Archive for August, 2008
Aniston Balik Ke NBC
NEW YORK - Bintang Jennifer Aniston disahkan kembali ke pangkuan rangkaian stesen NBC yang pernah menerbitkan sitkom popular, Friends dan melonjakkan namanya.
Menurut jurucakap beliau, Stephen Huvane, Aniston kini terlibat dalam penggambaran drama bersiri 30 Rock musim ketiga untuk stesen itu yang bakal disiarkan pada Oktober depan
“Siri ini pernah memenangi anugerah Golden Globe dan Emmy. Malah Aniston bersama dengan Tina Fey dan Alec Baldwin namun wataknya belum ditetapkan,” katanya. - Agensi
Habis./
Kosmo
OBITUARY - DATUK AHMAD MAHMUD (1926-2008) : A Role Model To All
The indefatigable Ahmad Mahmud.
HAFIDAH SAMAT pays tribute to the gentlemanly actor who made screen heroes and villains in Malay films equally unforgettable through his legendary portrayals.
He gave a convincing performance in the heartwrenching Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan.
HE is best remembered as Dr Ismadi, the soft-spoken “pedantic” antagonist in Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s classic film, Ibu Mertuaku. He was also unforgettable in his portrayal of the handsome, righteous and dignified Malay hero Hang Jebat back in the 1960s.
Fans of actor-director-producer Datuk Ahmad Mahmud would recall his definitive interpretations of these two roles in the films directed by P. Ramlee in 1957 and 1962 respectively.
Ahmad died of kidney failure on Wednesday at 10pm at his residence in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya. He proved he was a fighter and a hero till the end. He was 82.
“We knew he was suffering but he never gave up fighting the illness. He was strong emotionally and he never complained,” said his granddaughter Alita Aris.
Ahmad was admitted to Pantai Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur on July 22 for a high fever. He slipped into a coma and was treated in the intensive care unit for five days.
According to Alita, Ahmad had been going for dialysis treatment.
“He had been physically weak since he was diagnosed (in 2001) but my grandfather had very strong willpower.”
Ahmad is survived by his wife Datin Khadijah Mohamad, three children and nine grandchildren.
His screen life remains evergreen, and the good-natured and dedicated actor will be fondly remembered by Malaysians.
It was not just Ramlee who loved working with him; other film directors were equally awed by his professionalism. He was serious about his work and humble to fans and friends.
Born Ahmad B. Mahmud in Rembau, Negri Sembilan, he began his acting career in 1951.
He was regarded one of the pioneers in Jalan Ampas studio in Singapore and successfully collaborated with the heavyweights in the industry including Ramlee, Siput Sarawak, Nordin Ahmad, late Normadiah and Datuk Sarimah Ahmad.
Before he ventured into acting, Mahmud had done various odd jobs and worked as a rubber tapper, painter, bus conductor, and timekeeper.
When he joined film studio Cathay Keris Film, he was summoned by the late director Ho Ah Loke to act in Perwira di Lautan (alongside Mimi Nordin).
In 1951, Ahmad was featured in the lead role in Matahari, a black-and-white film directed by Datuk Maria Menado, Omar Rojik and Aziz Jaafar.
A year later, Ahmad signed up with Shaw Brothers to make Istana Impian, which starred Saadiah, and also for Gadis Buta, with Rosini Merican.
He was a darling among moviegoers. When he played good roles, he was exceptionally good, and when he portrayed bad guys, he was even better!
He played the villain in Raja Bersiong about a ruthless king who consumes human blood. The movie, a Merdeka Filem Productions and directed by Datuk Jamil Sulong, was screened in 1967, the same year he left Merdeka Filem.
During an interview with the New Straits Times in 1987, Ahmad was quoted as saying that Raja Bersiong was one of his favourites.
He was brilliant in the role of Lahuma in the heart-wrenching Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan directed by Jamil (Sulong) in 1983. The film, about the struggles of a poor family and adapted from Shahnon Ahmad’s novel, also starred Sarimah, Puteri Salbiah and Melissa Saila.
Ahmad had always dreamt of becoming a film director. Money, it seemed, had been the setback.
When the local film industry faced uncertainties and businesses slumped, the actor forked out RM164,000 to buy film equipment for his newly established production company, Ahmad Mahmood Film Company.
Ahmad’s maiden directorial, Mama oh Mama, in 1967 was a self-produced tearjerker starring Dharma Harun Al-Rashid and Azean Irdawaty.
One of his outstanding directorial achievements was for Dendam Dari Pusara in 1982, the chilling thriller in which he also starred, and earned him the Best Actor trophy at the Malaysian Film Festival in 1983.
Later, Ahmad produced and directed many films including May 13 and Komplot.
Perhaps not many knew that Ahmad also sang. He sang in his own movies such as Pertarungan, Isi Neraka, Sri Andalas and Gerhana.
Ahmad was awarded the Ahli Mangku Negara in 1987 and bestowed the Pingat Datuk Setia DiRaja, which carries the title Datuk, in 2005.
A TRUE PROFESSIONAL
SOME of his close friends share their memories of the debonair Malay film star, Datuk Ahmad Mahmud, with us.
Datuk Sarimah Ahmad, actress:
Ahmad was a visionary actor. His family was his priority and he always planned for their future. He used to tell me that he didn’t want his wife, children and grandchildren to face hardship after his retirement. His death is a great loss to the industry and I will miss him.
Datuk Maria Menado, actress:
He was a soft-spoken and lively gentleman. My only regret is that I didn’t have the opportunity to visit him in the hospital because I was away visiting my children in Melbourne. I’m going to miss him.
Datuk Aziz Satar, actor:
Ahmad was a hardworking actor. He was open and willing to learn from others. He was a fighter who was passionate about the industry. Young actors should try to emulate his positive attitude.
Shuhaimi Baba, film director and producer:
When I was growing up, Uncle Ahmad used to come by my house to visit my father. My dad used to call him Ahmad Pego. He (Ahmad) used to lament about the hardships of being an actor.
He once told me: “Filem Melayu mesti ada semangat Melayu.” (Malay movies must be instilled with the Malay spirit). I will remember this valuable advice for the rest of my life.
New Straits Times
Yasmin Focuses On Emotions In ‘talentime’
Yasmin Ahmad (sitting centre) with the cast of new feature film called ‘Talentime’ including Jaclyn Victor (standing right) and , Ida Nerina, Adibah Noor, Harith Iskandar beside Jaclyn.
IPOH: Renowned film-maker Yasmin Ahmad is back in her directing shoes for her new feature film called Talentime.
Currently shooting in Ipoh, the movie is about a inter-school talent competition among schoolchildren.
Yasmin concentrates on two families; one is a conservative Indian family while the other is a Malay-Eurasian family.
“But more importantly, the movie concentrates on human behaviour and emotions,” said Yasmin in an interview.
“The idea behind my movie is that as humans, we have to go through a lot of pain and some measure of suffering before we can reach greater heights.
“But more accurately, the idea really comes from my own observations that some of the best moments in my life were those moments where you failed and how that shapes you as an individual.
“So here is a simple story about the struggles the kids go through for this competition and with it is a love story about a Malay-Eurasian girl called Melor played by Pamela Chong, falling for a deaf and dumb Indian guy played by newcomer Mahesh Jugal Kishore.”
Other stars include Mohd Syafie Naswip, who made his debut performance in Mukhsin, Jaclyn Victor, Ida Nerina, Adibah Noor, Harith Iskandar and Azean Irdawaty.
Talentime will feature a lovely soundtrack O Re Piya, from Bollywood’s acclaimed love story last year, Aaja Nachle.
New Straits Times