Filed under: The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, journalism, new media, television, video blog | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, film, heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, islam, malaysia, muslim, ntv7, pattani, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, zan azlee
It’s a matriarchal society in Pattani. The women do everything and the men just get whipped! Damn editing of the film has got my ass whooped!
Filed under: The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, new media, television, video blog | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, film, heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, islam, malaysia, muslim, ntv7, pattani, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, zan azlee
The editing of ‘THE LIFE & TIMES…’ is almost done! Can you believe it? I can’t! This is the fastest edit I’ve done so far for a feature length film! Woohoo! I’ve got some bits & pieces to shoot (mainly of myself looking handsome and cool!)… but aside from that, everything is done.
The video above is still of me and Daniya. He tells me about the risk we have of getting shot or bombed. It’s really exotic and exciting for me to see tanks and soldiers all around town. Good thing I didn’t get shot at!
Filed under: The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, new media, television, video blog | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, film, heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, islam, malaysia, muslim, ntv7, pattani, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, zan azlee
Before you start reading this entry… click and get the video above downloading first! Done so? That red line moving? Okay! Now start reading!
It’s been a while. Work and other crap has been intense! My film ‘THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY‘ has been taking a back seat for a while… but not anymore! I’ve started editing and its coming along sweet! Also got a deal with a local broadcaster. Where else but your feel good channel… ntv7! It’s going to have a new special TV title… ‘I’M MUSLIM TOO! HEADING TO THE BORDER’. They want to brand it based on my previous film ‘I’M MUSLIM TOO!’. Keep your fingers crossed… you all might get an annual dosage of FAT BIDIN (A.K.A. = ME!) in the years to come! Muahahahaha!
So… any sponsors or advertisers? National airtime is confirmed you know! Come on… you know you want to! Heheh! My line is always open! Contact me!
Okay… cut the crap! Check out the first video blog from the film and let me know what you think!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, video blog, writing | Tags: anwar, facebook, khairy, satay, The Malaysian Insider, unity government
Unity? How about some satay? Check out the video I did this week for The Malaysian Insider. His satay really is good!
Also featured is my latest column entitled ‘Facebook is a crime’. Who’s that poking you? Is it Khairy or Anwar? Go read now! Here’s an excerpt:
JUNE 21 – I’m a very New Media guy. I have a website, a blog and a YouTube and even Twitter page. I have one of the latest PDA phones and two iPods. I produce and direct digital films. And I have been an IT journalist for the past nine years. But somehow or rather, I had never subscribed to an online networking site. Until, of course, Facebook came along. [Click for more]
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, video blog | Tags: general elections, maimun yusof, malaysia, terengganu, The Malaysian Insider
I had to give more of the spotlight to my ‘favourite’ political candidate ever… Tok Maimun Yusof! This time, the video is for The Malaysian Insider. Check it out and make sure to voice your comments!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, video blog | Tags: 1malaysia, malaysia, muhyiddin, saravanan, shabery, The Malaysian Insider
Ever wonder what 1Malaysia is really all about? Well, wonder no more! I took to the town to find out. The video story above (which I did for The Malaysian Insider) reveals my findings!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, video blog, writing | Tags: babi, cat, dog, islam, pig, samak, The Malaysian Insider, ustaz
Here’s a short documentary I did about ’samak’ some time ago. And to my delight, because of this, I was immediately promoted to the rank of ‘Ustaz‘!
Here’s an excerpt of my latest column/reaction to my new found status (which can be read in it’s entirety at The Malaysian Insider):
JUNE 3 — “Assalamualaikum,” said the woman on the other line.
“Wa’alaikumsalam,” I replied.
“Boleh saya bercakap dengan Ustaz Zan Azlee?”
“Err… Zan Azlee bercakap.”
“Saya nak bertanya, saya baru sahaja membeli rumah. Perlukah saya samak lantai dan dinding rumah tersebut?”
I’m definitely not an ustaz (Islamic scholar) and I’m definitely not an expert on issues relating to samak. I had no clue as to why she called me asking for advice on cleaning her house. [Click for more]
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, news, press, video blog
My video story for The Malaysian Insider this week is about DVD pirates. Understandably, it was kinda tough trying to get any of them to agree to be interviewed and I had to dish out RM75 on Mandarin DVDs to convince this guy!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, writing | Tags: The Malaysian Insider
Fresh from my video story I did for The Malaysian Insider… I then went and wrote an opinion piece for them. Go check it out here.
It’s going to be a fortnightly column… where I will scour the Internet for interesting videos and comment on them based on current affairs and pop culture.
Below is the video (click on the screen capture to view) and an excerpt of what I wrote:
“MAY 15 — I never like taking responsibility for mistakes I’ve made. It means admitting that I was wrong at something. And when I admit that I’m wrong, it means that I’m not perfect. I can’t stand not being perfect. The reason being, I am perfect.
So I guess I can relate to people who can’t seem to admit to their mistakes. Let’s say, for example, the mayor of Crumble Rock City wants to develop his town. He encourages the construction of buildings all around so that the city looks modern and sophisticated.” [Click for more]
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah!!
Filed under: The Malaysian Insider, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, video blog | Tags: da huang pictures, johor bahru, liew seng tat, may 13 1969, saga, The Malaysian Insider
May 13th is today! I did a special video package for The Malaysian Insider. Check it out!
Props to my hometown’s (Johor Bahru) popular Warong Saga and my biatch Liew Seng Tat at Da Huang Pictures!
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, metropolis, new media, news, television
Yo bros and hoes! I know I know I know! It’s been a while and you all miss me to bits. I can explain though. I’ve been really busy. I’ve been working on some television programmes (of which you will see updates here soon!), on my film The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency (updates… including videos… will be up soon too!) and some other journalistic endeavours.
I also got a new gig… as foreign correspondent for a Dutch television station called VPRO TV. My first story for them is about feisty 90 year old Tok Maimun Yusof from Kuala Terengganu who ran for parliament in last year’s General Elections. Metropolis TV (that’s the name of the programme) airs every Sunday on Nederland 3 in The Netherlands. So if you’re there, do tune in! If you aren’t, God is great and you can watch the episodes on their website here. If you just want to watch my story, click here.
Oh… and I’ve also started Twittering! So make sure you get my Twitter updates! Haha!
Filed under: DVD, Feature Films, I'm Muslim Too!, broadcast, directing, documentary, e-store, film, journalism, television
Okay everyone! The time has come! The time has come! The time has come when I finally start selling my films as DVDs! Oh yeah babeyyy! I’ve set up the FAT BIDIN E-STORE!
First two titles are:
I’m Muslim Too!
and…
R.A.H.M.A.N. and other short films
So go to the FAT BIDIN E-STORE now and send me your dough!
Filed under: al jazeera, broadcast, directing, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, television, video blog
I’ve been so busy you won’t even believe it! But I did get to put in some time producing a short vox pop package for Al Jazeera for their special coverage of Obama’s inauguration as the USA’s first black president. You can view those from other countries here.
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, film, journalism, lecture, new media
I don’t talk about this much but… I am actually an academic (gasp! gasp!). I teach at HELP University-College and it’s quite a lot of fun! Above is an ad that appeared in The Star.
Anyway… I’ve been invited to speak at the International Conference On Youth Research organised by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The conference is on the 16th & 17th December 2008. But I’m sure all of you are only interested in my talk (title: Making Documentary Films About the Muslim World from an Autobiographical and Pop Culture Perspective) which is at 1pm on 17th December! Muahahahahahaha!!! Oh… and the venue is the Marriott Hotel, Putrajaya. Make sure you all show up to take a picture with me!!
Filed under: al jazeera, broadcast, documentary, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, television, video blog
Above is my special report for Al Jazeera. Don’t I pull off a great standupper?? Muahaha!!!
You can view the complete Al Jazeera Human Rights Focus here.
Filed under: al jazeera, broadcast, internet, journalism, new media, news, press, television
I’ve been working on a special TV news report for Al Jazeera in conjunction with World Human Rights Day (10th December 2008).
Ibrahim, his brother and a friend
My assignment from the producer was to find out how refugee children in Malaysia live and go to school… basically, their right to education. I interviewed a Rohingya boy named Ibrahim and a girl named Fatimah.
Refugee kids in a UNHCR 'school'
Datuk Ishak Mohamed, Malaysian Immigration Department
The sad thing about it is that Malaysia doesn’t recognise refugees so they can’t go to public school. But there are programmes organised and funded by the UNHCR.
So don’t forget to watch my special report on Al Jazeera this Wednesday, 10th December 2008!
Filed under: The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, journalism, television
Photo by Thomas Fuller/IHT
My next film project is already underway! Am I prolific or what! Hahaha! It’s going to be called THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY.
I’ll be going to Patani in Southern Thailand to check out the situation there. As most of you already know, there’s a bit of violence going on there between the Muslim rebels and the Thai government. It’s been going on for a while and I heard that the Thai government suspect that the Kelantanese/Siamese Tom Yam Kung stalls in Malaysia are funding the rebels. Damn! I didn’t know what I spent on my meals have been contributing to the violence! And so I decide to make a film about it…
Filed under: al jazeera, broadcast, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, television, video blog
Al Jazeera had a special project in which they asked videojournalists from all around the world (and moi in dirty ol’ KL!) to file in reactions to the 2008 US Presidential Elections. It was ’special’ because we were told to use 3G phones (in the spirit of Web 2.0) to do it. So, above are the videos that I did. The interviewees are Mass Comm students from HELP University-College.
Filed under: al jazeera, broadcast, internet, journalism, new media, news, politics, press, television
I covered the 2004 and 2008 Malaysian General Elections as a journalist. It was exciting and fun to be a part of the country’s history.
I’ve gone international now baby! I’ll be covering the reaction to the 2008 US Presidential Election in Kuala Lumpur for Al Jazeera!
The time slots for my reports are:
4th November 2008 (but in Malaysia, it’ll be 5th November lah!)
0100GMT
0300GMT
0500GMT
0700GMT
0900GMT
So make sure you tune in to Al Jazeera (Channel 513 on ASTRO)! Woohoo!
Filed under: I'm Muslim Too!, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, journalism, news, press, television
The Star - Cover (28 Sept 08)
The Star - page 2 (28 Sept 08)
The Star - page 3 (28 Sept 08)
Malay Mail (11 Sept 08)
And the fame continues! Hahaha! Got a cover story in The Star and also a profile in the Malay Mail. Click the pictures to read the articles.
Don’t forget… the full length version (73 minutes) of I’M MUSLIM TOO! will be going on air on NTV7 on 2nd October at 11:30am. So while in the process of getting indigestion during Raya… just tune in to the TV!
Just wanted to say… to all my bros and hoes (viewers, the NTV7 gang, all the editors and writers at the papers, friends, family)… thanks for all the support and kind words. Sniff! Sniff! Selamat Hari Raya!
