Malaysia is the country's name. It embodies not a particular race, but many to boot with. It really enrages me that the some individuals within the Ministry are already whispering of ideas to double-up ticket prices for Hollywood movies in order to sustain the local entertainment business. While most of audiences are blaming Malaysian cinema for not providing quality cinema, certain select audiences are asking Malaysians to 'watch first' instead of ignoring Malaysian cinema altogether. The film-makers in Malaysia are disgruntled that their efforts are not returning enough box-office returns such as the the recent CGI-driven film 'Antoo Fighter' (Whatever that name stands for). So, it is a complete mess where everyone wants to express their opinions but what we don't seem to be getting to is a conclusion.
If the Ministry goes ahead with its ridiculous plans, it will only cause more rebellious attitudes. The result? More downloads of DVD-quality movies in the Internet, and a complete ignorance of theatre visits. They (the audiences) might as well reduce the frequency of coming to theatres and still go for English movies rather than local ones. At least when you have hundreds of people thronging into theatres just to wash off their stresses to watch some kind of cinema, there is always a possibility that, even not pre-planned, they could sit and watch a Malaysian film by a possibility. Increasing prices will only affect cinema outlets and their business. Its amazing to note how the Malaysian administration never seems to be able to understand what the grassroots, layman civilians think and are accustomed to. They never manage to get to the core and curb the problem, so often they have been so successful in exarcebating things and earning some dumbed-down reputation for themselves. Are the people in the Ministry not Malaysians at all? .
Now coming to the individuals, ignoring Malaysian cinema and just watching Malaysian cinema are both not options. Ignoring will only increase a common sterotype and just sticking by Malaysian cinema no matter what will only frustrate people. A change is needed for Malaysian cinema, and every Malaysian needs to realize what the problems are and take responsibility. Hollywood are for English-language films on the core, Bollywood for Hindi-language films, Kollywood for Tamil, the Hong Kong film industry for Chinese-language films, Thai industry for Thai-language films and so on. We all know that.
The fact is Malays in Malaysia watch mostly local films and Hollywood films, Indians basically watch films from India, and Chinese watch films from Hong Kong. Diversity and complexity is what we have within our society. So do Singapore. Yes, they do have a progressing film industry. But you have to ask- what kind of a progress? Singapore, realizing their multinational potential as a hub, made decent movies but raked more by playing host for Hong Kong films' productions and is also emerging now as a foster home for Hollwyood. A conversation with an American layman who is in Singapore yielded out these thoughts, that in Singapore, 'so many people come in and out so often that I'm not sure whether they really feel Singaporean in themselves'. I mean, what is Singaporean anyway? Owning a upper-class corporate car, living in a condo, going to work to earn $20k dollars per month with incentives, having a foreign maid in the house, and planning holiday trips in foreign countries everytime holiday arrives?
But when the same man is asked about Malaysia, this was his response- 'the people there are more attached, they feel the belonging, they are Malaysian'. There you go. Not all of us may have the luxury of overseas trips for holidays, but what we do have is a sense of belonging, no matter how much we criticize each other for being a lazy race, or a greedy race or a race too proud of itself, (you know what are those), we just love going back in each other's way. Most of us have family reunions and stand up for a 'Malaysian' cause everytime an issue comes up. I don't think even Singaporeans would disagree much with me here. Singapore has become so diverse with a blurred indentity that you don't look across to find another Singaporean and try to help him. But we Malaysians, we know it. We know who we are when we see each other. The 'Malaysian-ness' just shines through. That's what I am saying- we have something called IDENTITY. Thats what our cinema industry needs. Just like India (known for their songs in films) or Hong Kong (for their martial arts) or Hollywood (for their fantasy and smooches, in short for their Kiss Kiss Bang Bangs) or Europe (for the realistic, diasporic, drama-driven cinema) or Thai (for their Ong Baks and horror flicks), lets find our indentity as well, because we do have one. Its just a matter of finding it. For that, we need to start making what I would call as 'Malaysian' movies. 
What is Malaysian movies? Movies that has Malay spoken throughout with cheap comedy? Or movies that has Indians aping their from-India format of film-making? What represents Malaysian cinema? Does Antoo Fighter represent the Malaysian identity? Does Cicak Man? Does Ethirkaalam? Does Senario? Does Gol and Gincu? Does Chemman Chaalai? Does I'm Not Single? Does KL Drift? Tell me, which one? Probably Sepet.
Some people said that our weakness is actually that we have so many diverse 'rojak' languages and not a consistent language like other industries' movies. Do Europe? From Spanish to German to Hungarian, their films are all theatre-driven with a common identifiable working system. That could very well be our calling card, our uniqueness to stand alone as a film industry- that 'rojak' ness. Malaysian cinema should not be separated to 'Malay' movies and 'Tamil' movies. Why dont we go broad and take the whole concept as one and whole? Throw some lahs inside, throw some lus, throw some machas, throw some mangkuks, throw some ayuns, but above all, have that sense not to make cheap comedy or over-the-top action, but start by making films that capture the essence of 'Malaysian' culture with realistic narratives structures. Yes, more film like Sepet please, even it may have not been a perfect effort, it went a long way in establishing the kind of cinema we should look at making. Why do we need CGI-driven films or ridiculous Indian action movies that only repeat over what India is already doing in a more cheaper, louder way? Why don't we start by making simple yet beautiful films? Why, can't we entertain and engage audiences without being wannabes through CGIs and constantly trying to ape what other industries have done? Don't we have interesting stories that e have to resort to far-from-reality storylines to entertain local audiences? Is this such a boring country, where nothing much happens that we stall creatively? Nah, just open your eyes.
I would like to end this with paying an ode to James Lee, the independent film-maker who boldly made a girl-girl kissing scene in his latest film 'Histeria'. Can any Malaysian girls vehemently deny that the girl-girl crush never happens in schools and colleges? Lets stop hiding and doing things behind the doors and come out and tell those stories. They are happening.
And thanks Censor Board for not chopping down the film because it has such a scene! Finally, they have come to their senses.
Don't wait for inspiration. It's already all around you. The problem is, you can't see it.
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