Sumolah! a Film Production Diary

Sumolah - in cinemas this week!

2007-05-07T01:28:00.000+08:00

Make a date to catch Sumolah in cinemas near you, from May 10th onwards!!! And catch the stars of the film, at roadshows in your state!

9 May * TGV Cinemas, KLCC (Charity Show) 7.30pm
with Afdlin Shauki, Awie, Inthira Charoenpura

10 May * MBO Galaxy, Ampang 8.00pm
with Afdlin, Awie, Patrick Teoh, Inthira Charoenpura

11 May * TGV Bukit Raja, Klang 8.00pm
with Afdlin, Awie, Patrick

12 May * TGV Kinta City Shopping Centre, Ipoh 3.00pm
* Mega Cineplex Prai Megamall, Butterworth 8.00pm
with Afdlin, Awie, Patrick

13 May * GSC Queensbay, Penang 1.00pm
* Cathay Prangin Mall, Penang 4.00pm
with Afdlin, Awie, Patrick

18 May * Star Cineplex, Kuching 8.00pm
with Afdlin, Awie, Patrick

19 May * KK Cineplex Growball, Kota Kinabalu 3.00pm
* Cathay, Kota Kinabalu 7.00pm
with Afdlin, Awie, Patrick

20 May * Tha Mall Cineplex, Brunei 3.00pm
with Afdlin, Awie, Patrick

Coming May 10th to a theatre near you!

2007-03-21T21:54:00.000+08:00

After an intense period of waiting for a cinematic release date, we are proud to announce that Sumo-lah will be in cinemas on May 10th, 2007.

Yes, it's confirmed! We received official confirmation today from the relevant authorities of a cinematic release date of May 10th. We all breath a sigh of release here at Vision Works HQ, as the wait for this letter has had us gnawing at our fingertips. In light of this news, we kick-start our camapign to promote the film so, spread the word y'all.

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM VISION WORKS SDN BHD: Sumo attire

2007-02-09T17:00:00.000+08:00

Due to some misunderstanding we would like to clarify a point which has come up about the proper attire for sumo wrestling. We posted pictures showing some of the wrestlers wearing t-shirts over their mawashi (cawat). The pictures did come with a caption stating that the wrestlers were rehearsing prior to a take (a recording). However we have received comments that in proper sumo bouts no wrestler would be wearing t-shirts.

We are fully aware of this but realise that there may be people out there who are not - therefore we would like to stress that at no point in our shoot was there a recording of sumo wrestlers wearing anything but the required mawashi over tight shorts allowed in amateur wrestling bouts. Thank you.

Sumolah - in cinemas February 2007

2006-11-07T19:34:00.000+08:00

Sumolah's film poster - First released on Afdlin's blog, you've heard it folks!

"The movie editing is almost finished and dubbing should start by the middle of the month. Estimated release date will be February 2007."
~Are you ready for the big show? Afdlin Shauki

Promote the film, and put up the poster on your blogs!

Sumolah quick updates

2006-09-26T17:35:00.000+08:00

hello! Just a quick update that Sumolah's still in the early stages of post production editing... and the film might just be slated up for release next year. When exactly? Watch this space to find out.

And it's a wrap!

2006-08-20T11:33:00.000+08:00

Principal Photography for Sumolah is finally complete - as of early this morning at 3.22am. We shot out last scene beneath the towering Twin Towers in sleepy Kg Baru. And the moment Afdlin called "It's a wrap for Sumolah", everyone belted out mixed signals. Some of sigh of reliefs, others mostly of memories and friendship bonds made having come to an end, accompanied by hugs and handshakes, smiles and almost cries.

After spending 63 days, through thick and thin, with mad deadlines and the memorable 10-days in Fukuoka - how can any of the team members not feel a sudden void of missing the Sumolah family now that the film's over? I know, I'll miss everyone despite it all.

But for Afdlin and the Vision Works team, it's not over yet. There's still editing, audio dubbing, and a whole lot of other set of preparations to get Sumolah OUT THERE for you awesome people! Nokotta!

live from LUCCT: Sumo tourney, 3rd bout

2006-08-12T19:21:00.000+08:00

Outback Sushi vs Diamond Sushi

live frm LUCCT: Day 2 - Sumo Tournament

2006-08-12T18:41:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the 15th Amateur Sumo Tournament organized by the Association of Sushi Restaurants Malaysia, sponsored by Celcom. Live on location, these photos comes to you from Cyberjaya.

The dohyo all ready to go for the first match of the day.

The scoreboard and Amateur Sumo Tournament

Afdlin and Heil, along with an army of cameras.

Referees and the rikishi blocking before take.

building the Dohyo

2006-08-07T16:02:00.000+08:00

Leading up to our final few days of filming, our Art Department team has been working hard and challenged into builing a sumo dohyo set from scratch, where our biggest scenes of the film will be held.

Our confirmed location for this set is at the Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology's auditorium. And set building has been on-going since Friday evening. I dropped by this afternoon, and it's looking awesome.

They're still at the clay laying stage and it's going to take a few days for it to harden.

We've even got a roller to compact the clay to ensure it can carry the rikishi's weight.

Filming at the dohyo commences August 10th onwards. If any of you are still interested in being an extra as audience for this, please leave your phone numbers at sumolah (@) gmail (dot) com. Some of you who've emailed us, did not reply with your phone numbers. Please do. Cheers!

Domo arigato, Fukuoka!

2006-08-07T15:41:00.000+08:00

The cast and crew are back in KL after an amazing 10 days of filming, which also turned out to be a touching fellowship exchange among us, the Japanese rikishi and the wonderfully dedicated Japanese film crew from AND film.

We're glad to have come through with such a tight schedule and now ready to take on our final 14 days of filming back in Malaysia.

Our deepest appreciation and gratitude goes out to the City of Fukuoka, the Fukuoka Film commission, Fukuoka City Hall, the rikishi of Kyushu University, AND films and all who've extended their help in one way or another. Not forgetting Amir, a Malaysian student studying in Fukuoka, who've delighted our Japanese film crew with his Japanese by being a part of our team.

Arigato gozaimasu!

The old dohyo, where we shot the sumo practices.

The student rikishi who helped us and were part of Sumolah.

Afdlin, Awie & Radhi among the rikishi at the dohyo.

They're excited and happy rikishi.

The cast & crew at Kawabata shopping street, where we filmed at.

behind the scenes

2006-08-02T20:44:00.000+08:00

It was a proud moment for myself and the other Vision Works Company Directors, seeing the cast & crew gather at KLIA last saturday, all wearing their green & black vision works shirts. We had come a long way from the days we ran an office without a floor or airconditioning cos we couldn't afford it! We felt like proud parents sending the kids off to college. Sniff...sniff....brings a tear to my eye!

It's hard to describe the amount of energy that goes on behind the production process. The time and energy to organize it all so that people can do their work and make a film. While the majority of the crew & main cast are filming in Fukuoka, some of the crew stayed behind to get things organised for the rest upon their return to KL. over the last few days, Along (PM), Paul (Head Art Dept) and Nat (PM) have been working tirelessly to scout for locations and meet with the appropriate people to give us permisssion to shoot at those locations for the very big sumo tournament scene we are scheduled to shoot next week. Thanks to those 3, their helpers and the very kind people they met today, we have ourselves a location and much more! THANK YOU!

For the rest in Japan, they have been shooting like crazy! and the crew from AND Films Ltd have been ever so helpful and accommodating, not only ferrying the crew here and there, but also translating menus and acting as tour guides for everyone. Thanks to AND Films for all your help. If you live in Fukuoka, the crew will be out filming at Dazaifu Shrine tomorrow. It's gona be a busy scene with an estimated 1000 visitors to the shrine.

Heading to Fukuoka

2006-07-25T13:10:00.000+08:00

The cast and crew will be flying off to Fukuoka, Japan this Friday night arriving Saturday morning. Everyone's excited and ready to go. It's going to be an intense 8-day filming in various locations around the city including with the University rikishi.

Want to be an extra?

2006-07-16T01:47:00.001+08:00

The cast and crew are on a short three day break this weekend, from the gruelling month of work. It's a well deserved break and time to recouperate for everyone. We resume shoot at Boleh Sushi set in Bandar Puteri on Tuesday, with Sai returning from Bangkok for another week of filming with us, before everyone heads off to Fukuoka, Japan come July 28th for the 8-day filming.

If anyone's interested in becoming an extra on the film - WE WANT YOU! We've got a huge scene where we need 1000 extras to watch a Sumo Tournament. So, leave us a message here with your email!

p.s. this is not the same role given away as the Celcom contest.

Not wrestling, Sumo-lah!

2006-07-15T23:12:00.000+08:00

What's going to be exciting about watching Sumolah later once it's out in cinemas coming December 2006, is actually getting to watch the actors in the mawashi, complete Sumo wrestling loincloths! And performing the Sumo in as realistic as possible amateur tournament style. Afdlin and a few of the crew had gone to Fukuoka late last year to actually do some research including attend a real Sumo tournament and wrestle with real rikishi (wrestlers) at the university.

From that experience, they came back and began learning and rehearsing sumo with the Malaysian Sumo Association. So everything you'll be watching, will be as real as it gets. Including the mawashi which was bought and imported from Japan.

Here are photos from the filming of a scene of the Diamond Sushi team practicing sumo in their snazzy gym.

Hassan (Terry Gallyot) being dressed up with the mawashi.

Akira (Gurmit Singh), all ready to go.

Hassan (Terry) & Mickey (Gavin Yap) ready with their shiko.

The Unsung Heroes

2006-07-12T02:04:00.000+08:00

...and here are some of the crew members without whose tireless dedication, none of us would look any good.
In no particular order:

Artiste Liaison Manager Anne, Wardrobe Asst Aida, & Line Producer Zona Marie

Artiste Liaison Assistant Shuki & Propsmaster Wek

2nd Assistant Director Shima

Wardrobe Mistress & Make-up Artist Shada

Official Photographer Acai

2nd Director Michihiro Kubota & Location Manager (Japan) Tomoko Kubota

Assistant Cameraman & Focus Puller Badri

Wardrobe Pilot & Assistant Awang

Set Production Assistant Dayak

Director of Photography Helmi Yusof

1st Assistant Director O

Lighting crew Wan

Set Production Assistant Risz

Make-up Artist Jerry

Production Pilot Tam

Production Pilot Nordin

Sai's mum & manager, Supaporn with Sai's Language coach Bront

Art Director Chriz & Production Designer Paul

Flawless Diamonds

2006-07-11T22:27:00.000+08:00

I am Tadano. Owner of the glorious Diamond Sushi. My brilliant team will be fighting against that of the pathetic Boleh Sushi owned by Honda (Patrick Teoh). If you asked me, they sound more like Tak Boleh Sushi. They haven't a chance against my boys. Akira (Gurmit Singh) is my son and together with Mickey (Gavin Yap) and Hassan (Terry Gallyot), we will kick-ass at the tournament.

Diamond Sushi team's first night out

2006-07-10T11:32:00.000+08:00

The opposing team that will fight against Boleh Sushi's Ramlee, Haris and Andy is the mean, nutty and obnoxious Diamond Sushi team played by Gurmit Singh as Akira, Terry Gallyot as Hassan and Gavin Yap as Mickey; and headed by Ben Tan as Tadano and Akira's father.

Last nite was the first time the three got together for their appearance in the film. We shot at True Fitness USJ Taipan, who were our kind location sponsors, from 7am until 9am this morning! It was a mad but fun filming the night out.

Kudos to the dedicated film crew and amazing cast for being so patient and professional despite everyone's tiredness keeping up. We'll be moving back into the Boleh Sushi set on Tuesday morning for the next two-three weeks!

Here's a sneak peak video of the Diamond Sushi team in training.

Yeah, that's Gavin in the mohawk... tsk.

Get a part on Sumolah! Celcom contest

2006-07-08T02:21:00.000+08:00

Want a part in Sumolah? Join teh Sumolah Celcom SMS competition by typing "SUMOLAH" then send it to "27777". You stand a chance to win cool handphones and a walk on role with Afdlin Shauki, Phua Chu Kang's Gurmit Singh, Inthira Charoenpura and the whole Sumolah cast. Or maybe even win a chance to go on our film shoot to Fukuoka, Japan!
Contest runs until 15 July!

More details at the Celcom site. Or http://wap.celcom.com.my/

Behind the Scenes, sneak peak videos

2006-07-04T02:59:00.000+08:00

Boleh Sushi - Siti and Akira

Boleh Sushi - Ramlee, Siti & Akira

Boleh Sushi, homemade sushi restaurant

2006-07-04T02:16:00.000+08:00

If you've read up Sumolah's story synopsis, you'd realise that alot of our scenes are placed in a homey family run sushi restaurant run by Honda (Patrick Teoh) and his daughter, Siti (Sai). This is where Ramlee (Afdlin) ends up working and gets conned into joining their sumo wrestling team.

As most of our key scenes will be shot in Boleh Sushi, it was such a headache for our team to look for a location suitable for the film. We sought and bargained with people of existing Japanese sushi restaurants. But of course, no one would let us shut down their business to let us shoot in their premises for more than two weeks! We'd have to buy out their business lah like that! So we went for the choice of building a sushi restaurant from scratch!

Seeking all over town, we rented out a new shop lot unit in Bandar Puteri Puchong, near Giant Supermarket which was the perfect location for us. A corner lot which could look like three shops in a row.

The idea initially was to put two more shops beside Boleh Sushi on the left and right, for some of the film's story set ups. We'll also build up some mamak stalls for a few scenes later on.

So this is what the place looks like BEFORE. And who was left in charge to make a miracle out of this lot in FOUR short days? Paul Hasham was our film's set builder. First time building anything for a film, and previously only having ever built sets for theatre and real homes, this was his craziest moments, I bet! Hahah.. FOUR days. His deadline was insane.

And this is the result AFTER---

When I walked into the restaurant the first time on Sunday...

OMG. I really felt like it was a real restaurant. You wouldn't have guessed that behind the plywood panellings from the outside, that this was a bonafide Sushi restaurant! Art Department boleh!

So Sunday was pre-light day, where the crew got themselves busy adjusting to how the cameras are going to move about for today's scenes. And they started rigging up the lights.

This is Boleh Sushi! We even have the signage for it! Innit cool?! ^_^ Even the uniforms of the cast as staff of the restaurant has cool patches sewed on. Remind me to get pics of that later.

Today's scene was the re-opening of Boleh Sushi, hence all the flowers. It's a big scene with all the cast in it - Afdlin, Inthira @ Sai, Gurmit, Awie, Radhi Khalid, Kartina Aziz, Ben Tan, Sabrina Hassan, Chichi & Mohd Afif (the little boy from PGL the Musical).

The camera on a track, inside Boleh Sushi.

The crew, taking it easy in between takes.

Boleh Sushi's exterior.

If you happen to be in the Bandar Puteri neighbourhood, and see these massive lights and generator vans outside, you know its the Sumolah crew... We'll be there til late July.

More production photos

2006-07-04T01:55:00.000+08:00

More photos up for you guys to check out... I've already got em pro photos in CD now. I just need some time to sort them out before I can post them here. Meantime, enjoy...

Ramlee (Afdlin) with his Mak (Kartina Aziz) in their home in Kg Baru.

Mummy confronts Ramlee, for being 30 and jobless!

We blocked off a busy street in Cyberjaya to set up the opening scene of Ramlee weaving through traffic on his motorbike.

2nd Director, Michihiro, pretending to make sushi...

Afdlin and the crew, during pre-lighting set up at the Boleh Sushi Restaurant.

Afdlin and crew, outside Boleh Sushi, doing a run through of the scenes that will be shot the next day.

Tomoko writing out in Japanese some of Boleh Sushi's menu.

Patrick Teoh, waiting his cue outside Boleh Sushi.

Just amusing himself, watching a surprise guest enter Boleh Sushi during a scene.

Sai & Gurmit with the crew and make-up, in between shots.

Recording clapper board...

Sai, Gurmit & Afdlin in action.

Sumolah - the story

2006-07-02T22:34:00.000+08:00

Premise
What would happen if a hotheaded and unambitious Malay man was forced to enter the rigourous and challenging world of sumo? Would he give up on the trials and tribulations he finds himself committed to? Or will his relationship with the father-figure he never had create a purpose for him to rise above the challenges and endeavour to do his best?

Story Synopsis
Ramlee (Afdlin Shauki) is a down and out Malay boy who can’t seem to hold down a job, much to his Mother’s (Kartina Aziz) disappointment. Out of a job and out of money, he stumbles across a challenge by sushi restaurant owner Honda (Patrick Teoh) to “eat all you can for free food – within a time limit”.

Hungry and desperate, Ramlee attempts the challenge, and fails. In compensation, Honda lets Ramlee take a job at the restaurant to pay off his due. Ramlee becomes a member of the Boleh Sushi shop staff, along with Harith (Awie) and Andy (Radhi Khalid).

Ramlee is immediately attracted to Honda’s beautiful daughter, Siti (Intira Charoenpura), who is half-Japanese and half-Malay. He begins to learn the meaning of having good work, good friends and family.

One day he learns that part of his obligation is to take part in the Malaysian Sushi Association Amateur Sumo Wrestling Championships held by the local Japanese owners of sushi restaurants.

Whilst taking part in the initial friendly bout, Akira (Gurmit Singh), Siti’s ex-boyfriend, humiliates him in public. It is only after that that Ramlee finds out that he had been tricked into working for Boleh Sushi because Honda was desperate for a third member for their team.

Ramlee has to make a choice – whether to stay on and fight for Boleh Sushi in the upcoming Championships, or to give up on his new-found family.

Production Photos

2006-07-02T20:30:00.000+08:00

Hey'all! I've got some photos 'ere, finally, from my camera tho. I'm still trying to some more 'pro' pics from the official photographer ^_~ In the meantime, enjoy.

Afdlin as Ramlee, on the first day of Principal Photography.

One of our office sets is a funeral parlour. It was weird having to write a letter requesting for 4 coffins. Heheh...

Ramlee and the funeral parlour boss.

At Kepong Metropolitan Park.

2nd AD, Shima, at the monitors.

Inthira Charoenpura as Siti, looks gorgeous on screen.

Afdlin & Shima at the monitors.

Ramlee in his "Boleh Sushi" restaurant uniform.

Inthira with 2nd Director, Michihiro Kubota.

Crane shot from outside Ramlee's house.

One week down, seven to go

2006-06-24T22:04:00.000+08:00

Sumolah's coming to its second week of principal photography in the coming week. The first week has been a hectic flurry of activity for everyone trying to get their footing in the production. All of us practically had only one week prior for pre-production, but it's been amazing how all the departments has been working amazingly intense to meet Afdlin's direction for the film.

Everything is falling into place now - principal photography is going with it's usual minor production hitches, all our artistes are locked in, and we need just one more major location locked in then we're good to go... And that's just for the KL shoot.

We've locked in July 28th - August 5th as our shoot dates in Fukuoka, Japan. So preparations for that like getting the visas done, booking flights and all has to be done this coming week.

That's mostly for my side of Sumolah as LP. I'll try to get photos of the production up as soon as I can grab someone's photos to upload!

Nokotta!

Nokotta, Sumo-lah! Nokotta!

2006-06-13T02:39:00.000+08:00

Yes people! From having just completed Los dan Faun, Afdlin and our amazing crew at Vision Works has jumpstarted Sumo-lah! back into production and everyone's excitedly and hurriedly working to begin shoot this coming weekend.

Tension is mounting at the moment as the crew are being hired one by one very quickly to begin work. Even for myself, as a new team member at Vision Works, jumping in to catch up after this wonderful group of people have spent on the year long in pre-production is kinda daunting. Nevertheless, I'm feeling really very grateful to Afdlin for taking me on board!

I'll be assisting in reviving this production blog and sprucing it up with as much information about the production as possible. Pictures, stories, and loads of interesting happenings. So, hopefully you'll stay tuned and be as excited as we are about this film!

Meantime, check out the article that appeared in The Star mid-May -- Sumo-Lah to hit local cinemas in December
& Sumo-lah's MySpace

Nokotta!
Zona Marie//Line Producer

Time Ticking away!

2006-01-25T00:38:00.000+08:00

NOKOTTA, NOKOTTA, NOKOTTA!!!
congratulations to Ozeki Tochiazuma for beating Yokozuna Asashioryu at the January Grand Sumo Championship finals in Tokyo. The underdog has shown true fighting spirit to beat the current Grand Champion from Mongolia. For the first time, in a long, long time a native from TOKYO has won ina grand championship final. Kudos to the champion

Most of the things that we need to do to execute the production has been done but production is yet to start. The reason is we are still waiting on the production funds to come in. My greatest fear is we are going to lose a lot of the things we have prepared for but i feel like Tochiazuma right now, despite the odds, i am going to believe in myself and i am going to fight-fight-fight until we get this movie made.

The Producer

Producer's nightmare

2006-01-18T12:22:00.000+08:00

AHMAD NISFU RAWKS!

Well, it's been 7 months since work on SUMOLAH has started and though the end in sight the problems keep piling up. If i pulled a strand of hair for every obstacle that we have encountered, I am pretty sure that i would be botak by now. Did i mention i hate capital investors.

Anyways, My Assistants have been working hard working their asses of trying to keep to deadlines and make sure everything is in order. It looks like my first Assistant Director has jumped ship, without even telling me but in my heart i understand his reasons. It's just his typically Malay attitude towards dealing with situations that i cannot tahan. My co-producer is also missing, so i am working on this baby alone. Thankfully, my beautifoo wife (she's such a trooper) has agreed to jump into the assistant producer shoes and is doing a heck of a job.

Yesterday night we had a major drama incident happening when GURMIT SINGH (aka Phua Chu Kang) who is in town for SUMO training, realised that he had rashes due to possibly being bitten by a mite or it's buglike kin in his hotel suite. This is a major concern for us as it will not do for our actor's to have rashes when appearing on camera in their mawashis. So,he was rushed to the clinic and was dutifully given a job to relieve him of the reaction. Now he is recuperating in his room, so that he can recover just in time for SUMO training where we will put him through more physical abuse. heehee. But KUDOS to GURMs for being such a trooper and an insanely commited actor.

More notes to follow....

NOKOTTA, NOKOTTA, NOKOTTA!!!!

Producer

I LOVE THE CHALLENGE, BUT I HATE THE WORK.

2006-01-16T03:11:00.000+08:00

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, illegal immigrants and legal aliens, i am talking about producing FILMs. Memang susah jadi produser filem ni. Sentiasa perlu memikir cara untuk mengurangkan kos supaya filem kita tak rugi, mesti ruthless dan hati kering. On top of that dealing with the financiers are a major pain in the ass, as they don't really care about the movie content itself and what the artist is trying to achieve with the creative endeavour, but rather "HOW WILL WE GET OUR MONEY BACK?", itu aje. It's just business to them and this is how they got succesful running their business.
Getting in bed with them is a necessary evil, but no matter how good they say their deal is, you always get a feeling that ur ass has been penetrated by a long blunt object after a session of dealings with them.
Yes!! my fellow ROMANs.... Movie making in MALAYSIA is a major bitch and a half and then some. As a director, we are at the constant mercy of the producer, but to be fair, the producer is answerable to the investor/financial institution/ Ah-Long/ Funder/money man. Just look at Castello, the FILM literally looked like a 2 hour Julie's commercial. MONEY talks bullshit walks.
Sometimes i wish that life would be easier but then again i realise, nothing in this life is free. Anyone who believe that he can get away with things for free, has an inmate number waiting for him at penjara KAJANG.
On a lighter note, Gurmit Singh is coming down from Singapore today to do SUMO training with us. He will be here from the 16th till the 19th January.
We wish him good luck and happy thighs.
NOKOTTA, NOKOTTA, NOKOTTA!!!!!

AFDLIN
ACTOR, Director, Producer.
.