The Problem with Diversity in Malaysia’s Film Industry
- limms-wv17
- May 13, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: May 13, 2022
I know I should feel uncomfortable speaking about this kind of sensitive topics but someone eventually has to do it to help others escape the cycle of ignorance. The logic is simple, if we are serious about improving the local industry, we need to be more critical of our own works. It’s laughable when ministers pushed for Oscar-level films when they have no indication of any single plan on how to achieve it. They are only trying to give an impression that ‘they are doing something’.
I have not spent enough time studying the local film industry, and I may not even be qualified enough to speak on this, but I’m passionate about supporting local content and I do have a few opinions that might shape someone else's perspective. I would like to remind readers I have no intention on creating hate but a just a simple healthy discussion. I’m not even sure if I even have time to write this but I make the best out of what I have, so please bear with me if what you are about to read below is not properly written.
Here’s the thing, I’m always frustrated by how local filmmakers are only willing to work within their own ethnic bubbles, this leads to very stereotypical films that lack serious creativity. I believe that intermingling with other races makes you a more creative person, in other words it gives you ideas that you never thought of, another perception on life, and being more open minded. I'm merely reflecting on the works of the late Yasmin Ahmad, on how she told multicultural stories via her films, as she loved to surround herself with people from different races.
We have enough multiracial casts, It’s the scriptwriters we are talking about, I think it’s unrealistic to write a movie that celebrate the diversity of Malaysia, when the team behind it consist predominantly of one race, and even if there’s participation from another race, it’s only a handful or they are carefully selected by the majority. I believe this attitude came from the younger days, when filmmaking students are no exception to an education system that segregate people by race. I do not see the point of featuring a multiracial cast, when the production team is not a similar reflection.
It is interesting to point out that there is one small group of Malaysian Chinese actors that get repeatedly casted in films suited for the Malay audience. There are 2 persons that come to my mind, Sean Lee and Elizabeth Tan. Sean Lee is a TV host and quite famous among the Malay Community, in fact very close to them. He also speaks fluent BM.
Sean Lee was featured in a controversial video by Foodpanda in 2021 during the Deepavali celebration, and it featured a full non-Indian cast dancing in a glamorous manner to Indian music, it was labelled as a cultural appropriation and received public backlash. It’s funny when an Indian music video did not even have an Indian performer. It’s the video producer's fault for the direction of the content, as he/ she alter the race of the cast to suit the preferences of the non-Indians who formed the majority of this country. In simple words, they are doing this for more views.
How would you feel, if the exact same kind of video is done to Malay and Chinese traditional dance?
Video link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z55UCB4dsNE
Sean Lee, the only Chinese actor in a predominantly Malay cast of a miniseries produced by Foodpanda.
Elizabeth Tan is a famous local singer of Chinese descent, I’m sure many of my Chinese friends don’t even know who she is, she signs primarily in Malay language and has a large following on social media within the Malay community. She was notably casted in a local wrestling movie in 2022, ‘Gila Gusti’, which I sadly find the cast quite mono-ethnic. My question was, why can’t they cast someone with a fresh face? Are they going to show the general Malay audience, that Elizabeth Tan is the only face of the local Chinese community? This is dangerous, as I believe this is the time of Malaysia when we judge another race based on the media content we consume, as no one is even willing to interact physically with other races too.
The Cast of 'Gila Gusti'
Anyway, they are also good examples of how someone from a different race can also shine in an alien environment. Please do support their works, I’m just pointing out their name to highlight on the situation we are facing.
The problem I would like to point out here is that many Malay producers only cast Chinese actors that are more famous within the Malay community, in other words they are stuck within their comfort zones and only reach for the lowest hanging fruit, they are not willing to explore options that are adored by the Malaysian Chinese community. The same thing is committed by other races also, so please don’t get me wrong…Urgh I hate it when I have to bring the name of race into the narrative, please forgive me… This is why Malaysian Indians find it hard to break into the local scene, and they have to forked out their own money to support the local Tamil film industry. It’s surprising some of them did very well and received more recognition overseas.
I would like to challenge filmmakers to think outside racial boundaries, and willing to cast actors or actresses from another stream of media, from a totally different language. It is lethargic to see the same faces over and over again because it’s limited by the assumption of audience preferences. It’s time to get out of the comfort zone and put an end to prejudices.
It’s sad to see that the local film industry value popularity more than talents, it truly represents that major players in the film industry are not serious about the local scene’s direction. Nobody is willing to sit down and discuss about it and everyone is just busy trying to make a big buck. If this goes on, there is no hope for the local film industry.
I believe I have said enough to get my message across. In conclusion, multicultural films exists in Malaysia, but it must be done right. If we can unite the general audience under one big umbrella, Malaysian films will receive more support from the local population. We are now stuck with a country that consume media within their own language and ethnic bubbles. We have a long way to go, and we can’t expect immediate results, someone must be willing to take the first step, and it’s not easy to be different in a conservative society like Malaysia.
#for the people
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