local martial artists helps with "Pangazou" TV series

A few martial artists & clubs have been helping out Manjafilms Sdn Bhd put the finishing touch to a local action drama called Pangazou.

Article from The STAR:

Well-known film director Anwardi Jamil will be producing a 13-episode TV series on Pangazou or warrior, where the dialogue will be in Kadazandusun, language of Sabah’s largest indigenous community.

COMING soon on a TV screen near you is the Kadazandusun’sApocalypto (Mel Gibson’s movie on the Mayan civilisation).

And just like Apocalypto, a historical action-adventure film with characters speaking the Mayan dialect, the TV series will be in Kadazandusun with Malay subtitles.

Introducing Pangazou (Kadazan­dusun for “warrior”), the first TV series in the language of Sabah’s largest indigenous community.

Set in the late 18th century, Pangazou is about the journey of two orphaned Kadazandusun brothers (Bihangan, 14, and Somboi, 12) into becoming warriors.

It will also have several sumandaks (Kadazandusun for “girl”).

For example, Lilip (a fairy) who will help Somboi in his quest to rescue his brother who has been kidnapped by Bruneians.

The 13-episode TV series will be directed by Anwardi Jamil (Bilik No 13,Detik 12 Malam and Cinta Bola 2) and shot at Sabah in April.

In terms of “language”, the director wants Pangazou to be as authentic as Apocalypto and Gibson’s other film, The Passion of the Christ, (which featured two languages that aren’t used in common speech for centuries – Latin and Aramaic).

“The whole dialogue will be in Kadazandusun (except for when there is an interaction with Bruneians).

“If I do it in Malay, it will not sound right,” explained the Manjafilms Productions producer/director.

In 2009, Anwardi fell in love with the idea of directing the TV series when he stumbled across a book, Pangazou – the Epic Adventures of Bihangan and Somboi, in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, where he was filming a documentary on the formation of Malaysia.

Coincidentally, the book was written by Tan Sri Herman Luping, who he interviewed for the documentary as he was one of the founding fathers of Malaysia (formed in 1963).

“When you watch Apocalypto, you will understand certain aspects of the Mayan community.

“Through my research, I discovered that the Kadazandusun culture is unique.

“Previously, I thought the Ibans of Sarawak and the Kadazan­dusuns were the same. I thought they were all headhunters (only the Ibans) and they danced the sumazau (a Kadazandusun dance),” he explained.

“During the course of my research, I found out about Nunuk Ragang(according to legend, this is where the Kadazandusun civilisation began), the real story behind Tadau Kaamatan (harvest festival), Kinoingan(God) and Huminudon (Kinoingan’s only daughter).”

Anwardi added: “I hope to turn Tan Sri’s stories, which he told his children during bedtime, into an epic war/romance/fantasy TV series.

This will serve to introduce the Kadazandusun culture to Malaysians and the world.

According to the director, the challenge of directing a Kadazan­dusun-language television series is solely limited to the language barrier, but so is finding a location to film that is bereft of any telephone poles (as the series is set in the late 18th century).

In between laughs, Anwardi said that it was a blessing that Sabah had so many beautiful locations (rivers and mountains).

When his three Kadazandusun/New Zealander daughters were kids, Luping, who is married to a New Zealander, used to tell them Kadazan­dusun legend and folktales.

This was when his family was living in Wellington, New Zealand, and in Kota Kinabalu.

“Instead of telling them bedtime stories such as Robin Hood, I used to tell them the stories that my parents and grandparents used to tell us so that my daughters would understand my background,” said the 74-year-old former Sabah deputy Chief Minister (in the 1970s), who has written a book called Sabah Dilem­ma.

“My kids found the stories interesting. When I described the scene where Bihangan fought for his life and the lives of the villagers he was protecting, there were tears in the eyes of my nine-year-old daughter,” he said.

As a kid in the late 1940s, Luping used to listen to stories (i.e. the legend of Nunuk Ragang) which were told by adults during aramaitii (let’s get merry) session.

In 2006, he compiled the stories into a book, written in English.

The book is part history and part a creature of Luping’s imagination.

“What is factual is that the Brunei Sultanate used to own the Moyog river (in Kota Kinabalu), and the Kadazandusuns living along the river had to pay tax to the Pengiran (from the Brunei Sultanate),” he said.

“I mentioned the Kulintangan rebellion, where the Penampang Huguan Siou (paramount leader) led the Kadazandusuns to war with the Bruneians as they had collected taxes too many times.”

Luping hopes that when Pangazou hits national television, it will spark interest in the Kadazandusun language.

“The Kadazandusun language is dying as many of the younger generation are unable to speak their mother tongue,” he said.

Watch out for Huguan Siou, Bobohizan (priestesses) and Pangazou on your TV screen.

Also from Daily Express:

Penampang: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman said the Government is willing to provide special assistance to local artistes and film makers if it sees fit.

He hoped most of the local films would reflect the beauty and unity of the State to serve as an example to those who are bent on creating disharmony and chaos.

"The State Government welcomes productions such as these, which should be created so that it could show the conditions of the people in Sabah," he said during the launching of the tele-movie Pangazou at the Monsopiad Cultural Village, Thursday.

"Base it on our talents, uniqueness, culture in the State.

Apart from that we could also show to everyone the best of our environment and the beauty of nature."

He said the Government would encourage such effort and help ensure local talents will also achieve success and urged them to collaborate with film production companies and TV stations.

"I hope more local creations will be produced into films or series to promote the variety of potentials and prospects of Sabah which needs more promotion," he said.

Musa, meanwhile also invited producers and artistes in Malaysia to help develop Sabah's film industry.

Earlier, Musa commended the launching of the tele-movie Pangazou, a 13-episode series adaptation of former Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Herman Luping's book of the same title.

The movie, which is set for filming next week, is a collaboration between WebTV and Manjafilms Sdn Bhd in association with Pangazou Films Production.

Pangazou is set to be the biggest television production in Sabah's history.

He said the tele-movie would provide the space and opportunity for local film makers to highlight the local potentials and talents.

"For Sabah artistes, I hope they use this chance to gain more experience, exchange opinions and ideas, especially for their own success and the expansion of the local film industry," he said.

He also commended the strength of the production combination of Luping, for being a cultural figure and producer of the Pangazou series and Dr Anwardi Jamil for his vast experience in the Malaysian film industry.

Among present were Deputy State Speaker Datuk Johnny Mositun, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, Datuk Jamil Sulong, Datuk Rosnani Jamil and others.

We at FightBah think this is a positive thing as local martial artist have a new career outlet in acting for local drama series. Our understanding is that this film was assisted by the local Capoeira, Muaythai & Silat groups.

We cant wait for the release of this local drama. Check out the trailer below!