Gadoh (2009): A Malaysian short-film by Namron

I think, sometimes, some people just need to be themselves and not 'overdo' things, especially when the others 'in-know' are around- it's not a mere game of impressing or giving the appearance that all's fine and dandy and that i'm a 'team-player', team-contributor etc : i am not impressed at all. In fact, it's a pity that for all that's being done and taught all these while ( I hope..), all that's managed to be picked up is merely a charade of industriousness.

On a separate note, the movie below: Gadoh 2009: is a stunning portrayal of what goes on in the Malaysian youth mind these days- to be fair, I can understand how those thoughts are formulated by certain parties, but one has to always bear in mind that it is also how the other party feels- you need to to tango, literally.

Synopsis
Gadoh tells a story of a group of teenagers who fought each other along racial lines; a cycle of hatred and violence further escalated by their environment and school system.

What was to be a quick resolution to improve the school’s bad image, was taken as an opportunity for one teacher who believed that real change was possible. She ropes in the help of an old friend and reluctant maverick theater activist for this arduous task.

Is there hope amidst the cycle of discrimination that surrounds us?

Watch Gadoh for their story, and what it may very well tell us about ourselves.

Movie Info:
Duration: 70 mins
Director: Brenda Danker, Namron
Producer: Anna Har
Production Company: Big Pictures Productions
Supported by Pusat KOMAS
Starring: Namron, Nicholas Liew Davis, Zahiril Adzim, Amerul Affendi and Maya Tan Abdullah
Language: Bahasa Malaysia with English/BM subtitles
Poster design by: Alexdrina Chong, Lucid Design Collaborative Studio

Yasmin’s ad bags top prize

Sunday November 1, 2009

PETALING JAYA: A TV commercial entitled Funeral, directed by the late Yasmin Ahmad, won one of the two highest awards at the 2009 Kancil Awards.

The three-minute film, commissioned by Singapore’s Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry to promote marriage, clinched the Golden Kancil prize in the film category at Malaysia’s premier advertising awards show on Friday night.

It shows a woman addressing the people at her husband’s funeral, saying that she hoped her three children would also find life partners who were as “beautifully imperfect” as her husband.

“Somehow, Leo Burnett Advertising (the agency in which Yasmin was executive creative director) got the right strategy using a funeral to promote marriage.

“It inspired a lot of people around the world,” said the ministry’s communications and international relations division director Richard Tan Kok Tong.

Leo Burnett/Arc Worldwide Malaysia chief executive officer Tan Kien Eng said viewership of the advertisement on YouTube was 2.5 million so far.

He said Yasmin crafted the script and directed the commercial.

“I would say that Yasmin’s style created a benchmark for the industry, even as far back as 15 years ago. It is about humanity, not about winning an award.

“It is about touching and engaging people,” he added.

Leo Burnett also grabbed the Agency of the Year award. Besides the Golden Kancil, it racked up a gold, two silvers and seven bronze at the ceremony organised by the Association of Accredited Adverti-sing Agents Malaysia.

The other Golden Kancil winner of the night was IF Interactive Sdn Bhd for its digital installation at the National Art Gallery entitled Seconds Away, done for the Kuala Lumpur Design Week 2009.