Janna Nick tells Dennis Chua about her new ‘toughie’ role as fellow actors clue in on upcoming movies and dramas
RISING TV star Janna Nick has her hair shorter than usual at the moment. “I’ve never cut it this short and I don’t feel comfortable with it!” she said at the recent launch of Drama Festival Kuala Lumpur 2017 (DFKL 2017) at MM2 Cineplex, The Curve, in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
But Janna had to do it to play a police inspector in the crime movie Bo Bajet which will reach cinemas in May.
Bo Bajet sees Janna co-starring again with Kau Aku Kita actor Saharul Ridzwan, but this time, she protects him from bullies, not vice versa.
“How’s that for a change? I pack a punch fighting gangsters who terrorise his village. He is pretty bad at defending himself, and has to seek help from law enforcers such as me!” Janna said, cheerfully.
Bo Bajet is set in 1970s Kuala Lumpur where police battle gangsters who terrorise the suburbs. “Playing an inspector makes me ‘kick butt’, and since my character is tougher than the real me, I love her, and hope to play more ‘superheroes’ in future,” says Janna, adding that Bo Bajet is also a comedy, her forte.
She also stars with Saharul in Trauma, one of 13 telemovies in Anugerah DFKL 2017. To be screened at 9pm on TV3 on April 29, it follows six friends who go on a holiday to a creepy hotel. “The hotel is an old bungalow. Soon, I’m bloodied on the floor, presumed dead.”
Trauma also stars Raja Afiq, Zara Zya, Idris Khan and Dayana Roza. It is produced by Sheila Rusly and directed by Jinggo. “I’m looking forward to my TV debut with Indonesian actor-singer Irwansyah in October on TV3,” says Janna.
Titled Dia, it is an Indonesian-Malaysian production. She plays his girlfriend, and he is “torn between two lovers”. The 60-episode Dia also stars Izara Aishah and Zamarul Hisham.
Janna is delighted to act with Irwansyah because he is down-to-earth. “I watched him in Heart in 2006 and became an instant fan.”
Her Dia co-star Zamarul wants to play tough guys again. “The last time I was one was in 2013’s Kerat 14. I was the inspector who pursued Aaron Aziz’s character,” he says.
Zamarul plays Izara’s father who is supportive of her romance with Irwansyah.
“In DFKL, I’m in two dramas, Tali Kasut, where I am a secondary school athletics coach, and Si Kijang Merah, where I am the father of Syafie Naswip,” he says.
Zamarul does not mind playing “daddies” since he is one. “I was an action hero first, and I’m delighted to be a police officer in Polis Evo 2 at year’s end.”
Gambit Saifullah will soon produce, direct and host his “lost on holiday” show Sesat. “Sesat Season One was screened on Astro Ria, and I roped in several popular celebrities such as Marsha Londoh and Cristina Suzanne Stockstill. They went to Jakarta, Indonesia, and got lost, but using their sense of direction, they made their way back to the starting line, safe and sound,” he says.
In Sesat Season Two at year’s end, Gambit will bring another group of celebrities to a foreign destination. In DFKL, he will be in Petanda, a story of two missing girls, directed by Razaisyam Rashid. It will be on TV9 on March 6.
DFKL 2017 was launched by TV3 and TV9 group general manager Sherina Nordin at the cineplex.
The launch was attended by Janna, Zamarul, Gambit and actors Khir Rahman, Ruhainies and Saharul.
SHARE YOUR STORIES
DFKL 2017 comprises an ideas contest, talent search, short film contest, workshop and roadshow.
Sherina says its theme Cerita Kita (Our Story) is close to Malaysians’ lives and participants are encouraged to make dramas that are based on real life.
“The public is welcome to share their interesting stories. These can be made into telemovies.” Ideas can be sent to www.dfkl.com.my
The 13 telemovies are Trauma, Kung Fu Kaw, Si Kijang Merah, Sakit, Isteriku Cikguku, Takdir Yang Terhenti, Kerongsang, Awak Kat Mana, Alamak, Cik Misi, Jalan Balik Surau, Tali Kasut and Petanda.
The roadshows will be from 10am to 6pm at Berjaya Megamall, Kuantan (Feb 18 and 19), Angsana Plaza, Johor Baru (March 3 and 4), and Sunway Putra Mall, Kuala Lumpur (March 11 and 12).
The workshops will be at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) on April 1 and 2, conducted by Sheila Rusly, Fauziah Ahmad Daud, Khir and Azman Yahya.
The short drama contest has the theme Saya Anak Malaysia. Winners get RM10,000, RM5,000 and RM3,000 respectively.
The awards are Choice Actor, Actress, Director, Screenwriter, Script, Theme Song, Antagonist, Drama and Couple.
Voting by the public is from Feb 1 to March 15 at www.dfkl.com.my
The Awards will take place on April 9 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).