CREATIVE multi-hyphenate Datuk Afdlin Shauki has taken a cautious approach for his latest film, which has been inspired by real events.
While Hollywood movies claim to be based on true stories, they tend to end up far from the truth. Many viewers are dissatisfied with this as they expect art to closely imitate life.
Afdlin maintains that there has to be creative licence taken with these projects to boost the entertainment factor.
"My new film is inspired by true events. But there are fictional characters in it. Part of this is because it's not easy to get the consent of the individuals when we want to feature their characters on the big screen.
"If we have 10 actors, we have to get the real people's agreements. We can't have just some of them agreeing while others don't give their endorsement.
"The fictional element gives us tremendous room to be more creative in moulding the characters," said the 52-year-old director, producer and screenwriter.
The Johor Baru-born filmmaker's upcoming football-themed film, Harimau Malaya: The Untold Journey, highlights the many issues that took place in the local football scene.
"At least 60 per cent of the storyline is fictional. However, we took great pains to stay far away from the usual cliches.
"We touch on sensitive issues such as the behind-the-scene happenings related to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Harimau Malaya team."
At the film's launch in Petaling Jaya, Afdin said the film would feature the challenges faced by the FAM management, from how it dealt with being seen in a bad light to eventually steering the Harimau Malaya team towards success.
"Viewers will get to see the internal conflicts within the FAM and the brickbats that were thrown against it, such as when the president was told to step down, the changes in management and the amount of verbal abuse it endured from the Ultras Malaya (local football fans).
"There was a time when the Ultras called for the resignation of the FAM president who was from a royal family."
Harimau Malaya: The Untold Journey, produced by 4ward Pictures Sdn Bhd, will follow the development of the FAM after Tan Cheng Hoe resigned as the national squad coach in January last year.
The film, which has a RM5 million production budget, will also feature four storylines that run concurrently, namely on the management side via the FAM, the fanatical Harimau Malaya supporters or Ultras, football coach Kim Pan Gon and the footballers.
"We introduced the perspective of a football player who struggles with culture shock to make the film more engaging and human.
"This character played by Syafiq Kyle exists and is based on a nobody who is suddenly thrust into the limelight after becoming rich and famous, with a celebrity girlfriend in tow."
Aside from Syafiq, Harimau Malaya: The Untold Journey will also feature an ensemble cast made up of Aidil Aziz, Sophia Albarakbah, Tony Eusoff, Namron, Kevin Jay and many more.
Afdlin added that the feel-good film, which began shooting late last month, is expected to hit cinemas nationwide in April next year to mark a series of important football games taking place then.