Remember my post about the adorable Tan Hong Ming and thoughts about Interracial Relationships some while back?
Recently, I was privileged to meet acclaimed director, Yasmin Ahmad, the director of the Tan Hong Ming as well as various other notable videos. She was here to grace the exclusive screening for MCYS on an advertisement entitled, ‘Family’
Charming view from the rooftop of the screening room
I reached the Screening Room, rather late after a staff day out, being unfamiliar with the area, my sense of direction gone and rather traumatized by the after working hours road conditions!
Rinaz poses by a wall featuring Federico Fellini
When I finally entered the theater, they were already halfway through playing Yasmin’s other works, such as How do you spell Dinosaur and The little Indian Boy.
To call the videos emotional would be an understatement! Mintea, who was sitting beside me and I were already fighting hard not to tear up through the showcase.
Mintilicious, Yasmin Ahmad and Sexeh Rinaz
When the lights came on, I finally saw her – Yasmin Ahmad right across me, sitting like a regal queen. She started sharing her experiences on being a director. How she faced prejudices from many because of her being a Woman as well as being a Malay. I immediately related to that, being a Malay Woman myself.
I started wondering how she was able to stay strong in such adversities when Yasmin quoted a beautiful sentence “The Thicker and Deeper the Mud The More Beautiful The Lotus Grows” Which I thought was elegant and profound at the same time.
Soonafter, the screening of the new commercial started – it features a doting single dad, raising up his daughter.
Yasmin mentioned that a family unit does not always have to be perfect and complete unit and asked the bloggers on our opinion of the video.
The reaction of the bloggers were mostly positive. There was one blogger (I think it was scarlett) who said that being raised up by a single parent and is now a single parent herself, she could relate to the video.
Ian Timothy is a little shy for pictures, so here is Brian and Mintea doing their best toothpaste commercial smile 🙂
Personally for me, I thought that the choice for the location was a little strange as it seemed a little dated. But that was when Ian Timothy mentioned that the location was a good choice as he emphatised, growing up in the lower class family.
There was a particular blogger who mentioned that because the majority of the population has a complete family unit, they may not be able to relate to the video – to which Yasmin humorously replied, “I watched ‘Finding Nemo’ … I laughed and I cried … But I’m not a fish!”
Here is a quick video montage of the interview :
Bloggers meet with Yasmin Ahmad from rinaz on Vimeo
Doesn’t she sound so queenlike? I think I could listen to her talk all day 🙂
And my Mum was so excited when she read an article about Yasmin Ahmad in the Malay Newspaper and she rushed to show it to me.
And what do you think of the advertisement video? Do you think that its okay for being in a single parent family? Are you able to relate to this video?
Links :
Updated : Goodbye, Yasmin …
