The Malaysian Insider

MARCH 19 — I’m an advocate of solo journalism, as you will know if you’ve been following my writings here on The Malaysian Insider. That’s how I shoot a lot of my work. Basically, I am the producer, director, videographer, editor and even host/presenter. I used to describe my method simply as being a one-man band or crew. But then I read a commentary by veteran broadcaster Michael Rosenblum.

Michael Rosenblum is another person who is a strong advocate of solo journalism and I share many of his views on why solo journalism is the way to go. But recently, he wrote something on his website that got me thinking. He differentiated solo journalism and one man bands when it comes to news production. It caught my interest and got me thinking.

MARCH 12 — I have a two blogs. I have a two Facebook pages and one Facebook group. I have a Twitter page. I have a YouTube channel. I have Flickr account. As you can see, I love the Internet. What do I use if for? The main purpose? It’s to promote the work that I do, and to promote myself. Basically, marketing.

As you probably know, I make films, news videos, write and speak. I don’t work for any particular media company. I’m basically self-employed, running my own little company called Fat Bidin Media. I need to constantly look for clients, and one of the main ways for me to do that is to use the Internet.

FEB 26 — Being in a field where you always have to come up with new ideas everyday is not something easy. I try to come up with one feature-length documentary film idea every year and that becomes the big project for the next twelve months. But in between, I have all kinds of video, television and writing projects that I have to work on throughout the year too (including this weekly column!).

When it comes to the conceptualising stage for me, it basically boils down to me turning on my computer, drumming my fingers while it boots up, then when the screen is on, stare at it for some time. I’ll continue to do that for a while and just when I think that I might have something good, I’ll get up and walk around the room.

Usually, a whole day would go by like this and, instead of coming up with a good idea at the end, I just go to sleep and procrastinate to the next day. And the whole cycle starts all over again!

By Zan Azlee

FEB 19 — I’m a Muslim and I make films. I guess that constitutes me as a Muslim filmmaker. It doesn’t even matter if my films are about Islam or not. Well, my films are mainly about myself anyway (and from all the complaints I get from readers, so is this column, apparently!) and indirectly, my films become about Islam too.

Whenever I meet people who have seen my films, they always ask me advice about Islam. There was a time when I made a mockumentary on ‘samak’, and I got calls from Muslims asking me about the procedure to clean their newly-bought houses just in case some Chinese had eaten pork or kept a dog there.

Even PhD candidates and journalists sometimes request for interviews with me as if I’m some kind of expert when it comes to matters of religion. I need to let everyone in on a little secret — I don’t know much!

FEB 12 — Recently, I’ve been busy running around shooting a short documentary about polygamy for a Dutch television station. It came about when I discovered an article about the Ikhwan Polygamy Club, started by the family of Ashaari Muhammad (AKA Abuya), the former leader of the so-called cult Al-Arqam. I found it interesting and since they are based in Malaysia, I immediately pitched it to the Dutch producers and they agreed to commission it.

I don’t really have any strong thoughts on polygamy. All I do know is that Islam allows it, men who do practice it need to be fair and equal to their wives, and they also need to have the financial and emotional capabilities to support the wives and families. My friends, however, have their own opinions.