Life Confessions is back! In this episode, we sit down with Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, Head of Astro Shaw, to explore the shifting landscape of Malaysian cinema — from the stories we tell to the strategies behind the scenes.
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00:00The highest grossing film in Malaysia last year was Sheriff, $64 million.
00:04The lowest grossing film was below $10,000.
00:06People are now very selective on what they watch in the cinema.
00:10Is there a particular type of pressure that you face when adapting something as iconic
00:14or someone as iconic as Kelowong Man into the big screen?
00:17Definitely. I mean, you can't imagine the pressure, right?
00:20You're not going to say much more about Kelowong Man?
00:22I mean, try not to.
00:23How do you find that balance making a movie that elevates the art
00:27and making a movie that will just be a crowd pleaser?
00:29Interesting question.
00:31I know, right?
00:32Project High Council, Project Anchor SPM explore universal themes, right?
00:36Like bullying and hazing, yet remain quite Malaysian in context.
00:40How much thought goes into that?
00:41A lot of thought.
00:48And welcome to another episode of the Short Podcast Life Confessions.
00:54Today, another special guest joins us, Raja Justina Raja Arshad.
00:58She is the head of Astro Shaw, and we're going to talk about you as well as film and TV in Malaysia.
01:07Thank you for joining us.
01:08Thanks for having me, Terry.
01:09I'm really excited because we're going to start kind of at the beginning.
01:12Share with us some insights into your upbringing itself.
01:16Like, you know, what was that like growing up, you know?
01:19And finally, what led to you being so interested in film and TV?
01:24Okay, I guess my upbringing.
01:27Okay, before the age of like 13, 14, there was no internet.
01:32I was there.
01:33So, I'm that old.
01:34There's no satellite TV.
01:35So, I think in terms of entertainment, it was really like outdoor activities or TV and it would be like a family affair.
01:42So, I recall like really watching like Mira Eidora, Ali Setan, 2 Plus 1.
01:47Ali Setan 2.
01:47And then I was like, oh my God, they're all so pretty.
01:49Like, so, I really enjoyed it.
01:51And I remember as well, like after school on Friday, 2 p.m., I'll switch on, I think it was TV 2, RTM 2, and watching a Hindi movie.
02:04I can't remember what it was, but every Friday, I'll be watching a different Hindi movie and I loved it.
02:09I enjoyed it.
02:10So, like, that was like my kind of, you know, TV consumption during that time.
02:17And I also recall like my sister and I, like at 9 p.m., I can't remember what day it was, we'll be hiding.
02:22It was really sleeping because we were like, you know, 9 years old and we were watching Baywatch.
02:27So, watching all these TV shows and what we tried to do is also reenact them.
02:31Oh.
02:31Like at home, we'll be like, okay, we're in high school, like in, you know, like exactly what we saw on TV.
02:37But in terms of the cinema, I actually started going to the cinema for the first time ever was when I was 13.
02:43And it was actually my alone time with my mom.
02:45And it was actually a local film.
02:49And the local film was actually Sambilu.
02:51I remember.
02:52Directed, created by Datuk Yusuf Haslam.
02:55So, I watched Sambilu 1, Sambilu 2, Maria, Mariana.
02:58And it's kind of surreal that now I'm actually working with them.
03:01Yeah.
03:01Right?
03:02Yeah.
03:02How does that feel?
03:03It's pretty surreal.
03:04I mean, if my mom was still around, she'd be like, oh my God.
03:07Yeah.
03:07Like when you first, was it a gradual realization that you're doing the thing that you used to enjoy just experiencing?
03:14Or did it all come at once?
03:16It was definitely a gradual realization.
03:18Right.
03:18You know, to see like, oh my God, he's next to me.
03:20Oh my God, I'm collaborating with him.
03:21It was pretty surreal.
03:23Right.
03:23And pretty fantastic.
03:25This is just to quell my own curiosity.
03:27Baywatch, right?
03:28Yes, Baywatch.
03:29Who was your favorite character?
03:31Do you remember?
03:31I like Yasmin.
03:33Oh.
03:33Yasmin, I thought she was so pretty.
03:35Yeah.
03:35Yasmin, I thought she was so pretty.
03:39Am I embarrassed that I remember the name?
03:40Okay, let's move on.
03:41That's how old we are, Terry.
03:43You mean how young we are.
03:45That's how young we are.
03:46Yeah, how young we are.
03:47Now, as the head of Astro Shaw, you oversee both creative and financial decisions while leading multiple projects and teams.
03:56How do you navigate the pressures of making all these key choices and, you know, managing expectations of people who rely on your leadership?
04:05Okay, I think, like, firstly, I'm actually quite, I'm very grateful to Astro for giving me all these opportunities because I have been in Astro for over 19 years.
04:13It's my first job.
04:15So, I have gained a lot of experiences.
04:17I've actually gone through different divisions as well.
04:21So, I quite different kind of skill sets.
04:23I've also, like, you know, formed my group of friends as well.
04:27And then I have a great team.
04:28I have a great team and peers who are also friends.
04:32And because we understand each other, and I also learned the ropes, it's not that it's easy, but it's a lot easier to just focus on what we need to get done.
04:40And so, the pressure, you're not being distracted by other things.
04:44You're just focusing on getting this job done and you do it in the best way possible with no unnecessary distractions.
04:50Right?
04:51And I think that really helps minimize any pressure and allows you to then make a decision in the best way possible.
04:58And when it comes to pressure, we're in the entertainment industry.
05:02So, we're actually supposed to relive, to remove all the pressure and the stress from other people.
05:08Yeah.
05:08Right?
05:08I mean, it really helps that we love what we do.
05:12Right?
05:13So, that also minimize that pressure.
05:15And you talked about managing expectations.
05:18I don't really call it managing expectations because I think if you understand each other, you don't really have to manage one expectation.
05:29So, it's similar to, like, just say my parents.
05:32Right?
05:32I don't think they have to manage my expectations because I kind of know what they expect.
05:36So, with my team, I think I would like to think that I know them well enough and they know me well enough that there is no expectations to manage.
05:45Right?
05:46Because if there is management expectations, I mean, there is a gap of understanding each other.
05:49I want to work for you now.
05:51And I really hope my main goal is to make sure that every single one of my team members actually know me and vice versa, that I know them as well.
05:58Right?
05:59So, we can improve in that way.
06:00One thing that's been, this phrase that's come up in recent years is that whole work-life balance that everybody seems to be finding.
06:10What do you think about this idea?
06:12I call it an idea because I don't have it.
06:15Yeah.
06:15But this idea about work-life balance.
06:17I think it's important to have that work-life balance.
06:22But again, because we're an entertainment industry, what we do is also quite very entertaining.
06:26And I think the fact that we are very passionate about what we do is that we'll be working at 12 a.m. or over the weekends and we don't realize that we're actually working because we actually love what we do.
06:37Right?
06:39But having said that, the mental health and wellness is very important.
06:44So, for me personally, every Friday, well, I try every Friday.
06:49It's where I go for like my sound bath or like, you know, try to pay pickle, tennis.
06:56That was trying to find that balance to just have other forms of activity and, you know, do other things other than just work, work, work.
07:02Right?
07:02Yeah.
07:03You seem to have done it well because having you here in front of us now, you don't seem like you're exhausted.
07:09You seem like you've got all this energy.
07:10And I'm going to need to take a page out of what you're doing right so that I can...
07:15It must be the energy that you are giving out, Terry.
07:17You are way too kind.
07:18You are way too kind.
07:19Although I'll ask the producers to keep that in mind.
07:21Yes, please.
07:22Okay.
07:23Now, filmmaking is an uncertain journey, right?
07:26Where years of effort may result in either great success or disappointment, but the project itself can take you on a long journey.
07:33How do you come to terms with the risk of like sometimes investing so much time and energy without knowing whether that final product or project will actually like pay off?
07:43Yeah.
07:44But I think taking risk is not unique to the film industry.
07:48I think in all businesses, there is a risk, right?
07:51As in like ultimately it's taking calculated risk.
07:57And as we show, we have a pretty huge scale.
08:00So just say, for example, we have 10 films that we tend to release.
08:03Right.
08:04Not all 10 films we know is going to be a hit.
08:06There'll be some misses as well.
08:08Right.
08:08But what we do is we look at it in its whole, its whole entirety.
08:12And from there, we make sure that the whole thing becomes a success.
08:16Right.
08:16And I think one of the things that we've seen over the years is the financial success and the growth that we've been facing in the industry has shown that we're able to navigate this risk in the best way possible.
08:31Because we've been growing year on year and we're very thankful for that.
08:35Right.
08:36It's been years since the pandemic happened.
08:40Has the pandemic affected the film industry in Malaysia?
08:45It has yet to recover.
08:47So just to give you some numbers, like pre-pandemic, I think the total GBO was around a billion.
08:55Right.
08:56Last year, it was around 800 million.
08:58GBO is global box office?
09:00Gross box office.
09:00Gross box office.
09:01Gross box office.
09:02So just purely just in Malaysia.
09:03Just focus on Malaysia.
09:04So pre-pandemic was a billion, GBO, gross box office.
09:08And now, last year was around 800 million and the year before it was around 800 million as well.
09:12So we've yet to reach that one billion mark that we used to achieve.
09:16And at the same time, we've increased number of hauls and the ticket price has gone up.
09:22But yet, our GBO numbers hasn't gone up yet.
09:25So there is still certain things that need to take place and areas of improvement that we need to do as an industry player.
09:36Have you seen a change in like viewing habits when it comes to what people now appreciate?
09:43Definitely.
09:46Now I feel, because obviously, after the cinema release, I mean, in terms of windowing, I just think about cinema release.
09:52And after cinema, there is your pay-per-view.
09:54And after pay-per-view is the OTT platforms, such as your Netflix, your Disney, your Amazon.
09:59Then after that, it goes into your pay TV and then free to air.
10:02So previously, pre-pandemic, the window between cinema release and the OTT platforms is actually, it was pretty long.
10:12Right.
10:13But now it's shortened.
10:14And when it's shortened, then there is that people are, some people are willing to wait.
10:19Right.
10:20Instead of watching the movie.
10:21So they won't rush to the cinema.
10:22So they won't rush if it's worth it.
10:25Right.
10:26So now what we've seen is that people are more selective.
10:29They're definitely more selective.
10:31And because they're more selective, it also provides us a motivation to up our game.
10:35Right.
10:36Right.
10:36So you can see that that's why it's the first time ever in the past three years, a local movie holds the number one position in the Malaysian chart.
10:47So, for example, in the past, it would be like Endgame and all of that.
10:51Right.
10:52But in 2022, it was Mark Kilau.
10:57Wow.
10:572023, it was Police Evil 3.
11:002024, it's Sheriff.
11:02And number two and number three was a Hollywood blockbuster.
11:05Right.
11:06So it's amazing.
11:07So it's, although we have yet to recover, but the local film, the ones that people are willing to watch, it has really grown bounds.
11:14Right.
11:15So.
11:16That's definitely impressive.
11:18It's impressive.
11:19Yeah.
11:19But it also, but just to give some context, like that's the highest gross case.
11:24The highest grossing film in Malaysia last year was Sheriff, 64 million.
11:28But the lowest grossing film, local film was below 10,000.
11:33Oh, right.
11:33Ringgit.
11:34Right.
11:34So there was a huge disparity there because people are now very selective on what, on what they watch in a cinema because it takes a lot of effort.
11:42I mean, you're going to your car, you're going out the escalator in the shopping mall.
11:46You're going by your popcorn and you're going to sit down and spend two hours in your time with your phone away.
11:52Yeah.
11:53Right.
11:53So you put it like that.
11:54Yeah.
11:54This movie has to be worth it.
11:56Right.
11:57Other than you watching on TV where you can have multiple devices.
12:00You can, you know, it's very easy.
12:01Don't go through traffic.
12:02Yeah.
12:03So we as filmmakers now really have to up our game and that's what we're trying to do.
12:07And it's great to see that Malaysians now have also found local content more attractive and we can see it.
12:14Right.
12:14Yeah.
12:14Very exciting.
12:15Right.
12:16These are times where you're seeing change happen, not just in terms of what's on the screen, but how the audience reacts.
12:21Yes.
12:22To what they could possibly be watching.
12:24Now, Malaysian cinema has evolved significantly over the years.
12:28Some people would say, right?
12:29Do you think we found a distinct identity or is it still, are we still finding our footing and, you know, defining ourselves?
12:37I think it's ever evolving.
12:41It's not going to be set in stone because of a few factors, right?
12:46Audience preferences, behavior, as well as technology advances.
12:52All of this will result in things changing.
12:56Right.
12:56And we're not able to just say, okay, we've sorted out our identity.
13:01This is not what it is.
13:02Yeah.
13:02We're constantly redefining it.
13:04Right.
13:04So.
13:05Is that part of the joy?
13:06And is that why you also enjoy what you do?
13:08Because it's never stagnant.
13:09Yeah.
13:09It's never stagnant.
13:10It's really fast moving.
13:11I mean, you could say like in a way content is a fast moving consumer good, right?
13:16Yeah.
13:16Yeah.
13:17There was a time when people would say, well, there's a time when I was younger, that people
13:21would say movies were the ultimate goal of a person who was in industry, right?
13:29Whether you're an actor or a producer or a director, your goal was to become a movie maker.
13:35But it would seem that over the course of the last decade or so, TV shows have found a footing
13:42and in fact, in many ways proven itself to be even more engaging than and more challenging
13:47than movies.
13:48What do you think when it comes to, what are your thoughts on this whole movies versus
13:52TV issue?
13:55Well, the great thing what we do is we do both.
13:57Right.
13:58And as for sure, so we actually produce movies, which is for cinema release.
14:02We also produce premium drama series for the TV platform.
14:08TV platform is not confined to just linear TV, but also your on demand, your OTT platform
14:12as well.
14:13And they both have their benefits, right?
14:18So I think it depends on the consumer kind of preference.
14:23And I don't think one is going to cannibalize the other.
14:28Right.
14:28They both are going to coexist.
14:30And grow together.
14:31And grow together.
14:31Because to give you an example, we released High Council, Project High Council, a huge
14:38phenomenon, right?
14:40And the interest there was so high.
14:43And we then produced Kaha, the movie.
14:46Yeah.
14:47Because of the success that we experienced with High Council.
14:52Right.
14:52So you can see how it actually complements each other, right?
14:54It's from a TV series becomes a movie.
14:57Yeah.
14:57So, and for example, we also have like what's coming up, Kluang Man.
15:01Right?
15:01Kluang Man was a TV series.
15:03Yeah.
15:04An animated TV series.
15:05And it's also a comic.
15:07And now for the first time ever, bring it to a live action.
15:09So it really, it's not like replacing each other, TV versus cinema.
15:14Yeah.
15:14It actually can complement each other to really expand the fan base.
15:17Yeah.
15:17Yeah.
15:18I think it's interesting that you brought up Kluang Man because, you know, we want to
15:21find out like what are the challenges and opportunities that you've encountered in adapting like an iconic
15:27like character.
15:28Everyone's asking the question.
15:29Yeah.
15:29Like Kluang Man, you know, everyone knows who he is.
15:32Into a live action film.
15:33Is there a particular type of pressure that you face when adapting something as iconic or
15:38someone as iconic as Kluang Man into the big screen?
15:41Definitely.
15:42I mean, you can't imagine the pressure, right?
15:44I mean, this is Malaysia's first superhero.
15:47Yeah.
15:48Right.
15:48And it has already a very strong, loyal fan base.
15:54And Kluang Man is in the hearts of many Malaysians.
15:56Right.
15:56So the pressure is tremendous.
15:58I can hear the theme song in my head now.
16:00So we're trying to make sure that we remain true to the story.
16:03But one thing that that's also quite unique is the fact that it's the first time ever that
16:09Kluang Man has been put into a live action format.
16:11Right.
16:12So there isn't like a formula that we're supposed to follow.
16:14We can actually be quite imaginative on how we tell the story.
16:18Right.
16:19So it's really about how do we find that balance between realism and fantastical elements.
16:23Yeah.
16:23And making it into this film that everyone want to watch.
16:27Yeah.
16:28Yeah.
16:28Because I think what we have to do is we have the existing fan base, but also those who
16:34may not know about Kluang Man, how do we get them to the cinema and be excited about this?
16:38Right?
16:38Yeah.
16:39You're not going to say much more about Kluang Man?
16:42I mean, try not to.
16:43I feel like you're not going to.
16:44I'm trying to dig up some details here and we're not getting those details.
16:48Okay.
16:48But we're going to have to wait for more or when we see like more trailers come out.
16:52Yes.
16:52Okay.
16:52So we release certain trailers.
16:53I mean, you all know also our partners, Wanda Coffee.
16:56So even the movie gets, before the movie gets released, we're seeing huge traction in
17:01terms of people wanting to buy the Kluang Man edition Wanda Coffee.
17:07Yeah.
17:07Right.
17:07So.
17:08Exciting.
17:09Exciting.
17:10There's potential there.
17:11Now you've mentioned streaming platforms and how they're such a big part now about the
17:15viewing experience.
17:16How is AstroShot adapting its content strategy to align with the growing prominence of streaming
17:22services?
17:24So I think as I mentioned before, like we are doing two things, right?
17:27We are actually, we produce films for cinema release and we also produce premium drama series
17:33Astro Originals for the TV space.
17:37These two formats actually do get released on the streaming platform.
17:41I mean, it goes on Astro Go and On Demand and even on the global streaming platform,
17:45it gets onto Netflix and the other platforms at a later stage.
17:50And I think the one thing that's great to see is that when we are actually in the charts
17:54of those streaming platforms, because it's actually non-biased to an Astro platform, it's
17:58actually on a platform that we have no control over.
18:01And to see like, for example, High Council, Anchor SPM, you know, became like number one
18:06in the Malaysian charts in top 10 in other countries.
18:09Sheriff in a few countries, it was in top 10.
18:12The Experts, our film that we also released last year.
18:16One Cent Thief was also like, you know, in the top 10 for Philippines, Singapore on top
18:20of Malaysia.
18:21So I think that's exciting.
18:23Yeah.
18:24You've got so much going on.
18:25I don't even know how you found the time to sit down with us today, right?
18:30Okay, this question, I'm going to try to ask it without sounding too crude.
18:36But when it comes to movies, there are always two aspects of it that are often discussed
18:41when it comes to making a movie.
18:43One is that you need to make a movie that is going to do well financially.
18:47And on the flip side, you kind of need to sometimes make a movie that's for the sake
18:51of the art form as well.
18:52And these two don't always intersect, right?
18:55So when it comes to doing that, how do you find that balance of making a movie that elevates
19:03the art and making a movie that will just be a crowd pleaser?
19:06Okay.
19:07Interesting question.
19:08I know, right?
19:10Okay, with Inaster Shaw, our goal is to create great Malaysian stories.
19:15That's the key thing.
19:15So these great Malaysian stories, one could be commercially viable.
19:20The other one could be critically acclaimed.
19:23Right.
19:23Another one could be stories that we need to tell.
19:26Like these are stories that we need to highlight and make sure that Malaysians are aware of, right?
19:32So it's about finding that right balance because our main goal is telling great stories.
19:37And in areas where, for example, they're not commercially viable, there's always other
19:41means that we'll find to generate revenue through other avenues, right?
19:47There is internal distribution.
19:49There is sponsorship.
19:50There is other streams.
19:51So because at the end of the day, AstroShore is a business, right?
19:58We have to make sure that we are financially sound because the commercially viable projects
20:05will be able to support the non-commercially viable projects.
20:10Right, right.
20:10Because that's, I mean, we've got to find the right balance.
20:13Yeah.
20:13It seems to be working because speaking of commercially viable projects,
20:17Project High Council, Project Anchor SPM explore universal themes, right?
20:21Like bullying and hazing yet remain quite Malaysian in context.
20:25How do you ensure that while tackling universal issues like these,
20:29your projects still stay authentically, they stay authentically Malaysian
20:32and relatable to a local audience as well?
20:35How much thought goes into that?
20:37A lot of thought.
20:38So all of our films and our Astro Original series are authentically Malaysian.
20:44They're uniquely Malaysian.
20:45I mean, the characters, the concept, the story, they're all authentically Malaysian, right?
20:52However, the storytelling, the method of telling the story is universal.
20:57And I think the bonus with High Council, taking that as an example,
21:02is that the theme that we covered for Malaysians is also universally accepted.
21:08Right.
21:08But our main priority is Malaysian first.
21:11Yeah.
21:12And it seems to be cutting through because the amount of conversations that have happened
21:17even at dinner tables surrounding Project High Council
21:20and the themes that were brought up.
21:22Yeah.
21:24I'm sure it's something that you're very proud of.
21:25You've heard about this.
21:26Very.
21:26Yeah.
21:26I think one thing great about High Council is that it really bridges different generations.
21:32I had a friend of mine was telling me that how she had a date night with her 12-year-old son
21:38to watch High Council.
21:40And it's a time because she's a single mom, you know,
21:42and this is a time when they come together.
21:44She's like, my God, it's the first time like my son and I are really enjoying watching a show together.
21:48You know, so, and then one, I think like on social media,
21:52we'll see like, oh yeah, my father told me that this happened to him in his school as well.
21:56And yeah, to see like, it really brings the two gen,
21:59all the different generations come together to talk about this story.
22:02To see real life happen on the screen and relate to it,
22:05not just in some thematic way, but also to see like your real life,
22:10what you live every day appear on the screen to remind you of what you yourself struggle with
22:14is definitely something that we as Malaysians appreciate, right?
22:19Now, speaking of generations, how does Astroshaw approach the discovery and nurturing
22:25of like new talent within the Malaysian film industry?
22:28Because it's a very challenging industry.
22:31Yes, it is.
22:32Yeah.
22:32It's challenging.
22:33And I think the pool of talents as well,
22:36the supply isn't as great as other countries, you know?
22:40So, but that's why we make it a priority to unearth new talents
22:44and also to provide creative talents opportunities to try a new format.
22:49So to give you an example, Raisa Sham, he directed Kaha.
22:56Okay.
22:57He also directed NKSPM.
22:59He also directed our movie, horror movie, Pusaka.
23:03And prior to that, he was more of an independent director.
23:07So in collaboration of Astroshaw, he was able to get into the commercial side.
23:12And, you know, Pusaka generated over like $14 million in the box office.
23:16Right.
23:16And so that was great.
23:17That was like, you know, great for all of us.
23:20And so that's what we're trying to do.
23:21We're trying to give them opportunities to do something different
23:24and it's elevate their skill sets.
23:26So Alfie Palermo, who show-run One Cent Thief, right?
23:33Prior to this, prior to Astroshaw, he was actually one of those most sought-after writers.
23:40But with us, he became a showrunner.
23:42He was able to bring to life his ideas, the story that he was telling.
23:47And just most recently, One Cent Thief season two, he made his directorial debut.
23:51Wow.
23:52So it's about, you know, providing all these opportunities through what we have.
23:56And we just finished shooting Abba Say, Uncle Mike.
24:01Oh, yeah.
24:02It's our first drama inspired by True Story.
24:05That is directed by Esri.
24:08Esri is part of our team.
24:11And he started off producing and directing Gampo original series, a digital series.
24:17So now he's making his directorial debut as well.
24:20You know, producing a feature film.
24:23So what we're trying to do here is really have the ultimate creative playground.
24:31Right.
24:32That will allow, one, is to unearth new talents, but also to provide new opportunities
24:37and enhance the skill sets of existing creative talents.
24:41Right.
24:41You know, as a person who is such a huge enthusiast of film, the industry, TV,
24:47what's something that you yourself can see yourself watching over and over again over the years
24:54that you keep going back through and still find joy in watching?
24:58It actually depends on my moment.
25:00So like, just yesterday, I was feeling hungry because it's fasting month.
25:04Right.
25:04So I was watching A Hundred Foot Journey.
25:06Oh.
25:07You know, so I've watched that a few times already.
25:09Okay.
25:09Right.
25:10So like, Friends is something that is my background music.
25:16Right.
25:16I can watch it over and over and over again and still laugh.
25:19Could it be more funny?
25:20Yeah, it could be more funny.
25:22Then the issues that they go through is so much relevant.
25:24It's not relevant today.
25:25Yeah, you're right.
25:26Yeah.
25:26The friendships that they share and also the kind of issues like we were on a break.
25:32Yeah.
25:32It's always something that even till today, someone you know is probably going through that
25:35same situation.
25:37So, you know, it's interesting how we have, that's what TV, I think, and movies do for
25:42a lot of us.
25:43It gives us shared experiences before we meet people.
25:46Because you've watched Friends, I've watched Friends, for example.
25:49And even though if we had not had this conversation or I had not met you before, it gives us something
25:54to say, hey, we've still had this shared experience.
25:57Do you find now there's so much content, right, that it's harder to get this shared experience
26:03feeling with other people?
26:05Because there's so much for us to consume.
26:08Can I ask you a question, Terry?
26:09Sure.
26:10When was the last time you watched a movie in the cinema?
26:12Okay, honestly, honestly, right?
26:14It was like a month ago.
26:16A month ago?
26:17Yeah.
26:17Who did you watch it with?
26:18Alone, actually.
26:19I watched it alone.
26:20I'm not always this sad, though.
26:21This turned into a therapy session.
26:23But I'm trying to understand, do you recall the experience that you had when you watched
26:27the movie?
26:27I do.
26:29Because I paid so much for it.
26:32So what I'm trying to just share is that when it comes to movies, I feel it provides
26:37a shared experience.
26:38But you watched a movie alone.
26:40I know, right?
26:40So that's a bit different.
26:41Yeah.
26:41But normally when I ask my friends or people that I meet, and I say, what was the last movie
26:47that you watched?
26:47And then they say, oh yeah, which movie?
26:48And they were able to relay the experience that they had with the person they watched
26:53it with or the group of friends.
26:54Because movies somehow brings everyone together.
26:57Can you give them my number?
26:58Then I'll go watch a movie with them.
27:00Brings them together.
27:01So it becomes like, you know, it's like, let's watch this community experience.
27:05Right?
27:05Yeah.
27:05Yeah.
27:06Which is exactly what it provides for.
27:08And is that harder now to make that happen?
27:13Because I know you mentioned earlier, you mentioned earlier that when it comes to like
27:16getting people to even get off their couches, to make their way to the cinema, it takes more
27:23effort.
27:24Right?
27:25But is there a difference between like people who are below 20 and those like other age
27:30group differences when it comes to how they view things, whether at home or in the cinema?
27:34Yeah, definitely.
27:35I can just to share in terms of the cinema goers right now, the age group is your Gen Zs.
27:42Right?
27:42So we definitely do need to provide not just a viewing experience, it has to be the, I
27:49think the film itself becomes an experience.
27:51So the delivery of the story and I guess the surrounding environment becomes key to make
27:57it like worth their while.
27:58So as you can see, even like cinemas have also stepped it up in terms of what they offer.
28:04I mean, like now some cinemas have massage chairs.
28:07Yeah.
28:07Right?
28:07Massage chairs, beds, hot pot.
28:09Yeah.
28:10Right?
28:10So everyone has stepped up their game to provide it like a different kind of experience to get
28:15people going to the cinema and enjoy watching movie in a different kind of way instead
28:19of just, it's a one way kind of a viewing experience.
28:23Knowing that there are all these options out there and the landscape of what it looks like
28:29now for both audiences and for the industry, looking ahead, what are your aspirations for
28:35Astro Shaw and the Malaysian film industry, let's say in the next five years?
28:39You know what's our aspiration?
28:41Yeah.
28:41Is to go global, you know, to put Malaysian stories on the global map.
28:46Right.
28:46And when I say global map, I don't mean like just film festival, I mean like out there,
28:50you know, like to get commercial success.
28:53That's something that we have yet to achieve.
28:56No Malaysian film has achieved that.
28:58So I think that's what we hope to be able to achieve with our fellow industry players.
29:02Because we've got so many of these great stories that we share from our history, from culture,
29:10right?
29:10Like even when we talk sometimes about, I'll give an example.
29:15Like one thing that we all share is that ghost story that happened in the tunnel, the Karak
29:19Highway one, right?
29:21They made a movie about that.
29:22That's interesting.
29:23Yeah, yeah.
29:23But to see that flashed out in a way that would include like a shared experience is something
29:30that I would look forward to.
29:31Like, can you share with us what are some upcoming projects that we could, you could
29:37tease us with?
29:37Tease a few.
29:39We actually do have around 10 films releasing this year.
29:4310?
29:43Okay.
29:44In collaboration with our partners because we're a big fan of collaboration.
29:48So like coming up first, on the 17th of April is Quadrat 2.
29:54Okay.
29:55It's our, we've co-produced a film with our Indonesian partners.
29:59It's led by Magma Entertainment and Rappi Films.
30:02So Charles Guzali is such a talented director.
30:05I mean, Terry, if you want to watch a movie that has action, thriller, horror, and superhero,
30:13Quadrat 2 is one you should watch.
30:15I will, I'm writing it down.
30:16You should watch.
30:17Okay.
30:17Then, then we have Kruang Man after that.
30:20Yes.
30:21We have Kruang Man.
30:22We have Abba Say Uncle Mike.
30:23We have Kawa Ridge by Shamsul Yusuf.
30:27You know, his, his first horror movie after a long time.
30:31His last one was Munafid too.
30:32Oh my gosh.
30:33Yeah.
30:33What's scary.
30:34Yeah.
30:34We have Magic Rompak with Adrian Tay.
30:37We have Baran with Joel So from Black Flag.
30:40Right.
30:41We have One To Go with, One To Go, Malaysia's first battle royale.
30:46Right.
30:46Which we have produced with Infinitus.
30:49Right.
30:49We have so many.
30:50We have Papa Zola.
30:52What's Papa Zola?
30:54That's also a franchise.
30:55It's from Bobo Boy.
30:57Oh my God.
30:58Bobo Boy.
30:58We have Mecha Mato.
30:59Mecha Mato with Papa Zola.
31:00Right.
31:00So we have a huge variety of films that are coming out this year.
31:07I have little nieces and nephews who are going to be very excited.
31:11Please.
31:11Because I have watched Bobo Boy more times than an adult should.
31:16Now, okay.
31:18Before we let you go, we need to ask you rapid fire questions now.
31:22I hope you're ready for this.
31:24All right, then.
31:24Ring on.
31:25What comes to mind is what you must immediately answer.
31:27Okay.
31:28Okay.
31:28All right.
31:28Best movie you've seen recently?
31:30Lucky Vasker.
31:31Worst advice you've ever been given in your life?
31:33You shouldn't take Malay because the Malay is not good.
31:36Malay business.
31:37I shouldn't go on to the...
31:38I shouldn't...
31:39I shouldn't join the Malay business team because my Malay isn't good.
31:45And you've proven...
31:46I would like to think so.
31:47Yeah.
31:47I'm wrong.
31:48Yes.
31:48Yes.
31:48Now, if you had to describe your leadership style in one word, what would it be?
31:52Fair.
31:53Fair?
31:54What's the most memorable moment of your career so far?
31:57Oh, there's too many.
31:58Terry.
31:58Oh.
31:59Okay.
31:59Name what comes to mind?
32:00I guess when my name appeared on screen for the first time and seeing my father's expression
32:05when he saw it, meant the world to me.
32:07I know this is supposed to be rapid fire, but I have to ask more about this.
32:11What was that moment like when you saw your...
32:12I was looking at my dad, I was on my screen.
32:15Yeah.
32:15You know, just to see him, like, oh, my dad was proud of me.
32:18You know, yeah.
32:19Did he say something when it happened?
32:21Well, obviously after he did, but at that moment in time, because we actually sit quite
32:25far away.
32:25But yeah, I could just...
32:26Did he even need words?
32:27Yeah, no words.
32:28Okay.
32:28Just his expression was enough for me.
32:30Wow.
32:30Even now, as you're telling it, I can tell, like, how...
32:32Yeah.
32:33...man so much to you.
32:35Wow.
32:35Thank you for sharing that.
32:36If you weren't in the entertainment industry, what would you be doing instead right now?
32:41Okay.
32:41So actually, before I joined Astro, I actually had a couple of options with, like, FMCG
32:45or advertising.
32:47So I guess it's one of those.
32:48But also what I like, what I always, like, imagine doing is interior design.
32:54Interior design?
32:55Yeah.
32:56Wow.
32:56I just like looking at, you know, houses and how I could renovate it and all of that.
33:02Because I recently renovated my apartment.
33:04And so I'm like, I gave all these ideas, right?
33:06Yeah.
33:06If you could cameo, if you could cameo in any project that you've done, which one would
33:10it be?
33:11How do you know I haven't?
33:12That was going to be my next question, actually.
33:14Have you?
33:15How do you know I haven't?
33:15Oh.
33:16Do I have to scroll through the...
33:18Might have to.
33:19So it doesn't mean you've actually been in one at or two.
33:22You take a look and you...
33:23I will write...
33:25This is my homework today.
33:27Look up, Raja Justina.
33:29Okay.
33:30Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
33:31You know, we ask this of all of our guests.
33:34If you had the opportunity to make one change as Prime Minister of Malaysia for a day, right?
33:43Just one day.
33:44What would it be and why?
33:47Well, Terry?
33:48Yeah.
33:48I'm already the first female Prime Minister.
33:50So I've already made the change.
33:51That's a good point.
33:54You'll just take a photo and I'm done, right?
33:58Have that mic drop moment.
34:00Yeah.
34:01That's a really good one.
34:03It's been so refreshing having you here with us to share not just your journey, but also
34:08your experience and your thoughts on the industry.
34:11It's exciting to see where it's going to go from here.
34:13Well, thanks for having me, Terry.
34:15I mean, I hope you found it insightful and you learned something.
34:17It was so much that we've learned, in fact, that I think I have one last question for
34:22you, right?
34:23Like, you're a person who has been through so, so much, right?
34:29Is there something about yourself that you feel people always get wrong when they meet
34:38you or even before they meet you?
34:41Like, they get it wrong about you?
34:42Um, I'm sure there is, but they haven't said it to my face.
34:48Maybe.
34:49But I think this goes back to, you know, the worst advice, right?
34:52I mean, that was already judging me thinking that because at that time, you know, my Malay
34:57wasn't great that I won't be able to do this job properly.
35:00So that's already a judgment that one made, right?
35:03Yeah.
35:03You don't have to deal with that because you just have to live the life that you want
35:07and you're doing it already.
35:08So I think I'm a great believer of just, you know yourself best and the people around
35:13you know, knows you really well.
35:14Just focus on that and prove all the others wrong and let the naysayers will always be.
35:19You can't change people's minds, right?
35:21But it's how you actually respond to it.
35:24It's how you deal with it, right?
35:27And make a movie about it.
35:28Yeah.
35:29Thank you so much to Raja Justina for joining us today.
35:33We appreciate you and maybe see you in a movie theater someday real soon as well.
35:38We can have a shared experience.
35:39Yes.
35:40You've got to come to the Kluangmen Gala premiere.
35:43Okay.
35:43Yes.
35:43I'll be ready for that.
35:44I'll be wearing the costume and everything.
35:46Okay.
35:46Okay then.
35:47Thank you so much.
35:48Thanks Terry for having me.