Firstly, I would like to ask our film makers....how do they come out with a movie title? Is it based on their thorough research of what our society wants or just an idea come into their head after a long night sleep? or "syok sendiri" as we always put it. Are they not imaginative enough to think of a better name for their movies?. Have they not found the true meaning of the word "catchy" ...the fundamental word for any editor to put as a headline i.e as an attraction, a strategy to sell his dailies or magazine?...(side line story... I have a bitter encounter with an interviewer for a mass communication course in ITM (UiTM now) in 1985. I could not answer the words that he wanted to hear and the words were 'sensational' and 'catchy', the sacred words in mass-comm worlddom..understandably and due to my arguing method so they said, I was not accepted for the course but ITM offered me another course, somewhat a rival school to mass com at that time...ops terlebih iklan sudah...)
Back to our topic, herein I gave you the evidence to support my theory as to why Malaysian people are NOT attracted to watch our own movies in which the film maker blamed Malaysian people for not patriotic enough in supporting the film industry...
Lets us comment on a few recent and old movie titles:-
Sifu dan Tongga - what the hell is that?
Cuci - wow I can't wait to see someone washing something?
Anak Halal - If you changed it to Anak Haram might stir something, at least
Sembilu - to symbolize what? pain? coming for a flower or fauna or whatever?
Pensil - OMG...the sequel will be called Pen Mata Bola?
Wayang - yeah its in a cinema rite? wrong?
Anak Mami/Nana Tanjung - might get the wrong impression even....
Mama Oh Mama - so plastic
Oh Ibuku - double wammy
Ladyboss - who want to see this?
Sara- ouch....
Gila Gila Remaja - yeah can turn crazy if not watching it?
Sumo-lah - wow I miss all good things in Japan if i do not watch this movie..
Baik Punya Cilok - baik jangan tengok?
Cicak Man 1 & 2 - funny or shall I say not funny or is it an action drama?
I can list more and more titles but I can't remember thing that may insult my brain. But I do commended movie makers who did have catchy titles in which enticed me to watch such as:-
Sepet
Jangan Pandang Belakang
Sepi
Ali Setan
Cinta
Hati Bukan Kristal
Mukhsin
Perempuan Melayu Terakhir
Puteri Gunung Ledang
Bujang Lapuk
Sumpah Orang Minyak
Madu Tiga
I must insert an exemption clause here. It is not that I am a Indonesian fanatic movie goer, far from that but there are certain movies such as Ayat-ayat Cinta whom I regard the best Indonesian movie so far (not because I unashamedly cried a few times but overall its one of a kind movie that can make you remember and think about it for quite sometime...awesome). Lets us compare their names for comparison sake:
Dealova
Cinta Dalam Sepotong Roti
Berbagi Suami
Di Balik Kelambu
Pasir Berbisik
Ayat-ayat Cinta
Nila Di Gaun Putih - how symbolic
Eiffle I Fall In Love
Ranjang Pengantin
Bangkitnya Pocong
Ada Apa Dengan Cinta
Biola Tak Berdawai
Tiga Hari Untuk Selamanya
Jelangkung
Mak Lampir
Sumpah Ratu Nyi Loro Kidul
Wali Songo
Janji Joni
Arisan
Suster Ngesot
Mundur Kena Maju Kena
Si Buta Dari Gua Hantu
Perempuan Berkalong Serban (to be released)
An anticipated movie
The best Indonesian movie so far for me
Cute name.
Errrr....Nice outfit..kot, what else??Well..this is my personal opinion based on my observation only...other people might think otherwise... I only hope our movie will someday be if not as good but at least at par with other movies in our neighboring countries such as Indonesian, Thailand and the Philippines.... my wishful thinking ...
Happy weekend guys...
5 comments:
pasir berbisik, gempak giler...
novel tanpa huruf r, tak tgk abis, but the title made me wanna watch...
hmm.. what's in a name? hmm..
i believe its only important for first impressions. Names acts like a label. It has meanings and through names, it can portray the object it represents. So i guess, names do play an important role but for as i mention earlier, for first impressions.
However i find it difficult to justify on "what is considered enticing". Its different from one person to another. One person might like this name, another might not. So in this case, back to the majority rules.
Difficult...
anyways. as for the Malaysian Movies Industry, i believe they never did any research on discovering what would attract their future prospect viewers. Judging by the norm of the cultural influences, they must not take it for granted as it is now.
So, good point.
I wish to say one thing to the movie makers of Malaysia, start doing surveys on what sells and what doesn't! Name is important for first impression, so to complete the package, make sure that the contents are as good.
Cheers,
raden putera >> as I said, Puaka Tebing Biru or 7 Perhentian may not be good movies but the names were quite catchy and out of curiosity people might incline to go and watch it. Same goes to Anak Halal, I heard that it was a good movie but lack of publicity and may be bad title steer away people from watching...
Sankai >> somewhat agree to your comments...but again to do surveys will incur cost and cost is always a taboo subject in our local producer pocket i.e budget..so they really rely on luck or other outside circumstances such as controversy of their actor/actress to make it a hit. Some of them even rely on sponsor to promote their movies...COMMON SENSE is the word. Hey just a thought...do you think that you will give your son's name something like Osama? ermm one of our popular singer did.. talking about sheer stupidity sadly........
Poster Sifu & Tongga tu cam familiar jer... heheheheh
wan >>> opss ofcoz courtesy or your highness diva..the one and only gitus hehe
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