Last week, we were invited for a private screening of the ‘LOVE’ Trilogy by director, Sanif Olek, held at Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC). Three of his short films – ‘Lost Sole’, ‘Ala Folie’ and ‘Ameen’, were presented. Each feature lasted under 25minutes. For icing on the cake – a raw preview of his latest, ‘Ramuan Rahasia’.

Sanif’s creative work began in 1996, heavily directing and producing dramas and info-documentaries. This man have done it all!

Among his current prominent portfolio include ‘Segaris Sinar 1988′, ‘Sewa’ (Episode 1 and and ‘Vanilla’ and the concurrent ‘Makan Angin’ hosted by Najip Ali and Chef Wan now showing on Channel Suria. All that is left for his film, ‘Ramuan Rahasia’ are the scenes to be shot in Australia. G! Juice spoke to Sanif as he shared his enthusiasm.

All of your films are independently funded – what keeps you going?

I’m always inspired by people. Everyday when I take the MRT or bus, there are always people or situation that inspires me. The auntie picking up can from the bins, the late shift workers asleep on their seats, I can’t help but imagine the life after these people have stepped out of the public transport. Just like the this incident that struck me at the hawker center – a PRC was sitting alone and crying while talking to the phone. A friend was telling me that he was talking to a family back home. A death has occured. So being alone is not a good situation to hear sad news.

What’s really special about the Sultan mosque for you?

Masjid Sultan has always been special for me. It’s so steeped in history and visually, the mosque is very striking. So for a filmmaker like myself, the mosque inspires me. Walk inside and you can feel its history.

We love Lost Sole – was it an emotional period for you to actually go through that in memory of your father?

Finishing Lost Sole was a liberating process for me. So much of my life is in this film, including the passing of my father, Haji Olek Bakar. When I was about 8 years old, my late father came home from a Friday noon solat (prayer) at the mosque bare-footed. The thought of him walking home with no footwear for about 2 kilometers amazed me as a child.

The image of him at the house doorway looking exhausted, frustrated and helpless inspired me. As I grow older, I discovered that missing footwear at the mosque is a regular occurrence and often wonder the circumstances that would have allowed such occurrences in the “house of God”. Lost Sole was filmed post-911 in late 2005 – a time when I realized having ‘Mohamad’ in my name would be a dangerous badge of honour, especially when travelling to the West – where I feared for my being and freedom. An irony indeed!

We heard of your Ramuan Rahsia (The Missing Ingredient) through your teasers. Tell us more.

Ramuan Rahasia is a labour of love. I’ve decided to screen selected clips to let lovers of Singaporean film that Ramuan Rahasia is still well and on-going. I’m humbled and thankful by the support and love projected especially by the Malay community to this film production. The consistent words of support keeps me going. I think the world is ready for what could possibly be the first full-length, contemporary Malay-language feature from Singapore. The Singaporean Malay – our present being – needs to be told.

What’s next?

The screening was apt to announce Cathay Keris Film’s securing distribution for Ramuan Rahasia when it’s completed. This means that we will get to see Ramuan Rahasia in Cathay cineplexes. If you know your history, Cathay Keris Films and the Malay cinema goes way back – legendary directors like M Amin and Hussain Haniff began their film careers at the Cathay Keris Film studio.  Now to get more money to complete the film!

Syabas, Sanif! Downloadable film posters are now available from reeljuice.net.

More videos available form http://www.youtube.com/user/sanifolek

All images credit to Sanif Olek.