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Film director Yasmin Ahmad dies

It’s very sad that a very good local director left us, I love her movie Sepet very much. We will not have good short films and no more nice Chinese New Year clips which is meaningful. Hope she rest in peace.

Yasmin Ahmad dies

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 —Renowned film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad died here at about 11.25 pm last night.

Her death was confirmed by Media Prime Group Chief Operations Officer Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, who was at the Damansara Specialist Hospital, when contacted by Bernama.

Yasmin, 51, collapsed while presenting a working paper at Sri Pentas, the headquarters of the private television station TV3 on Thursday and was rushed to the Damnsara Specialists Hospital.

She was reported to have suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage – Bernama

Source : Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Award-winning film director Yasmin Ahmad (pic) has died from massive bleeding in the brain at the Damansara Specialist Hospital.

She died at 11.25pm yesterday. She had undergone surgery following her collapse at the TV3 headquarters Seri Pentas on Thursday.

The 51-year-old movie maker was famed for her advertisements and films capturing the essence of racial harmony in Malaysia.

Relatives, loved ones and a large group of luminaries from the local movie and television scene gathered at the hospital the moment they heard about her death.

Among the first to arrive were veteran actress Fatimah Abu Bakar – a close friend of Yasmin – and Media Prima International CEO Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan.

Although distraught, those present paid tribute to the award-winning director.

“We would come cross a few great people in our time on earth. Yasmin was one of them.

“She wasn’t an easy person to live or work with, but that was only because she was so talented.

“She had a big heart and vision that we usually don’t understand. That was why people misunderstood her. But she never intended any malice,” said Fatimah.

She added Yasmin’s films had always been about love and forgiveness because that was the way her parents brought her up.

Fatimah’s daughter, Sharifah Amani, who acted in Yasmin’s films, was too distraught as she stood by at her mother’s side.

She refused to talk to the press.

Fatimah and Farid acted as the spokespersons for Yasmin’s family to announce her death and details of her funeral.

TV host Aznil Nawawi, said he had always admired Yasmin’s work although he never had a chance to work with her.

“She possessed the knack on how to capture the essence of Malaysia through her movies and commercials.

“I last saw her when she was promoting her movie Talentime at the Radio Era office,” he added.

Suria FM chief executive officer Engku Imran Engku Zainal Abidin described Yasmin’s death as a great loss – not only to the entertainment and movie industry, but to the nation as a whole.

“Her movies are watched by all races because they can all relate to the messages conveyed.

“We have lost a great, intelligent and creative director,” he added.

Yasmin will be buried after Zohor prayers today, although at press time the location of the burial has yet to be determined.

Fatimah said Yasmin’s body would be taken to the SS19 Mosque in Subang Jaya for prayers.

Source : TheStar

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Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner

KUALA LUMPUR: The scene shows seven-year-old Tan Tiam Hock staring blankly at his classmates, unable to proceed when his art teacher asks the class to draw a reunion dinner scene.

Later, we see him waving goodbye to his friends and happily running off. But, when all alone, his cheery little face crumples.

An Indian woman later picks him up from the bus stop and they return “home” to an orphanage.

It becomes obvious to the viewer that Tiam Hock was not able to draw a reunion scene because he had never had one.

Titled “Nobody’s Child”, Petronas’ Chinese New Year advertisement carries the tagline, “Please be home for the reunion dinner, if you can.”

The three-minute commercial is the brainchild of Ken Wong Woon Kian, a 24-year-old visualiser with ad agency Leo Burnett.

He is the youngest person to have a script approved by the national petroleum company, and admits to being surprised when his script was short-listed and then chosen as this year’s advertisement.

He said he was inspired to write the script after his mother died from a heart attack just two days before the Chinese New Year last year.

“My mother was the pillar of strength in our family. She bought clothes for the family, spring-cleaned the house and cooked for reunion dinner,” he said.

Wong said the idea later evolved to that of orphans because he felt that his loss was not as big compared with that of those who had lost both parents, or those who had never known their parents.

Shot over two days around Jalan Ampang, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and SJK (C) Lai Meng, the advertisement was directed by Yasmin Ahmad, who has also helmed many other festive season advertisements for Petronas.

“Many would give anything just to experience the joy of a family reunion.”
“Please be home for reunion dinner, if you can. Gong Xi Fa Cai.”

This Chinese New Year Greetings by Petronas is very meaning full. So for those who can go home for reunion dinner please go back and have a good reunion dinner. Drive safely!

Once again, Gong Xi Fa Cai and Wish all of you a prosperous year ahead. Enjoy your holidays =)

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