Malaysian in the mix at Oscars

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian musician Alvin Wee (pic) was over the moon when the animated feature Encanto landed composer Germaine Franco an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score this year.

Wee had worked with Franco for two months on the Disney feature as a score mixer.

“I think the biggest thing is the historic nomination of Franco for her score as she is the first woman of colour to be nominated in this category.

“To have your music be up against the likes of Hans Zimmer and Jonny Greenwood and voted on by the best in the industry is a huge honour.

“I’m just along for the ride and have been very proud to have helped be part of that journey and realise that vision,” said Wee in an email interview.

Franco is up against Zimmer (Dune), Greenwood (The Power Of The Dog), Nicholas Britell (Don’t Look Up) and Alberto Iglesias (Parallel Mothers) in the Best Original Score category at the Oscars to be held in Los Angeles on March 27.

Prior to Encanto, Wee and Franco had collaborated on a few other projects including Kung Fu Panda 3, Dope, TAG and the music for Universal Beijing Resort’s “Kung Fu Panda Land Of Awesomeness” theme park.

“She took a chance on me earlier in my career and even after doing countless films and projects together, I’m always grateful to get that call (for the next gig),” said Wee, who was himself recently nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing by the Cinema Audio Society Awards for his work in Encanto.

“It means a lot to be nominated. I’m very proud to be the first Malaysian and Sarawakian to be able to do this at this level.

“I want the next generation of composers, producers and engineers who are like me to say ‘I can do that as well’ when they hear my story,” he said.

Although he has been based in the United States for 11 years, the 34-year-old said his heart still beats for his home country.

The musician has worked on a few major projects in Malaysia. In 2015, Wee worked with songwriter Rendra Zawawi on Zee Avi’s Arena Cahaya which was featured in the hit movie Ola Bola.

That song not only won the Best Theme Song at the Malaysia Film Festival but also clinched the Best Original Song gong at Taipei’s Golden Horse Film Awards in 2016.

In 2017, Wee and Rendra wrote Together We Rise, the closing ceremony song for the 29th SEA Games which Malaysia hosted.

“I try to go back to my hometown Kuching, or just any part of Malaysia whenever I get a chance. To quote a famous line from a movie ‘There’s no place like home’,” added Wee.