There really has been nothing quite like this in Malaysian cinematic history. Johnny Bikin Filem (Johnny Makes Films) is a film project that has been shrouded in mystery for the last 15 years. Rumours are rife about this film, its controversies, and hardly anyone knew what had happened to it ... until now.
It's getting even more mysterious as a webpage has suddenly emerged without any prior news or indication. This webpage announces that Johnny Bikin Filem will finally be released in cinemas in January next year.
The film, a murder mystery directed by film educator and one of Malaysia's foremost film critics, Dr Anuar Nor Arai, is set in 50s Singapore, about a gangster who gets involved in filmmaking. (In that era, Singapore was the hub of the Malayan film industry.) It's rumoured to star Erma Fatima, Jalaluddin Hassan and M. Amin. The project was reportedly the brainchild of Anuar's where he envisioned a learning platform for his students, so they could learn filmmaking hands-on and by working alongside professionals. Unfortunately, the original cut of the film was allegedly FIVE-AND-A-HALF hours long! That was rumoured to be the reason it was shelved for more than a decade.
Someone who had seen the original cut told me it's extremely watchable despite the running time, and that the art direction is something unseen before in Malaysian films.
This has got to be the most awaited Malaysian film ever! Pray it's not a prank or yet another rumour.