Movie director Lim (right, in pink head scarf) watching as the actors rehearse a scene during shooting at the Tua Pek Kong Temple in King Street, George Town. - Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
PENANG’S rich heritage and well-preserved architectural structures are the backdrop of a Malaysia-Singapore joint venture rom-com/supernatural movie titled The Chosen One.
Executive producer Haris Sulong, 59, from Current Pictures, said shooting took place in the inner city of George Town, Love Lane and Batu Ferringhi.
“We chose Penang because of its rich heritage and modern aesthetics which provide a good backdrop to the story,” he said.
The movie, with a main cast from Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan, is being shot both in Penang and Singapore.
“Filming in Penang will conclude on July 10 and the cast and crew will travel back to Singapore to resume shooting,” he said.
A signboard outside Tua Pek Kong Temple informing the public that filming is in progress.
The movie is a collaboration between Singapore’s NoonTalk Media Ltd, which will undertake post-production works in Singapore, Oak3 Films Pte Ltd, and Malaysian content creation and feature film company Current Pictures Sdn Bhd.
Haris, who has 38 years of experience in the industry, said about 85 crew members from Malaysia and Singapore were involved in the movie shoot.
Haris says the film is being shot in both Penang and Singapore.He thanked the management of the Tua Pek Kong Temple, a Taoist temple within the Unesco World Heritage Site in King Street, George Town, for allowing some scenes to be shot there.
Executive producer Chong Liung Man from NoonTalk Media, said the movie was the first joint venture between the three parties.
The director is award-winning producer Lim Suat Yen, who graduated from New York University with a postgraduate degree in film and made her directorial debut with The Road Less Travelled in 1996.
Since then, she has produced and directed several feature films, telemovies and documentaries.
Singapore actor Zong Zijie plays the lead character ‘Ah Jie’ while Taiwanese actress, singer, television host and entrepreneur Kuo Shu-yao (Yao Yao), who won the Best New Performer award for her role in Step Back to Glory at the 50th Golden Horse Award, takes on the role of ‘Ah Jie’s’ love interest.
Actor and comedian Gurmit Singh aka Phua Chu Kang plays the role of Master Bai Yun, a flamboyant and materialistic Taoist monk.
Chong said the movie was based on current times and was inspired by a person’s true account about a psychic fraudster with the gift of the ‘third eye’, who underwent a challenging journey to overcome his inner fears.
“The storyline is centred on the theme of love and its power to heal and help one overcome obstacles,” he added.
The Chosen One is expected to be released in the first quarter of next year. Director Lim (right, in headscarf) watching as actors rehearse a scene of the movie ‘The Chosen One’ in Tua Pek Kong Temple, King Street, George Town. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
