Filed under: Kampung Baru Alaf Baru (AKA: New Age New Village), The Malaysian Insider, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, journalism, writing | Tags: malaysia, zan azlee, fat bidin, documentary, 1malaysia, film, ntv7, malay, video journalism, journalism, kuala lumpur, kampung baru
In spite of all the work that I’ve been swamped with this whole year… I managed to make another feature film! Damn I’m good! It’s called KAMPUNG BARU ALAF BARU (English Title: NEW AGE NEW VILLAGE)! It’s DA BOM!! Watch it on ntv7 this National Day (31st August 2010, 10:30am)!
Kampung Baru Alaf Baru
By Zan Azlee
AUG 27 — Kampung Baru has always interested me. For the unacquainted, it’s a Malay village situated in the heart of the city of Kuala Lumpur. So there are traditional wooden Malay houses with chickens running around, and in the background are concrete and steel skyscrapers. I like the juxtaposition of urban modern and rural traditional that Kampung Baru has. And so what do I decide to do? Yes, folks, I decide to grab my video camera, drive down to Kampung Baru and shoot myself a documentary film solo-journalism style! [Click to read the rest of the article]
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: malaysia, zan azlee, fat bidin, documentary, liew seng tat, fat bidin tv, we the people, kuala lumpur, mark teh, june tan, kl pac, dahuang, five arts, angkat rumah
Bloody Seng Tat does it again! How do I make fun of something that’s actually quite cool?? Hahahaha!! Check out the latest episode of WE THE PEOPLE… on FATBIDIN.TV to see what I’m talking about.
WE THE PEOPLE… Angkat rumah!!! (Part 1 of 3)
Planning to move house? Get Liew Seng Tat & Geng to do it for you! Kompang, funeral marching band and lion dance are complimentary!
WE THE PEOPLE is a video show where we hear from the common man (and woman!). Click here to see all the episodes.
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: bmx, fat bidin tv, fatbidin.tv, flatland, kotaro tanaka, malaysia
As you all know, FAT BIDIN MEDIA runs a cool web TV site called FATBIDIN.TV! Well… FATBIDIN.TV has just launched a new show called BMX MALAYSIA! It’s a show that highlights the BMX freestyle scene in the country. So… go watch it… then go ride!
BMX MALAYSIA
Episode 1 – Malaysian National BMX Championship 2010, Mont Kiara Sk8park, Kuala Lumpur
Veteran flatland pro Kotaro Tanaka comes down from Japan to judge the competition which saw riders from Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and the Philippines battle on head to head.
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: Keadilan, malaysia, zan azlee, islam, muslim, fat bidin tv, malay, pas, we the people, zionist, nurrul izzah, palestine, flotilla, kuala lumpur, jew, jewish, protest, demonstration
Okay… I’ve got a new episode of WE THE PEOPLE… on FATBIDIN.TV. And if you’re thinking that FATBIDIN.TV is dead… SHUDDUP!!! It’s back! That’s right! I said it! I meant it! And I’m here to represent it!
WE THE PEOPLE… Protesting against the Israeli attack on the Gaza aid flotilla
Filed under: I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, film, new media | Tags: deleted file, file recovery
I curse the computer! I curse the hard disk! I lost the the entire Final Cut Pro project file of my film, ‘THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY‘! I curse Final Cut Pro! I curse my film! I have no other copies! I curse the copies! Who has a copy of my film? Give one back to me please! A file recovery software is now scanning my hard disk! I curse file recovery softwares! Oh no wait… let’s see if it can do the job first! If not, then I’ll curse it! If you’ve been following FATBIDIN.TV and are still waiting for the next episode… sorry! I curse FATBIDIN.TV! Does this mean I will have to re-edit my entire film? I curse re-editing! I curse the curses that I’m using to curse with!
Filed under: I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, lecture | Tags: zan azlee, fat bidin, documentary, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, web video, solo journalism, video journalism, forum, world, islamic, economic
Come one! Come all! I have been invited to speak at the 6th World Islamic Economic Forum 2010 under the Marketplace of Creative Arts! I’ll be talking and screening clips from my films ‘I’M MUSLIM TOO!‘ and ‘THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY‘. Come and you might even get the chance to touch me!
Date & Time: 18th May (12:30pm), 19th May 2010 (2pm)
Venue: Conference Hall 2, Level 3, KL Convention Centre
(Click on the images below for more details)
Marketplace Schedule
Marketplace Speakers
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, journalism, press | Tags: astro, documentary, kathigasu, sybil, the star, zan azlee
The Star, 2nd May 2010, page 1
The Star, 2nd May 2010, page 2
The Star, 2nd May 2010, page 3
Wooo!! Look at my sexy face in the newspaper!! Wooo!! I get goosebumps just looking at how beautiful I am! Muahaha!! Click on the images to read (or click here).
The article is about the documentary I produced/directed with my posse (Hilmi and Fatul) called SUATU KETIKA… SIAPA SYBIL? If you missed the first airing yesterday, no worries! ASTRO will be repeating it on ASTRO PRIMA (105) on these dates:
Monday (3rd May 2010) – 1pm
Friday (7th May 2010) – 6pm
Saturday (8th May 2010) – 8pm
Don’t forget to catch the drama version too!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, broadcast, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, writing | Tags: malaysia, zan azlee, documentary, The Malaysian Insider, media, astro, sybil, kathigasu
Below is an excerpt of my latest column in The Malaysian Insider. Go read lah! Please??
A little boy loses his innocence
By Zan Azlee
APRIL 30 — Once upon a time, a little boy wanted to be a documentary film-maker. He wanted to tell stories which he wanted to see and hear.
To tell stories he felt were not being told, or not being told the way he wanted to see and hear them. So he learned the trade and tried to gain as much experience as possible.
The naïve little boy promised himself that he would always stay true to his principles. If he felt that a story interested him and it might somehow benefit people to watch it, he would tell it.
He also promised himself that nothing would come between him and the stories he wanted to tell. [Click to read the rest of the article]
Who is Sybil?
On another note, a documentary I directed/produced under Firdaus Maju Productions for ASTRO will be out on TV (ASTRO PRIMA) this Sunday (2nd May 2010) at 6pm. It’s called SUATU KETIKA… SIAPA SYBIL?. Do you know who Sybil is? I had good help from my posse (Hilmi and Fatul! Props yo!) Go watch lah! Please??
Filed under: I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, film, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: malaysia, zan azlee, documentary, islam, pattani, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, thailand, terrorism, muslim, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, web video, fat bidin tv, fatbidin.tv, Fat Bidin Presents..., insurgency, malay, media, video journalism
I know I’ve neglected FATBIDIN.TV for some time. I’ve received so many messages from all of you asking me for new episodes (kinda touching that there are followers!). You gotta understand… a guy has got to eat! But fret no more! A new episode is up!
FAT BIDIN PRESENTS…
THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY
Part 13 of 15
Did you know that in some places, the Malaysian media is the more trusted one?
Filed under: I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, film festival, journalism, lecture | Tags: malaysia, zan azlee, fat bidin, documentary, islam, I'm Muslim Too!, pattani, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, insurgency, video journalism, san francisco, berkeley, university of california
Looks like FAT BIDIN is gonna rock the San Francisco Bay area!
Two of my films (I’m Muslim Too! and The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency) will be screening at the University of California, Berkeley’s Islam Today Arts & Culture Festival. So I’ll be heading to San Francisco this Friday and will be there for a couple of weeks. I’m pretty excited since I’m also scheduled to give some talks over there.
So if you’re in the vicinity next week (12th to 22nd April 2010) and would like to get a good look at my beautiful face, come on over! Check out the website and schedule here.
Oh… other Malaysian films that will be screening there aside from mine include Yasmin Ahmad’s (Gubra and Muallaf) as well as Amir Muhammad’s (Village People Radio Show and Malaysian Gods).
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, film, film festival, internet, journalism, lecture, metropolis, new media, video blog | Tags: documentary, dutch, holland, islam, malaysia, metropolis, muslim, netherlands, polgamy, vpro, zan azlee
Yo yo! What can I say? I’m going to sound like a broken record but… I’ve been so BUSY!! Been lecturing at the university (one of the heaviest semesters I’ve ever had!)… and trying to complete a historical documentary for ASTRO… before going to San Francisco for the University of California, Berkeley’s Islam Today Film Festival at the end of this week! Damn!!!!
But still I managed to complete a report for Dutch TV station VPRO’s Metropolis TV. It’s about polygamy in Malaysia… I shot a polygamous Muslim family… four wives and 17 kids! It went on air in Holland last Saturday… but you can watch it online by clicking here.
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, writing | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, film, solo journalism, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Work is tough! Especially when you have so much of it! I’ve been busy directing a historical documentary. Should be out on TV soon. Will let you all know once the time comes!
In the meantime… check out my latest column at The Malaysian Insider!
Solo journalism vs one-man band
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 19 — I’m an advocate of solo journalism, as you will know if you’ve been following my writings here on The Malaysian Insider. That’s how I shoot a lot of my work. Basically, I am the producer, director, videographer, editor and even host/presenter. I used to describe my method simply as being a one-man band or crew. But then I read a commentary by veteran broadcaster Michael Rosenblum.
Michael Rosenblum is another person who is a strong advocate of solo journalism and I share many of his views on why solo journalism is the way to go. But recently, he wrote something on his website that got me thinking. He differentiated solo journalism and one man bands when it comes to news production. It caught my interest and got me thinking.
In fact, this column is also inspired by a conversation I had with one of the head editors at The Malaysian Insider recently regarding solo journalism. I was for it, and he was against it! His argument was that a solo journalist wouldn’t be efficient enough as compared to a small crew. [Click to read the rest of the article]
Filed under: I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, film, journalism, video blog | Tags: allah, christian, documentary, Fat Bidin Presents..., fat bidin tv, fatbidin.tv, father lawrence, film, heading to the border, herald, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, insurgency, islam, malay, malaysia, muslim, pattani, prince songkhla university, solo journalism, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, video journalism, web video, zan azlee
The Chinese New Year celebrations are over! I lost money at the gambling table! Dammit! But there’s still good news! New episode on FATBIDIN.TV!
FAT BIDIN PRESENTS…
THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY
Part 12 of 15
I lecture at the Prince Songkhla University in Pattani, Thailand, about Malaysian press freedom. Then I get lectured to about the Thai Malay exodus. Heavy stuff man!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, broadcast, directing, journalism, writing | Tags: the biggest loser asia, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, zan azlee
I’m wrapped on The Biggest Loser Asia! Phew! Now for some real food after eating crap for 2 months!
I’ve written a new article for my column at The Malaysian Insider. Below is an excerpt.
My camera is bigger than yours!
JAN 4 — He picks up the Sony Z1 video camera and it fits nicely in one hand. He pretends to put in on his shoulders as if it’s a big shoulder mount camera, then laughs.
“This thing is a toy mate!” he says to me chuckling.
He is an experienced Australian director of photography I’ve recently had the opportunity to work with and a very cool guy indeed. Used to having big cameras on big budget shoots, he had to get the small handheld Z1 because it was a fast shoot in another country which we had to fly in and out of within 24 hours, and with a very small crew.
“This is the kind of camera that I normally use for my own productions,” I said, my feelings already hurt.
He chuckles again and starts exploring the camera dials and buttons.
“I’m sure it produces pretty good images,” he smiles (I took it as a smirk!).
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, broadcast, directing, film, internet, journalism, new media, writing | Tags: the biggest loser asia, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, zan azlee
Okay… since working on The Biggest Loser Asia… I’ve decided to explore tapeless video recording for my future projects. Hence, the topic for my latest article in The Malaysian Insider.
Shooting videos in tapeless format
DEC 22 — When making documentaries and various videos, I like to believe that I’m always keeping abreast with the latest technology. I started in a time when digital video (DV) was hot on everyone’s lips. It was amazing how cheap camcorders can record amazing quality on RM10 one-hour tapes. It totally democratised media and also the way people made videos. [Click to read the rest of the article]
By the way… The Biggest Loser Asia wraps today!! Damn… it’s like waking up to the same day for the last 2 months in A’Farmosa! Talk about Groundhogs Day! Can’t wait to fly out to Saigon for some Vietnamese beef noodles this weekend with the wifey!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, broadcast, documentary, fatbidin.tv, film, internet, journalism, new media | Tags: solo journalism, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, zan azlee
Below is an excerpt of my latest column in The Malaysian Insider. I’ve been practicing and advocating it for years! So listen to me people!
Let’s all go solo-journalism!
DEC 1 — I first heard or read about solo-journalism about four years ago. It was the buzz word at that time, especially in the television news industry in the United Kingdom.
Some of the first few practitioners included Sean Langan, Sean McAllister, David Dunkley Gyimah and Kevin Sites. Their work would air on the BBC, Channel Four and even at film festivals. Some were even nominated for BAFTAs and Emmies.
I was so enthralled I gave it a try. Now almost all of my documentaries and news are in the solo-journalism style. [Click to read the full article]
Filed under: broadcast, directing | Tags: fat bidin, the biggest loser asia, zan azlee
All you Fat Bidin peeps in the house!
I’ve been busy the past month (and will be busy till Christmas 2009) on a particular TV show… THE BIGGEST LOSER ASIA. Yup… I’m one of the (many) producers on the team. I can’t say much about it right now, but I can say this… it’s DA BOOOOMMBB!
First episode will air at 8:30pm on Tuesday (24th November 2009) on the Hallmark Channel (702 on ASTRO). Then just keep on watching every week!
Filed under: I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, P1 W1MAX, broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, film, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: censorship, documentary, Fat Bidin Presents..., fat bidin tv, fatbidin.tv, feminism, film, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, insurgency, islam, malay, malaysia, media, michael lai, muslim, pattani, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, web video, zan azlee
It’s FATBIDIN.TV update time! If you ain’t sick of it yet… that means I haven’t spammed you enough! Hahaha!
FAT BIDIN PRESENTS…
THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY
Part 4 of 15
Zan attends a marriage course in Pattani. Apparently, 31 is too late if you want to get married! And the film is still banned in Malaysia.
WE THE PEOPLE… Chatting with academicians about media censorship
Censorship… we never get tired talking about it.
THE P1 NET SHOW
Episode 4 – QTM… and Michael Lai singing!
QTM is when the P1 team gets together and finds out what is going on with everything. It’s also an excuse for a little rock star fantasy!
Filed under: P1 W1MAX, broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, film, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: documentary, Fat Bidin Presents..., fat bidin tv, fatbidin.tv, feminism, film, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, insurgency, islam, malay, malaysia, muslim, pattani, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, web video, zan azlee
Dayyummm people!! More brand new episodes on FATBIDIN.TV!!!
FAT BIDIN PRESENTS…
THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY
More episodes of the banned-in-Malaysia film! The third sees me going to the Pattani morning market and being bullied by a bunch of women. Go watch it here.
WE THE PEOPLE…
Chatting with the Cyber Chicken Proprietor
Have you heard of ‘Cyber Chicken’? No, it’s not a spin-off of Seth Green’s ‘Robot Chicken’! Curious? Watch it here.
THE P1 NET SHOW
Datacom
The third episode tests the vocal capabilities of P1’s CEO , Michael Lai. That dude is like a Malaysian Robbie Williams! Watch it here.
Join the FATBIDIN.TV Facebook fan page by clicking here.
Filed under: I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, P1 W1MAX, broadcast, directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, film, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, fat bidin tv, fatbidin.tv, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, malaysia, muslim, pattani, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, web video, zan azlee
How are my peeps doing? Fatbidin.tv has had a great start and is continuing in it’s second week! The three fledgling shows all have new episodes that are freaking ball-tearers!
1. FAT BIDIN PRESENTS…
THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY
What can I say? It’s my banned-in-Malaysia film getting a life online! The second episode sees me finding out the truth in the rumour that the Islamic militants are getting their funding from Tom Yam restaurants in Malaysia. Go watch it here.
2. WE THE PEOPLE…
Chatting with Indonesians in Malaysia (about that whole culture-stealing debacle!)
The show that gives a voice to the people sees some Indonesians living in Malaysia commenting on the recent spat between the two countries about stealing each other’s heritage and culture. Watch and start pointing fingers here.
3. THE P1 NET SHOW
The Social Media Club
The second episode gets a bit nerdy. A bunch of guys (and gals) who socialize online get together for real… at the Social Media Club! Watch it here.
Come on guys! Fatbidin.tv is the place to be!
