FILM producer Erma Fatima is returning to the director’s chair with Langit 2 Warna, more than a decade after her last film, reported Harian Metro.
Erma, whose real name is Fatimah Rahmad Ali, 58, has also cast several actors she has worked with in the past.
She said she was unfazed by perceptions that her casting choices could be viewed as “cronyism”.
“Of course they are my cronies. Heliza Helmi, Hazwani Helmi and Zizi Kirana are like younger sisters to me, and we also attend religious classes together,” she said at a press conference to introduce the cast of Langit 2 Warna on Tuesday.
She said working with familiar actors would also help ensure a smoother production.
“Their selection also makes my work easier. I do not want to deal with artistes on set who behave like divas.”
Written by Erma, the film also features prominent Indonesian stars Christine Hakim and Reza Rahadian.
Ummi Nazeera plays the lead role, alongside veteran actors Eman Manan, Datuk Tarmimi Siregar and Datin Seri Umie Aida.
Exploring themes of family, love and religion, Langit 2 Warna will be filmed in Malaysia, Indonesia and Egypt beginning November.
> A wild male elephant named Sulong, who drew public attention after being spotted injured along the East-West Highway in Gerik, has moved into a forested area in Kelantan, reported Berita Harian.
Wildlife and National Parks Department director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said personnel have continued to monitor Sulong’s movements and condition through drones and regular ground patrols.
“Based on recent monitoring, the elephant has moved towards Jeli and is no longer on the highway,” Abdul Kadir said.
“Sulong was last seen in a forested area in Kelantan.”
He said drones would be deployed at suitable locations to track Sulong’s movements and whereabouts, while its front-leg injury would continue to be monitored and assessed according to conditions on the ground.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
