Continued support for Sabah film producer
Published on: Friday, March 22, 2024
By: Ricardo Unto
Phoong and Michelle with others after the meeting.
Kota Kinabalu: Local film producer-director Michelle Xin received another shot in the arm as Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe has pledged his support for her next project, The Rise of Lion II: The Return.
Xin said Phoong was proud of the project for receiving a grant from the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) recently.
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It was the only Sabah-produced project that received the aid for that batch.
“Five years ago, Phoong provided great support in many aspects, including financial for our first feature film, The Rise of Lion,” she said after meeting Phoong at his office.
“And now, he continues to provide strong support.”
Xin said Phoong has plans to help the local filmmaking scene so that filmmakers can concentrate on their creative productions and be less hampered by fund shortages.
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“Some quarters still misunderstood the grants provided by Finas – they thought the grants covered the whole production cost and there would be leftovers for the producers to benefit from.
“Finas only provides complementary funds that cover a portion of the total cost, and producers have to look for other sources of funds to finance their projects,” she said.
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Xin stressed that the journey of Sabah’s local filmmaking scene has always been difficult.
“But I feel lucky to have met some quarters who want to develop the scene along the way.
“Additionally, I would also like to thank Kapitan Li Su Fook for guiding me along my filmmaking journey.”
Meanwhile, she recently took to Facebook to express her displeasure with certain industry players who were unsatisfied that she received a Finas grant for the sequel to “The Rise of Lion”.
The “Rise of Lion” also received Finas grant previously.
In her post, these irresponsible quarters also went as far as inciting local Sabah filmmakers not to support Xin.
She was also upset as some accused her of getting the funds due to her gender.
“Some even said I got the funds because I slept with the selection panel. This is very insulting towards women and the panel members.
“The panel comprised more than five individuals from different places, including Sabah, the Ministry, and Finas.
“The pitching was very fair and transparent,” she said.
She said that while some of the filmmakers from Sabah and Sarawak are still new to the industry, “it does not mean our people do not deserve to be given the opportunity to continue trying to make films.”
“I can see that the local filmmakers are all trying to improve and always learn from past mistakes.
“I know I am not perfect, and my first feature film, ‘The Rise of Lion’, has much to improve.”
She said that while the new filmmakers might not be comparable to the more established productions, she felt proud of their spirits and that “we are all trying to move forward.”
Xin said she prefers to focus on the positives rather than letting nay-sayers cloud her sight.
“The Rise of Lion” was screened in cinemas in June 2022 and was part of Finas’ two-week Mandatory Screening Scheme.
The film was nominated in three categories – most promising director, best poster, and most promising actor – in the 32th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM). It also fared well in international film festivals.
Xin said Finas received 299 nationwide submissions from film production companies for the latest selection batch.
“After screening and evaluation, six companies, including us, obtained the complementary funds.
“Receiving this grant does not mean that we are excellent, but maybe the story for the sequel of ‘The Rise of Lion’ suited the criteria set by the selection panel.
“Film is never a one-man show. If you are interested in contributing, in any aspect, to The Rise of Lion II: The Return, contact me. We will see how we can cooperate,” she said.
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