The popular filmmaker is set to have his latest films shown on TV3, writes Dennis Chua
TOP director Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri (picture), the man behind blockbuster movies such as Jangan Pandang Belakang and Impak Maksima, plans to screen his movies on TV3 after their run on the big screen.
They include Jangan Pandang-Pandang, a comedy starring Zizan Razak and Sara Ali which was released on March 29, Gerimis Mengundang starring Kamal Adli and Indonesia’s Olivia Jensen (May 31), and Mail Lambung starring Zizan and Juliana Evans (June 21).
Ahmad Idham’s film company Excellent Pictures and TV3 recently inked a memorandum of understanding, which will give the station screening and production rights to the director’s films.
The managing director of Excellent Pictures, Ahmad Idham, says the company “will be the exclusive supplier of its films to TV3 for 2012 and 2013 while TV3 is the sole television station to screen the films.”
Media Prima Bhd chief operations officer for television networks Ahmad Izham Omar says Excellent Pictures’ new films will be screened within 24 months after their cinema runs.
“This is the first time we are teaming up with a leading film production company to screen its new films. TV3 has always been a fan of Ahmad Idham’s films as they have great storylines and are popular with moviegoers,” says Ahmad Izham.
TV3 and Excellent Pictures, says Ahmad Idham, have been working together in the production of television dramas for almost a decade.
It was on TV3 that I had my big break as an actor and later, as director 15 years ago. TV3 always gives feedback on how to better my dramas and movies, thus it is great to forge a close collaboration with the station,” he adds.
Ahmad Izham says TV3 has always taken a keen interest in the local film industry and believes in offering viewers films from the country’s best filmmakers.
“Excellent Pictures is the first film company we are working with and it will not be the last. TV3 believes in teaming up with the best film companies that make movies that suit television audiences.”
Ahmad Idham says his decision to work with TV3 is also due to the station’s track record in campaigning against film piracy.
“Movie piracy is very rampant now, and the practice of having straight-to-television screenings of new movies by certain stations has ‘helped’ movie pirates,” he adds.
“TV3 screens my films within a year or two of their cinema runs and that is great because it encourages viewers to watch them in the cinemas.”
Besides the above-mentioned films, Ahmad Idham will also be directing Cinta Atas Tar and Lari, the latter being a joint Malaysia-Thailand production.