Filed under: internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: entrepreneurial, fat bidin, frontline, journalism, malaysia, media, money, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
So… you want to make money? I’ll teach you how!
Entrepreneurial Journalism
By Zan Azlee
JAN 27 — In one of my previous columns several weeks ago, I wrote about not wanting a lot of money for my work as a journalist. Many who read it seem to agree with my idealism (fuuyo!), but many also seemed to think that making money isn’t important.
I don’t want people to think that working in journalism or the media means that one will live poor and hungry forever. What I believe is that one must be resourceful and enterprising in whatever one does.
A term that I particularly like is entrepreneurial journalism, which describes what I ideally think journalists should constantly practise. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: fat bidin, journalism, malaysia, media, new media, news, orson welles, perception, rob reiner, spinal tap, The Malaysian Insider, war of the worlds, zan azlee
The perception of honesty is a lie
By Zan Azlee
JAN 20 — When people watch the news, it is automatically perceived as something real because that’s what news is all about, which is the reporting of actual happenings. When people watch documentaries, it is also automatically perceived as something real because that’s what documentaries are. Sometimes, this perception that people have can actually be manipulated and used against them.
I remember showing a group of undergrad students of mine the popular 1980s film, “This is Spinal Tap”, directed by Rob Reiner. For those who aren’t familiar with the film, “This is Spinal Tap” is a mockumentary about a fictional rock band called Spinal Tap. The film follows the band as they go through their career from uber famous to uber has-beens in true documentary form.
The film is hilarious and absurd since the band members are not that bright and make ignorant and comedic comments and actions all the way. After the film ended, my students and I had a discussion about it. Many of them were shocked to see how stupid these rock stars were. In fact, several students even asked me if I knew what happened to the band and its members since they were just unbelievably stupid.
Now this seemed hilarious to me. All of the students thought the film was a real documentary about a real rock band. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: broadcast, internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: cnn, fat bidin, globalpost, jack womack, journalism, kuala lumpur, lay off, malaysia, media, metropolis tv, new media, news, solo journalism, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, vj movement, zan azlee
Here’s my warning to all local broadcasters… especially employees. Heed my call!
Local broadcasters, be warned!
By Zan Azlee
NOV 18 — Beware all broadcast media professionals! Take heed of recent international media news (if you’ve been keeping abreast, of course!). This week, CNN, that great global 24-hour news network, just laid off a significant number of their staff from their offices around the United States.
Among those let go were journalists, cameramen and editors. The reason, said senior V-P Jack Womack, is the change in workflow due to current technology. An internal memo he wrote that is available online states:
“Technology investments in our newsrooms now allow more desktop editing and publishing for broadcast and online. This evolution allows more people in more places to edit and publish than ever before. As a result of these technology and workflow changes, CNN is reducing the number of media editors in our work force in Atlanta. … Consumer and prosumer technologies are simpler and more accessible. Small cameras are now high broadcast quality. More of this technology is in the hands of more people. After completing this analysis, CNN determined that some photojournalists will be departing the company.”
Apparently (obviously!), technology and the media have developed so much that what used to take whole production teams to do can now be achieved by single individuals. Surprise! Surprise! I have been preaching, and practising, this for many years now. Almost 10 years, to be exact. And people are only realising this now? [Click to read my full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: book, documentary, DVD, e-store, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, journalism, lecture, new media, writing | Tags: adib zaini, conflict, documentary, fat bidin, finding patani in an islamic insurgency, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, insurgency, islam, journalism, julian ch lee, kuala lumpur, malay, malaysia, muslim, new media, nik nazmi, operation nasi kerabu, patani, pattani, readings, rumaizah abu bakar, seksan, sharon bakar, solo journalism, terrorism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, war, zan azlee, zi publications
My sexy self serenading the pork!
I was recently invited to participate in Readings @Seksan by Sharon Bakar and of course, it was to read from my book ‘Operation Nasi Kerabu – Finding Patani in an Islamic Insurgency‘. The line-up was fantastic! It was Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Coming of Age), Rumaizah Abu Bakar (The Female Cell), Adib Zaini (Zombijaya), Julian CH Lee (Policing Sexuality) and, obviously, to cap everything off and to add to the prestige… ME! There was also music by Reza Salleh.
I even managed to sell quite a number of copies of my book. A bit of advice… the best marketing strategy is to carry your baby daughter around and announce that all proceeds of the sales of the book will go to buying milk and diapers for the week. Fail-proof plan!!
For those of you who did not attend the reading (I shall unfriend you on Facebook!)… fret not! You can listen to a recording of my reading by clicking on the audio player above. And if you want a copy of the book (with a free DVD!)… you can still buy it at any major bookstore or order directly at the FAT BIDIN e-STORE for a signed copy!
Sharon Bakar, organiser of Readings @Seksan
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Coming of Age)
Adib Zaini (Zombijaya)
Julian CH Lee (Policing Sexuality) is the one on the far right. I was busy snapping pictures of him with his camera during his reading so I don't have any pictures of him in front of the crowd in my camera!
Rumaizah Abu Bakar (The Female Cell)
Athena all dressed up in a spaghetti strap ready to seduce the crowd into buying her pop's book!
Athena being lullabied by Reza Salleh.
Filed under: internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: 1malaysia, allah, fat bidin, god, hudud, islam, journalism, kuala lumpur, law, malay, malaysia, muslim, ridhuan tee, syariah, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Dear Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah. What the hell are you talking about?
Implement hudud by force, he says.
By Zan Azlee
OCT 28 — “Hudud needs to be implemented by force!”
I was shocked to hear an academician, Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, utter those words at a recent Islamic forum on hudud. According to the academician who teaches at the National Defence University, time is running out and it looks like the non-Muslims will never accept hudud and Islam. As a Muslim myself, I felt ashamed and embarrassed by what he said at such a public forum.
First of all, I would like to ask one vital question. If non-Muslims are not willing to accept hudud or Islam, why question their reasoning for it? The non-Muslims would have made their decision based on what they have seen, heard and observed. Can you blame them if what they’ve seen has been all negative? So, maybe what he should have said, instead of using force, look within and solve the internal problems before you start preaching outside.
Any educated individual who has even a little bit of learned experience, Muslim or non-Muslim, will tell you that Islam is not, and never was, a religion of force. [Click to read my full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: acting, book, directing, documentary, DVD, film, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, journalism, lecture, Operation Nasi Kerabu, writing | Tags: conflict, documentary, fat bidin, film, finding patani in an islamic insurgency, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, insurgency, islam, journalism, krue se mosque, kuala lumpur, malay, malaysia, muslim, operation nasi kerabu, patani, pattani, solo journalism, thailand, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, video journalism, war, zan azlee, zi publications
My book ‘OPERATION NASI KERABU – FINDING PATANI IN AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY’ is finally done and all my adoring fans are invited to the launch (even if you’re are not a fan, you’re still invited!)! The book comes with a free DVD of my film ‘THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN ISLAMIC INSURGENCY‘. I’ll be there screening some clips from the film. The main character of the film and book, the great journalist and fixer Tuwaedaniya Meringing from Patani, Thailand, will also be there to talk about the conflict in his hometown and the role journalism can play in advocating for peace. My book is published by ZI Publications and the launch will take place at the KL Alternative Bookfest 2011.
Date: 19th June 2011
Time: 3pm
Location: The Annexe Gallery, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur
Book synopsis: The news from Patani is like a movie: smoke, bombs, a near civil war. Yet just over our northern border, the people are Muslim, Bahasa-speaking, baju-wearing Malays, just like us. With this in mind, documentary-maker Zan Azlee set off to find the real Patani, trying to seperate the kedai kopi from the Humvees, the gunfights from the nasi kerabu. It’s hard to make new friends and man a camera while looking over your shoulder for suicide bombers. But he was determined to ask the question: how do people live their lives in a warzone? With his resulting film banned for political reasons, this is Azlee’s first chance to share what he found.
Filed under: directing, documentary, film, film festival, internet, journalism, lecture, new media, press, The Malaysian Insider | Tags: directing, documentary, economic, fat bidin, film, film festival, forum, islamic, lecture, marketplace of creative arts, musa hitam, otam, singapore, solo journalism, video blog | Tags: asian civilisations museum, video journalism, web video, wief, world, world islamic economic forum, zan azlee
And so you all knew I went to the WIEF’s Marketplace of Creative Arts in Singapore on the 19th of February 2011. Below are some pictures and videos along with an article I wrote for The Malaysian Insider.
When creative minds get together
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 4 – Filmmaking to me is almost like a solitary process. Being a solo-journalist, I write, shoot, edit and do everything as a one-man crew. To me, it’s almost like writing or painting, whereby the writer or artist produces artwork in solitude, almost like meditation. I enjoy the process very much as it gives me total control of my work. It is also a form of discovery for me – about the subjects of my films and also about myself.
However, sometimes being in solitude doesn’t do much good for the creative soul. To be a creative artist, one needs to sometimes interact with like minded souls. So, when I was invited to the World Islamic Economic Forum’s Marketplace of Creative Arts in Singapore (held for the second year), I jumped at the chance. [Click to read the rest of the article at The Malaysian Insider]
Tun Musa Hitam (Chairman of WIEF Foundation) does his best Facebook pose!
Some panel discussion going on.
This was the panel discussion to be at since I was a part of this one! Topic: All the World is a Stage- Role of Education & Information in Propagating Appreciation of the Arts
Me, Sirajuddin (one of the Singaporean organisers) and Yosep Anggi (a filmmaker from Jogjakarta)
Of all people to bump into... I bumped into Amanda.... We acted together once in a film called 'Benda Aneh Bernama Cinta', directed by Azharr Rudin.
Click here to watch the trailer of ‘Benda Aneh Bernama Cinta’.
The whole lot
I had to indulge an adoring fan!
And a video of Otam during rehearsals.
Filed under: directing, documentary, film, film festival, lecture, video blog | Tags: asian civilisations museum, documentary, economic, fat bidin, film, forum, islamic, marketplace of creative arts, singapore, solo journalism, video journalism, web video, wief, world, world islamic economic forum, zan azlee
I’ve been invited this year (again!) to screen some of my films and to speak at the World Islamic Economic Forum’s Marketplace of Creative Arts in Singapore, this 19th February 2011, at the Asian Civilisations Museum near the Esplanade Park. Click here to check out more information on the event. So all you fans of mine should come out in droves! Singaporeans… here’s your chance to see me in the flesh… my very sexy flesh!!
“The WIEF Young Leaders Network is coming up with another excellent showcase on creative arts. This time it will be just next door in Lion City – Singapore, organised in partnership with the Young Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) in Singapore. This will be the Marketplace’s first ever regional leg, focusing on up-and-coming artists in the Southeast Asian region namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Phil…ippines. Visual artists, great musicians, exotic dancers and thought-provoking filmmakers awaiting you in the city of lions. Excellent venue, near the Esplanade Park and by the Singapore river.
For those who are interested to attend, please be informed that this is a registered event i.e. only registered participants are allowed entry (no walk-ins on event day), and for licensing purposes we have limited the crowd to 300 participants for the day. We have to close registration if we reach 300. So, if you want to book your place, please register online by clicking here. First come, first served!”
Filed under: internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: bias reporting, fat bidin, honest journalism, journalism, malaysia, media, new media, news, objective journalism, solo journalism, The Malaysian Insider, video journalism, zan azlee
I’m a biased journalist, but at least I’m honest!
Honest journalism vs objective journalism
By Zan Azlee
JAN 21 — A while back, I wrote a piece on how I thought objective journalism had become passé in this day and age and that we need to have our biases. The response I got was varied. Some people agreed with me and said that objectivity has always just been an ideology only and never practical.
Some disagreed and said that journalists should always strive to be objective as much as possible because this is their responsibility to the public. Well, I do agree that journalists do have a responsibility to the public. But what exactly is that responsibility? Is it really objectivity? [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: book, broadcast, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, lecture, new media, press, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, film, journalism, lecture, media, The Malaysian Insider, university, zan azlee
And the ultimate syok sendiri session comes to an end with part 2 of my article this week!
So you want to be a documentary filmmaker and journalist (Part 2)
By Zan Azlee
NOV 26 — Being a university lecturer for the past six years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and interact with a lot of young people who want to do what I do for a living. The thing about being with them is that it always gives me a positive feeling about myself. Selfish, I know!
But seeing their enthusiasm for life and their fire to pursue their ambition just reinforces the reason why I do what I do. So this two-part article will be my way of giving back to them. Hopefully, it will inspire them (or at least make them question if this is really what they want to do!).
…………….
With the money I made from that sale, I decided to make another feature-length documentary. This time, I decided to go a bit further. I titled the film “I’m Muslim Too!” and went to four countries in the Middle East (Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan) to see how young people lived their lives in their respective countries. The film was also shot solo-journalism style.
I went to Iran and interviewed a heavy metal band called Arsames. Then I headed to Syria to search for the Hezbollah video game Special Force, and to Jordan to visit the annual Jerash Arts Festival. I also went to Beirut in Lebanon to experience a little bit of war and to see how Palestinian refugee kids spend their days.
Being from Malaysia, I had never experienced war and in my mind, I might have romanticised it a bit. When I got in to Lebanon, there were military checkpoints lining every street. Tanks and soldiers were everywhere. Turn on the television and you would see “live” coverage of bombings, shootings and fighting just 20 kilometres from the city. It was terrible and it scared me.
“Hey! Answer my question! Who are you!”
And I was jolted back to reality… [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, lecture, new media, press, writing | Tags: bfm, documentary, fat bidin, film, filmmaking, in conversation, journalism, radio, writing, zan azlee
I’ll be appearing on BFM (89.9FM) on the show ‘In Conversation’ today (Thursday, 25 Nov 2010) at 7pm. Listen to me talk about my life, inspirations, writing and filmmaking career! After listening, you can all start trying to be like me! Muahahaha!!
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, film, internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: documentary, fat bidin, film, journalism, lecture, media, The Malaysian Insider, university, zan azlee
So you want to be a documentary filmmaker and journalist (Part 1)
By Zan Azlee
NOV 19 — Being a university lecturer for the past six years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and interact with a lot of young people who want to do what I do for a living. The thing about being with them is that it always gives me a positive feeling about myself. Selfish, I know!
But seeing their enthusiasm for life and their fire to pursue their ambition just reinforces the reason why I do what I do. So this two-part article will be my way of giving back to them. Hopefully, it will inspire them (or at least make them question if this is really what they want to do!).
…………….
Five heavily-armed and hugely-built Lebanese soldiers grabbed me by the arms and dragged me out of the small coffeeshop. Screaming in Arabic, they also grabbed my bag and my camera. I was stunned as they shoved and prodded me across to their military checkpoint.
As we entered the premise, another soldier ransacked my bag. I was then brought into an empty room with nothing but a chair in the middle of the room. They sat me down and left me alone. I was trembling, when their superior, a large and rotund man, came in holding my passport which had been taken from my bag.
“Where are you from? Who are you?” he barked.
As I sat there scared and trembling, I asked myself, how the hell did I get myself into a situation like this? My mind started to wander… [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Filed under: internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: fat bidin, journalism, malaysia, media, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
Ahhh… objectivity is so passe! Read my column this week at The Malaysian Insider.
Objective journalism is so yesterday!
By Zan Azlee
JULY 30 — We always complain in Malaysia that journalism is never objective. Apparently, the government keeps a tight rein on the information that goes out to the public. So all the news outlets (or shall I say the mainstream news outlets?) have a slant towards the ruling party, especially when it comes to political news. I, for one, used to complain all the time. I felt that, as a profession, journalism wasn’t going to develop, and neither would Malaysia as a nation because of it. Even in the lectures that I give, I would constantly harp on about the importance of being objective as journalists. Give both sides of the story and let the people decide. I felt that there was no place for personal opinions and bias when it came to reporting the news. Leave that to the public relations practitioners! But I think I’ve slowly come around… [Click to read the rest of the article]
Filed under: broadcast, directing, documentary, film, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, lecture | Tags: documentary, economic, fat bidin, film, forum, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, islamic, solo journalism, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, video journalism, web video, world, zan azlee
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: directing, documentary, film, film festival, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, lecture, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: berkeley, documentary, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, jajang noer, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
(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: directing, documentary, film, film festival, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, lecture, The Malaysian Insider | Tags: berkeley, documentary, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
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: broadcast, directing, documentary, film, film festival, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, journalism, lecture | Tags: berkeley, documentary, fat bidin, film, heading to the border, I'M MUSLIM TOO! Heading to the border, I'm Muslim Too!, insurgency, islam, malaysia, pattani, san francisco, The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency, university of california, video journalism, zan azlee
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: internet, journalism, lecture, new media, The Malaysian Insider, writing | Tags: citizen journalism, documentary, fat bidin, film, journalism, online journalism, The Malaysian Insider, zan azlee
After attending the New Media forum as a panelist at UiTM a few nights ago… I decided to write about this in my latest column at The Malaysian Insider.
Trust the man on the street… or a journalist
By Zan Azlee
MARCH 26 — A few nights ago, I attended a forum organised by the Faculty of Creative and Artistic Technology at UiTM discussing New Media as one of three invited panellists. There were many issues discussed that night, from how social networking affects the local industry to anti-establishment media. [Click to read the rest of the article]
