important
26:46to me and probably
26:47important for the
26:48audience as well.
26:49Yeah.
26:50One more interesting
26:50thing that comes
26:53about in conversation
26:54these days is
26:56the relevance
26:57and importance
26:58of social media
26:59in entertainment
26:59because it is a
27:01platform
27:01and you have a
27:02platform as well.
27:04and one factor
27:06that could be
27:08either a negative
27:08or positive
27:09when it comes
27:09to social media
27:10is availability
27:11because you are
27:12now personally
27:13making yourself
27:15available to people
27:16who appreciate
27:17your work.
27:17But that may come
27:19with pitfalls
27:19as well.
27:21Such as?
27:22Like being,
27:23having someone
27:23make a comment
27:24that is unfair
27:26to you on your page.
27:28How do you
27:29navigate social media?
27:30Well,
27:31I don't entertain
27:31rudeness.
27:34So that gets
27:35blocked straight away.
27:36When somebody
27:37makes a statement,
27:39I never turn away
27:40and go,
27:41that's not right.
27:43I want to know
27:44where you're coming
27:45from.
27:46So I ask.
27:46To understand.
27:47To understand.
27:48Because that's what
27:48we do as actors,
27:49right?
27:49We try to understand
27:50the different psyches.
27:53And I go,
27:54oh, that's interesting.
27:55Why do you see it
27:56that way?
27:57Or why do you see
27:58it that way?
27:58Or this way?
27:59And sometimes
28:01they just
28:01don't answer.
28:03Which usually happens.
28:04They don't answer.
28:05It's like they didn't expect.
28:07Yeah,
28:07they didn't expect
28:08this engagement.
28:09Right.
28:10Because nobody
28:11goes out there
28:12and says something
28:12without wanting
28:13to get engagement.
28:15It's like you
28:15make them think
28:16as well.
28:17So when I start
28:18a conversation
28:19or a question
28:20to understand,
28:22the engagement
28:23ends.
28:25Because it doesn't
28:26serve their purpose.
28:28They don't realize.
28:28The purpose of,
28:31which I see
28:31on a lot of
28:32other actors'
28:34platforms or whatever.
28:36When somebody
28:37makes a statement,
28:38basically they want
28:39an engagement
28:40that is going
28:41to define
28:42what they said
28:43as a godly truth.
28:46Right.
28:46Right.
28:47And it's never good.
28:48It's never,
28:49never good.
28:50So,
28:51when nobody
28:52engages with them,
28:54and I do,
28:55because everybody
28:56just bypasses
28:57somebody.
28:57But I find it
28:58interesting,
28:59and I engage,
29:00and I say,
29:00why do you think
29:01that?
29:01And then,
29:02silence.
29:03So,
29:05they don't want
29:05you to engage
29:07that way.
29:08Yeah.
29:08They want you
29:09to engage
29:09and feel angry
29:11about what they said.
29:12Right.
29:12They want to rile you up.
29:14Yeah.
29:14They want you to be angry
29:15or to be upset,
29:16or maybe.
29:17But it means
29:18that you're angry
29:19about something,
29:20which makes me
29:22interested.
29:22What are you angry
29:23about?
29:24Like,
29:24why is that
29:25their response
29:26that they felt
29:27the need to put it
29:28on your page?
29:30Yeah.
29:30What did they want
29:31out of this?
29:32Yeah.
29:33Because I would just say,
29:34oh,
29:34write an essay.
29:36Write an essay
29:37about how you feel,
29:38you know.
29:39That's what I do.
29:40That's what we did
29:40in school, right?
29:41Right.
29:41You write an essay,
29:42you write a column,
29:43or you write an article.
29:45But anyway,
29:45I don't entertain rudeness.
29:49That's for sure.
29:50I put a stop at that
29:51because it has no space
29:52in my world.
29:54But when it comes
29:56to people who make,
29:57you know,
29:58remarks,
29:59or interesting remarks
30:00to me because I feel,
30:01oh,
30:01I didn't,
30:02oh,
30:02it's interesting how
30:03that film
30:03or that particular,
30:06or how I look in that film
30:07made you tick,
30:09for instance.
30:09Oh,
30:10and then,
30:12I want to start
30:12that conversation,
30:13but then it goes dead.
30:14So I don't know.
30:15It's interesting.
30:16It's almost like
30:17the way you approach
30:18social media
30:20is the same way
30:20you approach the films
30:21that you make.
30:22Yes,
30:22absolutely.
30:23To make people,
30:24to have a conversation,
30:25to make people think,
30:26to also understand
30:28the psyche of someone.
30:30Yes.
30:30These are the same traits
30:31in like...
30:32How you,
30:33because there are
30:33narrative gaps.
30:34Yeah.
30:35You know,
30:36sometimes when you read
30:36a story or you read,
30:39you know,
30:39I'm very into
30:39spare writing,
30:40which there's not much
30:41going on there
30:42and you have to
30:42sort of like
30:43fill up the gaps.
30:44Spare writing?
30:45Yeah.
30:45You know,
30:46it's like
30:46somebody writes something,
30:49but there's no...
30:51Apa orang kata?
30:53There's no description.
30:54Okay.
30:55Okay.
30:56She's feeling sad
30:56as she says this.
30:57Why?
30:58Yeah.
30:58You know,
30:58it's just she says it.
31:00And it's up to you
31:01as a human being
31:03to actually understand,
31:07you know,
31:08the narrative gaps
31:09that are in your stories,
31:11in the writing.
31:13But it's the same thing
31:13as people who say something,
31:15but it doesn't come
31:16with a cry
31:16or it doesn't come
31:17with a laugh.
31:18So you've got to try
31:19and figure out,
31:20was she laughing
31:21when she said
31:21that serious note?
31:23Yeah.
31:24Or was she crying?
31:26Because things,
31:27people say things,
31:28but they mean something else.
31:30Yeah.
31:30They say something,
31:31but they feel something else.
31:32So what they say
31:33could be an angry statement,
31:34but in actual,
31:35they're feeling really,
31:36really upset.
31:37Right.
31:38I think I've heard
31:39someone explain this
31:40as you're building
31:41the building
31:42around the brick.
31:43Yeah.
31:43It's like you get that brick
31:44and then now you need
31:45to fill in
31:46the rest of that story.
31:48Yes.
31:49And you take it
31:51a step further
31:51because you actually
31:53dive deep.
31:54That's my work.
31:54Yeah.
31:55That's my work.
31:56And what's interesting
31:57is that while you're
31:59building it,
31:59it could develop
32:00into something else.
32:01let's say you wanted
32:02to actually just,
32:04you know,
32:04have a collection of bricks
32:05to make a pedestal.
32:08You end up
32:09making a mansion
32:10and a mansion
32:11that's unfinished.
32:12Yeah.
32:13Because it's never ending.
32:14Right.
32:15You know?
32:15And the unfinished mansion
32:16is actually
32:17the full,
32:18the full building.
32:19That's what it was meant
32:20to be all along.
32:21Yes.
32:21Well, this metaphor
32:22is taking us cases.
32:24No, but I just feel
32:27that, you know,
32:27we never know enough.
32:29You know?
32:30This whole conversation
32:32was supposed to be
32:34about my work.
32:34Learning so much
32:35about you.
32:36About my work.
32:36But we've learned
32:37so much more
32:38about the people
32:39around you.
32:39Yeah.
32:40I don't really like
32:40talking about myself.
32:41That's why.
32:42But we've learned
32:43so much about you
32:44because of the way
32:44you talk about
32:45the people around you
32:46as well.
32:47I'm pretty sure
32:48I'm not the only person
32:49to have ever said this,
32:50I'm guessing,
32:50that has noticed
32:51that you care
32:52about your environment.
32:55Yes, I do.
32:56I do.
32:57The environment
32:58and your environment.
32:59Yeah, because I,
33:00it humbles me
33:01to the core
33:02because I know
33:03I couldn't do
33:04half the things
33:04that the people
33:05around me do.
33:07You know?
33:08And if I can't do
33:09half the things
33:10that they can do,
33:10at the very least
33:11I can talk about it.
33:12Talk about them.
33:14Yeah.
33:14You know?
33:14And hopefully
33:15somebody
33:16or a governing body
33:17will say,
33:18we have to step in
33:18and help these societies
33:20as well.
33:21Right.
33:21You know?
33:22Yeah, so.
33:23Yeah.
33:23If someone sees
33:24your work
33:25and says to you,
33:27I love what you do,
33:30I'm an up-and-coming
33:31actor, actress,
33:34what would you,
33:35what would you tell them?
33:36How would they navigate
33:37this,
33:38this new world
33:40of,
33:40of entertainment
33:42and acting?
33:43I guess,
33:45I think the first thing
33:47would be
33:48what I mentioned
33:49earlier in the
33:50conversation about
33:51having that time
33:53to reflect.
33:53I mean,
33:53I had time to reflect
33:54when I walked away
33:56and started a family,
33:57right?
33:57I had the time
33:58to reflect about
33:59what I do,
34:01why,
34:01and how I'm going
34:03to do it.
34:03And those are
34:04the fundamental questions
34:05that need to be asked
34:06by the person,
34:08by that young person.
34:10Why do you want
34:11to be an actor?
34:12Is there a right answer
34:13for that?
34:14There's never
34:14a right answer.
34:15but there should
34:16be at least
34:17an answer
34:17that we can say,
34:19okay,
34:21you're on the
34:21right path.
34:22Right.
34:22You know,
34:23because
34:24it can take you
34:26anywhere,
34:27this,
34:27this industry,
34:29you know,
34:30it can take you
34:31and it can pull you
34:31apart too.
34:32Right.
34:33So you really
34:34need to know
34:34and be grounded
34:35when it comes to
34:36wanting to know
34:37why,
34:38why am I doing it?
34:39Besides the passion,
34:40besides the talent
34:42that you may have,
34:43what is it?
34:45What is it
34:46that's going to
34:47make you
34:47the special actor
34:48that's now
34:49going to be talked about
34:50and now
34:51you're going to
34:52influence another
34:53generation of actors
34:54to do good work?
34:56Because that's exactly
34:57what you're doing.
34:58You're the inspiration
34:59for generations
35:01of actors.
35:02But it's just
35:02as soon as you know
35:04that,
35:05everything will
35:06fall into place.
35:07Wow.
35:08And people around you
35:08will see that
35:09because it's,
35:11you know,
35:11I spoke to my
35:13husband about this
35:14because I always say
35:15why do these young
35:16actors keep on
35:17doing the same
35:17thing over and
35:18over again?
35:20Right?
35:20And he said
35:21well maybe
35:21sometimes they
35:22don't have a
35:22choice.
35:24And my
35:24argument has
35:26always been
35:26you do have
35:27a choice.
35:28You always
35:28have a choice.
35:30Because
35:31if you want
35:34to do good
35:35work
35:35and you're
35:36in this
35:37stagnant
35:38body of
35:39work
35:39that doesn't
35:40become
35:42any
35:42different
35:43why would
35:45anybody else
35:45who's a
35:46good director
35:47or a good
35:47producer
35:48or a good
35:48writer
35:49want to
35:51take you
35:51on?
35:52Because they
35:52haven't seen
35:53anything else
35:53that you
35:53can do.
35:55So you
35:55have to
35:56come out
35:56from what
35:57you do
35:57to be
35:58exposed
35:58or have
35:59that exposure
36:00within
36:00mainstream TV
36:01or whatever
36:02and do a
36:03play.
36:05Challenge
36:05yourself.
36:06Challenge
36:06yourself.
36:06Go and do
36:07something.
36:08Because you
36:08know what?
36:08That's what
36:09we all
36:09do.
36:09We do
36:10things that
36:10are out
36:11of our
36:11norm.
36:14We have
36:15to feel
36:15uncomfortable
36:16to be able
36:17to do
36:17things that
36:18might pique
36:20somebody's
36:21interest in
36:22the way
36:22you tell
36:22a story,
36:24how you
36:24tell the
36:25character.
36:26So if
36:27you do
36:27not have
36:27the urge
36:28to do
36:28all those
36:29things,
36:30then why
36:31are you
36:31an actor?
36:32That's the
36:33question that
36:34I feel.
36:35I always ask
36:35myself as
36:36well.
36:36So as a
36:37younger person,
36:37that's what
36:38you should
36:38ask yourself.
36:39You're
36:39giving a
36:40lot of,
36:41I'm not
36:42a young
36:42person,
36:42but you're
36:43giving me
36:43a lot of
36:44thought,
36:44things to
36:45think about
36:45as well.
36:46It's not
36:47just being
36:47an actor,
36:48it's being
36:48a young
36:48person.
36:49It becomes
36:50being a
36:50person almost.
36:51All these
36:52things that
36:52you're asking
36:52can just
36:53be applied
36:54to a
36:54person who's
36:55just wanting
36:55to be a
36:56better person.
36:56Yes.
36:57Right?
36:57And that
36:58applies even
36:58more so to
36:59an actor
36:59because in
37:01a world
37:01where you
37:03can be
37:03seen a
37:04specific way
37:04simply of
37:05the profession
37:06that you're
37:06in,
37:06you need
37:07to really
37:08be sure
37:09the reasons
37:11that you're
37:11doing this
37:12because it
37:13is an
37:15industry that
37:16can swallow
37:16you whole
37:17if you
37:18spit you
37:19out.
37:19Right?
37:20Right.
37:21Wow.
37:21We've come
37:21now to the
37:22rapid fire
37:23questions part
37:24of this
37:25conversation.
37:28So whatever
37:29you answer at
37:29this point is
37:30what you're
37:31feeling right
37:31now.
37:32But of
37:32course you
37:33could change
37:33at another
37:33time.
37:34So this is
37:34just exactly
37:34at this point,
37:35this is how
37:35you feel
37:36about these
37:36questions.
37:37Okay.
37:37Okay.
37:38Ready?
37:38How many?
37:39Six.
37:40Oh,
37:40okay.
37:40Not too
37:41bad.
37:41Here we
37:41go.
37:41Okay.
37:42The first
37:42Malaysian
37:43film that
37:43made you
37:43fall in
37:44love with
37:44cinema?
37:45Oh,
37:46it would
37:47have to
37:48be
37:49Madhu
37:50Tiga.
37:51Oh,
37:52you know,
37:52please.
37:52Madhu Tiga.
37:53Yes.
37:53Wow.
37:54Okay.
37:55What's the
37:55hardest emotion
37:56to portray
37:57on camera?
38:00Funny.
38:01This is a
38:01question I
38:01had before
38:02from Amelia
38:03Henderson.
38:04Oh,
38:04okay.
38:05it's not
38:07about how
38:08to portray
38:08it.
38:09It's why
38:10you're portraying
38:11it.
38:11That's the
38:12hardest part.
38:14Oh,
38:14okay.
38:15You know,
38:16I think I'm
38:17going to explain it.
38:17Yes,
38:17explain it.
38:18Okay.
38:18So basically,
38:20you can have
38:20a description
38:22of,
38:23she laughs
38:24as she says,
38:25I don't care
38:26if you leave
38:26me.
38:27For instance,
38:28I don't care
38:29if you leave
38:30me,
38:30go.
38:31And she
38:31laughs.
38:32Why is she
38:33laughing?
38:35You see
38:36what I mean?
38:37So the
38:38director says,
38:38oh,
38:39the writer says
38:40she's laughing,
38:40so therefore you
38:41laugh.
38:41What if I don't
38:42laugh?
38:44It now takes
38:44a different,
38:46it now takes
38:48a different
38:48way of expressing
38:49the feeling
38:51of,
38:52you know?
38:54And why?
38:55So I
38:56question why,
38:56why do I
38:58have to,
38:59why does she
38:59laugh?
39:00You need to
39:01ask yourself.
39:01It's not the
39:01emotion,
39:02it's what's
39:03powering the
39:04emotion.
39:04Yes,
39:04what's sparking
39:05that laughter
39:06or what's
39:07sparking that
39:07tear or
39:08what's sparking
39:09the emotion.
39:12Because as I
39:12said,
39:12just because
39:13somebody cries
39:13doesn't mean
39:14they're sad.
39:15What generates it?
39:16It could,
39:17yeah,
39:17what's generating
39:19it?
39:19Because it's not,
39:20it could be
39:20something that's
39:21been pent up
39:21for so long
39:22that it comes
39:23out at that
39:23particular moment.
39:25So it's not
39:25about what's
39:27the hardest
39:27emotion to
39:29portray,
39:30but to
39:30understand why
39:32that person
39:33is portraying
39:34it is even
39:35more difficult.
39:37And when you
39:38get it right,
39:39it works.
39:40Right.
39:41And finding
39:42that it's so
39:42hard,
39:42it can be hard.
39:43It can be,
39:43it can be hard
39:45because you
39:46need to
39:46understand how
39:49the story is
39:49going to end,
39:50for instance,
39:51how it started.
39:51Right.
39:52And also,
39:54and how,
39:57and what's
39:58the reality?
40:00Because as
40:00actors,
40:01you can very
40:02easily,
40:03you know,
40:03be sidetracked
40:05by illusion
40:06as well.
40:06Okay.
40:07So what's
40:08your illusion
40:08and what's
40:09your reality?
40:10What,
40:10what is my,
40:12what am I
40:12as an actor?
40:13What,
40:13in my social
40:14settings,
40:15why am I
40:16saying this
40:16and why am I
40:17feeling this
40:18at this point?
40:19It's like
40:19world building.
40:20It is,
40:21you are
40:21building this
40:21world,
40:22right?
40:23But the
40:23setting has
40:23already been
40:24given to
40:24you.
40:24But now,
40:25as an actor,
40:26you're,
40:27you're,
40:27you're filling
40:28up the gaps
40:28in the
40:28narrative.
40:30So it's
40:30never about,
40:31I always say
40:32this,
40:32and to the
40:32younger kids
40:33as well,
40:33it's never
40:33about,
40:34oh,
40:34how am I
40:35going to
40:35cry?
40:35ask yourself
40:36why,
40:37why are
40:37you crying?
40:39Listen to
40:39Sophia Jane,
40:40okay?
40:40I listen to
40:41Fatima Abu Bakar,
40:42okay?
40:43No,
40:45but I mean,
40:46we all
40:46learned that,
40:47right?
40:47And that's
40:48why sometimes
40:48we get into
40:49really heated
40:50arguments with
40:50writers,
40:51because it's
40:51like,
40:52but it's
40:52not,
40:53and it's
40:53not because
40:53of it being
40:54bad or
40:55whatever,
40:55it's just
40:56trying to
40:56understand it
40:57and understanding
40:59the writer as
41:00well,
41:00why,
41:00why do you
41:01feel that
41:01person is
41:02doing this
41:02or saying
41:03this at
41:03this particular
41:04moment?
41:04But that's
41:06a great
41:06argument to
41:06have,
41:07because that's
41:08a passion
41:09argument,
41:09you're arguing
41:10or you want
41:12to have a
41:12strong conversation
41:13about the
41:14work,
41:15right?
41:15So that you
41:16can portray
41:16it and give
41:17it the respect
41:18that it
41:18deserves.
41:20What's one
41:20piece of
41:21direction you've
41:21never forgotten?
41:23Forget
41:24everything.
41:25Oh,
41:25okay.
41:26So,
41:27and this only
41:28happens with
41:29directors who
41:29I work very
41:30closely with and
41:31I have a very
41:32long process of
41:33rehearsals and
41:34time.
41:34spent with
41:36the script,
41:39writer,
41:40director,
41:41where sometimes
41:42you set the
41:45tone,
41:46you know,
41:46the writer sets
41:46the tone.
41:47Then you go
41:48in and you
41:48go,
41:49okay,
41:50right,
41:51I understand
41:52this and
41:53this is how
41:54it's going to
41:54look.
41:55Then the
41:55director comes
41:55in with,
41:56this is how
41:57my setting is
41:58going to be,
41:59this is the
42:00kind of camera
42:00I'm going to
42:01be using,
42:01this is the
42:01kind of camera
42:02work that I
42:03want for
42:04this particular
42:04storytelling.
42:06And then you
42:07get so
42:08absorbed with
42:11everything that
42:12has technicalities.
42:14And then when
42:14you come on
42:14set,
42:16things change
42:17because sometimes
42:18on set where
42:20the scene is
42:21supposed to be
42:21all shiny,
42:23sunny with
42:26bright sun
42:28coming down,
42:29streaming rays
42:30through the
42:31window,
42:31whatever,
42:32and then
42:32suddenly it
42:32rains.
42:33Oh no.
42:35Now the
42:36mood set
42:37changes,
42:38right?
42:39And then you're
42:40like,
42:40okay,
42:41we don't have
42:41time,
42:42we don't have
42:43money to wait
42:43for the rain
42:44to stop,
42:44for instance,
42:44if it's going
42:45to rain for
42:45the next two
42:45days,
42:46what are we
42:46going to
42:47do?
42:48Now we've
42:48got to work
42:49everything around
42:50this sunny,
42:52airy,
42:52setting into
42:54this noisy,
42:56thunderous,
42:57wet setting.
43:00Things change.
43:01So forget
43:02everything.
43:03You know
43:03your lines,
43:04you know what
43:04you're supposed
43:05to do,
43:05but now you're
43:07in that social
43:08setting,
43:08which you only
43:10imagined when
43:10you were reading,
43:11but now you've
43:12come to that set.
43:14Forget everything.
43:15Forget everything
43:16and feel it
43:17and listen.
43:19It's so
43:20interesting that
43:20the one piece
43:21of direction
43:22you've never
43:23forgotten
43:23is forget
43:24everything.
43:26Yeah,
43:26forget it.
43:27Forget it.
43:28Okay,
43:28and you've
43:29got to be
43:29quick,
43:29right?
43:30Okay,
43:30forget that
43:31it was going
43:31to,
43:31forget that
43:32you're going,
43:32you know,
43:33the description
43:34of,
43:34oh,
43:35the sun
43:35hurt her
43:35eyes,
43:36it's gone
43:36now because
43:37it's dark.
43:39For instance.
43:40You've got to
43:41roll with the
43:41punches,
43:42forget everything
43:43and remember
43:43the feelings.
43:43And that's
43:44why it's
43:44about being
43:44grounded.
43:47So illusion
43:47and reality.
43:50How do
43:50you,
43:52you know.
43:52You're giving
43:53too many
43:53things to
43:54think about,
43:54Sophia,
43:54too many
43:55things to
43:55think about.
43:56No lah.
43:56Okay,
43:57now what's
43:58a film or
43:58show you've
43:59recently watched
44:00that restored
44:00your faith
44:01in storytelling?
44:02In Malaysia?
44:03In Malaysia,
44:03yeah,
44:04sure.
44:06I've
44:06watched
44:07Baba.
44:09Oh,
44:09I haven't
44:09seen that.
44:10Oh,
44:10you must watch
44:10Baba.
44:11No,
44:11I haven't
44:11seen it yet.
44:12I loved Baba.
44:13It was such
44:13a sweet,
44:14sweet film.
44:15Right.
44:17I want to
44:17say Mencariit
44:18Ramli.
44:18Of course.
44:20I'm not being
44:20biased,
44:21but it was
44:21refreshing for
44:23me.
44:24And I think
44:25it was
44:25absolutely
44:26Malaysian.
44:27And I
44:27love the
44:28fact that
44:28everybody,
44:29you know,
44:30didn't have
44:30to be from
44:31one particular
44:32race to
44:33actually enjoy
44:33this film.
44:34That's what
44:35makes it so
44:36Malaysian.
44:36Right.
44:37Okay,
44:37final rapid
44:38fire question.
44:38What's a
44:39phrase or quote
44:40that you live
44:40by?
44:40Well,
44:42there's plenty,
44:43but I always
44:44take my late
44:45mother-in-law's
44:46and you can
44:56take it
44:56any way
44:57that you
44:57want,
44:57but my
44:59understanding
44:59of it is
45:00that words
45:01are dangerous.
45:03You know,
45:03words are
45:04very,
45:04very dangerous.
45:05So when
45:06you see
45:06something
45:06and you
45:09hear
45:10something,
45:11don't say
45:12anything just
45:13yet.
45:15Because you
45:15really have to
45:16listen hard,
45:17you really
45:17have to look
45:17very hard
45:18and then go
45:20and understand
45:22what that
45:22was about.
45:24Because people
45:24always have,
45:25it's very easy
45:26to say things.
45:27Sometimes you
45:28can't take it
45:28back.
45:29That's what it
45:29means.
45:30So words can
45:31be very
45:31dangerous.
45:32Only when
45:35you feel
45:35it's time
45:36to speak
45:36that you
45:38speak.
45:38But this
45:39is not the
45:40instance of
45:40if you hear
45:41screaming from
45:41your neighbor,
45:42keep quiet.
45:43No, it's
45:43not.
45:44But, you
45:45know.
45:46Listen to a
45:47person first,
45:48digest that
45:49information before
45:50you respond.
45:51Because once
45:51you've responded
45:52that first time,
45:53you can't take
45:54those words
45:55back, especially
45:56if you react
45:57in an emotional
45:57way.
45:58Be careful of
45:59how you react
46:00and what you
46:00say because
46:01words have
46:01power.
46:02Yes, it's
46:02very powerful
46:03and very
46:04dangerous.
46:05And that's
46:06why I live
46:06by my work
46:07as well.
46:09Again, it's
46:09one of those
46:10things that you
46:10can live by
46:10in your work
46:11and also in
46:11life.
46:11It just
46:12makes sense,
46:13right?
46:13It just
46:13makes sense.
46:14Yeah, it
46:14does.
46:15Wow.
46:16And now
46:17finally, this
46:17is the
46:17question we
46:18ask of all
46:18of our
46:19guests.
46:21Let's say
46:21if you had
46:22the opportunity
46:23to make one
46:23change as
46:25Prime Minister
46:26of Malaysia
46:27for a day,
46:28what would
46:29that change
46:30be and why?
46:31The ultimate
46:33role in your
46:34career.
46:35Prime Minister.
46:38Well,
46:39there's a lot
46:40there.
46:43The first thing
46:44you want to
46:44change?
46:45I would
46:45overhaul the
46:46education system.
46:49Give us an
46:51example of
46:52what needs
46:52change.
46:53I feel
46:55okay, as
46:57a Malaysian
46:58and if I
46:59was Prime
46:59Minister,
47:00the first
47:00thing I
47:00want to
47:00see is a
47:01cohesive
47:01society.
47:02Right.
47:03And education
47:04is so
47:04important.
47:04Of course
47:05it is.
47:05Of course
47:07it is.
47:07And the
47:08people who
47:08are managing
47:09education
47:10must also
47:12be a part
47:13of this
47:13cohesive
47:14society.
47:14society.
47:17And it's
47:18very interesting
47:18because I
47:19have nephews,
47:20nieces,
47:21and I keep
47:21asking,
47:21what subjects
47:23do you have
47:24now compared
47:24to my
47:25days?
47:26And what
47:28is mandatory
47:28and what's
47:29not?
47:29And I'm
47:31surprised that
47:31history is
47:32not mandatory,
47:33for instance.
47:34Oh, wow.
47:34Okay.
47:36But anyway,
47:37going back
47:37to having
47:40this cohesive
47:42society is
47:43having civics
47:44education at a
47:45very, very
47:46early age.
47:47From
47:48preschool.
47:50Preschool?
47:50Of course.
47:51From preschool.
47:53You know.
47:54People can
47:54say, oh, it
47:55starts from
47:55home.
47:55Yeah, it
47:56sure does.
47:57But it has
47:58to also,
48:00be in
48:00school.
48:01Because you
48:02are in a
48:02school where
48:03you're not
48:03alone.
48:04You're not
48:05with your
48:05own people.
48:06You're with,
48:07you know,
48:07this, our
48:08cultural
48:08diversity is
48:10absolutely
48:11amazing.
48:12And for
48:13you not to
48:14be a part
48:14of that would
48:15be detrimental
48:15to this
48:16country.
48:17Right.
48:17And to
48:18learn to
48:18be a part
48:19of that.
48:19And to
48:19learn to
48:19be, and
48:20to respect
48:21the tolerance,
48:22the intrigue
48:25of wanting
48:25to know
48:25about people
48:26who are
48:27not you.
48:28The
48:28respect,
48:29and
48:30understanding
48:30comes from
48:32preschool.
48:33And this
48:34curriculum cannot
48:34chop and
48:35change, depending
48:37on who's the
48:37next education
48:38minister.
48:39It has to
48:41elevate as
48:42years go
48:42by.
48:43It has to
48:43get better
48:44as years
48:44go by.
48:45And with
48:47that, I
48:48truly believe
48:49that when
48:50you have
48:51that wholesome
48:52and that
48:54wholesome
48:55society within
48:56the school
48:57itself, it
48:58can't help
48:59but pour
48:59over into
49:00society at
49:02any age
49:02group.
49:03So, and
49:04civics, mind
49:05you, has
49:05always, it's
49:07been a
49:07start, a
49:07stop, start,
49:08stop situation.
49:09It's
49:10right, it's
49:10right, it's
49:10right, it's
49:10not.
49:11Why?
49:13And then you
49:13include civics in
49:15different subjects
49:17like history and
49:18English.
49:19Why?
49:20It dilutes its
49:20importance.
49:21And how
49:22long do you
49:22actually have
49:23this civics
49:23education and
49:24how often do
49:25you have it
49:25in a week?
49:26Yeah, yeah.
49:28It, I
49:29had it for
49:30an hour, you
49:31know, twice a
49:31week or
49:32something in
49:32school, in
49:33primary, even.
49:34And you still
49:35remember it
49:35until.
49:35Yeah, yeah, I
49:36do.
49:36Yeah.
49:37You know, the
49:38Ali, Mutu,
49:40and Abeng,
49:41you know, but
49:43you always
49:43remember that
49:44because you
49:45remember that
49:45we are, you
49:46are not just
49:47one person or
49:47one people,
49:48you are, you
49:49are part of
49:50this huge,
49:50huge society
49:52that teaches
49:54us to be a
49:54whole person
49:55and not just
49:55a worker.
49:56And, and, and
49:57Malaysia can
49:57only get better
49:58with that.
49:58Yeah.
49:59Wow.
50:00Yeah.
50:00Thank you, Madam
50:01Prime Minister.
50:03Education
50:03Minister.
50:04Education
50:05Minister.
50:05I look forward
50:06to the day.
50:07You know, thank
50:08you so much again
50:09for joining us
50:09today.
50:10I feel like
50:10there's just
50:10not enough
50:11time.
50:11No, it
50:12never is.
50:12Yeah, we
50:13need to have
50:14an even longer
50:14conversation.
50:15I don't know
50:15how this is
50:16going to happen,
50:16but maybe
50:16sometime in the
50:17future.
50:17For me next
50:18year.
50:19We appreciate
50:19you so much
50:20for joining us.
50:20Thank you for
50:21having me,
50:21Terri.
50:22Sophia Jane,
50:23of course,
50:23that is Sophia
50:23Jane joining
50:24us.
50:24This, this
50:25entire conversation
50:26has been a
50:27real eye-opening
50:27one, not just
50:28about, about
50:29you, but about
50:30the world that
50:31we live in and,
50:31and, and the
50:33society at large.
50:34And we look
50:35forward to our
50:36next guest as
50:37well, who will
50:37be joining us
50:38here on Life
50:38Confessions on
50:40Shock.
50:40Thank you so
50:41much for joining
50:41us and thank
50:42you again.
50:42Thank you,
50:43Terri.
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