Latest news with #Syafiq
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Time for more Malaysian films to be screened abroad
SYAFIQ Yusof has praised his father, Datuk Yusof Haslam, for his persistent efforts to screen their film, 'Blood Brothers: Bara Naga', in Southeast Asian countries. According to the 33-year-old filmmaker, it is high time for Malaysian films to reach broader regional audiences and move beyond traditional markets like Singapore and Brunei. "If we look at the film market in Malaysia, we operate an open market concept, allowing films from any country to enter, particularly those from Thailand and Indonesia," Syafiq told Harian Metro. "However, gaining entry for our films into other countries' markets can be different. What's important is that our local artistic work has been successful in Malaysia, and I am grateful for that. It is the success of this film that has given us the confidence to take 'Blood Brothers' abroad to several Southeast Asian countries," he added. Syafiq believes there is nothing wrong with attempting to introduce Malaysian films to foreign markets, regardless of the outcome. He said that the decision taken by Skop Productions, his father's company, is the correct one. The film, co-directed by Syafiq and Abhilash Chandra, premiered in Cambodian cinemas on May 27. It will then be released in Thailand in June, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia. "My hope is that this film will continue to be well-received by international audiences," he said. Beyond its Malaysian release, 'Blood Brothers' is also being screened in Singapore and Brunei.
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: 'Blood Brothers: Bara Naga' gets novelised
KUALA LUMPUR: Skop Productions, in collaboration with WhiteCoat Group, has transformed its cinematic blockbuster, Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, into a novel. Datuk Yusof Haslam, founder and head of the film production house, stated that this move wasn't new for him, recalling that his popular 1990s movie Sembilu was also novelised. "Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, directed by my son Syafiq and his friend Abhilash Chandra, makes history by transitioning from a film to a novel," said Yusof at the novel's launch at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, last Sunday. "Just like when Sembilu was screened, we turned it into a novel, and as far as I remember, about 30,000 copies of that novel were produced." Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, which premiered on April 10, has earned RM62 million in 20 days, making it one of the country's top-selling films. Yusof explained that novelising Blood Brothers was a good idea, as not everyone enjoys watching films. He extended his gratitude to authors Dr. Anwar Fazal and Amshida Ahmad Rani for "doing a great job." "Dr. Anwar is my nephew and he is also a songwriter for Syafiq's films," he added. Syafiq expressed his hope that the novel would be well-received by readers, adding, "Congratulations Dr. Anwar, I hope this novel will be a great success." Anwar and Amshida completed the novel in two weeks.
New Straits Times
17-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Syafiq's devastated mum finds solace at his grave every single week
JOHOR BARU: On the morning of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Aini Mohd Sharif's heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, she thought the phone would ring — but then realised it never would. A small part of her still believed her son, Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, would call to wish her well. "I was expecting a call from him, even though I knew he's no longer with us," the 58-year-old told the New Straits Times. "He was the kind of son who always called to check on me, and never failed to ask if I had eaten," she said of Syafiq, who was one of two policemen killed in the brutal attack on the Ulu Tiram police station last year. Since Syafiq's death, Aini has not missed a single week at his grave. "Every Friday, I go to be with him. I still talk to him at his final resting place at the Muslim cemetery in Kuantan, Pahang," she said. Syafiq was her seventh child of eight children, and the one she felt closest to. "He was serious by nature, but very affectionate with me. "Even after being posted to Johor, he never failed to call," she said. "On my birthday, he would always ask what I wanted to eat." Moving on has not been easy. Only recently did she bring herself to part with his belongings. "I gave away his clothes to family members and close relatives. It was difficult at first. "Every corner of the house still reminds me of him," she said, her voice breaking during a phone call. In accordance with Islamic tradition, Aini has ensured that all of Syafiq's religious obligations have been performed. But there is one more wish she hopes to fulfil. "If Allah wills it, I want to perform the haj for him. It's the least I can do for my boy," she said. Syafiq's father, Ahmad Said Md Piah, 66, a former soldier, said no parent should have to bury their child. On the day of his son's funeral, hundreds came to pay their respects — including Syafiq's police comrades. "Seeing his coffin, draped in the Jalur Gemilang, carried with full honours by his fellow officers made me proud. I knew his sacrifice was not in vain," he said. Syafiq had long dreamt of joining the police, even giving up plans to study at a private college to join the force. "Three of his older brothers serve the nation too — two are in the army and one in the police. It was in his blood," Ahmad said. Aini recalled advising Syafiq to delay his marriage plans due to the demands of his new job — a request her son never questioned. "We love our children, but Allah loves them more," she said. "I've accepted His will. But as a mother… I still think of him. I miss him dearly."
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Blood Brothers: Bara Naga celebrates action, teamwork
THE most-talked-about Malaysian movie this year, Blood Brothers: Bara Naga has been warmly welcomed by Malaysians of all races as a celebration of Bangsa Malaysia in cinema. It has Bangsa Malaysia written all over its multiracial cast - starring major Malay actors Sharnaaz Ahmad, Syafiq Kyle, Shukri Yahaya and Syazwan Zulkifly, Chinese actors Andy Teh and Chris Tong Bing Yu, Indian actors such as Irfan Zaini (Indian Muslim) and Amelia Henderson (Indian-Scottish), and Sabahan Tracie Sinidol who is of Kadazan-Dusun-Murut heritage. And on a closer look, the unsung heroes who worked hard behind the scenes to make it an astounding success are likewise. The New Straits Times recently caught up with some of them, namely director, writer and co-producer Abhilash Chandra, line producer Nana Azmi, cinematographer Nicholas Chin, colourist Ooi Yi Jing, and assistant stunt director Mohamad Fauzan Mohamad Dohir, as they shared some interesting and less-known stories about working with the star-studded cast over the last two years. Klang-born Abhilash, 37, is of course, director Syafiq Yusof's partner in crafting the film. A Masters graduate in film from New York University, Tisch School Of The Arts, he began as an on-set personal assistant in the assistant director's department for the US$100 million 2014 Netflix historical epic series Marco Polo, which was filmed in Pinewood Iskandar Studios, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, a little over a decade ago. "I learnt a lot about professional on set filmmaking there, and how sets were run at the highest level with incredible meticulous detail and it was exciting because I got to experience and work as a crew in the coordination of huge battle scenes. "But my real involvement in my own designed fight scenes started with Polis Evo 3 in 2023, where I was the writer and led the choreography design with the stunt boys who later formed Defenderz," said Abhilash whose favourite action movies are those made by John Woo, Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg and Gareth Evans. "While I love Evans' The Raid, my all-time favourite director is Spielberg because he infuses action with emotion to create meaningful exhilarating set pieces that leave a lasting impact on the viewer," said Abhilash who shares with Syafiq a similar passion for action-packed films. TOM CRUISE Abhilash said that Blood Brothers was an idea he presented to Syafiq and crafted the story through many discussions with him, as they built the central thematic story around powerful and profound messages of family, friendship and belonging. "The core of its story, is brotherhood and the emotional bond between men, something it shares with Tom Cruise's Top Gun and its sequel Top Gun 2: Maverick," he said. "And because Blood Brothers depicts its heroes as strong-yet-sensitive men, we were pleasantly surprised to discover a majority of Blood Brothers fans who flocked to watch it in cinemas nationwide were female fans." FANS Abhilash revealed that some of these hardcore fans have watched Blood Brothers 10 times, and their love of the movie rang loud and clear when the main cast comprising Sharnaaz Ahmad, Syafiq Kyle, Shukri Yahaya, Syazwan Zulkifly, Irfan Zaini and Andy Teh were mobbed at most cinemas during their 7-week roadshow across the country. "Most of these fans were not just from Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, but also from the Northern Region, East Coast and East Malaysia. "Female fans made their presence felt during these road tours while male fans made their presence felt online," said Abhilash. During the meet-and-greet sessions with fans, Andy who plays bad boy Pablo, impressed fans with his K-pop looks and husky voice, while Irfan who plays "playboy" Malik gained many fan girls with his natural Bollywood charms. SILAT Fauzan, the key designer of the action of Blood Brothers with stunt director Ubai said that the actors' martial arts training lasted five months just before filming began while the design of the choreography itself took 3 months before that. "Not all of the stars were already experienced in martial arts, in fact some of them were struggling," he said, adding that the working environment during training was intensive. "There were some challenges and some actors did struggle, but we dealt tactfully with them in order to keep their morale going. All of the stunts began with discussions, then a raw video was made for the fight scenes which we pre-visualised in detail. "Much later, the final product was created and brought to the set. It formed our physical template to test with the actors, and if an actor was not comfortable with it, we made the necessary alterations according to their strengths ." KNIVES Mohamad Fauzan revealed that Andy, a natural skilled martial artist amongst the Blood Brothers, never fought using knives but was able to adapt quickly in order to play the ruthless Pablo. "It took three months to design the stunts, and a total of six instructors to train the actors. "While we are trained in silat, we made sure that the actors did raw and rough fighting instead of the stylish silat." Nana said that the length of every day of filming was taxing, and likewise the number of takes per scene. "My team dealt with low morale by not 'pissing' the cast off. We got the diverse cast to bond well by friendly chatting and trying our best to accomodate their needs during those tough days on set especially at 3 to 4 am in the morning after doing heavy stunt scenes. "Knowing some of the main actors helped greatly with the production process. "Yes, a few of the actors had mood swings and found it difficult to adjust to the grueling shoot but they gradually did, and my team and I always made sure we supported them," she said, adding that the three-month filming process was done in mid-2024. SPORTS Nana praised Andy for guiding his co-stars in mastering martial arts. "He was a real gentleman, very helpful, and a great team-player. As for Irfan, he did not have experience doing fight scenes, but he worked very hard to master them and came out tops," she said. "Shukri was a bit scared at first, but all of us persuaded him that he could do it, and eventually he gave a stellar performance, probably one of the best in his career." Nana described the Blood Brothers actors as fast-learners, especially Syafiq Kyle who excelled in the fights because of his incredible stamina and his sportsman background. "We filmed 13 hours a day with an average of 10 to 15 takes for each scene. At first, the actor tries his own thing, and after the third or fourth take, we start guiding him," she said, adding that 80 per cent of filming was done at night. "Many of the actors knew each other prior to Blood Brothers, especially Sharnaaz and Syafiq Kyle who acted together in Polis Evo 3. Knowing each other helped them bond well on the set and perfect each scene," said Nana, who previously worked in Syafiq's anti-corruption blockbuster Sheriff: Narko Integriti which was screened last year. POLICE Abhilash said that the police helped the team in the form of advice and handling weapons. "Many of the main stars and some of the crew had good training in handling weapons and explosives previously for example through their work in Polis Evo 3 and Takluk. He added that all explosions were done in one take, and no computer-generated imagery or CGI enhancement was used. Abhilash also said that stuntman Razib Salimin who played senior Blood Brother Abang Sham was the "go-to guy" when it came to pyrotechnics and explosions, while Syazwan had the "fright of his life" when the frog that perched on his head in a scene was a giant bullfrog which tried to jump down on his face. TRACKS Nicholas, 34, has been a cinematographer for a decade, having worked on hundreds of commercials and Blood Brothers is his first feature film. "I've known Abhilash for at least a decade, so the trust and bond was there between us. Prior to Blood Brothers, I made a few short films with him including a PSA in 2023 called Haze Zilla, and it was an anti-pollution story where Ray Dap Dap played a giant who unleashed the haze on Kuala Lumpur. "That is how Ray and I both landed a place in Blood Brothers," he said. Nicholas said that his photography crew thought out of the box and did things differently from the start. "We used many moving shots on a Segway, without the use of tracks, which is new for Malaysian films," he said, adding that they also used the Sony Venice camera for the first time. The reason why Nicholas chose that camera was because it could be detached from its bulky body, making the shooting of action scenes fluid and dynamic while maintaining clarity at 6K resolution. Nicholas revealed that one interesting scene had to be done at a special time, based on the full moon. "The scene where Sharnaaz walks away from a car blowing up, was shot in Hulu Langat and the full moon allowed for greater visibility despite how pitch black the jungle area was. Filming it in such conditions made it a lot more dramatic," he said. DRONES Nicholas also personally handled the iconic drone shot for the ending of the film with Sharnaaz riding into the sunset. None of that was CGI, and it required precise timing and coordination to get the shot at the exact time when the sun was perfect. Jing, the master colourist of the film, said that he set the mood and tone of the film beforehand with Abhilash meticulously, and this gave Blood Brothers a Hollywood look. Their colour references were shows like Max series The Penguin and Korean action film Kill Bok Soon. The entire process took three months and Jing would meticulously craft the grade with Abhilash frame by frame. "As the person in charge of grading, it is my job to get the right tone for all of the scenes to reflect their moods. "We hand crafted more than 3,000 frames painstakingly over three months. I think with the time given the result is something a little more special than usual. In commercials we never get to be this gritty so it's fun doing this and challenging the creative look," Jing said. Nicholas added that he used different anamorphic lenses for the flashback scenes, involving the heroes' younger selves, to give the flashbacks their own identity. Jing would later add richness and texture to the colour to reflect the harshness of their early days. This is one example of how the cinematographer and colourist work together to form the final picture. MONTH Nicholas added that the third act final battle took a month to shoot. The longest of all scenes, it had to have its own aesthetic, so it did not look generic and repetitive. He used a particular colour palette with ember tones which Jing later enhanced in post. Abhilash said that the film was built on the backs of Malaysians for Malaysians, and he is deeply grateful that Skop Productions is championing the way forward for making films this way. Blood Brothers: Bara Naga is still blazing through cinemas, and is currently the second highest grossing local film of all time with RM76 million at the box office.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Syafiq Yusof's success motivates Pierre Andre to improve as filmmaker
KUALA LUMPUR: Director and actor Pierre Andre, 40, sees brothers and fellow directors Syamsul Yusof and Syafiq Yusof as inspirations. Despite a 10-year hiatus from directing, Pierre doesn't view their success with envy, but rather as motivation to refine and enhance his own filmmaking. "I don't see them as competitors because my real competition is myself. I'm always 'at war' with myself. "Their success inspires me to improve," he said in a recent interview with Harian Metro. Pierre expressed particular motivation from Syafiq's recent hit, Blood Brothers: Bara Naga. "I saw how Syafiq directed a film that grossed a remarkable RM76 million in just 33 days. "Even from the trailer, I knew it would easily hit RM30 million. It made me think, 'If he can do it, so can I.' "I just haven't found the right formula yet," he said. Pierre acknowledged that the significant changes in the local film industry have made him realise the need to stay current. "Of course, I don't want to be left behind. The difference between a RM100 million and a RM2 million gross is huge. These days, a RM2 million collection isn't something to boast about. "My previous films generally grossed under RM5 million. I need to 'catch up'," he said. He also emphasised his openness to feedback, particularly from audiences, to improve the quality of his future work. "I'm always open to views and criticism, as they help me produce better films," he said. Pierre is set to begin filming the horror movie Nar'Sata Sekutu Setan on May 20, starring Trisha Ooi, Mawar Rashid, and Fadlan Hazim.
