
Local actress Amanda Ang on starring in occult film Kulit Wayang
LONG before she took home best actress at the 2020 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Amanda Ang was already landing roles for the big screen and stage.
Since leaving her career in advertising, the Labuan native has forged a long and exciting path for herself in the acting world, appearing in numerous plays, movies and TV dramas.
Her role in the upcoming local horror film Kulit Wayang is Ang's latest highlight. Directed by Dain Said, the film tells the story of Ramlee, played by actor Fattah Amin, a dalang (puppet master) living in the dark swamps of a remote coastal Malaysian village in the 1980s.
His life took a plunge when his daughter Ayu was brutally murdered. While the rest of the village blames the wild crocodiles of the swamps, Ramlee believes otherwise.
Ang plays Mak Ta, a senior resident in the coastal village. Speaking with theSun, she elaborates on her role and experience making the film.
How would you describe the movie in three words?
The first word would be traditional. Second would be mystery and third would be mystique.
What was it like to return to the world of horror after Harun Malam in 2022?
I do not normally do horror films. I actually do not know why I get involved in horror films. It is not my genre of choice to watch.
But it is a challenge to face my fears in a way. For Kulit Wayang, I would say a big part of me being in this film is because of director Dain Said.
I enjoy watching his mind work. He is just so creative. He has such a beautiful mind. So much so that you want to keep discovering horror with him.
And I am happy to say my journey from Harun Malam to Kulit Wayang was a fruitful one. I have gained a lot more enjoyment doing this one with him. It was very enjoyable.
Why did you decide to take on this role and script?
When I read the character description of Mak Ta, it sounded as if she was a makcik bawang (nosy old lady). But when I read the script, I realised I could not be further away from that.
It made a lot of sense because it is Dain Said. He would not write a role like that. So, it was exciting to me because it was a character I had not done before.
She is a Chinese woman who lives in Kelantan. She, like many other Chinese people in Kelantan, has assimilated into the local culture.
I love and respect that. There is so much colour to the role. She is also someone who is older than me. To work on those muscles, to be more grounded was a lot of fun playing with.
How did you get into the shoes of Mak Ta?
When I am given a role such as this, it always starts with a voice. I let the voice carry where my character goes. It allowed me to get into her characteristics, someone who is basically in her world and is consumed by her grief and darkness.
The voice helped me carry through that a lot, which made it easier for the other physicalities to come in.
What was the scariest part about making the film?
When you are filming a supernatural film, it makes sense for most of the filming to take place at night. For us to be in quite a rural area, the mystical aspect will come through on set.
You are always wondering if something is going to happen at night. Whether someone is going to go missing from the set. Sometimes, you are also afraid to go to the washroom alone.
Your mind plays tricks on you. In my case, a lot of my scenes were shot at an old-school wooden house. So, there is a lot of creaking. It sets the mood in front of the camera and behind it.
Do you believe in the supernatural?
I am agnostic. So if the supernatural is true, it is true. If it is not, I am okay. But I am open to it being true but I am also open to it just being nothing.
Speaking of which, did you play with wayang kulit when you were younger?
No, I did not and I did not know how spiritual it actually was. That was a real eye-opener and it definitely added a layer, which made me more interested in it. If I ever had the chance, I probably would play with it. But I do not think I have the talent for it.
What is going to surprise people about the film?
I would use the word shocking instead. There are elements that will shock people. Even though it is something we do not experience, it is something we can definitely relate to.
How would you convince fans to watch the film?
If you are interested in finding out more about traditional arts and how Malaysians view the mystique, come and watch this film.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Rakyat Post
33 minutes ago
- Rakyat Post
Unexpected Elevator Guest – Dog Joins Abang Rider Mid-Delivery
Subscribe to our FREE Delivery riders are constantly exposed to the outside world, as their job requires them to travel from one place to another frequently. Their job exposes them to many different experiences, from challenging customer interactions to unpredictable encounters on the road. This time, a Malaysian food delivery rider found himself in a hilariously awkward situation – stuck in an elevator with a dog while on the job. The video shared by him on As soon as the doors opened, the dog confidently walked right in and took a seat, as if it had done this a hundred times before. 'Seriously? You're getting in too?' The man uttered while laughing nervously, accepting that he had no choice but to finish his job fast. The delivery man, who appeared to be afraid of dogs, hesitated for a moment before stepping into the elevator to join the dog. The gentle dog was well behaved. It even moved slightly to the side, seemingly making room for the rider to come in. 'What floor are you going to?' The delivery rider jokingly asked the dog while pressing his own floor. He received no reply but was startled with a sudden response. The dog seemed to regret his decision – it tried to leave but realised the doors had closed. Accepting its fate, the dog turned its attention to the rider and tried to sniff him out of curiousity. Clearly startled by that, the man flinched multiple times to avoid it and laughing to the silly situation he found himself in. Fortunately, the dog understood the sign and sat down quietly to continue waiting for the elevator doors to open. It kept throwing side-eyes at the man throughout the remaining ride, possibly just as nervous as he was. Once the elevator doors opened again, the dog wasted no time and bolted out like nothing happened. Whether it was its actual floor or not, no one could tell. But it's safe to say that both the dog and the delivery rider were relieved that the awkward elevator ride was finally over. The video quickly gained attention online, with netizens finding the unexpected encounter funny and cute at the same time. Some questioned playfully why the man still chose to enter the elevator despite clearly being afraid of dogs – some even joked by making up their own dialogues for the adorable dog. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.


The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Tencent Music to buy Chinese audio platform Ximalaya for $2.4b
CHINESE music platform Tencent Music Entertainment Group said on Tuesday it would buy long-form audio platform Ximalaya for about $2.4 billion in cash and stock, expanding its library of content to attract more paying users. U.S.-listed shares of Tencent rose 7% in premarket trading. The company will offer $1.26 billion in cash and Class A shares representing up to 5.20% of its total outstanding stock. It will also issue shares to Ximalaya's founder investors not exceeding 0.37% of its total share count. The stock component of the deal totals about $1.15 billion based on Tencent Music's last closing price on April 24, a day before Bloomberg News reported about the deal.


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Beijing woos US influencers with free trip to show ‘real China'
China seeks to enlist young social media influencers from the United States to collaborate with its local content creators. - Photo: AFP BEIJING: China is inviting American influencers to join a 10-day, all-expense paid trip through the country in July, as part of Beijing's efforts to boost people-to-people exchanges and showcase the 'real China'. The initiative, titled 'China-Global Youth Influencer Exchange Programme', seeks to enlist young social media influencers with at least 300,000 followers to collaborate with Chinese content creators, according to recruitment posts by Chinese state-affiliated media outlets, including the China Youth Daily. While relations between China and the US have deteriorated in recent months over issues including geopolitics, technology and trade, the programme marks an effort to boost cultural exchanges. In 2024, President Xi Jinping had called for more exchanges between Chinese and American universities, after previously announcing a plan to welcome 50,000 American students to China. Another post in College Daily, a publication particularly targeting Chinese students in North America, specified that applicants for the exchange programme based in the US should be active on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X, and should 'love Chinese culture' and 'have no history of bad behaviours'. It called on Chinese students overseas to encourage influencers in their circle to apply, and said the successful candidates will get China's official invite as well as special assistance from the state to process their visas. The trip intends to take the participants across five Chinese cities – Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Handan and Beijing, and will cover China's e-commerce hubs, the headquarter of companies such as Xiaohongshu Technology Co and BYD Co. The influencers will also partake in cultural activities such as Taichi and be able to live-stream their trip to the Great Wall, according to the posts. Working with Chinese social media influencers on ideas, and getting their content promoted by China's state media will be part of the deal. Social media content from Western influencers travelling through China post-Covid-19 have won praise from the state media for their authentic portrayal of everyday life in the country. In April, American streamer IShowSpeed's visit to China sparked widespread curiosity among fans about advancements in Chinese technology. The authorities have tapped social media influencers to check negative information and promote positive contents. In 2023, think-tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute analysed over 120 foreign influencers, mostly active on Chinese social media, received the state's help to grow their influence in return for content that praises and spreads Beijing's narrative. - Bloomberg