Latest news with #SyafieNaswip
Free Malaysia Today
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
With ‘Gayong', Beto takes on his toughest role yet
Even though actor Beto Kusyairy began learning silat at age seven, he says he wasn't entirely confident in portraying the late Meor Abdul Rahman in 'Gayong'. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Despite spending much of his school years in the silat arena, Beto Kusyairy didn't feel entirely confident portraying the silat gayong grandmaster in the new action epic, 'Gayong'. The 45-year-old actor admitted he felt uneasy when he was first offered the role of the late Meor Abdul Rahman (1915-1991), the legendary founder of the martial art. 'I felt a great deal of anxiety. Portraying him was a daunting task. Even though I'm a student of gayong myself, I wasn't certain I could do it justice,' he said. What eventually convinced Beto was the director's clear vision, along with the strength of the cast and script. 'After listening to Faisal Ishak's plans and learning who else was involved, I knew this wasn't just a film – it was a mission. So, I had no reason to turn it down,' he said at the recent premiere of 'Gayong', now screening in local cinemas. 'Gayong', which also stars Nabila Huda and Syafie Naswip, is based on the real-life journey of the founder of Pertubuhan Silat Seni Gayong. To preserve authenticity, foreign actors with real martial-arts backgrounds were brought in, including Indonesian martial artist and actor Yayan Ruhian. Beto, who began learning silat at age seven, went beyond memorising the script: he met with several of the late master's former students, including Meor's own son, Cikgu Sazali. 'I didn't attempt to fully imitate the character of Datuk Meor, as that would be impossible. Instead, I chose to interpret the role based on the script, with the main intention of conveying his spirit of struggle and character,' Beto said. 'Gayong' is directed by Faisal Ishak, whose credits also include 'Padu' and 'Juvana'. (Bernama pic) For director Faisal, crafting a story that blends a biographical figure with dramatic fiction rooted in historical facts wasn't easy. Beyond the production and technical aspects, he was intent on preserving authenticity and honouring Meor's legacy. As such, 'we took a 'historical epic' approach', he explained: 'The storyline is dramatised, but the timeline and key events – like him working at Gilman Barracks, and moving to Singapore and Pulau Sudong – are all real. 'The selection of foreign actors was also done carefully. The Thai antagonist, for example, is played by a genuine Muay Thai fighter; the character Yamada is portrayed by a Japanese actor.' The entire cast underwent rigorous training under Yayan and other experienced silat gayong instructors. 'It wasn't just about learning movements – it was about internalising the discipline and spirit behind every motion,' Faisal added. Meanwhile, executive producer Khairul Anuar Latip revealed that while filming for 'Gayong 2' has already been completed, the team is focusing all efforts on the success of the first movie. 'It is still in post-production. Right now, we're asking everyone to support 'Gayong' so we can continue this legacy with even greater impact,' he said.
New Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Syafie Naswip once threatened to report production to police for unpaid wages
KUALA LUMPUR: Popular actor Syafie Naswip once threatened to file a police report against a production company for failing to pay him several years ago. However, the company quickly paid him for his work on a television drama before he actually reported them to the police. "Actually, it's an old incident. Maybe I was still young at that time, but thank God I no longer face the problem of late payments," he said in a Harian Metro report yesterday. Syafie will soon appear in the supernatural film Mantera produced by Pro Merge Vision Sdn Bhd. He said that despite having won Best Actor at the Malaysian Film Festival a few times, he believed in working with different production companies, big and small. "This new film is set in Sabah and I want to help companies from East Malaysia become successful in Peninsular Malaysia, for the sake of Bangsa Malaysia," he said. "I love working with new companies, it doesn't matter if the film is big or small, I don't choose as long as I can learn something. "I also want to learn more about the diverse cultures of the peoples of East Malaysia. "East-West collaborations are great for nation-building and it would be great if more production companies from Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan thrive in Peninsular Malaysia." Mantera, which is directed by Chester Pang, will open in cinemas nationwide on Thursday. It focuses on the traditional practices of the Bobolian who serve as cultural guardians of the Kadazan-Dusun peoples of Sabah. Besides Syafie, Mantera also stars Namron, Jovenia Jim, Wedylin Batala and Larry Noh.
