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: directing, documentary, fatbidin.tv, internet, journalism, new media, video blog | Tags: PKR, Keadilan, malaysia, zan azlee, fat bidin, fat bidin tv, we the people, kuala lumpur, protest, demonstration, pudu jail, prison, demolition, roboh, tian chua, hishamuddin rais
And there they said FATBIDIN.TV is going to be shortlived! What the??? A new episode of WE THE PEOPLE…?? My god! That Zan is unstoppable!
WE THE PEOPLE… The demolition of Pudu Jail.
The government decides to demolish the 115 year old Pudu Jail, a historical landmark in Kuala Lumpur. (Oh… and is that Tian Chua dude still an MP?)
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, I'm Muslim Too!, The Malaysian Insider, directing, documentary, film, film festival, lecture, writing | Tags: zan azlee, documentary, The Malaysian Insider, I'm Muslim Too!, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, berkeley, jajang noer
(Left-Right) Zan Azlee, Dr Marshall Clark, Elyna Shukri, Jajang C. Noer and Dr Sarah Maxim, director of Centre of Southeast Asia Sudies
So I’m still in California for the Islam Today Arts & Culture Festival at UC Berkeley and I recently was part of a panel discussion which consisted of the late Yasmin Ahmad’s producer, Elyna Shukri, veteran Indonesian actress, Jajang C. Noer, and moderated by Dr Marshall Clark from Deakin University in Australia.
It was a great discussion of course! So great that I had to write about it in my latest column at The Malaysian Insider!
Malaysia and Indonesia — how we make films
By Zan Azlee
APRIL 23 — I’m still suffering from the cold winds of the San Francisco Bay area. Most recently, after the screening of my films and lecture at University of California, Berkeley, I was part of a panel discussion entitled ‘Making movies in Indonesia and Malaysia”.
Aside from me, the other panellists included the late Yasmin Ahmad’s producer, Elyna Shukri, and veteran Indonesian actress, Jajang C. Noer. It was moderated by Dr Marshall Clark from Deakin University in Australia.
First of all, I was a little intimidated being in the presence of such experienced industry professionals. Elyna had produced some of Malaysia’s most thought-provoking films in recent history, while Jajang has starred in more films than the years I have been alive! [Click to read the rest of the article]
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!, The Malaysian Insider, directing, documentary, film, film festival, lecture | Tags: zan azlee, documentary, The Malaysian Insider, I'm Muslim Too!, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, berkeley
Rainbow greetings from San Francisco! I’m attending the Islam Today Arts & Culture Festival at UC Berkeley. My films have screened and I also gave a lecture there. Everything’s good and thank god for good lobster!
Outside the screening venue in Berkeley. Notice the huge crowd gathering around me trying to catch my films!
I gave a lecture to a group of students at the University of California, Berkeley. It was fun and we had a laugh!
These are the professors... Prof. Jeffrey Hadler and Dr. Sarah Maxim.
Lobster babyyyy!!
And.. here’s this week’s column for The Malaysian Insider.
How much did that film cost?
By Zan Azlee
APRIL 16 — Here I am at the San Francisco Bay Area, with the freezing cold wind blowing in my face, giving me extremely chapped lips.
I came here to attend the Islam Today Arts & Culture Festival, organised by University of California, Berkeley’s Centre of Southeast Asia Studies.
They were screening two films of mine, and had invited me to give a lecture and be part of a panel discussion. [Click to read the rest of the article]
Now I’m off to The Castro!
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: The Malaysian Insider, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, new media, writing | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, film, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Fellow peeps! Forgive me if the updates have been irregular. I’ve been so busy with the start of the new semester at the university and also with the tons of work I have making videos and whatnot! Apologies to those who have missed me so much! Hahaha!
Here is my latest column at The Malaysian Insider:
How to market your work online
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 12 — I have two blogs. I have two Facebook pages and one Facebook group. I have a Twitter page. I have a YouTube channel. I have a Flickr account. As you can see, I love the Internet. What do I use if for? The main purpose? It’s to promote the work that I do, and to promote myself. Basically, marketing.
As you probably know, I make films, news videos, write and speak. I don’t work for any particular media company. I’m basically self-employed, running my own little company called Fat Bidin Media. I need to constantly look for clients, and one of the main ways for me to do that is to use the Internet. [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, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, writing | Tags: documentary, film, gonzo, islam, malay, malaysia, muslim, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, zan azlee
Gonzo Journalism!! Woohoo!!
Going Gonzo for ideas
By Zan Azlee
FEB 26 — Being in a field where you always have to come up with new ideas everyday is not something easy. I try to come up with one feature-length documentary film idea every year and that becomes the big project for the next twelve months. But in between, I have all kinds of video, television and writing projects that I have to work on throughout the year too (including this weekly column!).
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, writing | Tags: documentary, film, islam, malay, malaysia, muslim, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, zan azlee
Another week… another column at The Malaysian Insider.
I’m a Muslim filmmaker and I make Islamic films
By Zan Azlee
FEB 19 — I’m a Muslim and I make films. I guess that constitute me as a Muslim filmmaker. It doesn’t even matter if my films are about Islam or not. Well, my films are mainly about myself anyway (and from all the complaints I get from readers, so is this column, apparently!) and indirectly, my films become about Islam too.
[Click to read the rest of the article]
