A simple greeting - "Hi Mark, welcome to Penang" - turned into an unforgettable encounter for collectibles trader Sheikh Mokhtar Sheikh Ali when he found himself chatting, posing for photographs and sharing the screen with Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg during the filming of Netflix's The Big Fix in George Town on July 13.
For the 60-year-old trader, fondly known as Mamu, the opportunity to appear as an extra in a Hollywood production marked a once-in-a-lifetime experience after nearly 15 years earning a living at Rope Walk, one of Penang's well-known trading spots.
Sheikh Mokhtar said about three weeks before filming began, a local production crew approached him to ask whether he would be interested in joining the production as an extra while allowing his licensed stall to serve as part of the film's backdrop.
"They required traders with valid business licences, and our stalls had to be neatly arranged because they would appear in the film. Once my participation was confirmed, I was asked to be on location from 5am until 5pm.
The one-day assignment also came with an attractive payment of RM650, he said, adding that nearly 100 Rope Walk traders participated in the production, while others opted out because of work commitments and other reasons.
What made the experience even more memorable, he said, was that Wahlberg's first scene was filmed directly in front of his stall. Before filming began, Sheikh Mokhtar gathered the courage to greet the actor and welcome him to Penang.
"Although he looked serious at first, he was actually very friendly. We chatted briefly about some of his movies. I told him I enjoyed watching his films, and he mentioned that Four Brothers is one of his personal favourites," he said.
Their conversation, however, was cut short when Wahlberg's make-up team and personal security staff arrived to prepare him for filming.
Sheikh Mokhtar said each scene in front of his stall was repeated five or six times to achieve the best result, with filming at the location lasting more than an hour.
"My role as an extra was simply to serve customers and move around as if it were a normal day at the market. I had no dialogue ...I just had to look natural," he said.
The father of four admitted he had no idea who the film's lead actor was until the day before filming, when news of Wahlberg's arrival in Penang went viral on social media.
Sheikh Mokhtar, who sells collectible items including Transformers and Marvel figurines as well as die-cast model cars, said his passion for toys began more than three decades ago as a hobby shared with his children.
Coincidentally, the unique display caught the attention of the production crew, leading to his stall being selected as one of the filming locations.
For him, being part of a Hollywood production in Penang is a testament to the state's growing appeal as an international filming destination.
"My son is a huge Mark Wahlberg fan. He even asked me to get his autograph if possible. But I was happier just having the chance to talk to him because people often think Hollywood stars are difficult to approach. From my experience, he was warm and approachable.
"Whether my face appears for just a few seconds or ends up on the cutting-room floor, I'm still grateful to have experienced working on an international film production," he said, adding that photographs of him with Wahlberg have gone viral on social media since yesterday.
Wahlberg is currently filming Netflix's The Big Fix in Penang, with local production coordination by Biscuit Films. The cast also includes British actor Riz Ahmed, Singaporean actor Chin Han, Indian actor Vipin Sharma and Malaysian actress Nuha Jes Izman. - Bernama
