Kayzee Cortez
Film Director and CEO of 4CG Productions (Sarawakian Film company)
1. Is Censorship relevant to your job? How does it affect your work?
As a filmmaker, censorship is very relevant to our Job. It is what controls the content to whatever material we produce and sometimes it affects the genuine aesthetics of a certain story or project. Some censorship acts such as in our country are very strict. The rules that they state sometimes are demanding and to my opinion ridiculous. They control a certain piece of work too much that they end killing the piece. Rules such as “a film produced in Malaysia and which is required by FINAS approval must 90% in the Malaysian dialect Melayu.
2. Describe your perception towards censorship, be it negative, positive, or neutral.
To me, censorship is important and it is necessary in our field to create certain control and observation. But it must be the right kind of censorship. Censorship to dictate how a certain story or script is written and how it must look or sound is plainly a way of creative control, and thus we end up losing the art in our field. Filmmaking is all about expressing one’s thoughts and experience. About sharing a story no matter how fictionalized or how down right true to the fact it is. It is about emotion and the ability to awe people and influence them in a certain way. In filmmaking, the term freedom of speech is a very large and integral part of it, so to deny it that privilege would be a total disappointment and disgrace. However, censorship is necessary so that we could control the audience that we choose to showcase our products to, such as the given maturity rating for a certain film. In that way, they can control the target audience of a film without destroying its aesthetics and originality. It is sad to say that some countries have yet to learn and implement this type of system in a proper manner.
3. Have you/ Do you practice ‘self-censoring’? (Self-censorship = The exercising of control over what one says and does, especially to avoid criticism)
For me, I do practice a certain amount of self-censorship. But just like in any form of etiquette, I practice it in areas of my life where it is necessary. We as filmmakers, especially documentarians, deliver our work with a purpose of uncovering factual truth. But me as an individual, believe that there are always two sides to a story and both sides should be considered in any investigation. Each side deserves the proper respect and privacy no matter how touchy the subject may be. So professionally yes, I do practice a form of self-censorship, but personally when it comes to those in my inner trusted circle, I tend to be more open and speak my mind freely. However, if I were to produce a fictional film with a story focusing on a certain experience, or a story I wanted to highlight and showcase a certain culture in my lineage, then I would approach it on a more personal, genuine note instead of being very political or professional about it, because to me, that is the beauty of filmmaking and no form of censorship should disrupt a beautiful piece of art coming into fruition.
4. As a Malaysian, what is your stand towards your government’s forms of censorship?
My stand on my government’s form of censorship is that it is to controlling of the contents being released through the media. Just as I said earlier, film or any other aspect of media is a form of freedom of speech, and when a government dictates that freedom and chooses to control the contents, it just nullifies whatever truth or fact they were trying to deliver. Even in film they try to control race and language, which to me is absurd. Our nation is rich in culture and many heritages and if we fail even to share that through great films or media just because of government restrictions based on race or language, then it would be such a waste and disappointment. Our films, media content and materials end up becoming dull and stagnant. The bars that they have on the creative industry should be brought down and new censorship acts and rules should be implemented. They need to implement more lenient censorship module towards the creative industry, and strengthening their censorship on target audiences a little more.
5. Many Malaysians have resorted to the Internet as a platform for freedom of expression. How has the internet influenced you and your work?
The Internet is a great way to be able to freely express thoughts and opinions, especially regarding our great nation Malaysia, but the Internet can only be one part of a vessel that can carry any creative person’s work out there and to be seen by the people that it is intended to be shown to. I believe that if we had a stronger creative industry in Malaysia, we wont need to rely too much on the Internet. Such as nations with big industries have proven. The Philippines has a very large and booming industry and many of its populace doesn’t have Internet. Yet talent and stories are always being highlighted and spread across the nation because nothing is covered up or altered there whether be it by publication, television or any other mode of media. The same goes for India, Thailand, etc. So personally, the internet is a big help for me to be able to spread my work out there, but I believe that until such time that Malaysia changes their censorship rules, Me and my network of filmmakers would still have to liaise and communicate with people from other industries outside of our nation to get international distribution and marketing if we were to implement real life Malaysian stories into our films.
As a filmmaker, censorship is very relevant to our Job. It is what controls the content to whatever material we produce and sometimes it affects the genuine aesthetics of a certain story or project. Some censorship acts such as in our country are very strict. The rules that they state sometimes are demanding and to my opinion ridiculous. They control a certain piece of work too much that they end killing the piece. Rules such as “a film produced in Malaysia and which is required by FINAS approval must 90% in the Malaysian dialect Melayu.
2. Describe your perception towards censorship, be it negative, positive, or neutral.
To me, censorship is important and it is necessary in our field to create certain control and observation. But it must be the right kind of censorship. Censorship to dictate how a certain story or script is written and how it must look or sound is plainly a way of creative control, and thus we end up losing the art in our field. Filmmaking is all about expressing one’s thoughts and experience. About sharing a story no matter how fictionalized or how down right true to the fact it is. It is about emotion and the ability to awe people and influence them in a certain way. In filmmaking, the term freedom of speech is a very large and integral part of it, so to deny it that privilege would be a total disappointment and disgrace. However, censorship is necessary so that we could control the audience that we choose to showcase our products to, such as the given maturity rating for a certain film. In that way, they can control the target audience of a film without destroying its aesthetics and originality. It is sad to say that some countries have yet to learn and implement this type of system in a proper manner.
3. Have you/ Do you practice ‘self-censoring’? (Self-censorship = The exercising of control over what one says and does, especially to avoid criticism)
For me, I do practice a certain amount of self-censorship. But just like in any form of etiquette, I practice it in areas of my life where it is necessary. We as filmmakers, especially documentarians, deliver our work with a purpose of uncovering factual truth. But me as an individual, believe that there are always two sides to a story and both sides should be considered in any investigation. Each side deserves the proper respect and privacy no matter how touchy the subject may be. So professionally yes, I do practice a form of self-censorship, but personally when it comes to those in my inner trusted circle, I tend to be more open and speak my mind freely. However, if I were to produce a fictional film with a story focusing on a certain experience, or a story I wanted to highlight and showcase a certain culture in my lineage, then I would approach it on a more personal, genuine note instead of being very political or professional about it, because to me, that is the beauty of filmmaking and no form of censorship should disrupt a beautiful piece of art coming into fruition.
4. As a Malaysian, what is your stand towards your government’s forms of censorship?
My stand on my government’s form of censorship is that it is to controlling of the contents being released through the media. Just as I said earlier, film or any other aspect of media is a form of freedom of speech, and when a government dictates that freedom and chooses to control the contents, it just nullifies whatever truth or fact they were trying to deliver. Even in film they try to control race and language, which to me is absurd. Our nation is rich in culture and many heritages and if we fail even to share that through great films or media just because of government restrictions based on race or language, then it would be such a waste and disappointment. Our films, media content and materials end up becoming dull and stagnant. The bars that they have on the creative industry should be brought down and new censorship acts and rules should be implemented. They need to implement more lenient censorship module towards the creative industry, and strengthening their censorship on target audiences a little more.
5. Many Malaysians have resorted to the Internet as a platform for freedom of expression. How has the internet influenced you and your work?
The Internet is a great way to be able to freely express thoughts and opinions, especially regarding our great nation Malaysia, but the Internet can only be one part of a vessel that can carry any creative person’s work out there and to be seen by the people that it is intended to be shown to. I believe that if we had a stronger creative industry in Malaysia, we wont need to rely too much on the Internet. Such as nations with big industries have proven. The Philippines has a very large and booming industry and many of its populace doesn’t have Internet. Yet talent and stories are always being highlighted and spread across the nation because nothing is covered up or altered there whether be it by publication, television or any other mode of media. The same goes for India, Thailand, etc. So personally, the internet is a big help for me to be able to spread my work out there, but I believe that until such time that Malaysia changes their censorship rules, Me and my network of filmmakers would still have to liaise and communicate with people from other industries outside of our nation to get international distribution and marketing if we were to implement real life Malaysian stories into our films.
Chee Ming Boey
Malaysian Artist/Author of Best selling books (When I was a Kid, When I was a Kid 2)
Animator in Blizzard (USA)
1. Is censorship relevant to your job? How does it affect your work?
Censorship is relevant to everything. I once read somewhere that artist should not be censored. Here’s something I am lifting off the web. “One of more of the three biggies, politics, nudity, or religion, is the usual reasons something is censored. An accusation of violating a fundamental freedom of expression is the usual response as well. Two more practical reasons not to censor would be one, people tend to imagine something worse then what was actually censored, and two, it brings more attention to the piece and the artist then they usually would have gotten in the first place. In other words, censorship backfires”. I’m ok with censorship when it is stuff I don’t want minors to see, but when it is about freedom of speech, that’s when I have an issue. I reside both in the U.S. and Asia, and I have never felt the need to censor when I write there as much as I feel the need to when I am back. Asia is far more conservative, and anything to do with religion, especially Islam, is a big no-no. If you’re not sure, it probably shouldn’t be on paper. Writing about political figures too can get you in trouble. However, that isn’t an issue in the U.S. Political cartoons here are especially hard to do, because when they hint corruption or truth that the government is trying to hide, you get into a lot of issues.
2. Describe your perception towards censorship, be it negative, positive, or neutral.
3. Have you/ Do you practice ‘self-censoring’? (Self-censorship = The exercising of control over what one says and does, especially to avoid criticism)
I self censor at times, but it varies case to case. I believe a person has to use tact and common sense. There is no need for censorship as long as I don’t make it distasteful. I don’t think you can avoid criticisms and I don’t tailor my works to protect myself from critics/ feedback.
4. As a Malaysian, what is your stand towards your government’s forms of censorship?
The government in Malaysia is so messed up and because of that, people are curious when things are getting censored because it isn’t censored for the good of the people anymore, it is censored to hide the dirty truth.
5. Many Malaysians have resorted to the Internet as a platform for freedom of expression. How has the internet influenced you and your work?
The Internet is great. U.S used to have a huge lead technology wise, but the web and its ability to provide so much info for free has leveled so much of the playing field. I use it to stay on top of things. I think it is crucial for any artist nowadays if they want to be successful that they have to be aware of things that are trending.
Animator in Blizzard (USA)
1. Is censorship relevant to your job? How does it affect your work?
Censorship is relevant to everything. I once read somewhere that artist should not be censored. Here’s something I am lifting off the web. “One of more of the three biggies, politics, nudity, or religion, is the usual reasons something is censored. An accusation of violating a fundamental freedom of expression is the usual response as well. Two more practical reasons not to censor would be one, people tend to imagine something worse then what was actually censored, and two, it brings more attention to the piece and the artist then they usually would have gotten in the first place. In other words, censorship backfires”. I’m ok with censorship when it is stuff I don’t want minors to see, but when it is about freedom of speech, that’s when I have an issue. I reside both in the U.S. and Asia, and I have never felt the need to censor when I write there as much as I feel the need to when I am back. Asia is far more conservative, and anything to do with religion, especially Islam, is a big no-no. If you’re not sure, it probably shouldn’t be on paper. Writing about political figures too can get you in trouble. However, that isn’t an issue in the U.S. Political cartoons here are especially hard to do, because when they hint corruption or truth that the government is trying to hide, you get into a lot of issues.
2. Describe your perception towards censorship, be it negative, positive, or neutral.
3. Have you/ Do you practice ‘self-censoring’? (Self-censorship = The exercising of control over what one says and does, especially to avoid criticism)
I self censor at times, but it varies case to case. I believe a person has to use tact and common sense. There is no need for censorship as long as I don’t make it distasteful. I don’t think you can avoid criticisms and I don’t tailor my works to protect myself from critics/ feedback.
4. As a Malaysian, what is your stand towards your government’s forms of censorship?
The government in Malaysia is so messed up and because of that, people are curious when things are getting censored because it isn’t censored for the good of the people anymore, it is censored to hide the dirty truth.
5. Many Malaysians have resorted to the Internet as a platform for freedom of expression. How has the internet influenced you and your work?
The Internet is great. U.S used to have a huge lead technology wise, but the web and its ability to provide so much info for free has leveled so much of the playing field. I use it to stay on top of things. I think it is crucial for any artist nowadays if they want to be successful that they have to be aware of things that are trending.
Eric Foo
Independent Sabah Film Maker
1. Is censorship relevant to your job? How does it affect your work?
It affects content, subject matter, portrayals, stories that may be told and distribution.
2. Describe your perception towards censorship, be it negative, positive, or neutral.
I generally regard it as negative. Nonetheless, mature, thinking adults should be able to filter what goes out and in. Reality may be different.
3. Have you/ Do you practice ‘self-censoring’? (Self-censorship = The exercising of control over what one says and does, especially to avoid criticism)
Society does have minimum standards and there should be self imposed filters on what one puts out there. Not so much as to avoid criticism but possible reactions and responses. Freedom if speech doesn't include shouting fire fire in a crowded place when there's no fire.
4. As a Malaysian, what is your stand towards your government’s forms of censorship?
It's too selective and biased towards a view and unable to accept critical views.
5. Many Malaysians have resorted to the Internet as a platform for freedom of expression. How has the internet influenced you and your work?
The gates have been opened and never to be closed.
1. Is censorship relevant to your job? How does it affect your work?
It affects content, subject matter, portrayals, stories that may be told and distribution.
2. Describe your perception towards censorship, be it negative, positive, or neutral.
I generally regard it as negative. Nonetheless, mature, thinking adults should be able to filter what goes out and in. Reality may be different.
3. Have you/ Do you practice ‘self-censoring’? (Self-censorship = The exercising of control over what one says and does, especially to avoid criticism)
Society does have minimum standards and there should be self imposed filters on what one puts out there. Not so much as to avoid criticism but possible reactions and responses. Freedom if speech doesn't include shouting fire fire in a crowded place when there's no fire.
4. As a Malaysian, what is your stand towards your government’s forms of censorship?
It's too selective and biased towards a view and unable to accept critical views.
5. Many Malaysians have resorted to the Internet as a platform for freedom of expression. How has the internet influenced you and your work?
The gates have been opened and never to be closed.