Sunday August 20, 2006
Teo’s movie-making tao
The movie that's heating up the big screen and chalking up impressive box office takings is the made-in-Malaysia Remp-It. It's yet another feather in the cap of a very unlikely film producer, discovers DAPHNE LEE.
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The RM1.68mil movie has so far made RM1.9mil, beating even Dragon Tiger Gate, a modern kung-fu flick from Hong Kong, within a week of its opening on Aug 10.
“Twenty-eight thousand people went to see Remp-It the day it opened! That was a record! And it wasn't just Malays. Indians and Chinese were also interested in the movie!” enthused Teo.
His elation is understandable, considering the controversy that has dogged the movie over its theme (the world of illegal motorcycle racing; rempit is Malay slang for illegal racer) and risque scenes between the bikers and their bohsia girlfriends. And the reviews haven't been kind either. The Star's S.B. Toh, for example described it as “flaky” with no point of view at all.
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Remp-Itmay be causing tongues to wag but David Teo is enjoying the last laugh with the movie’s success. |
In the past six years, the 42-year-old Teo who hails from Segamat, Johor, has produced 19 movies. Not all have been hits. In fact, Teo’s first three movies (Syukur 21, No Problem and Mendam Berahi) lost a total of more than RM3mil.
Mami Jarum was his breakthrough success (RM3mil) and it was followed by a string of box-office winners. Cinta Kolestrol brought in RM3.8mil, Mistik RM2.5mil, Jutawan Fakir RM2.4mil and Mami Jarum Junior RM1.8mil.
After his first three failures, Teo hit his winning streak when he teamed up with director Abdul Razak Mohaideen on his next 15 projects. However, Razak’s contract with Metrowealth came to an end last year and the UITM lecturer is now working with other production houses.
“David is a very good business man,” said Razak when contacted.
“He is very organised in terms of budget, but he leaves the creative aspect to the director and does not interfere at all. In a way, he is an ideal producer as he is 100% hands-off as long as the director falls within the budget allocated.”
Razak has not watched Remp-It. When told about the controversy it had caused because of its so-called sexy scenes, he said, “Sex sells, without a doubt. I have not seen the movie so I cannot comment whether the scenes are too extreme or not. On my part, I would not have any suggestive scenes in my movies because I must set a good example as a college lecturer.”
Teo is adamant that there is nothing in Remp-It that can offend Malaysians. “I am not interested in being daring or pushing boundaries if it means jeopardising my business,” he said. In fact, while many filmmakers dream of winning awards, for Teo, “Awards are no use if there is no audience.”
And, having perfected his winning formula as far as Malaysia is concerned, he now wants to be a regional success. In fact, his decision to make Remp-It was a result of several failed attempts to crack the box-office in neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Thailand. “Cinta Kolesterol was No. 1 in this country, but it still failed to make a profit in Indonesia,” he said.
The answer, he thinks might be action movies. “An action-packed movie needs almost no dialogue – as they say, ‘Action speaks louder than words’ and this genre is the most popular worldwide.”
Teo chose to focus on the mat rempit world because it would give plenty of opportunity for action scenes. In addition, illegal motorcycle racing is something that goes on all over the world and not just in Malaysia.
Of course, the movie posed problems that Teo would not have experienced making the romantic comedies Metrowealth Movies is best known for.
“Remp-It was my first action movie and filming it was different. You had to make sure you had a very strong technical team,” explained Teo. “Also, it was more dangerous as there were many stunts.”
Teo insured the film to the tune of RM50,000, making it the most highly-insured local movie to date. He also hired ex-mat rempit as stuntmen, believing that their experience would help ensure safety on the set. As it turned out, only one accident, resulting in a stuntman hurting his finger, occurred during the 29 days of filming.
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Actor Farid Kamil was an ex- mat rempitand his experiences inspired him to write the script for Remp-It. |
“I'm very happy with the success of the movie,” he said gleefully, relating how he has sold close to 2,000 Remp-It T-shirts over the last week. “People are flocking to the cinemas. The seats are sold out even on weekdays!”
Teo feels that it's the stunts in Remp-It that are attracting Malaysians: “We even won (the special jury award) for best stunts at the (19th Malaysia) Film Festival (held on Aug 13).”
The director, Ahmad Idham, agreed. “It's an exciting genre to direct and to watch. Remp-It is a robust, rough-and-tumble action movie. I am not surprised people are excited by it.”
Ahmad, who is also an actor, describes the movie as: “Reality action. It's purely about the life of a mat rempit – this person who lives and breathes his bike and racing.”
He added that he was determined that the action sequences should be the focal point of the movie. “The racing is not a sub-plot, it's the main story. The film ends somewhat abruptly, but it is a realistic conclusion,” he stressed.
Ahmad believes that the film works because it does not romanticise the life of the mat rempit. “This is not a movie about a boy who is racing to win the girl or to earn money for his mother's operation. It's all about passion for stunts and passion for bikes. The mat rempit are completely focused on their bikes. It's all about upgrading your machine so it is the best.”
He added that, in a way, the film also shows that bohsia girls also wish to improve their lot in life. “In their world this means upgrading to a better boyfriend, a more skilful biker. To some this might be an immoral way to live, but if you look at things objectively, it is just their way of life – the survival of the fittest.”
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Remp-Itis a fast-paced, action-packed film about the thrills and spills of illegal motorcycle racing. |
Farid Kamil, who plays the lead character, Madi, and wrote the script, was actually an ex-mat rempit himself and Ahmad feels that the actor's knowledge and skills made it easier for all concerned.
(Farid could not be reached for comment for this article.)
Ahmad will be directing Teo's next two movies: Tentang Bulan, a comedy about a group of kampung children, and Jangan Pandang Belakang, a horror flick. Audiences can also almost certainly look forward to Remp-It 2, but don't think that Teo has given up romantic comedies entirely.
“They are still popular with Malaysians so I will continue to produce love stories as long as the scripts are believable and have commercial value,” declared Teo.
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