What does a beauty queen, a gymnast and an astrophysicist have in common with one another? Well, they’re among a list of notable Malaysians starring in a new in-flight safety video by Malaysia Airlines. But this isn’t your typical in-flight video. Oh, no – it is, in fact, a musical.
Helmed by Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina in her screen directorial debut, the newly-unveiled video titled Satu Dua Tiga, Jom! features an all-star cast singing and dancing to an infectious musical number.
Some of the personalities featured in the video include Malaysia’s first astrophysicist Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dr Mazlan Othman, gymnastics champ Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 Francisca Luhong James, Mercy Malaysia founder and StarLifestyle columnist Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, rapper Arabyrd, dancer Maple Loo, content creator Azman Naim, and actors Sangeeta Krishnasamy, Brian Chan, Datin Lisa Surihani and Ida Mariana.
It also features Malaysia Airlines flight attendants Angela Low Kar Yee, Adrian Chung Chin Shan, Beatrice Leslie Belayong, Shazni Shazwani Mohd Azmi, Farah Yasmine Abdul Gafoor and Wilfred Michael Jalleh.
“It’s a dream cast. We have a cross section of all sorts of Malaysians. I always try to give ourselves reasons to celebrate our diversity,” Tiara said a few months back, when The Star had an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the video production in Hulu Langat, Selangor.
The new in-flight safety video features a fun choreography and a catchy song called Satu Dua Tiga, Jom!. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
Tiara, who co-directed the video with Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim, was approached by Malaysia Airlines last year when travel restrictions were still in place.
Inspiration, according to her, came almost instantaneously.
“I immediately knew I wanted it to be a musical,” she said.
Tiara, of course, is no stranger to the local arts and theatre scene. She has staged and directed a number of musicals such as Ola Bola: The Musical and Mud: Our Story Of Kuala Lumpur.
A glint of excitement flashed through Tiara’s eyes as she recounted the quirky safety in-flight videos done by Air New Zealand and British Airways. The former, for one, featured the cast from the Lord Of The Rings movie trilogy.
But as far as Tiara is concerned, a musical is what she wanted to produce, to highlight the safety features of the national carrier.
“I’ve always been a big believer in how songs become an anthem for you. And also whenever I read (bad news in the) press, I keep thinking the world needs a song,” she said.
That song turned out to be an original number which Tiara co-wrote and produced with Sabahan singer-songwriter Mia Palencia.
Listening to the musical number, it sounds like the amalgamation several songs of various styles and genres packed into a six-minute track (“It’s like a mash-up. There are six or seven different songs in there,” Tiara gleefully conceded).
That conglomeration of musical styles was intentional.
Tiara (left) sharing a light moment with some of the cast members during filming a few months back.
“We wanted a song that is Malaysian and yet has an international flavour. The song is speaking to a global audience because the whole world fly Malaysia Airlines,” she said.
Tiara also pointed out that the video is ultimately about safety. She hopes that it will get viewers’ attention.
“I want them to pay attention. I want to engage them so that they put away their phones and watch (the video) and try to actually know what it takes to be safe on the flight,” she explained.
Tiara had observed how people usually don’t give their full attention to the flight safety demonstrations on board. She hopes the video will change that.
Passengers will have the opportunity to view the compact version of the refreshed safety video on board Malaysia Airlines beginning August this year.
Malaysia Airlines group chief marketing and customer experience Lau Yin May said the carrier wanted a safety video that is informative and catchy.
“The video is also a celebration of Malaysia’s excellent and talented performing arts industry; and now we can proudly take them to the skies with us for all to experience and enjoy,” she said at the video’s official launch on Tuesday.
For Tiara, it’s about blending safety and entertainment together.
“This is not a normal in-flight safety video. I want them to be entertained and informed at the same time. When it’s fun you watch it again and again. Better still, if they sing along ... and memorise the safety instructions when they fly,” Tiara concluded.
