UTAR Student represents Malaysia at ASEAN-ROK Independent Cinema Workshop
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)'s Advertising student, Lee Sheng Wang has been chosen as one of the two Malaysians to represent the country at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Republic of Korea (ROK) Independent Cinema Workshop which will be held from 15 July to 8 August 2009 in Los Baņos, Laguna , Philippines.
The ASEAN-ROK Independent Cinema Project is a digital production workshop that strives to create a regional alternative cinema community. It also seeks to project the ASEAN creative talents in the regional and global film markets.
Twenty-two young filmmakers will be participating in the ASEAN - ROK Independent Cinema Workshop. The delegates will be coming from the ten ASEAN members - Brunei , Cambodia , Indonesia , Laos , Malaysia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam - and the project's financial sponsor, South Korea . Only two participants will be representing each country in the workshop.
The delegates will be trained on content development and technical skills to develop digital productions with the aim to produce a 90-minute omnibus work on the theme "rice." Five Asian and International specialists in film and digital production will compose an international faculty to train and mentor the delegates.
As a first-timer in representing the country in an international workshop, Lee enthused, "I feel great, very happy and excited as it is a 'once in a life-time' opportunity. I am fortunate and honoured being the youngest participant selected to participate in this regional workshop."
He added, "Participants will come from the 10 Asean countries and South Korea . It will be a wonderful opportunity for me to learn new culture and socialise with fellow participants from our neighbours. I hope to do my part promoting Malaysia as well."
On what he expects at the workshop, Lee said, "As the workshop will be facilitated by qualified professionals and experts in the film industry, I hope to gain a lot more outside the workshop sessions and during practice exercises." He also expressed his gratitude towards his faculty Dean and said, "My faculty Dean, Dr. Teh Chee Seng forwarded me an e-mail sent by the Ministry of Higher Education to UTAR. I really appreciate Dr. Teh and UTAR for informing me about this project. I would not have been aware of this golden chance if not for the e-mail sent by Dr Teh."
On returning to Malaysia after the workshop, Lee, chosen for the Cinematography Category, will need to produce a 10-minute digital narrative together with his team mate, the other Malaysian chosen for the Scriptwriting/Direction Category for the workshop, on the theme "Rice and Environment". The digital narrative will be collectively edited and compiled with the other digital narratives produced by other participants to form an omnibus 90-minute product. The production would be promoted in festivals within the ASEAN region and also in international film festivals and venues.
Photo and Caption
Lee putting his skills to the test.