i

MELAPI[0918-12-SBHRegisteredSociety,Malaysia]

BorneoEcoFilmFestival

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TABLEOFCONTENTSAcknowledgements...................................................................................................................1

1. Dashboard.........................................................................................................................2

2. 2015FestivalWeekend.....................................................................................................4

3. SuaraCommunityFilmmaking.........................................................................................10

4. Media.............................................................................................................................17

5. Sponsorship....................................................................................................................19

6. AnnexI:EnvironmentalCinema......................................................................................20

7. AnnexII:SuaraPublika...................................................................................................26

8. AnnexIII:SuaraCommunityFilmmaking.........................................................................31

8.1Suara2015Workshop1:DevelopmentOfCreativeSkillsInFilmStorytelling............32

8.2Suara2015Workshop2:BuildingProductionSkills:IndustryStandardTrainingOnUse

OfCameras&AudioEquipment.....................................................................................39

8.3Suara2015Workshop3:Post-Production:Software-BasedEditingTechniques.........46

8.4Suara2015FinalIntensiveWorkshop........................................................................51

8.5Suara2015CommunityFilmmakers..........................................................................64

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSTheBorneoEcoFilmFestival(BEFF)isanon-profitactivityofthevoluntarysocietyMELAPI.BEFF2015ismadepossiblethroughthesupportofmanypartnersandsupporters.Foremostarethecontributionsof the2015main festivalpartners:MinistryofTourism,CultureandEnvironmentSabah, Bursa Malaysia and The Bursa Bull Charge, US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Ministry ofResource Development and Information Technology Sabah, and Jabatan Kebudayaan danKesenianNegara(JKKN)Sabah.Weadditionally thank all of ourpartners and supporters - organisations and individuals, Suaratrainers and community filmmaking teams, themanyvolunteers and friends,withwhomall ofthishasbecomepossible.Coverphotos(top)byLimShengHaw,(bottom)byAdamMurphy.AllotherphotosbyLimShengHaw©BEFF,unlessotherwisestated.

2015BOARDAdamMurphy

AgnesLeeAgamaAntonNguiChiwonChin

ChloeLeeMeiTchuinDinozaMahrufElaineKong

EvangelineMajawatHollyJonas

MelissaLeongMohd.NIzamAndan

EXTERNALFILMADVISORSAnnaHar

IkhwanRivaiParveenKaur

CONTACTUS

info@beff.org.my●www.beff.org.my

MELAPI[0918-12-SBHRegisteredSociety,Malaysia]Lot21,1stFloor,LidoPlaza,JalanNosoobHungab,

Penampang,88300KotaKinabalu,Sabah,Malaysia

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1.DASHBOARD

THEBORNEOECOFILMFESTIVALisanon-profitprogrammecelebratingBorneo’sbioculturaldiversitythroughshowcasing

ecologicalfilmsandnurturinglocalcommunityfilmmaking.Admissiontoallofouractivitiesandeventsisfree.

BEFF2015showcased:EnvironmentalCinemaandSuaraPublika,whicharepublicprogrammes;

andSuaraCommunityFilmmakinginwhichweareworkingwith15communityfilmmakingteamsfromthroughoutSabah.

SUARA PUBLIKAisa

seriesofpublictalksandinteractiveseminarspresentedoverthefestivalweekend,featuringenvironmental

scientists,indigenousrepresentatives,storytellersandfilmmakers.BEFF2015featuredinternationalfilm

expertMr.BirdRunningwateroftheSundanceInstituteUSA,andheld:

5 public talks + 3 interactive seminars

ENVIRONMENTAL CINEMAisaweekend-

longfestivalfeaturingexclusivelocalandinternationalfilms.

BEFF2015showcased:

7 Asian Premieres 2 SE Asian Premieres

BEFF is expanding the idea of environmental cinema from the

traditional to the experimental, encompassing thoughtful

narrative and artful expression in an exploration of our

relationshipwithnature.

17 films:

6 features, 9 shorts, 2 historical films

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GOALS

'Educate'throughnewknowledgeonecologicalandculturalissues

'Expose'throughenvironmentalfilmsthatstimulatediscussion

'Engage'storytellersthroughaplatformforcommunityfilmmaking

“Suara” is the Malay word for Voice.

Everyoneshouldhavetheopportunitytotelltheirstories

intheirownwordsandimages.

SUARA COMMUNITY FILMMAKINGisa

tailor-madetrainingprogrammeforaspiringindigenousandlocal

communityfilmmakersinSabah.Throughthematicandintensive

workshopshelmedbyleadingprofessionalsintheMalaysianfilm

industry,Suaracommunityfilmmakerslearntoharnessthepowerof

imagesandsoundtotellthestoriesabouttheircommunitiesandthe

environmentsaroundthem.In2015,theSuaraprogrammehad:

3 thematic workshops held in Tongod, Semporna &

Kinabatangan Final intensive workshop held in Kota Kinabalu

Trained 62 community filmmakers

Premiered 6 community-made films at BEFF 2015.

BEFFispoweredbyateamofvibrantprofessionalswhohavefoundsuccessinarangeoffields,from

environmentalconservation,tourism,businessandthecreativeindustriesoffilm,writingandmedia.

Drivenbypassion–andoftenthroughsheergritanddetermination–theteamraisesfunds,nurtures

thenetworkofpartnerships,runstheprogrammingandmakesitallhappen.Why?BecauseBEFF

understandsthatitisimportanttodeliveramessagethatempowerspeopletostepupandtake

actionforoursharedfuture.

Photos(pg3)courtesyBirdRunningwater;(pg4fromtop)byAdamMurphy,UndingJamiandAdamMurphy.

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2. 2015FESTIVALWEEKEND

TheBEFF2015festivalwasheldovertheweekendofFridaythe2ndtoSundaythe4thofOctoberattheKompleksJKKN(Sabah)inKotaKinabalu.AllofBEFF’syear-longactivitiesculminatedinathree-daycelebrationofoursharednaturalandculturalheritage.The 2015 festival weekend featured the EnvironmentalCinemaandSuaraPublikaprogrammes,aswellasthefinalSuara Community Filmmaking workshop. Prior to thefestival weekend, the Suara Community FilmmakingprogrammehadcompletedthreethematicworkshopsheldoverMarchtoAugustinvariousrurallocationsthroughoutSabah.

SUMMARYOFALLPROGRAMMESProgrammeactivities #Activities AttendanceEnvironmentalCinema 2,530Featurefilm 6 Shortfilm 9 Historicalfilm 2

SuaraPublika Publictalks 5 Interactiveseminars 3 SuaraCommunityFilmmaking 624-daythematicworkshop 3 5-dayintensiveworkshop 1 Suarafilmspremiered 6

Audiencememberswaitingforthedoorsofthemainauditoriumtoopen.

SuaracommunityfilmmakersonlocationatTanjungAruBeachduringthefinalintensiveworkshop.

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ENVIRONMENTALCINEMAAtotalof17filmswerescreenedoverthefestivalweekendcomprising6featurefilms,9shortfilmsand2historicalfilms(seeAnnexIforthefullactivityreport).Ofthese,7filmswereshownforthefirsttimeinAsiawhileanother2filmswereSoutheastAsianPremieres.CINEMA TITLEANDDETAILS PREMIEREFeaturefilms RacingExtinction(USA,2015,94mins) AsianPremiere

ThuleTuvalu(Switzerland,2014,96mins) WeightofSalt(Malaysia,2014,73mins) BananaPancakesandtheChildrenoftheStickyRice(TheNetherlands,2015,94mins)

MalaysianPremiere

Damnation(USA,2014,87mins) SEAsianPremiereVirunga(UK,2014,97mins)

Shortfilms MySaltwaterSanctuary(Australia,2014,20mins) AsianPremiereIsabelle’sGarden(USA,2015,9mins) AsianPremiereSticky(Australia,2014,20mins) Shimásáni(USA,2008,15mins) AsianPremiereSikumi(OntheIce)(USA,2008,15mins) Wakening(Canada,2013,9mins) AsianPremiereParadiseFound(USA,2014,13mins) AsianPremiereWarriorsofQiugang(USA/China,2011,39mins) SEAsianPremiereIslandsofSanctuary(USA,2013,31mins) AsianPremiere

Historicalfilms NorthBorneoCirca1950(Malaysia,circa1950s,12mins) ThisisSabah(Malaysia,circa1960s,28mins)

The historical films included a live film performance by Kelabit musician Hezekiah Asim whocomposedanoriginalscoretoaccompany“NorthBorneoCirca1950”andwaspresentedastheopeningacttothefestivalweekend.

MusicianHezekiahAsimplaysthesapetoaccompanythesilentfilm“NorthBorneoCirca1950”.

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Each evening, a host of presenters - from leading scientists, nature-lovers, environmentalactiviststo indigenousrepresentatives-tooktothestagetointroduceafilm.PresenterstalkedabouthowthestoriesandissuesineachfilmrelatetothelivesofordinarySabahans,andsharedapassionatewake-upcalltosafeguardSabah’snaturalbountyandrichculturalheritage.

The Sundance Institute of the USA curated a specialpresentation of the four short films “Isabelle’s Garden”,“Shimásáni”, “Sikumi” and “Wakening”. These award-winning indigenous films were introduced by Mr. BirdRunningwaterof the Sundance Institute,whoalso screenedand discussed these films in detail during interactiveseminars with local film enthusiasts, film students andcommunityfilmmakers(seeAnnexIIforfullactivityreport).In addition to the17 films showcasedat theEnvironmentalCinemaprogramme,anothersixSuarafilmswerepremieredat the final night of the festival weekend (see this section,SuaraCommunityFilmmaking).

L-Rfromtopleft:Dr.MarcAncrenazexplainsextinctionbeforeintroducing“RacingExtinction”;Dr.MaklarinLakimtouchesonclimatewarmingasheintroduces“ThuleTuvalu”;Mr.RosliJukranaspeaksaboutengagingcommunitiesintourismandintroduced“BananaPancakesandtheChildrenoftheStickyRice”;Ms.JannieLasimbangcallsfortherecognitionofindigenouspeoples’connectiontolandandresourcesasaprefacetothefilm“IslandsofSanctuary”.

Mr.BirdRunningwaterpresentsaspeciallycuratedcollectionofindigenousfilmsfromtheSundanceInstitute,USA.

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SUARAPUBLIKAForthefirsttime,theSuaraPublikaprogrammeintegratedthepresentationofpublictalks intothe Environmental Cinema programme, featuring East Malaysian, West Malaysian andinternationalspeakers(seeAnnex II forthefullactivityreport).Atotalof fivepublictalksweredeliveredonthemainstageinavisualandhigh-impactTED-talkstyledapproach.

PUBLIKA TITLEANDDETAILS BYPublictalks “IntroductiontotheSundanceInstitute”(Friday2ndOct,8.30pm) BirdRunningwater

“CulturaltraditionsintheKelabitHighlands”(Saturday3rdOct,6.45pm)

LucyBulan

“IndigenousFilmmaking”(Saturday3rdOct,8.00pm) BirdRunningwater“SuaraCommunityFilmmakingProgramme”(Sunday4thOct,7.30pm)

AgnesLeeAgamaSeokWunAuYongAndyChiaZanAzleeZainalAbidin

“DeadlyDinners–EatingourwaythroughtheEndangeredSpeciesList”(Sunday4thOct,9.00pm)

ElizabethJohn

Interactiveseminars

“IndigenousFilmmaking”withSuaraCommunityFilmmakingWorkshopparticipants(Saturday3rdOct,10.30am)

BirdRunningwater

“FilmindustryinSabahandMalaysia”withFilmCamp(Saturday3rdOct,2.00pm)

BirdRunningwater

“PersonalJourneyasanIndependentFilmmaker”withUniversityCollegeSabahFoundationFacultyofCreativeMediaandFineArtsstudents(Sunday4thOct,2.00pm)

BirdRunningwater

BEFFwasthrilledtowelcomeitsspecialguestof2015,Mr.BirdRunningwater,aninternationalfilm expert and Director of the Sundance Institute’s world-famous Native American andIndigenousProgram.BirdtooktothemainstageduringEnvironmentalCinema’sfirstandsecondeveningswhereheintroducedtheSundanceInstitute’sNativeAmericanandIndigenousProgramandsharedhisownpersonalstoryinindigenousfilmmakingandindependentstorytelling.

L-R:Ms.LucyBulangivesaheartwarmingtalkaboutcultureandchangeintheKelabitHighlands;Ms.ElizabethJohnspeakspassionatelyontheillicitwildlifetradeanditsimpactsonourendangeredspecies.

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Publika also featured three interactive seminars, all helmed byMr. Bird Runningwater. Thesewereespeciallypre-arrangedsessionsforselect localgroupscomprisedoffilmenthusiasts,filmstudentsandSuaracommunityfilmmakerswhoweretreatedtoahands-ondiscussionwithBird.

SUARACOMMUNITYFILMMAKINGFINALWORKSHOPThe festival weekend saw the culmination of the year-long Suara Community Filmmakingprogrammewithafive-dayintensiveworkshopthatstartedonWednesdaythe30thofSeptemberandendedwiththefinalfestivaleveningonSundaythe4thofOctober.

Mr.BirdRunningwaterrunsaSuaraPublikainteractiveseminarwithFilmCamp.

TrainerMr.HarunRahmansharessometipsandtrickstofilmmaking-on-the-go.

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Atotalof47participantsfrom14communityfilmmakingteams1weredividedintotwoparallelstreams: beginner and intermediate groups. Each group was helmed by a team of trainerscomprising leadingprofessional filmmakers inMalaysia’s creative industry,whogavehands-oninstructions to participants over five days of high-energy filmmaking (see Annex III for the fullactivityreport).

ParticipantsmanagedtocompletesixshortfilmsthatwerepremieredtoBEFFaudiencesonthefinaleveningofthefestivalweekend(seealsoAnnexI).SUARA TITLEANDDETAILS BY

Suarafilms

SenikuJiwaku(Malaysia,2015,4mins) SuaraIntensiveWorkshopparticipantsKebakarandiKg.Bangau(Malaysia,2015,5mins) SuaraProductionWorkshopparticipantsLokos(Malaysia,2015,3mins27secs) KOPELMastalArikik(Malaysia,2015,2mins) WanitaPulauOmadal(WAPO)Turipas(Malaysia,2015,8mins) HutanKisahBudakJalanan(Malaysia,2015,7mins) GreenSemporna

Two of the films, “Seniku Jiwaku” and“Kebakaran di Kg. Bangau” wereproduced over the course of a singleworkshop, while the other four films –“Lokos”, “Mastal Arikik”, “Turipas” and“KisahBudakJalanan”-werearesultofcommunityfilmmakingteams’continuedeffortsoverthecourseoftheyear.Eachof the filmmaking teams responsible forproducing a completed film had theopportunity of introducing their film tothe BEFF audience on the final night ofthefestivalweekend.

1BEFF2015workedwithatotalof15communityfilmmakingteams,thoughoneteamwasunabletoattendthefinalintensiveworkshop.

Everyonecelebratesasfivedaysofintensivefilmmakingcomestoahappyclose.

CommunityfilmmakersAdzminandAhnafrepresenttheirteamGreenSempornatointroducethefilmtheymade,entitled“KisahBudakJalanan”onthefinalnightofthefestivalweekend.

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3. SUARACOMMUNITYFILMMAKING

ProcessSuara isan independent,multi-tiered,andsustainedcapacitybuildingprogrammethatenablesindigenous and local community groups to harness the power of film to tell the stories abouttheircommunitiesandenvironmentsintheirowndistinctvoice.

Thisisachievedthroughaseriesoftrainingworkshopswherecommunity filmmaking teams learn how to distil their ideasintoacharacter-drivennarrativeandusemovingimagesandsound to tell these stories. Inmaking their film, communityfilmmakers essentially engage their communities indialogueand reflect on environmental and social change. A keyemphasis is team-building, and as such, Suara worksexclusively with community filmmaking teams and not withindividuals. Each group is responsible for building their ownteam and self-select which of their team members wouldrepresenttheirteamateachthematicworkshop.Onayearlybasis, theSuara trainingprogrammetakesplaceoveraperiodofroughlyeightmonthsstretchingfromaboutMarch toOctober. In this period, three thematicworkshopsareheldindifferentandmostlyruralareasthroughoutSabah,focussing on the topic areas of storytelling, film productionand video editing. Over each workshop, participants gather

ParticipantsfilmingonPulauOmadalduringthesecondthematicworkshopinAugust.PhotobyAdamMurphy.

Participantsareplacedinmixedgroupsduringworkshopsandhavetoworktogethertotellastorythatiscohesiveandcompelling.

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for three to four days to work with selected industry professionals who act as trainers andmentors. Most workshops feature exercises where participants experiment and explore thedifferentaspectstofilmmakingand,onoccasion,produceashortfilmwithinthedurationoftheworkshop.Uponcompletinga thematicworkshop,participants returnto theirhomecommunitiesandareexpected to share their skills and experience with their teams. This “training of trainers”approachismeanttosupportteamsintheirown,usuallyyear-long,efforttoproduceafilmonatopicoftheirchoice.Teamsareexpectedtobringtheirwork-in-progresstoeachofthethematicworkshopsfortrainersandtheirpeerstocommentandinput.SUARA2015 TOPIC TRAINER/S DATES #PARTICIPANTSThematicworkshop1 Storytelling SeokWunAuYong

RubbyEmir 4to8March 17

Thematicworkshop2 FilmProduction

SyukrieHassanHelmiHamrenSeokWunAuYong

20to24May 32

Thematicworkshop3 VideoEditing EvaE.Zahar 19to23August 18

Intensiveworkshop

CommunityFilmmakingforBeginners&Intermediate

AndyChiaAnthonyLamEvaE.ZaharHarunRahmanIkhwanRivaiNagiMagantiSeokWunAuYongZanAzleeZainalAbidin

30Septemberto4October 47

The specialised training delivered over the three thematic workshops is consolidated andelevated at a final intensive workshop, usually held in late September or early October tocoincidewithBEFF’sfestivalweekend.Afinalintensiveworkshoprunsforfivedaysandisahotlyanticipated, high-energy, hands-on process covering the full suite of filmmaking stages,techniquesand styles.Community filmmaking teamsattend in full complementandarepairedwithanexperiencedteamoftrainers,mostofwhomhaveledSuaraworkshopsinthepast.Theaim is not only to consolidate but also cross-fertilise peer-to-peer sharing of skills, rigour andartisanshipacrossparticipantsandtrainers.The finalworkshop is alsowhen Suara inducts entirely new teams or teammembers into theprogramme. Beginner participantsmeet and interactwith existing participants, experience thefestivalenvironmentandgainexposuretothefullsuiteof filmmakingstages.Uponcompletingthebeginnerworkshop,participantshavetheopportunityofenteringthenewcycleofthematicworkshopsthefollowingyear.There are two types of films produced at the final workshop: short films made during theworkshop,androughcutsoffilmsthatteamshavebeenworkingonthroughouttheyearthatarefinalised at this workshop. All completed films stand a chance of being premiered to BEFFaudiencesonthefinalnightofthefestivalweekend.

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Suaraisinits5thcycleoftrainingworkshopswitheachiterationbeingacumulativeprocessofco-creating camaraderie, sharing stories and generating knowledge about the contemporaryenvironmentalandculturalissuesfacedbyordinaryfolkinruralSabah.

ParticipantsIn the course of 2015, the Suara programme has worked with a total of 62 experienced andaspiringcommunityfilmmakers,comprisedof45menand17women,whoareorganisedinto15teams. Most teams are comprised of members of the same organisation or village, althoughthere are a few teams that comprise of partnerships, which can be government-community,NGO-communityorprivatesector-communitycollaboration.The 2015 batch of community filmmakers come from over 22 villages, towns and areas in 9districtsacrossSabah.FromasfarastheislandvillagesinremotePulauBanggiinnorthernmostSabah, Pulau Mantanani along west coast Sabah, Pulau Omadal off the eastern coast ofSempornaandPulauSebatiksituatedsouthernmostofTawau,totheinlandwatervillagesofKg.SukauandKg.BatuPutehalongtheKinabatanganRiver,Kg.BunduTuhaninthehighlandsofMt.KinabaluandKg. ImbakintheforestedinteriorofSabah–theseregionsareagoodgeographicrepresentationofSabah’smarineandterrestrialecosystems.

ParticipantscomefromamixofculturesreflectingSabah’smanyethnicgroupsandsub-groups,includingtheDusunBunduLiwan,Tidong,Sungai,Rungus,Bajau,BajauSemporna,BajauUbian,Bugis,KadazanandTombuono.ThisendowstheSuaraprocesswitharichculturalandlinguistic

ParticipantsandtrainersatthesecondthematicworkshopheldinSemporna.

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diversity that is as characteristic of Sabah’s peoples as is the fluid and easy way in whichparticipantsareabletointeractandworktogether.

CollaborationAt the sectoral level, the Suara 2015 batch of community filmmakers represent 17 distinctgroups, comprised of six community-based organisations (CBOs), five villages, two NGOs, oneprivatesectorcompany,twogovernmentagenciesandaresearchprogramme.Suara’sintentionis to support communities,whether throughCBOsor - in the absenceof a formalisedCBO - aloosely organised collective of village representatives. Suara recognises the importance of alsoengaging with the communities’ partners: the NGOs, private sector, government or researchorganisations thatareworkingwith thesecommunitiesandarecrucial inextendingsupport tocommunities throughout theyear.This isanadditionalelement toSuara’s cross-sectoral reachand reinforces the imperative for groups to work together, in partnership, to promote andsafeguardSabah’sbio-culturaldiversity.

No Sector Organisation/village1 Community-based

organisations(6)WanitaPulauOmadal(WAPO)

2 GreenSemporna3 BanggiYouthClub4 PulauSebatik-KesenianAnakTidong(KASTI)5 KudatTurtleConservationSociety6 KOPEL7 Villages(5) Kg.Sayap8 Kg.Sg.Eloi9 Kg.Melangkap(cluster)10 Kg.MantananiPadang11 Kg.BunduTuhan12 Non-government

organisations(2)HUTAN-KinabatanganOrangutanConservationProgramme

13 PacosTrust14 Privatesector(1) CAMPBorneoTravel&ToursSdn.Bhd.15

Government(2)SabahParks

16 YayasanSabah17 Researchprogramme(1) SEAsiaRainforestResearchPartnership

Aboveall,Suaraisavolunteerprogramme.Fundsraisedgotowardscoveringactualexpensesofmountingworkshopsandsupportingthecommunityfilmmakingprocess(e.g.equipmentneeds).Funds raised do not go towards salaries or stipends for filmmakers to participate in the Suaraprogramme. All community filmmakers voluntarily contribute their time, which is sometimeseasedthroughthesupportoftheirCBOsand/orcommunitypartners.Thoughnoteveryonecanattendeachandeveryworkshopduetonegotiationswiththeirownworkschedulesandothercommitments,Suarahasneverthelesscontinuedtoengagewithteamsasawhole.Someteamshavebeenwiththeprogrammesinceitsinceptionfiveyearsago,withseveraloftheirmembersnowactingasmentorstootheraspiringcommunityfilmmakersintheirhomearea.ThisgrowthinindividualandcollectiveexpertiseisshowingasteadyuptrendasSuaracontinuestoevolveinyearstocome.

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ReflectionsWith the conclusion of the first five-year phase, BEFF is taking stock of Suara’s achievements,identifying gaps and assessing challenges. Following on from the festival weekend, BEFF hascollected feedback from several strategic colleagues, notably Suara’s partners and trainers,organisersof other film festivals in SabahandMalaysia, and long-timeaudiencemembers.Onthe18thofDec,BEFFandcommunity filmmakersmetwithSabahMinister forTourism,CultureandEnvironmentDatukSeriPanglimaMasidiManjunandtheMinistry’sPermanentSecretaryEn.GinunYangustocatchuponthedevelopmentsintheprogramme.

CommunityfilmmakerspresentedtheirfilmstotheMinisterandPermanentSecretaryalongwithabriefdiscussionontheissuesportrayedineachstory.ThemeetingalsoengagedinaninformalevaluationoftheSuaraprogramme’sprogressandimpacts.Some of the key points that have emerged from the insights gained through this reflectionprocessinclude:

1. EMERGINGFILMMAKERSOverfiveyearstheSuaraprogrammehasmanagedtocreatea“community”of indigenousandlocal community filmmakers who come from different backgrounds and places throughoutSabah.Thoughnotasingleparticipanthasbeentofilmschool,theyareactivelyproducingshortfilmsand-asindividualsandasacollective-developingtheartistryandfindingthecouragetotell their story. These community filmmakers are actively engaging the grassroots to researchstories anddiscuss the issues facing their people and their environments.With the support oftrainers and a range of partners and individuals, these community filmmakers are - withincreasingsuccess-translatingtheireffortsintofilmswithadistinctivelocalvoice.Havingbeenwith the Suaraprogrammesince its inception in2011, the filmmaking team fromHutan are now regularly producing short films about human-wildlife conflict and wildlifeconservation issues in the Lower Kinabatangan. Their films are shared with their donors and

Representativesfromcommunityfilmmakingteamsbehindthefilms“Lokos”,“KisahBudakJalanan”,“MastalArikik”and“Turipas”accompaniedbySuaratrainerAndyChiaandBEFFmetwiththeMinisterandPermanentSecretaryforTourism,CultureandEnvironmentSabahtopresentthe2015films,discussissuesportrayedandevaluatetheimpactsoftheSuaraprogramme.

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partners from all over theworld, and are educational tools used in their community outreachinitiatives. InBatuPuteh, theKOPEL filmmaking teamhavemadethreeother films (aside from“Lokos”) this year,whichaddress riverinepollutionanddegradationof riparianbuffers. KOPELhave also started training villagers in the adjacent Kg. Abai in filmmaking skills. The first filmresulting from their collaboration promotes Kg. Abai’s community ecotourism programme andwasscreenedatthe2015HeartofBorneoConferenceinKotaKinabalu.While themajority use community filmmaking as a means of furthering causes important forthem,thereareafewwhohavefoundapassionforfilmandnurturingtheirfilmmakingcraftbyparticipating in other film festivals both nationally and abroad. Mohd. Nizam Andan, whopremieredhis first film “SunkenGraves” at BEFF2013has goneon tomakemore films, beeninvited to festivalsnationwideand internationally,andwon filmmakinggrants.Emerging talentMuhd.AdzminAbd.Fatta,whodirectedandedited“KIsahBudakJalanan”whichpremieredatBEFF 2015, intends to submit hiswork to film festivals for consideration and inspire others tofollowinthesefootsteps.Thereareseveralotherswhoseexpressivecameraworkhavenotgoneunnoticed by Suara trainers who have remarked on the exceptional technical prowess andprofessionalpotentialthatisbeingnurturedthroughtheprogramme.

2. CONNECTINGCOMMUNITIESInnurturingcommunityfilmmakers,theSuaraprogrammehasalsocreatedacollectiveofdiverseorganizationsand individuals fromgovernment,civilsociety,researchandthearts,villagesandlocal businesses – both locally and abroad - who continue to come together in support ofindependentstorytellers.Ontheheelsofthe2015festivalweekendthatpremiered six Suara films, BEFF received arequest from the British High Commission toMalaysia to screen “MastalArikik”byWanitaPulau Omadal (WAPO) and “Kisah BudakJalanan”byGreenSempornaataBritishHighCommission engagement event on the 9th ofDecember in Kota Kinabalu. Communityfilmmakers, accompanied by the BEFF team,attended this event to present and discusstheir filmswith theBritishHighCommissionertoMalaysia,Her ExcellencyVicki Treadell andan audience of invited guests. Taken by thestory of the young teacher portrayed in“Mastal Arikik”, the High CommissionerimmediatelyscheduledavisittoPulauOmadaltomeetwithcommunitymembersandseetheworkofWAPO.The newly-developed link with the prestigious Sundance Institute Native American andIndigenous Program (NAIP) through its Director, Mr. Bird Runningwater, represents a critical

SnapshotoftheeventcoveragefromtheBritishHighCommissiontoMalaysiawebsite.

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juncture forSuaracommunity filmmakers.TheSundance Instituteorganises theSundanceFilmFestival, the largest andmost influential independent film festival in theworld. The SundanceInstitute’sNAIPhasbeensupportingindigenousfilmmakersintheUSformorethan40yearsandcurrentlyhasaffiliateprogrammes inAustraliaandNewZealand.DuringhistimeatBEFF2015,Bird had the opportunity tomeetwith the Suara team, helmed an interactiveworkshopwithcommunity filmmakers, andwatched the premiere of six Suara films on the final night of thefestival. Exploring linkages with Sundance’s NAIP and connecting with other indigenousfilmmakersacrosstheglobeisaprioritythattheSuaraprogrammeintendstopursueinearnest.Intheimmediateterm,theSuaraprogrammewouldliketofocusmoreintensivelyondevelopingplatformstodisseminateanddistributetheworkofcommunity filmmakers.Ultimately,Suara’svision is to have these stories - and the distinct voices driving them - engage with multipleaudiencesfromlocaltoglobalscales,populatemediastreams,andinfusethediscourseonbio-culturalheritageconservationwithvoicesofBorneo’sindigenousandlocalpeoples.

3. CHANGEINPERSPECTIVEFor Suara, storytelling is fundamentally both process and product. By turning cameras ontothemselves, communities look inward at the self, their people and their links to theland/seascapes that define their ancestry and inform their trajectory to the future. This is themulti-dimensionalsignificanceof“community”incommunityfilmmaking.Thesestories–andtheintrospective conversations that unfold in their telling – provide a platform for people toconvergeanddiscussissuesthataffecttheircommunity.The focus and clarity the filmmaking process brings to a community has the added benefit ofhighlightingthecommunity’sparticularcircumstancestoexternalaudiences.When“Lokos”waspresented to theSabahMinister forTourism,CultureandEnvironment, the filmprompted theMinister to instruct thata specialmeetingbeconvened in January2016 specifically toaddresstheriverinepollutionproblemsfacedbythecommunityinBatuPuteh.Effectivefollow-upactionwouldensurethatthelivelihoodsofthefisherfolkinthisareaaresafeguardedandthewell-beingof all residents would benefit from increased water quality. “Mastal Arikik” has – since thescreeningofthefilm–attractedtheattentionoftheBritishHighCommissionertoMalaysiaandprompted the nomination of the little teacher featured in the film for a young changemakeraward. It is still early days to assess the cumulative impacts of a story such as “Kisah BudakJalanan” on the welfare and future of street children in Semporna. That such complex andcontroversial issues are already capturing the hearts and minds of audiences as a result ofcommunity-madefilmsisasignificantachievementfortheSuaraprogrammeandsufficientfoodforthoughtasSuarastrategisesonthenextfive-yearphaseofwork.

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4. MEDIAEachyear,BEFFreceivessignificantmediaattentionwhichwasmoresowiththeexcitementofthisyear’sfestivalweekend.BEFFissuedthreepressreleasesoverthecourseofSeptemberandOctober to national and local press. Two press conferenceswere held: on 14th September toannounce the festival line-up and on opening night (1st October) to announce the arrival ofspecial guest Mr. Bird Runningwater of the Sundance Institute. Members of the media wereinvited to BEFF’s opening night, Suara Publika sessions and interviewed Suara CommunityFilmmakingtrainersandparticipants.

CoverageofBEFF’s festivalweekendappeared in theonlineandprint versionsofnational andlocal English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese dailies (125,890 reach per day), in addition tocoverage on Astro Awani, shoutouts on Hitz.FM, radio and television interviewswith nationalbroadcasters.BEFFadvertisestheeventthroughpaidadpagesinselectednewspapersfrom27thSeptemberto1stOctober.

NEWSPAPERADVERTISEMENTS RADIO/TELEVISIONINTERVIEWS

DailyExpress-1stOctoberBorneoPost-27thSeptember

NewSabahTimes-28th&29thSeptember

RTMVFM–30thSeptember

TVi–1stOctober,3pm,KamiBahIni

Online, BEFF’s Facebook page hit an average of 20,000 reach per post by late September, inaddition to promotions via the BEFF website (www.beff.org.my), Instagram (beffsuara) andTwitter(@beffsuara)platforms.BEFFwasalsofeaturedinanumerousonlineplatforms,suchasthe websites of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, US Embassy KualaLumpur, Sabah Tourism, University College Sabah Foundation and MyDocs, websites of high

ExcerptsfromtheAstroAwani,BorneoPostandUtusanBorneo,2015.

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profile films such as Virunga, DamNation and Racing Extinction, several blogs and vlogs, andinternational,regionalandlocaleventportals.

NotablelocalandinternationalwebsitesthathavemadeprominentmentionofBEFFinclude:

1. Sabahbah.com2. KotaKinabaluInternationalFilmFestival,www.kkiff.com3. www.eventful.com4. www.tripifly.com(Australia)5. www.borneocolours.com6. www.sayangsabah.com7. www.wherevent.com

AspecialluncheonforMr.BirdRunningwaterandBEFFtomeetwithSabahMinisterforTourism,CultureandEnvironmentDatukSeriPanglimaMasidiManjun,organizedbytheSabahTourismBoardon5thOctober2015.

BEFF’sphotoboardwasapopularbackdropforgroupphotosandselfiesthatweresharedonsocialmedia.

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5. SPONSORSHIPAsanon-profitprogramme,BEFFrunsentirelyonsponsorship,bothcashandin-kind,whichgoestowards various aspects of our activities including, though not limited to: film licensing,translation and subtitling, projection and live film performance, venue hire and technicians,catering, Suara workshops, Suara participants’ and trainers’ travel and accommodation,marketingandpromotions.Tothisend,BEFF2015wouldliketoacknowledge:

MAINFESTIVALPARTNERSMinistryofTourism,CultureandEnvironmentSabah

BursaMalaysiaandTheBursaBullChargeUSEmbassyKualaLumpur

MinistryofResourceDevelopmentandInformationTechnologySabahJabatanKebudayaandanKesenianNegara(Sabah)

PARTNERS&SUPPORTERS

BeverlyChow•BorneoBridal•BorneoEcoTours•BorneoNatureTours•CABO•ElizabethJohn•FilmcampKK•HotelSixty3•JFProductions•ImperialBoutecHotel•KinabaluDayaHotel•LaviniaPrivateArtGallery•LimShengHaw•LembagaPenapisanFilemMalaysia•LucyBulan•MonicaLow•PerbadananFilemNasionalMalaysia(FINAS)•RogerWang•SabahArtGallery•SabahSociety•SabahStateLibrary•SabahTourismBoard•SoundsTechProductionSdn.Bhd.•StickyRiceTravel•UniversityCollegeSabahFoundation•VideographicsProductionsSdn.Bhd.

FILMSUPPORTERS

AidaRahman•AnnaHar•BenKnightandTravisRummel•BirdRunningwater&SundanceInstitute,USA•MichelleSvenson&BlackhorseLowe•CaraMarcous&AndrewMcLean•

ChristopherMcLeod•CornellLabofOrnithology•DaanVeldhuizen•DanielleRyan&JamesSherwood•DanisGoulet&WandaVanderstoop•HezekiahAsim•IsabelleLackman•JannieLasimbang•JeffreyPalmer•JilliRose•JuliaHwong•MaklarinLakim•MarcAncrenaz•

MargaretBong•MatthiasvonGunten•NordinAbdulRahman•OceanicPreservationSociety&Okeanos-FoundationfortheSea•OrlandovonEinsiedelandJoannaNatasegara•ParveenKaur•

RosliJukrana•RubyYang•SabahMuseum•SandakanYachtClub

SUARASUPPORTERSAndyChia•AnthonyLam•BarthChua•BanggiYouthClub•BorneoConservancyInitiative&Kg.Melangkap•CAMPBorneoTravel&ToursSdn.Bhd.•CrackoArtGroup•EvaE.Zahar•GreenSemporna•HarjinderKler•HarunRahman•HelmiHamren•Hutan-KinabatanganOrangutanConservationProgramme•IkhwanRivai•JuliaWong•KesenianAnakTidong•KudatTurtle

ConservationSociety•MESCOTInitiative&KOPELBhd.•NagiMaganti•NordinAbdulRahman&family•PACOSTrust•PakcikPoloi•RubbyEmir•SabahEnvironmentalProtectionAssociation•SeokWunAuYong•SoutheastAsiaRainforestResearchPartnership•SyukrieHassan•Wanita

PulauOmadal•YayasanSabah•ZanAzleeZainalAbidinBEFFremainsindebtedtomanyotherindividualswhohavegivengenerouslytheirtime,expertise

andfriendshiptomakeBEFF2015asuccess.

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6. ANNEXI:ENVIRONMENTALCINEMAAfter a year’s hiatus, BEFF returned to Kompleks JKKN (Sabah) for an exciting three-dayprogramme of Environmental Cinema film screenings and Suara Publika talks. The formercomprisedatotalof17films,featuringarchivalfootageofNorthBorneointhe1950sand1960sandacompellinglineupofecologicalandculturalfilms,9ofwhichwereAsianorSoutheastAsianpremieres.

TheEnvironmentalCinemaprogrammeopenedwith“NorthBorneoCirca1950”(Malaysia,circa1950s,12mins),asilentfilmaccompaniedbyKelabitmusicianMr.HezekiahAsimaboutSabah’spre-independencedays.Dr.AgnesLeeAgama(co-founderofBEFF)thengaveawelcomeaddress,providing an overview of the Festival programme and thanking BEFF’s sponsors, partners andsupporters.Following an introduction byMs. Aida Rahman (CAMPBorneo),theprogrammecontinuedwith“MySaltwaterSanctuary” (Australia, 2014, 20 mins, Asian premiere).This beautifully shot film showcases the vibrant oceanandbeachculturesharedbylocalsontheeastcoastofAustralia. Whether they are Aboriginal elders, surfers,scuba divers, fishermen or restaurateurs, their joy,livelihoods, and local identity are intertwinedwith theocean and ultimately on the future conservation ofmarine parks and sanctuaries, giving iconic species likethefriendlyBlueGrouperachancetoreplenish.

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Following the first Suara Publika talk by special guest Mr. BirdRunningwater (see Annex II), he introduced “Isabelle’s Garden”(USA, 2015, 9mins, Asian premiere), a heartwarming story of acommunitycomingtogetherinreciprocitythroughthedreamsofayoungChoctawgirlandhergarden.BEFF’s featured animated film this year was “Sticky” (Australia,2014, 20mins), a unique documentary about a handful of stickinsects clinging to life for 80 yearsonawindsweptbushon theworld's tallestseastack,andthepassionatescientistswhobringthembackfromthebrinkofextinction.Dr.MarcAncrenaz (Borneo Futures) introduced the feature filmofBEFF’sopeningnight,“RacingExtinction”(USA,2015,94mins,

Asianpremiere),anedge-of-your-seatthrillerhotoffthepressfromOscar-winnerLouiePsihoyos(The Cove). A teamof artists and activists used state-of-the-art equipment to show theworldnever-before-seen images that expose issues of endangered species and mass extinction.Whether infiltrating notorious blackmarkets in Chinawith guerrilla-style tactics, exploring thescientificcausesaffectingchangesto theenvironmentorprojectingstunning imagesofwildlifeoniconicbuildingsaroundtheworld,RacingExtinctionwasbothheartbreakinganduplifting.

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BEFF’s second night of Environmental Cinemabeganwithahistorical filmcalled “This is Sabah”(Malaysia,circa1960s,28mins).FromthearchivesofFilemNegaraMalaysia, this shortdocumentarycapturestheessenceoftheLandBelowtheWind,showing Sabah during its ‘growing years’ in the1950s and 60s, from the streets of Kota KinabalutothewindingKinabatanganRiverintheeast.Introduced by Dr. Maklarin Lakim (Sabah Parks)“Thule Tuvalu” (Switzerland, 2014, 96 mins)broughttheaudienceonajourneytotwoplacesatthe edge of our planet making headlines due toclimate change: Thule, Greenland, because ofrecord icemelts;andTuvalu,becausethisremotePacificislandnationisoneofthefirstcountriesonthe verge of being inundated by rising sea levels.Whereas for most of us, global climate changeoccurs almost solely in the media, it is changingthe entire existence for the inhabitants of ThuleandTuvalu.Thefilmshowshowtheyareforcedtoabandontheirtraditionalwayoflifeastheymovetowardsanunknownfuture.

AfteraSuaraPublika talkand introductionbyMs.LucyBulan (seeAnnex II), “Weight of Salt” (Malaysia, 2014, 73mins) brought theaudiencebackhometoEastMalaysia.WeightofSaltgivesaglimpseinto the life of the last active salt-maker family in the Kelabithighlands in theheartofBorneo. It isaportraitof the tribeandaplacewherelifeissimpleandtimehasanotherpace,andhowithaschangedsince2009,whentheremotevillagewasconnectedtothepopulated lowlands by a road as well as cellular communication.YoungKelabitsmove to the cities to continue their education andupon graduation, most do not return to the highlands since theagrarian economy does not provide many job opportunities. Thesalt-making family knows that the continuation of their tradedepends on their children, but the parents also want them to

receiveaneducationandhaveabetter life. The filmhighlights someof the choices the familynowhastomakeinthefaceofmodernisationandculturalchange.Mr. Bird Runningwater provided his second Suara Publika talkduringthefilmprogramme(seeAnnexII)andintroducedthethreeotherindigenousshortfilmsspeciallyselectedforscreeningatBEFF.“Shimásáni” (USA, 2008, 15mins, Asian premiere), set in the late1920s on the serene Navajo reservation, shows a young womannamedMary Jane spending her time daydreaming and tending toher family’s flock of sheep. When her older sister returns fromboarding school with a geography book, she reveals new worldsthatare‘justoverthemountain’.Conflictedbyherobedientnatureand her curious imagination, Mary Jane must privately decide toeithermaintainherlifestyleordepartintotheexoticunknown.

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“Sikumi(OntheIce)”(USA,2008,15mins)istheaward-winningstoryofApuna,anInuithunter,whodriveshisdogteamoutonthefrozenArcticOceaninsearchofseals,butinsteadbecomesawitnesstomurder. InthemicroscopiccommunitiesofArcticAlaska, there isnoanonymityandthe hunter knows both the victim and themurderer. Themurderer, claiming self-defense anddesperatetoavoidpunishment,triestopersuadehisfriendtoforgetwhathehasseen,andhelpdisposeofthebody.Thehunterisforcedtonavigatetheuneasymoralityofhonoringthebodyandmemoryofonefriendanddestroyingthelifeofanother.

The final selection from the SundanceInstitute’s Native American and IndigenousProgram, “Wakening” (Canada, 2013, 9mins,Asianpremiere)isafuturistictakeonatraditionalCreestory.Inthenearfuture,theenvironment has been destroyed andsociety suffocates under a brutal militaryoccupation. A lone female Cree wanderer,Wesakechak,searchesanurbanwarzonetofind the ancient and dangerousWeetigo tohelpfightagainsttheoccupiers.

Thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, theBEFF audience was treated to the delightfulantics of Birds-of-Paradise in “Paradise Found”(USA,2014,13mins,Asianpremiere).TimLamanand Edwin Scholes have spent nearly a decadedocumentingthe39speciesofBirds-of-Paradisethat live in PapuaNewGuinea. The birds provetobeelusivepreyfortheircameras,butasever,theadventureisasmuchaboutthejourneyasitisthedestination.Mr. Rosli Jukrana (KOPEL) introduced the finalfilmoftheevening–“BananaPancakesandtheChildren of the Sticky Rice” (The Netherlands,2015, 94 mins, Malaysian premiere), acontemplative take on tourism in mainlandSoutheast Asia. As backpackers visit a smallvillage in remote northern Laos in search of atraditional experience, the inhabitants of thevillagediscovertheattractionsoftheWest.Twoworldsmeetatthecrossroadsoftheirrespectivedesires: one longing for authenticity, the otherfor modernity. The film tells a poetic story offriendship and how we relate to others in arapidlyglobalizingworld.

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The final day of BEFF’s Environmental Cinema programmekickedoffwith “WarriorsofQiugang” (USA/China,2011,39mins, Southeast Asian premiere), introduced by Ms. JuliaHwong (Sabah Environmental Protection Association). Themain protagonist is Zhang Gongli, a farmerwho grew up inthevillageofQiuganginAnhuiProvince;hishouseandfieldslienearthebanksoftheHuaiRiver.In2004,privatechemicalcompaniestookoveranoldstate-ownedenterprisethathadlong produced pesticides and dyes in Qiugang. The film’sintimacy leads the viewers past the headlines and clichésabout modern China to offer a memorable portrait ofvillagerswrestlingwithandtransformedbyChina’sheadlongrushintomodernity.Themomentumcontinuedwith“Damnation”(USA,2014,87mins,SoutheastAsianPremiere),introducedbyretiredwaterengineerIr.NordinAbdulRahman.Thispowerfulfilmodysseyacross America explores the sea change in national attitudefrom pride in big dams as engineering wonders to thegrowing awareness that our own future is bound to the lifeand health of rivers. Tracing the dam removal movementfromthe fictionalMonkeyWrenchGang to themainstream,the film showshow rivers boundback to life, giving salmonandotherwild fish the rightof return toprimeval spawninggrounds,afterdecadeswithoutaccess.Ms. Jannie Lasimbang (Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia)introduced“IslandsofSanctuary”(USA,2013,31mins,Asianpremiere), a special segment from a four-part documentaryseries called “Standing on Sacred Ground”. The film travelsacrossthePacifictoHawai’i,whereindigenousecologicaland

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spiritualpracticesareusedtorestorethesacredislandofKaho’olaweafter50yearsofmilitaryuseasabombingrange.FollowingonfromthePublikatalkontheSuaraCommunityFilmmakingprogramme(seeAnnexII),aseriesofshortfilmsresultingfromthe2015Suaraprogrammewerescreened.Firstwasanentertainingmontageof the short filmsmadeby thebeginnerworkshopusing the techniquestheyhad just learnt,whichwere introducedby trainersMs. SeokWunAuYong andMr.AndyChia.Next,cameasequenceoftwoshortfilmsmadeduringSuaraworkshops,entitled“SenikuJiwaku”(Malaysia,2015,4mins)aboutthepassionatejourneyoftheCrackoArtGroupinfindingwaystoembraceandgrowSabah’sartscene,and“KebakarandiKg.Bangau”(Malaysia,2015,5mins) about the homeless community of Kg. Bangau who are living in makeshift tents andstrugglingtocope intheaftermathofafirethatdestroyedtheirvillage inSemporna.Eachfilmwasintroducedbytheworkshopparticipantswhomadethefilm.The highlight of the Suara segment was the screening of four community-made films, whichrepresentthestoriesteamshavebeenworkingonallyearlongthattheymanagedtocompleteand premiere at the festival weekend. “Lokos” (Malaysia, 2015, 3 mins 27 secs), which wasintroduced by the KOPEL filmmaking team, tells the story of a fisherman who has lost hislivelihood because the river he depends on has been polluted by effluents from palm oilplantations. “Mastal Arikik” (Malaysia, 2015, 2 mins), introduced by the filmmaking team ofWanitaPulauOmadal(WAPO),depictstheheart-warmingtaleofayoungboylivingonOmadalIsland (situated around 3 hours’ boat ride off the coast of Semporna),who at a tender age isalreadyhelpingtoeducatetheisland'schildrenbyworkingasateacherinalocalprimaryschool.“Turipas” (Malaysia, 2015, 8mins), introducedby the filmmaking teamatHutan, explores theculturaldilemmaoftheOrangSungaiofKg.SukauwhohavebeentraditionalkeepersoftheBlue-crowned Hanging Parrot but whose youth are now capturing the bird for commercial trade.“Kisah Budak Jalanan” (Malaysia, 2015, 7 mins), introduced by the filmmakers of GreenSemporna,wasfilmedinthetownofSemporna,andrevealsthedesperatecircumstancesfacedby local stateless children - who often have no opportunities to receive education, exist wellbelowthepovertyline,andturntodrugsfromaveryyoungageasameansofcopingwiththeirharshrealities.Thefilmasksdifficultquestionsofhowthispressingsocialissuecanberesolved.AfteraSuaraPublikatalkbyElizabethJohnonconsumptionof endangered species (see Annex II), the final film of BEFF2015 took the proverbial stage – “Virunga” (UK, 2014, 97mins), which has been sweeping film festivals around theworldwithitshigh-octanecoverageoftheimpactsofarmedconflict and extractive industries on conservation. In theforesteddepthsofeasternCongoliesVirungaNationalPark,oneofthemostbio-diverseplacesonEarthandhometotheplanet’s last remaining mountain gorillas. In this wild butenchanted environment, a small and embattled team –including an ex-child soldier turned ranger, a caretaker oforphan gorillas and a dedicated conservationist who is amember of the Belgian royal family – protect this UNESCOWorld Heritage Site from armed militia, poachers and thedark forces struggling to control the Congo’s rich naturalresources. A powerful combination of investigativejournalismandnaturedocumentary,VirungaistheincredibletruestoryofagroupofcourageouspeopleriskingtheirlivestobuildabetterfutureinapartofAfricatheworldhaslargelyforgotten,andagrippingexposéoftherealitiesoflifeintheCongo.

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7. ANNEXII:SUARAPUBLIKA

Forthefirsttime,BEFFintegratedSuaraPublikatalksintotheEnvironmentalCinemaprogrammeand featured EastMalaysian,WestMalaysian and international speakers. BEFFwas thrilled towelcome its special guest of 2015, Mr. Bird Runningwater, an international film expert andDirector of the Sundance Institute’s world-famous Native American and Indigenous Program(NAIP).Birdalsoheld interactivegroupseminars,whichwereby invitationonly for select localgroups,beforetheEnvironmentalCinemaprogrammeon3and4October.

Friday2OctoberIn Bird Runningwater’s first Suara Publika talk on opening night entitled “Introduction to theSundanceInstitute”,hesharedafirst-handaccountofhisownpersonalstory,startingwithhisformativechildhoodyearswithhisgrandparentson theMescaleroApacheReservation inNewMexico,USA,atimewhenNativeAmericanswereonlyrepresented in filmasthestereotypicalhorse-bound‘Indian’ inoldWesterns.WhilestudyingjournalismattheUniversityofOklahoma,hereceiveddeaththreatswhenwriting in thestudentnewspaperabout racismoncampus;hesawthisasaclearindicationthatNativeAmericansandtheirperspectivesandissueswererarelyrepresentedontheirowntermsinthemedia.TheseandmanyotherexperienceseventuallyledBird to the Sundance Institute, which was founded by acclaimed actor and director RobertRedfordinthe1970s,whoeventhenplacedanemphasisonsupportingNativeAmericanstotelltheirownstories.Since2001,BirdhasguidedtheInstitute’sinvestmentinNativeAmericanandindigenous screenwriters, directors and producers from around theworld.Many have createdaward-winning films, fourofwhichhespecially selected toscreenatBEFF.He then introducedthefirstofthisspeciallycuratedlineupofshortindigenousfilms:“Isabelle’sGarden”(seeAnnexI).

BirdRunningwaterrunsaninteractiveseminarwithlocalfilmenthusiastgroupFilmCamp.

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Saturday3OctoberSpecialguestBirdRunningwaterhadafullprogrammeon3October,withinteractiveseminarsinboththemorningandafternoonandapublictalkduringtheEnvironmentalCinemaprogrammeintheevening.Inthemorning,heheldaseminarentitled“IndigenousFilmmaking”withtheSuaraCommunityFilmmaking workshop participants, likely marking the first time community filmmakers hadinteracted with a film expert from outside of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. WithinterpretationbySuaratrainerHarunRahman,Birdsharedhispersonalstory,includingtheoriginof his unique name and the importance of his grandparents and especially female familymembersinhisupbringingandbroadercommunity.

SpeakingdirectlytotheethosoftheSuaraprogramme,heunderscoredhowfilm–particularlyindependent film – can be used in an untold number ofways to tell Indigenous peoples’ andotherminorities’ stories.After showingavideo introduction to theSundance Institute’sNativeAmerican and Indigenous Program (NAIP), he explained how NAIP’s intensive in-personworkshops and mentoring over the course of filmmakers’ projects – from inception to post-productionanddistribution–hashelped theparticipantswinbothaudiencesandaccoladesateminent festivals around the world. NAIP has helped build a global community of indigenousfilmmakersthatisgainingincreasingattentionandrespectfrominternationalaudiences.HealsoencouragedtheSuaraparticipantstotellstoriesfromtheirowncommunities;eveniftheydon’tseemnewtothem,thestorieswillbenewandinterestingtoabroaderaudience.Inthissense,filmmakingcaninstillasenseofprideandconfidenceinindigenouscommunities.In the afternoon, Bird held a seminar entitled “Film Industry in Sabah and Malaysia” withFilmCamp,agroupoflocalfilmenthusiastsandindependentfilmmakersrangingfromamateursto professionals, which was facilitated by Dinoza Mahruf of BEFF. Bird showed the videointroduction to the Sundance Institute’s Native American and Indigenous Program (NAIP) andclipsfromanumberoffilmsfromtheNAIP’sparticipants,including“Sikumi(OntheIce)”,whichis based on a real-life experience of the filmmaker’s grandfather, and a gritty, soon-to-be-released modern take on Romeo and Juliet. He shared personal anecdotes of independentfilmmakersovercomingadversity,includingwhenthedirectorof“Sikumi(OntheIce)”,AndrewOkpeahaMacLean,hadtopostponeareshootforseveralmonthsuntilthefollowingwinterdue

SuaraworkshopparticipantsexchangeexperiencesonindigenousfilmmakingwithBirdRunningwater.

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to the extreme seasonal changes in light conditions in the Arctic. Given the high costs andchallengesoffilminginsuchacoldclimate,henearlygaveup,butwithBird’sguidanceandsomefundingfromtheSundanceInstitutetocompletetheproject,hisfilmwentontowinnumerousawards at festivals aroundNorthAmerica andwas short-listed for the 2009AcademyAwards.Andrewhassincemadeafeature-lengthmodernversionofthesamestory.Bird also spoke about the balance and occasional tension between retaining creativeindependence versus making the jump to commercial filmmaking, which comes with its ownchallenges but also access to finances andmainstream audiences; he cited as an example hisMaori friend, AcademyAward nominee TaikaWaititi,who gained international acclaim for hisfilm “Boy” and recently signed on to direct the next “Thor” movie. Bird strongly encouragedFilmCampmembers to connect with the national film organization (Perbadanan Filem NegaraMalaysia), as theymaybeable toprovide technical, financial and/oroutreach support to localfilmmakers. He also suggested that they build online communities, particularly through socialmedia,whichcansignificantlyhelpexpandtheiraudienceandbuild interest inandsupport forsubsequentprojects(forexample,throughcrowd-funding).DuringEnvironmentalCinema,LucyBulan,a retiredschoolteacher fromBario,Sarawak,gaveapublic talk entitled “Cultural Traditions in the Kelabit Highlands”. Focusing on the tetel(fireplace) as the heart of Kelabit longhouse life, she illustrated how core values and activitiessuchasfood,fellowship,negotiationandeducationarere-emphasized,andlifeskillssuchassalt-making, rice farming, boating, hunting and fishing, cooking, and handicrafts are passed on toyounger generations through family togetherness. She also discussed the social, cultural andenvironmental impacts–bothpositiveandnegative–of infrastructuredevelopmentandothereconomicactivities in thearea.Sheconcludedthatculture isnotstaticandcontinuallyevolvesalongside both internal and external changes. Thereafter, she introduced the film “Weight ofSalt”(seeAnnexI),whichfocusesonasalt-makingfamilyinBariowhomsheknowswell.Intheevening,Birdgaveapublictalkonthetopicof“IndigenousFilmmaking”and introducedthe remaining films in his specially selected lineup from the Sundance Institute’s NAIP:“Shimásáni”,“Sikumi(OntheIce)”and“Wakening”.Beforeeachfilm,heshedsomelightonthecultural context and shared personal anecdotes of the respective filmmaking processes. For

LucyBulangivesaheartwarmingtalkaboutcultureandchangeintheKelabitHighlands,fromthepointofviewofanindigenousperson.

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example,thedirectorof“Shimásáni”,BlackhorseLowe,usedhisfilmasanopportunitytofine-tunehisgraspoftheNavajolanguage,ashechosemembersofhisownfamilytoplaythemaincharacters.Heworkedwithhis relatives todevelop the story andensure the local dialectwasaccurate,andcoachedthemonacting.AndrewOkpeahaMacLean, thedirectorof“Sikumi (OntheIce)”,hadtomitigatepracticalchallengesoffilmingintheArctic(includingstationingguardsaround the perimeter of the shoot to fend off any curious polar bears) and alsoworkedwithmembersoftheInuitcommunitywhocouldspeakthelocaldialectbuthadneveractedbefore.“Wakening”, in which director Danis Goulet uses the science fiction genre to reimagine atraditional Cree story in a futuristic dystopian setting, exemplified the limitless creativity anddiversityofindigenousfilmmaking.

Sunday4OctoberIn theafternoon,Birdheldanengagingseminarentitled“Personal Journeyasan IndependentFilmmaker”withagroupofyoungstudentsfromtheUniversityCollegeSabahFoundation(UCSF)FacultyofCreativeMediaandFineArts.ModeratedbyAzaharHussainofUCSF,Birdagainsharedhis personal journey andhighlights fromhis already illustrious career in support of indigenousandindependentfilmmaking.

Birdalsorespondedtoarangeofquestionsfromthestudents,whowereveryexcitedtointeractwithan internationalfilmexpert.Forexample,hesharedinsightsaboutwhat it is liketobeonthejuryofafilmfestivalandthesubjectiveandsurprisinglypoliticalprocessofchoosingwinnersfromhundreds ifnot thousandsof submissions.Healsogavepractical advice suchasensuringthedirectorandeditorsworkwelltogetherandsharesimilarvisions;notbeingafraidtodore-shoots or return to the drawing board if something doesn’t quite resonate; and focusing onsharingwhatyouknowwellwiththerestoftheworld.Hehasfoundindependentfilmmakingtobeaparticularlyrewardingmediumasitenablesfilmmakers–includingscreenwriters,directorsand producers – to express themselves and their own histories, fears, hopes and dreams in acreativeandattimetherapeuticway.Duringtheclosingnight,theteambehindthefinalSuaraCommunityFilmmakingworkshopgavea public talk on the “Suara Community Filmmaking Programme”, BEFF’s year-long flagshipprogramme. Agnes Lee Agama of BEFF talked about how the Suara programme works withindigenousandlocalcommunitiestoharnessthepoweroffilmtotelltheirownstorieswiththeir

BirdRunningwaterandstudentsfromtheUniversityCollegeSabahFoundation.

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ownimagesandintheirownvoices.Shehighlightedthe15communityfilmmakingteamsfromvariouspartsofSabahwhoparticipatedintheSuaraprogrammethisyearandacknowledgedthe11 trainers who have contributed to the year-long programme. She also thanked the manypeoplewhohavegiventheirtimeandstoriestosupportSuaraparticipantsthroughoutthisfinalworkshop,namelytheCrackoArtGroup,PakcikPoloi,Mr.BarthChua,Mdm.JuliaWong,SabahEnvironmentalProtectionAssociationmembers,andIr.NordinAbdulRahmanandfamily.

Suara trainersSeokWunAuYongandAndyChia took to the stagenext to talkabout thenewbatch of Suara community filmmakers who had joined the programme for the first time thisworkshop. They explained the learning steps this beginner cadre of filmmakers were taking,emphasizinghoweachbasicstepwasanimportantpartoftheoverallfilmmakingprocess.NextwastrainerZanAzleeZainalAbidinwhotalkedabouttheintermediategroupofparticipantswhospent an intensive five-days completing a series of short films. Some of the films wereconceptualized and produced within the workshop period while other films were efforts thatteams had been working on all year long. Zan talked about the passion and dedicationparticipantsshowedinbringingtheirideasandstoriestolife.TheshorttalkswerefollowedbyapresentationofSuarafilmsfromboththebeginnerandintermediategroups(seeAnnexIandIII).Asan introduction to the festival’s final film,Elizabeth JohnofTRAFFICSoutheastAsiagaveanexcitingPublikatalkentitled:“DeadlyDinners–EatingourwaythroughtheEndangeredSpeciesList”. Elizabeth is a former award-winning environmental journalistwhonowdirects TRAFFIC’splansandprogrammes to reachoutof the region’smillionsaboutwildlife tradeand thecrisescausedbypoachingandtrafficking.ShebroughtaclearmessagetotheBEFFaudienceaboutthedevastatingimpactsofhumanconsumptionofwildlifeonarangeofspeciesrighthereinSabah,includingpangolins,sharks,snakes,deer,andbeardedpigs.

L-Rfromtop:TrainersAndyandSeoktalkaboutthejourneyofthebeginnergroupofworkshopparticipants;trainerZangivesthehighlightsoftheintermediateworkshopprocess;thenewbatchofcommunityfilmmakersareintroducedtotheaudience.

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8. ANNEXIII:SUARACOMMUNITYFILMMAKING

DIRECTORY8.1Suara2015Workshop1:DevelopmentofCreativeSkillsinFilmStorytelling …328.2Suara2015Workshop2:BuildingProductionSkills:Industrystandardtrainingonuseofcameras&audioequipment …398.3Suara2015Workshop3:Post-Production:Software-basededitingtechniques …468.4Suara2015FinalIntensiveWorkshop …518.5Suara2015CommunityFilmmakers …64

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8.1 Suara2015Workshop1:DevelopmentofCreativeSkillsinFilmStorytelling4th–8thMarch2015KaramuakCommunityForestryCentre,YayasanSabahForestManagementArea

1. INTRODUCTIONThe ethos of the Suara Community Filmmaking programme is to help indigenous and localcommunities - currentlywitha focusonSabah inMalaysianBorneo - todevelopa full suiteoffilmmaking skills so that they can communicate their own rich andmeaningful insights aboutSabah’s natural and cultural wealth to the rest of theworld.We do this by bringing togetherSabahancommunitymemberswithabroaddiversityoffilmmakingprofessionalsfromMalaysiaandelsewhereintheregioninaseriesoffourannualworkshops,inwhichourparticipantsgaininvaluabletraininginallconceptualandtechnicalaspectsofdocumentaryandfictionfilmmaking.Ourultimate goal is for our Suaraparticipants to develop sufficient expertise to produce filmsshowcasing their own unique stories about Sabah’s biocultural heritage; helping the voices oflocalindigenouscommunitiestobeheard.Sincetheinceptionoftheprogrammein2011,ourcadreoftrainersandcommunityparticipantshascontinuedsteadilytogrow,and2015isprovingtobenoexception.Webeganouractivities

PhotosbyA.Murphy.

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for this yearbyholdinga two-dayplenary session inKotaKinabalubetweenSuara communityparticipantsandorganisers,inwhichwemappedouttogethertheoutlineofourobjectivesandtrainingneedsforthisyear.Duringthissession,theparticipantsalsohadtheopportunitytomeetwithDatukMasidiManjun (Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Environment) to discuss thekindsoflocalissuesthattheyareinterestedinexploringthroughfilm.Wealsoproducedadraftitineraryofworkshopdatesandlocationsfor2015duringtheplenarysession;thefirstscheduledforMarch,thesecondforMay,thethirdinAugustandthefinalintensiveworkshoptobeheldinconjunctionwiththeBorneoEcoFilmFestivalinOctober.ThefirstSuaraworkshopof2015washeldfromthe4thtothe8thofMarchattheYayasanSabah’sCommunity Forestry Centre in Kampung Karamuak; part of the Yayasan Sabah ForestManagementComplex in thedistrict of Tongod, central Sabah.We selected this venue as it isenabledour Suaraparticipants fromYayasanSabah to take their turnashosts, andbecause itofferedalocationinwhichourfilmmakerscouldexploreacommunitynewtothemanduncoverstoriesfromitsresidents.Theaimofthisworkshopwastohelpourparticipantstodeveloptheircreativefilmmakingskills,andtofindnewapproachestotelltheirstoriesininnovativeandnovelways. To deliver the workshop content, we brought together two trainers with differingbackgrounds and experiences in filmmaking, whose unique perspectives complemented oneanother and helped our participants to broaden their thinking about how stories can becommunicatedthroughthemediumoffilm(refertoBox8.1.1forprofilesofthetrainers).

Box8.1.1–TrainerProfiles

SeokWunAuYongisafilmmakerandunderwatercinematographer.OriginallyfromKualaLumpur,SeokmovedtoSabahin2004toworkasascubainstructorfor2yearsbeforeshebeganherfilmingcareerbyworkingasunderwatervideographerin2006.Sincethen,shecontinuestoworkonherskillsonallaspectsoffilmmakingincludingproducing,directing,writingandediting.In2013,shereceivedagranttostudyfilmmakinginNewYorkFilmAcademy,USA.Shehassinceworkedasdirector,writer,editor,topsideandunderwaterphotographer&videographerforvariousprojectsincludingcorporatevideos,documentaries,shortandfeaturefilms.Oneofherfilm'Angmo&Amoi',afeaturelengthmockumentary(inwhichsheplayedmultiplerolesasco-director,co-writer,editorandactress)hasbeenscreenedonseveralfilmfestivalsinPhilippinesandUSA.SheiscurrentlyworkingasthecreativedirectorofLkwidProductions,wheresherunsunderwaterimagingstudiosonislandsaroundSabahandisalwaysworkingonhernextfilmprojects.

RubbyEmiristheFounderandExecutiveDirectorofSaujana,anon-profitorganisationbasedinYogyakarta,Indonesia.Saujanausesinnovativemedia,artsandtechnologicalapproachestohelpsociallydisadvantagedindigenousgroupsfromacrossIndonesia.Hisvisionisaworldinwhichindigenouscommunitiesareabletoovercomeendemicsocialobstaclesandvoicegrassrootsconcernsthroughtheuseofappropriatemediaandtechnology.AspartofRubby’sworkamongstcommunitiesinIndonesiaandelsewhere,hemakesextensiveuseofParticipatoryVideo(PV)techniques,andhasbeenaPVpractitionersince2009.InadditiontousingPVmethodswithcommunities,RubbyandSaujanaworktoprovideaidtothementallyandphysicallyimpaired,andRubbyisinvolvedwiththehumanitariananddisasterreliefeffortsoforganisationssuchastheDanishRedCross.HeisalsothefounderofthewebsiteKerjalibitas.com.

2. PARTICIPANTSTheworkshopwasattendedby17participantshailingfromadiversearrayofcommunitiesandorganisationsspanningthestateofSabah(seeAppendix8.1.1).Theseincludedlong-timeSuaraparticipants fromKg. Batu Puteh, Semporna, Kg.Melangkap, PulauOmadal andPulau Sebatik,togetherwithnewparticipantsfromKudat,Kg.Sayap,Kg.SungaiEloiandthehostorganisation

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Yayasan Sabah. Other organisations represented by the participants included KOPEL, GreenSemporna, Kudat Turtle Conservation Society, Pacos Trust and Wanita Pulau Omadal. Thisresultedinaninterestingmixofnewtalentalongsidemoreseasonedveterans,comingtogetherin a friendly learningenvironment to share their knowledgeandexperience in filmmaking andstorytelling. Ourmost experienced community filmmaker,Mr.Mohd. Nizam Andan, fulfilled aspecialroleinthisworkshop.NizamremainsaSuaraparticipant(ashehasbeensince2012),buthasalsorecentlyjoinedtheBEFFBoardandispartofSuara’sorganisationalteam.Inadditiontoparticipants,trainersandorganisers,wewerealsojoinedbyMr.JongKhiamZung,ajournalistfromthenewspaperSeeHuaDailyNews,whoattendedtheworkshopasanobserverandtoexperienceaSuaracommunityworkshopfirst-hand.3. PROGRAMMETheworkshopprogrammewasdeveloped jointlybythetrainersSeokandRubbytogetherwithSuara organiser Adam Murphy (see Appendix 8.1.2). Workshop attendees travelled from allacrossSabahonMarch4thandconvergedinTelupidtown,beforeembarkingonafurtherthree-hourjourneyinoff-roadvehiclestotheworkshopvenueinKg.Karamuak.Oncetheparticipantshadsettled in,Mr.AzrulArzmiMichaelofYayasanSabahgaveapresentationaboutthe ImbakCanyonConservationArea (ICCA)andYayasanSabah’s forestmanagementefforts. Eachof theparticipants, trainers and organisers thenintroduced themselves to the group, and Adamgaveabriefoverviewoftheupcomingworkshopprogramme.Theworkshop proper began onMarch 5th,withan introductorybriefingaboutthehistoryoftheKaramuakareaanditsresidentsdeliveredbyMr.Barnabas Gait, head of the Karamuak SocialForestry Centre of Yayasan Sabah. This wasfollowedby a session led by Seok, inwhich shediscussed the history of visual storytelling; fromearlycavepaintingstomodernfilm.Rubbythengave a talk exploring visual storytelling from aslightlydifferentangle, stressing the importanceofremainingobjectivewhendecidinghowtotellastory,andconsideringamultitudeofdifferentways in which a story can potentially becommunicated. He also emphasised theimportanceof identifying the keymessages andobjectives of a story, as well as a film’s targetaudience.Afterlunch,Seokshowedseveralshortfilms and challenged the participants todeconstructthem;identifyingmajorthemes,sourcesofconflictandresolution,protagonistsandprincipleantagonists.Rubby spokeabout the importanceofprocess in community filmmaking,showingexamplesfromhisownworkonParticipatoryVideowithIndonesiancommunities.Theparticipantsweredividedintofourgroups,eachgroupcontainingamixtureofparticipantsfromdifferentteams.Thegroupsweregivenafewhourstodiscussanddevelop ideasforshort filmstories about the Karamuak area, and these ideas were presented back to the trainers forfeedbackandcommentsafterdinner.

TrainersSeok(top)andRubby(bottom)startteasingoutthestructuretostorytelling.

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SeokbeganworkshopDay2withapresentationoncinematography,explainingdifferenttypesofshots that cinematographers use to convey a range of subtle emotions and to drive a storyforward.Rubbygavepracticaladviceonbestpracticesforconductinginterviewsforfilm,andtheafternoonprogressedwithtrainershelpingtheparticipantstofine-tunetheirideas.

OnthemorningofDay3thegroupsreturnedtothefieldtocompleteshootingandconductanyfollow-up interviews which they had arranged the previous day. In the afternoon, they werefinallyabletoscreentofruitsoftheirlabourstoallinattendance.Althoughtheyhadbeenplacedunderatighttimeconstraint,ourparticipantsnonethelesssucceededinemployingtheircreativeskillstouncoveranumberoffascinatingstoriesabouttheKaramuakareaanditspeople.Theseincluded the story of a local woman who is the last remaining person in Karamuak with theknowledge to make certain traditional handicrafts from rattans, and a docu-drama style filmexploringthelifeandstrugglesoflocalworkers.

Once all screenings were completed and trainers had given feedback and advice, participantswereassignedonefinalexercise-todevelopastoryoutlineforafilmtheywishtomakeabout

Topandbottom:ParticipantspracticetheirinterviewskillswithoneofthecommunitymembersatKg.Karamuak.PhotobyA.Murphy.

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their own communities. This outline was to incorporate the ideas that Seok and Rubby hadtaughtduringtheprecedingdays,includingidentificationofprinciplecharacters,anoverallstoryarc,thekeymessagesofthefilm,andtheintendedtargetaudience.Participantsspentthenextfewhoursdiscussingandpreparingintheirowncommunitygroups,andeveryonereconvenedintheeveningforonefinalsessioninwhichthegroupspresentedtheirideas.Followingdiscussionandcomments,AdamMurphyandChiwonChinclosedtheworkshop.AllattendeesdepartedfromKaramuakearlyinthemorningofMarch8th.Beforeleavingtheareaaltogether,wejourneyedtotheImbakCanyonConservationArea,andvisitedthefamousImbakFalls. This provided a satisfying conclusion to a successful workshop, and the communityfilmmakerspartedcompany ineageranticipationofcomingtogetheragainatthenextstageoftheSuarajourney.4. OUTPUTSParticipants learnedmany valuable insights on their path to becoming filmmakers, and gainedessential skills in creative story development. The two trainers combined unique andcomplementaryperspectivestoofferguidanceonmultipleaspectsoffilmstorytelling;includingthe identification of principle themes and messages, sources of conflict and resolution,antagonistsandprotagonists, visual andcinematic components, focusingona targetaudience,andbestpracticesinobtainingconsentfrominterviewsubjects.Thecommunityfilmmakerswerealso able to broaden their horizons by visiting and uncovering the local stories of an area ofSabahwhichwasnewtothem.TheSuara family grewsignificantlyduring thisworkshop; aside from twonewadditions to theSuara trainer pool, we also welcomed new participants from the Kudat Turtle ConservationSociety,GreenSemporna,YayasanSabahandthecommunitiesofKg.SayapandKg.SungaiEloi.ThesenewadditionshelptobroadentheSuaranetworkandthediversityofSabahcommunitiestouchedandaidedbytheprogramme.

InadditiontonewlearningandgrowthoftheSuarafamily,amajoroutputoftheworkshopwasthedevelopmentofstory ideasrelatedtotheparticipants’owncommunities(seeBox8.1.2for

ParticipantsattheentrancetotheImbakCanyonConservationAreaonthefinaldayoftheworkshop.PhotobyA.Murphy.

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brief summaries of a selection of the stories). The basic story structures produced during theworkshop will be developed further during the course of the comingmonths, with a view tohavingfinalisedproductsreadyforscreeningduringtheBEFF2015festivalweekendfrom2ndto4thOctober.Suaracommunity filmmakerswillbe fully supported throughout thisprocess,withnewknowledgeandguidancefromprofessionalsduringtheupcomingworkshopsinMay,AugustandSeptember/October.BEFFisalsoendeavoringtosourcefundstoensurethatallcommunityfilmmaking teams are fully furnishedwith audio-visual equipment and computer video editingcapabilities.TheSuaraworkshop inKaramuakmarkedanexcellent start toourprogramme for2015,andwe lookforwardwithrelishtoseeinghowourbuddingfilmmakerscontinuetopushtheirownboundariesduringtheremainderoftheyearandbeyond.

Box8.1.2–Communitystoriesdevelopedduringtheworkshop

Eachoftheninecommunityfilmmakingteamsrepresentedattheworkshopdevelopedastoryoutlineforfilmsthattheyareinterestedinmakingthisyear.Belowarebriefsummariesofasampleofthefilmideastheydeveloped,indicatingthedepthanddiversityofSabahstoriesthatourcommunityfilmmakerswishtoexplore.RosliandFaijan,KOPELBhd.,Kg.BatuPuteh,KinabatanganRosliandFaijanfromBatuPutehliveinanareaofrichbiologicalandculturaldiversity.AsubjectofparticularinteresttothemisthepresenceofornateburialcoffinsinthelocalSupucaves,situatedindenseforestaboatrideandhikeawayfromtheirvillage.Thesewoodencoffinshavebeenthereforcenturies,andreflectlong-extinctculturaltraditionsoftheOrangSungaipeopleofthisarea.Theyarecarvedfromdurablethebelian(ironwood)tree,andaredecoratedwithintricatetotemswhicharesymbolicreferencestothelifeandstatusofthepersonburiedwithin.RosliandFaijanwishtodocumenttheseremarkableartefactsonfilm,andtointerviewthefewremainingelderlycommunitymemberswhostillpossesstheknowledgetodecipherthemeaningsofthecarvingsandsymbolsonthecoffins.AwangandAhnaf,GreenSempornaTheGreenteamwishtoaddressasensitiveandtimelyissueintheirnativeSemporna;thatofstatelesschildren.Thisislandishometoagreatmanychildrenwho,althoughtheyhavebeenborninSabah,aredeniedMalaysiancitizenshipbyvirtueoftheirparents’uncertainimmigrationstatus.Thesechildrenoftenliveindirecircumstanceswellbelowthepovertyline,andareonlyabletoreceiveformaleducationattheveryfewschoolsdesignatedforstatelesschildren.AwangandAhnafarefriendswithayoungstatelessboyinSempornawhocurrentlyfacesadilemma;hewantstoenrollatalocalschoolforstatelesschildren,butdespitebeingsoyoungisalreadyearningmoneyforhisfamilybysellingplasticbagsatthelocalmarket.Heworriesthatifheattendsschool,hisfamilywillsufferevenmoreduetothelossofthesmalladditionalincomeheprovides.AwangandAhnafwilldocumenthisdailylifeandhestrugglestoreconcilethedesireforeducationwiththeneedtosupporthisfamily,andunderlinetheoftenharshrealityfacingthemanythousandsofstatelesschildreninSabahandelsewheretoday.RudyandHayati,PulauSebatik/KASTISiblingsRudyandHayatiSandonghailfromanunusualislandofftheSouth-EasterncoastofSabah.PulauSebatikisbisectedbytheinternationalborderbetweenMalaysiaandIndonesia–insomecasestheborderdivideshouses,suchthatbedroomandkitchenareindifferentcountries!AnissuewithwhichRudyandHayaticontenddailyisthatofunregulatedinternationaltrade,withgoodsbeingtransportedacrosstheporousborderwithoutchecksanddutypayments,whichcanhaveadetrimentalanddestabilizingeffectonthehouseholdeconomiesoflocalresidentssuchasourbrotherandsisterteamfromSebatik.RudyandHayatiwishtoexaminethishighlypersonaltopicthroughfilm,andtalktovariouslocalstakeholderstoexplorewhatkindsofsolutionsthisissuemayhave.DominikbinKandai,Kg.MelangkapTiong,KotaBeludDominikisaresidentofoneofthefiveMelangkapvillagessituatedatthefootoftheiconicKinabalumountain.ThemountainisofimmensehistoricalimporttolocalDusunpeoplessuchasDominik,andhashadaprofoundinfluenceinshapingtheuniqueculturaltapestriesofthesevillages.Onesuchexpressionofthisuniquenessisthepracticeofmakingkoron;atypeofwood-firedearthenwarepotteryparticulartotheDusunofthearea.Koroncanonlybemadewithtraditionaltechniquesandbythosewithspecialisedknowledgeoftheproductionprocessandsuitablesoiltypesandconditions.Dominik’svillageisoneofthefewwhichstillpracticeskoronmaking,andheaimstomakeafilmdocumentingthispoorlyknownanddyingartbeforeitislostcompletely.

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APPENDIX8.1.1WORKSHOPATTENDANCE

NAME COMMUNITY ORGANISATION/PARTNER1 RosliJukrana Kg.BatuPuteh,Kinabatangan KOPELBhd.2 FaijanMustapah Kg.BatuPuteh,Kinabatangan KOPELBhd.3 DominikbinKandai Kg.MelangkapTiong,KotaBelud BorneoConservancyInitiative4 Roziahbt.Jalalid PulauOmadal WanitaPulauOmadal5 VictorTingkun Kg.Sayap,KotaBelud PACOS6 AbritusJikim Kg.Sayap,KotaBelud PACOS7 MeddyEning Kg.SungaiEloi,Pitas PACOS8 LarryLesstanleyLisua Kg.SungaiEloi,Pitas PACOS9 RudyAgansai Kudat KudatTurtleConservationSociety10 EddyOyoi Kudat KudatTurtleConservationSociety11 AwangRadzibRosdi Semporna GreenSemporna12 AhnafSazisAzisJaafar Semporna GreenSemporna13 HayatiSandong PulauSebatik PACOS14 RudySandong PulauSebatik PACOS15 DavidFrancis Hostorganisation YayasanSabah/ICCA16 MohdTaufiqSandudin Hostorganisation YayasanSabah/ICCA17 Mohd.NizamAndan Suaraco-organiser&participant PACOSTrust/BEFFboard18 JongKhiamZung Observer/Reporter SeeHuaDailyNews19 SeokWunAuYong Trainer LkwidProductions20 RubbyEmir Trainer SAUJANAIndonesia21 ChiwonChin Suaraorganiser BEFFboard/Melapi22 AdamMurphy Suaraorganiser BEFFboard/Melapi

APPENDIX8.1.2 WORKSHOPPROGRAMME4MAC,RABU16.00 KetibaanpesertadanjurulatihdiImbakCanyon18.00 Makanmalam19.00–20.00 Pengenalankepadabengkel,dansuai-kenal5MAC,KHAMIS

8.30-9.00 Sesiceramah:“TheArtofStorytelling”–Pandanganperibadidaripadajurulatih

9.00-12.00 Sesiceramah:Cara-carayangkreatifuntukperkembangancerita,dengancontoh-contohdariseluruhdunia

12.00–14.00 Makantengahari

13.00–17.00 Sesiceramah:Cara-carayangkreatifuntukperkembangancerita,dengancontoh-contohdariseluruhdunia(sambungan)

6MAC,JUMAAT

09.00–12.00Sesiceramah:Bagaimanauntukmenyampaikanidea-ideamelaluifilem–kepentingancinematographySesiceramah:Cara-carauntukmembuattemuramah.

12.00–13.00 Makantengahari

13.00-17.00 Kerjakumpulan:Mencari&memperkembangkanideauntukceritadiKawasanImbak,danreccedilapangan

19.30-21.00 Perbincangantentangide-idedenganmaklumbalasdaripadajurulatih7MAC,SABTU09.00–12.00 Sesipraktikal:Rakamanvideomengikutistoryboard/shootingscript12.00–13.00 Makantengahari13.00–17.00 Sesiperbincangan:Tayanganvideo&maklumbalasdaripadajurulatih

19.30–22.00 Sesiperbincangan:Perkembanganidea-ideauntukfilemSuarayangakandihasilkandalamtahun2015

8MAC,AHAD08.30–12.00 LawatankeImbakCanyonConservationArea(ICCA)12.00–13.00 Penutupanbengkel&makantengahari

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8.2 Suara2015Workshop2:BuildingProductionSkills:Industrystandardtrainingonuseofcameras&audioequipment20th–24thMay2015ArungHayatResort,Semporna

1. INTRODUCTIONThesecondthematicworkshopof2015washeldsuccessfullyfromthe20thtothe24thofMayinthetownofSemporna,locatedonSabah’ssoutheasterncoast.Thislocationwaschosenasitishome to Suara filmmaking teams fromGreen Semporna andWanita Pulau Omadal (WAPO) –bothofwhomactedashostsduringtheworkshop-and inordertobringourparticipantstoalocation which most of them had never previously visited, to broaden their experience andunderstandingoftheindigenouspeoplesofSabah.Following from the first thematic workshop on creative approaches to film storytelling, thisworkshopaimedtostrengthenpractical locationshootingskills in termsofcamerawork,sound

PhotosbyA.Murphy.

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recording,andoverallcoordinationamongstafilmcrew.Itwasalsoenvisagedthatparticipantswouldlearnhowtoplanlocationshootsandengagewithinterviewsubjectsmoreeffectively.To form a training team capable of fulfilling these objectives comprehensively, we invitedreturning trainer Seok Wun Au Yong (director), along with new trainers Syukrie Hassan(cameraman)andHelmi“Jimy”Hamren(soundman).ForfullprofilesofthetrainerspleaserefertoBox8.2.1below.

Box8.2.1–TrainerProfilesSeokWunAuYongisafilmmakerandunderwatercinematographer.OriginallyfromKualaLumpur,SeokmovedtoSabahin2004toworkasascubainstructorfor2yearsbeforeshebeganherfilmingcareerbyworkingasunderwatervideographerin2006.Sincethen,shecontinuestoworkonherskillsonallaspectsoffilmmakingincludingproducing,directing,writingandediting.In2013,shereceivedagranttostudyfilmmakinginNewYorkFilmAcademy,USA.Shehassinceworkedasdirector,writer,editor,topsideandunderwaterphotographer&videographerforvariousprojectsincludingcorporatevideos,documentaries,shortandfeaturefilms.Oneofherfilm'Angmo&Amoi',afeaturelengthmockumentary(inwhichsheplayedmultiplerolesasco-director,co-writer,editorandactress)hasbeenscreenedonseveralfilmfestivalsinPhilippinesandUSA.SheiscurrentlyworkingasthecreativedirectorofLkwidProductions,wheresherunsunderwaterimagingstudiosonislandsaroundSabahandisalwaysworkingonhernextfilmprojects.

SyukrieHassanhasover15yearsofvideophotographyexperiencestartingwithdramaandtelemovieproductionsforlocalbroadcasterssuchasRTMandMediaPrima.HehassincemovedontospecialiseinfactualprogrammingmainlydocumentariesandtravelshowsforinternationalnetworkssuchasDiscoveryChannel,Travel&LivingChannelandHistoryChannel.SomeofhisdocumentarycreditsincludethePassagetoMalaysiaseriesonTravelandLivingChannel,boththeEyeonMalaysiaandfirstTimeFilmmakersseriesforDiscoveryChannelaswellastheMadMadeMarvelsseriesonDiscoveryChannel.HewasalsonominatedforBestDirectorofPhotographytwiceattheAsianTVAwards2011and2012forthePassagetoMalaysiaSabahepisode.HelmiHamren(“Jimy”)isasoundmanbasedinKualaLumpur,Malaysia.Hehasbeenworkingintheindustrysince1993.Hehasworkedonvariousprojectswhichincludecommercials,TCdramasanddocumentariesforlocalandinternationalproductionhouses.SomeofhisworkhasbeenscreenedontheNationalGeographicChannel,DiscoveryChannel,NHK,ESPN,andFujiTV.AwardwinnerforSoundDesignonMalayanEmergencyforHistoryChannelatProfimaAwardNight2010.

2. PARTICIPANTSThe workshopwas attended by 31 participants from communities across Sabah, including Kg.Batu Puteh, Semporna, Kg. Sukau, Kg. Melangkap, Pulau Omadal and Pulau Sebatik, PulauMantanani,Kudat,Kg.Sayap,andKg.SungaiEloi(seeAppendix8.2.1).Organisationsrepresentedbyourcommunity filmmakers includedYayasanSabah,KOPELBhd.,Hutan, theSouthEastAsiaRainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), Kudat Turtle Conservation Society, CAMP Borneo,PacosTrust,WanitaPulauOmadal (WAPO),andhostorganisationGreenSemporna.Whilst themajorityofparticipantshadattendedseveralpreviousworkshops,wealsowelcomedafewnew

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facestothefamily;mostlyfromtheworkshoplocationofSemporna.BEFFBoardmemberMohd.NizamAndan reprised his dual role as both participant andorganiser, assisting participants bysharinghisexpertiseduringafter-hourssessions.3. PROGRAMMETheworkshop programmewas developed jointly by the team of trainers together with SuaraorganiserAdamMurphy (seeAppendix 8.2.1).Workshop attendees travelled by boat, bus andplane from all across Sabah onMay 20th, converging on the workshop venue of Arung Hayatresort in Sempornabyaround6pm.After settling in andenjoyinganeveningmeal, everybodywaswelcomedtoSempornabythehostfilmmakingteamGreenSempornawhodeliveredatalkabouttheiractivitiesandgavesomegeneraladviceonwhatparticipantscouldexpectfromthearea.Oncethewelcomingandintroductionshadconcluded,Adamgaveabriefoverviewoftheupcomingworkshopprogramme,andparticipantsandtrainersretiredtogetsomerestaheadofthearduousfewdaystocome.TheworkshopproperbeganonMay21st,withaseriesofconceptualandpracticalsessionsheldat Arung Hayat. Jimy and Syukrie showed some of their previous documentary work, pausingfrequently to explain how they had set up their audio-visual equipment tomeet the differentrequirementsofeachshot.Jimywentontogiveapracticaldemonstrationoftheproperusageofaudio gear, asking each participant to test his boom and zoom microphones to hear forthemselvesthedifferences indirectionalsoundcaptureandrecordingquality.Syukriefollowedupbygivinganoverviewofhiscameragear,anddiscussingvariousapproachestodealingwithlighting indifferentsituations.Seokthencompletedthetheoreticalsessionsbyscreeningsomeof her own shorts, and discussing the importance of shot/angle selection and of capturingsufficientb-rollwhilstonshoot.After lunch, Jimy explained how professional soundmen synch and log the many sound fileswhichtheyrecordonshoot,sothattheyarealwayseasytocross-referencewiththeassociatedfootage.Thetrainersthentooktheparticipantsoutintothesurroundingstreetsfortwopracticalexercises;firstlyrecordingclearsoundatabusybusstop,andsecondlydemonstratingtheartofthe“walkandshoot”–howtorecordsteadyvideoandclearsoundwhilstinterviewingasubjectwhoismoving.BackatArungHayat,Seokgaveatalkontherolesandresponsibilitiesofdifferentmembers of a film crew, and the participants began organising themselves into six groups inpreparationforthevisittoPulauOmadalthefollowingday.Aheadoftheworkshop,membersofthe localwomen’sorganisationandSuarateamWAPOhadsketchedoutanumberofpotentialfilm topics concerningOmadal, including the island’s cultural uniqueness (reflected through its

Participantspracticingmockinterviewsatanoisybusstop(L),andpracticingthewalkandshoottechnique(R).PhotosbyA.Murphy.

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gravesites),alocalmuseum,theBajauLautpeopleoftheisland,andthehistoryofWAPOitself.Groupseachchosethetopicwhichmostinterestedthem,andbegandiscussinghowtheirstoriescouldunfold.All participants and trainers venturedoutat6.30amonMay22nd toundertake the three-hourferry journey fromSemporna toOmadal.Onarrival, theWAPOcontingent introducedsomeoftheir local staffmembers,andgave somegeographicalorientationof the island.Thesix teamsthen spent the day exploring, meeting and interviewing local residents, shooting b-roll andrecordingambientsounds.AllthiswasconductedunderthewatchfuleyesofJimy,SyukrieandSeok,whorotatedaroundthegroupstoensuretheparticipantswereontherighttrack.Afterthelong return journey toSemporna,everybody regathered todiscuss theday’sproceedings. Jimyquestioned the designated sound recordist for each group about their workflow and thechallengestheyhadfacedrecordingonOmadal,beforeSyukrieandSeokaskedsimilarquestionsofthecameraoperatorsanddirectors,respectively.Atclosetomidnightparticipantsandtrainersalikewearilybutcontentedlybrokefortheday.

OnMay23rd,theworkshopvisitedalong-establishedareainSempornacalledKampungBangau-Bangauforasecondfieldpractical.Thisvillage,inhabitedbyBajausandotherindigenousgroups,andaroundwhichthemoderntownofSempornahasgrownoverrecentdecades,hadrecentlybeensubjecttoanumberoffireswhichclaimedthehousesofpracticallyallresidents.Bangau-Bangau villagers had subsequently been left with no option other than to reside in a largeconclaveofemergencytentssetupbyvariousinternationalaidorganisations.Atthetimeoftheworkshop,manyhundredsofpeoplewere living in theseconditions,with insufficientaccess toclean water and proper sanitation. As a pressing issue affecting local indigenous peoples inSemporna,theworkshophostsfromGreenSempornafeltthattheworkshopshouldvisitthesiteand engagewith the people living under suchdire circumstances.Green Semporna called in astaff member, Faslan, to first brief the workshop on the situation in Bangau-Bangau, andsubsequentlytoliaisewiththeKetuaKampung(villagehead)toseekpermissionforustoenter

Clockwisefromtopleft:ViewofOmadalisland,localchildrenplayingamongstancientheadstones,participantsfilmingkidsplaying,participantsshootinganinterviewwithaWAPOstaffmember.PhotosbyA.Murphy.

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andfilm.TheworkshopgroupsthenspentthemorninginBangau-Bangau,meetingresidentsanddiscoveringtheirstories,anddevelopinginterestingwaystofilmthesestoriesonthefly.After returning to Arung Hayat for lunch, the participants downloaded their video and soundfiles,andorganisedthemontheircomputersasperinstructionsfromthetrainers.Eachgroup’sdesignatededitor thenspent the remainderof theafternoonputting their roughcuts togetherunder the guidance of Seok, whilst Jimy and Syukrie took the remaining participants out onanotherpractical exercise around Semporna town. In the evening, Jimy and Syukrie’s studentsreunitedwiththeireditorsandsupportedthemintheirefforts,extendinglateintothenight.

May 24th saw the sun rise on the finalmorning of theworkshop, themajority of participantshavingslept little ifatallsince itrosethepreviousday.TheirspiritsremainedhighhoweverastheytookturnstointroduceandscreenthefruitsoftheirlaboursinBangau-Bangau.Thetrainerscommented on various aspects of their final products, before Jimy and Syukrie closed out theworkshop with further behind-the-scenes expositions on some of their previous work. Afterlunch,ourtiredbuteternallyeffervescentparticipantsoncemoreboardedtheirboats,busesandplanes to return to their villages with a host of new knowledge and filmmaking experience.PleaserefertoAppendix8.2.2fortheprogrammetimeline.4. OUTPUTSWorkshopparticipantsgainedagreatdealofvaluablenewskillstoaidthemintheircommunityfilmmakingodysseyfromprofessionaltechnicianswhohavebeenworkingintheMalaysianandinternationalfilmindustryforthebetterpartoftwodecades.TheygarneredinsideinformationfromSyukrieontheshootingtechniquesthatprofessionalcameramentypicallyemploy,learnedfromJimyabouthowtorecordcleansoundduring interviewsand incorporateambientsoundsinto films (a first forSuara),and fromSeokhowthese locationelementscancometogether tofully realise the filmmaker’s vision. Themany hours of footage and audio recorded during thevisittoPulauOmadalwillbeusedasthefoundationforthenextthematicworkshoponeditingtobeheldinSukauvillagefrom19th–23rdAugust2015.Insum,thisworkshoprepresentedyetanother invaluablesteppingstoneforSuaraparticipantstobecomeaccomplishedcommunity filmmakers,andanothersuccessstory inSuara’svisiontobringtogetheradiversityofMalaysianfilmindustryprofessionalstoenableSabah’s indigenouspeoplestotelltheirstoriesthroughfilm.

(L)RudyfromPulauSebatikinterviewingadisplacedresidentofBangau-Bangauinthetentheshareswithhisfamily(R)BerjayafromKg.Sukaufilmsthelocalkids.PhotosbyA.Murphy.

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APPENDIX8.2.1WORKSHOPATTENDANCE

NAME COMMUNITY/WORKLOCATION

ORGANISATION/PARTNER

1 LarryLestaryLisua Pitas PACOS2 SudinIping Pitas PACOS3 EddieAhmad Sukau Hutan4 SelamatSuali Sukau Hutan5 BerjayaElahan Sukau Hutan6 FaslanUdau Sukau Hutan7 VictorTingkun Sayap PACOS8 AbritusbinJikim Sayap PACOS9 FauziahbintiMinsin Melangkap BorneoConservancyInitiative10 DominikbinKandai Melangkap BorneoConservancyInitiative11 HerdabintiAlbi Mantanani CAMPBorneo12 JulainibintiJumaani Mantanani CAMPBorneo13 DianSyhirabintiLoren Mantanani CAMPBorneo14 WanAsri Kudat KudatTurtleConservationSociety15 JasmanbinOniau Kudat KudatTurtleConservationSociety16 AhnafSazisAzizJaafar Semporna GreenSemporna17 DarwisbinHabir Semporna GreenSemporna18 AdzminAbFatta Semporna GreenSemporna19 RahinahMansula PulauOmadal WAPO20 MasmerabintiJimlan PulauOmadal WAPO21 MohdJakibinRobin PulauOmadal WAPO22 MohdIkhwanbinMansula PulauOmadal WAPO23 DavidFrancis Imbak YayasanSabah/ICCA24 MohdTaufiqSaadudin Imbak YayasanSabah/ICCA25 NordiansahbinSandong PulauSebatik KASTI26 HayatibintiSandong PulauSebatik KASTI27 KasumawatiSandong PulauSebatik KASTI28 NorainiMajid PulauSebatik KASTI29 UndingbinJamiluddin Danum SEARRP30 ArnoldJames Danum SEARRP31 MohdFaijanMustapah BatuPuteh KOPELBhd.32 MohdNizamAndan Bongawan PACOSTrust/BEFFBoard33 SeokWunAuYong N/A Trainer34 HelmiHamren N/A Trainer35 MohdSyukrieHassan N/A Trainer36 AdamMurphy N/A BEFFBoard/Melapi

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APPENDIX8.2.2WORKSHOPPROGRAMME20MEI,RABU18.00 KetibaanpesertadanjurulatihdiArungHayat,Semporna19.00 Makanmalam20.00–20.00 Pengenalankepadabengkel,dansuai-kenal21MEI,KHAMIS8.30-10.30 Sesiceramah:Perkongsianpengalamandaripadapasukanjurulatih10.30-12.30 Sesiceramah:Compositiondanpemilihanshotsyangsesuaiuntuktemuramahdan“cutaway”12.30–13.30 Makantengahari13.30–15.30 Sesiceramah:Pengunaanalat-alataudio15.30–17.00 Sesiceramah:Dariceritakeimej:Pre-visualisation&shootingplan17.00–19.00 PerancanganuntuklawatankePulauOmadal22MEI,JUMAAT07.30–12.00 Sesipraktikal:LawatankePulauOmadaluntukrakamancerita12.00–13.00 MakantengaharidiPulauOmadal13.00-17.00 Sesipraktikal:LawatankePulauOmadaluntukrakamancerita(samb.)19.30-21.00 TayanganrakamandariPulauOmadal23MEI,SABTU08.30–12.00 Kerjakumpulan:PerancanganuntukrakamanceritadiSemporna12.00–13.00 Makantengahari13.00–17.00 Sesipraktikal:ShootinginSemporna19.30–22.00 TayanganrakamandariSemporna24MEI,AHAD08.30–12.00 Kerjakumpulan:Membuatshootingplanuntukceritadarikomunitisendiri12.00–13.00 Penutupanbengkel&makantengahari

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8.3 Suara2015Workshop3:Post-Production:Software-basededitingtechniques19th–23thAugust2015Hutan/SabahWildlifeDepartmentoffice,Kg.Sukau,Kinabatangan

1. INTRODUCTIONThethirdthematicworkshopof2015washeldsuccessfullyfromthe19thtothe23rdofAugustinthevillageofSukau,locatedonthebanksofSabah’sfamousKinabatanganriver.Sukauishometo the filmmaking team from the community-based wildlife and habitat conservationorganisation Hutan, whowere the first team to join the Suara programme back in 2011. TheHutanteamwerehappytoactashostsforthisworkshopandwelcomedtheotherteamsfromacrossSabahintotheirvillagewithopenarms.The aim of thisworkshopwas to expand upon the production skills gained during the secondthematicworkshopinSempornabygivingtheparticipantsasolidgroundinginpost-production,including the overall principles of editing, an understanding of different editing styles andtechniques, and hands-on experience in the use of editing software. It was envisaged thatparticipants brand-new to editingwould gain aworking knowledgeof the fundamental basics,whilstthosewithsomepriorexperiencewouldlearnmoreadvancedtechniquestosharpentheirskills. To deliver the workshop training, Suara invited West Malaysia-based editor Ms. Eva E.Zahar;atrainernewtotheprogramme(pleaserefertoBox8.3.1belowforfurtherdetails).

Photos:(top)byA.Murphy;(bottomL-R)byD.Francis

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Box8.3.1–TrainerProfileEvaEmmanynaZaharisaprofessionalfilmeditorfromKualaLumpur,Malaysia.Shehascloseto10years’experienceworkingintheMalaysianfilmindustry,andhaseditedadiverserangeofdocumentaryandfictionalpiecesforbroadcasterssuchastheDiscoveryChannel.Sheisalsoanactor,andhasfeaturedinseveralMalaysiantelevisiondramasaswellasregularlyappearingonstageinKualaLumpur.

2. PARTICIPANTSThe workshopwas attended by 18 participants from communities across Sabah, including Kg.BatuPuteh,Semporna,Kg.Melangkap,PulauSebatik,PulauMantanani,andthehostvillageofSukau (seeAppendix 8.3.1).Organisations represented by our community filmmakers includedYayasan Sabah, KOPEL Bhd., Hutan, CAMP Borneo, Pacos Trust and Green Semporna. AllparticipantshadpreviouslyattendedatleastoneSuaraworkshop,thoughmanyhadnopreviousexperienceinediting. Intheleaduptotheworkshopallparticipantswererequestedtobringalaptopcapableofsupportingeditingsoftware.3. PROGRAMMETheworkshopprogrammewasdevelopedjointlybySuaraorganiserAdamMurphytogetherwiththeworkshoptrainerEva(seeAppendix8.3.2).Participantstravelledtoameetingpointclosetothe townofKotaKinabatanganonAugust19th,where theyweremetby theHutan teamwhoassisted them in completing their journey to Sukau. Participants were accommodated by theSukauhomestayprogramme,andweremetuponarrival inthevillagebyDatuAhbamAbulani,Coordinator of both the homestay programme andHutan’s long-running KinabatanganOrang-utanConservationProgramme(KOCP).Ahbamgreetedtheparticipantsanddeliveredabriefingon Sukau, before dividing them up and allocating them to the village family residenceswhichtheyweretocallhomeforthecomingdays.

Aftergivingtheparticipantsanopportunitytorestandsettle intotheirnewsurroundings, theworkshop proper commenced onAugust 20th in the nearby Hutan office, situated within theSabah Wildlife Department complex close to Sukau village. The participants and trainerintroducedthemselvestooneanother,andMr.EddieAhmadofHutangaveanintroductorytalkonHutanand theKOCPprogramme.Dr IsabelleLackman,Co-DirectorofHutan,concluded theintroductionsbyofferingsomewordsofwelcometoallinattendance.

(L-R)TrainerEvaexplainingherapproachtofilmediting;ParticipantslisteningattentivelyattheHutanoffice.PhotosbyD.Kandai(L)andA.Murphy(R).

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This first day of the programme focused principally on lecture and discussion sessions, ratherthanhands-onediting.Evabeganbygivinganoverviewofhercareerasaneditor,andshowedhighlightsofsomeofherpreviousprojects.Shedetailedthevariousrolesandresponsibilitiesofaprofessional editor, including the distinction between “offline” and “online” editing, and gaveinsightsintohoweditorstypicallyworktogetherwithdirectors.Sheexplainedthateditorsoftenhaveagreatdealoffreereininaproduction,andshowedexamplesfromfamousfilmsinwhicheditorshaveusedb-roll footage to constructnewelementsof the storynotenvisionedby thedirector.After lunch, Eva used examples from her own and others’ work to demonstrate how editorscarefullyorchestratetheflowofstorytellinginfilm;whetherdocumentaryorfiction.Sheshowedhow editors use techniques such as “jump cuts” (juxtaposing shots which jump to anotherlocationorahead intime),andexplainedwhenthesetechniquescanbeappropriateandwhentheyshouldbeavoided.Sheillustratedtheimportanceofsplit-secondtimingineditingtoelicitthe maximum emotional response from the audience and mitigate problems such as shotmismatches.Toconcludetheday’sproceedings,EvaandAdambegantopreparetheparticipantsforthepracticaleditingsessionstocomebydiscussingavailableeditingequipmentandfootage.OnAugust21stAdambeganthesessionbyassigningtheparticipants intogroupsof1-3peoplebased on the previous afternoon’s discussion. Eva then spent the remainder of the morninggivingandintroductiontothebasicuseofthesoftwareAdobePremierePro,includingsettingupaproject,managingand importing footage, cuttinganduseofbasic tools,andexport settings.Once theparticipants had gained some familiaritywith the software, theyproceeded tobegineditingoftheirfootage.Someparticipants(fromSukau,BatuPuteh,SempornaandMantanani)hadtheirownfootagethattheywishedtoworkon.Thosewhodidnotbringtheirownfootageoutside of the workshop were given the material that their groups had recorded during thesecond thematicworkshop in Semporna. The preliminary editing stages of assembling footageanddecidingtheflowofthestorycontinueduntil4.30pm,wheneveryonetookto“perahu”toenjoyarivercruisealongtheKinabatanganandcomefacetofacewithsomeofthelocalwildlife.

TheeditingprocesscontinuedthroughoutAugust22nd,withEvacontinuallymakingroundsoftheparticipants to review their work and offer advice and technical expertise. By late afternoon

Participantsenjoyawelcomebreakfromtheeditroom.PhotobyR.Sandong.

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severalgroupswere ready toscreen the fruitsof their labours,andwehad theopportunity toviewtwooftheirfilmsbeforeeveryonereturnedtothehomestaysataround6pm.OnAugust23rd,thefinaldayoftheworkshop,participantsreassembledextraearlyattheHutanoffice to enjoy the screening of all groups’ finalised short films. The screenings promptedextensivediscussionsandsuggestionsforimprovement,comingnotjustfromEvabutalsofromthe other participants. By mid-day Eva and Adam closed the workshop, and the participantsreturned to their homestays for one lastmeal before returning to their home communities toprepare for the final intensiveworkshop inOctober.Please refer toAppendix8.3.2 for the fullprogrammeschedule.

4. OUTPUTSEditing is a fundamental component of the filmmaking process, and workshop participantsreceivedinvaluable insights intoboththecreativeskillsemployedbyeditors inshapingastory,andthetechnicaluseofeditingsoftware.Thosewithsomeprioreditingexperiencewereabletodeepentheirknowledge,whilstthosewhohadnevereditedbeforegainedasolidgrounding ineditingfundamentals.Moreover, participantswho areworking on their own community film projectswere given anopportunity to begin assembling their footage into rough cuts under the tutelage of aprofessional editor. Interesting projects in the works include: an expose of the illicit trade inturipas (hanging parrots), which considers the trade in relation to the traditional culturalsignificanceofthisbirdtotheOrangSungaipeopleofKg.Sukau;ashortdocumentaryrevealingthe lives and struggles of stateless children in Semporna; and a docu-drama exploring howagricultural pollution of the Kinabatangan river is impacting the lives and livelihoods of theresidents of Kg. Batu Puteh – a peoplewho have depended on the river and its resources forgenerations.These filmsarewellon theirway tobecoming finalcuts,andwewaitwithbaitedbreath for these, and hopefully more films, to be finalised at the final intensive workshop inOctober and premiered to a public audience during the BEFF 2015 festival weekend in KotaKinabalu.

(L)Evademonstratingsoftwaretechniquestotheparticipants,(R)EddieofHutanorganisinghisfootage.PhotosbyD.Francis.

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APPRENDIX8.3.1 WORKSHOPATTENDANCE

NAME COMMUNITY ORGANISATION/PARTNER1 RosliJukrana Kg.BatuPuteh KOPELBhd.2 FaijanMustapah Kg.BatuPuteh KOPELBhd.3 RazisNazri Kg.BatuPuteh KOPELBhd.4 DominikbinKandai Kg.MelangkapTiong BorneoConservancyInitiative5 HerdabintiAlba PulauMantanani CAMPBorneo6 AidaRahman PulauMantanani CAMPBorneo7 DavidFrancis Imbak YayasanSabah/ICCA8 TaufiqSaadudin Imbak YayasanSabah/ICCA9 RudySandong PulauSebatik KASTI10 AdzminAbFatta Semporna GreenSemporna11 AhnafSazisAzisJaafar Semporna GreenSemporna12 DarwisbinHabir Semporna GreenSemporna13 EddieAhmad Kg.Sukau Hutan14 HermanSuali Kg.Sukau Hutan15 SelamatSuali Kg.Sukau Hutan16 BerjayaElahan Kg.Sukau Hutan17 MahadhirRatag Kg.Sukau Hutan18 Mohd.NizamAndan Kg.Bongawan PACOSTrust/BEFFBoard19 EvaZahar N/A Trainer20 AdamMurphy Suaraorganiser BEFFBoard/Melapi

Appendix8.3.2 Workshopprogramme19OGOS,RABU16.00 KetibaanpesertadanjurulatihdiKampungSukau,danpengagihanhomestay19.00 Makanmalamdihomestaymasing-masing20OGOS,KHAMIS9.00-10.00 Pengenalankepadabengkeldansesisuai-kenal10.00-12.00 Sesiceramah:Pengenalankepadasuntinganvideo12.00–13.00 Makantengahari13.00–16.00 Sesiceramah:Pengenalankepadasuntinganvideo(samb.)16.00–17.00 Pembahagiankedalamkumpulanpenyunting21OGOS,JUMAAT09.00–12.00 Sesiceramah:Pengunaaneditingsoftware12.00–13.00 Makantengahari13.00–16.30 Sesipraktikal:Editingvideofootagedalamkumpulan16.30–18.30 RivercruisedisungaiKinabatangan22OGOS,SABTU09.00–12.00 Sesipraktikal:Editingvideofootagedalamkumpulan(samb.)12.00–13.00 Makantengahari13.00–17.00 Sesipraktikal:Editingvideofootagedalamkumpulan(samb.)17.00–18.00 Tayanganfilempeserta,denganmaklumbalasdaripadajurulatih23OGOS,AHAD09.00–11.00 Tayanganfilempeserta,denganmaklumbalasdaripadajurulatih11.00–12.00 PerancanganuntukbengkelSuarayangseterusnyadansesiperbincanganterbuka12.00–13.00 Penutupanbengkel&makantengahari

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8.4 Suara2015FinalIntensiveWorkshop30thSeptember–4thOctober2015JabatanKebudayaan&KesenianNegara(Sabah),KotaKinabalu

1. INTRODUCTIONThefinalworkshopoftheyearwasheldinconjunctionwiththeBEFF2015festivalweekendheldatKompleks JKKN(Sabah) inKotaKinabalu,andrepresentedtheculminationanddistillationof2015’spreviousthreethematicworkshopsonstorytelling,productionandediting.Itprovidedanopportunityforcommunityfilmmakingteamstoemployalloftheskillstheyhadlearnedduringthe course of the year in a time-delimited and high pressure environment (similar to thatcommonly faced by industry professionals), under the constant guidance of an experiencedtrainerteam.Severalofthecommunityfilmmakingteamshadbroughtroughcutsoffilmsthattheyhadbeenworkingonthroughouttheyear.Thisworkshopwastheopportunitytofinalisetheirdraftsandstandachancetohavetheirfilmspresentedtothegeneralpubliconthefinalnightofthefestivalweekend, thereby generating significant exposure for their stories. Teams who did not haveongoing film projectswere given the chance to shoot newmaterial in the Kota Kinabalu areaduring theworkshop, andwere taskedwith developing their stories, shooting on location andfinalisingpost-productionallwithinthespaceoffivedays.

Top:ParticipantsandtrainersatJKKN.BottomRight:TrainerSeokwiththebeginnergroup.BottomLeft:ParticipantsfromHutanonlocationshoot.

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In addition to themore seasoned pool of community filmmakers, this finalworkshopwas thejuncturewhen newparticipants from communities and organisationswerewelcomed into theprogramme;becomingthenewestgenerationtojointheSuarajourney.2. TRAINERTEAMTheteamoftrainersforthefinalworkshopcomprisedamixtureofreturningexpertssuchasZanAzleeandHarunRahman(whohavebeenwithSuarasince its inception),andnewadditionstothe team– several ofwhomhad trained at previous thematicworkshops over the years. Thiscombinationofoldandnewproducedthestrongesttrainerteamtodate,combiningexpertiseindocumentary filmmaking, fiction filmmaking, camerawork, editing, animation, andmuchmore.PleaseseeAppendix8.4.3forthebiographyofeachtrainer.3. PARTICIPANTSThe finalworkshopwasattendedbya totalof47participants representing14organisationsorcommunities (see Appendix 8.4.1). They hailed from 20 villages and towns across the State,representingdiverseindigenouscommunitiesfromthedistrictsofRanau(Kg.BunduTuhan),KotaBelud(PulauMantanani,Kg.MelangkapTiongandKg.Sayap),Kinabatangan(Kg.SukauandKg.BatuPuteh),Semporna(PulauOmadal,SempornatownandPulauBumBum),Pitas (Kg.SungaiEloi), Tawau (Pulau Sebatik), Tongod (Kg. Imbak) and Kudat (Pulau Banggi and mainlandcommunities). Organisations represented by our community filmmakers include Sabah Parks,YayasanSabah,KOPELBhd.,Hutan,CAMPBorneo,PacosTrust,WanitaPulauOmadal (WAPO),KesenianAnakTidung (KASTI),GreenSemporna,KudatTurtleConservationSociety (KTCS), andBanggiYouthClub(BYC).Suarawelcomedparticipantswithabroadrangeofexperienceinfilmmaking;includingfirst-timeattendees,thosewhohaveattendedseveralworkshopsover2014-2015,andveteranteamswhohavebeenwithSuarasincetheinceptionoftheprogramme.4. PROGRAMMEThe workshop programme was developed jointly by the trainer team together with Suaraorganiser Adam Murphy (see Appendix 8.4.2). Workshop attendees travelled from theirrespective communities across Sabah on September 29th, converging on the ColonnadesApartments, Kota Kinabalu. Here they were welcomed by Suara organiser Chiwon Chin, givenorientationonworkshoplogistics,andshowntotheiraccommodationforthenextfivedays.

WorkshopDay1-30SeptemberParticipantsandtrainersarrivedat thetrainingvenueofKompleks JKKN(Sabah)by8.30am.Awelcoming speech was delivered by Agnes Agama, followed by an overview of the workshopprogrammebyAdamMurphy.Allworkshoptrainersandparticipantsthenintroducedthemselvestothegroup.Tokick-offtheprogrammeproper,trainerZanAzleegavean introductorytalkonhispersonalapproachtostorytellingthroughfilm,illustratedwithexamplesfromhisownwork.Inordertobetteraccommodatethebroadrangeofexperiencelevelsamongstourparticipants,wedividedthemintotwogroupswithdifferenttrainers–thebeginnergroup(withtrainersSeok,AndyandAnthony)andtheintermediategroup(withtrainersHarun,Nagi,Zan,EvaandIkhwan).At11.30amweallocated thegroups toseparate training rooms; the remainderof this sectionwillemploysub-headingsBeginnerandIntermediatetoindicatewhichgroupisbeingdescribed.

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BeginnerSeokbeganthebeginnergroup’s journeywithaseriesofpresentations inwhichshedescribedthe fundamentals of film storytelling; including identifying characters (protagonists andantagonists,supportingcharacters),storyarcsandpacing.SeokandAndycontinuedafteralunchbreakbydiscussingtypesofshots,anglesandcomposition-beforegoingoutsidetoperformahands-onexerciseintheparticipants(ingroupsoftwoorthree)weretaskedwithrecording15shotsillustratingwhattheyhadjustbeentaught.After a review of their shots, the trainers then explained a practical exercise which was tobecome theparticipants’ core focus for the remainderof theworkshop.Split into fourgroups,thebeginnerswere taskedtodevelopashort filmbasedononesimplestoryelement; suchasbumpingintoastrangerinapublicplace.Thebeginnergroupthenspenttheremainderofday1developingstoryideasandashotlistfortheirshortfilms,presentingtheseideastothetrainersforcommentsbeforethecloseofthesession.

IntermediateIntermediateswere further divided into a number of sub-groups; thosewho had come to theworkshopwith filmprojects alreadyat the rough-cut stage, thosewhohad footage from theirownareasbuthadyet tobeginassembling their stories, and thosewhowanted to shootnewfootageintheKotaKinabaluandassembleshortfilmsduringtheworkshop.Teamswithroughcuts(KOPEL,HutanandGreenSemporna)screenedthemtothetrainersandweregivenfeedbackonareaswhichrequiredfurtherworkoverthecomingdays.BYC,KTCSandWAPOhadbroughtrawfootagetotheworkshop.TrainerNagireviewedalloftheirfootage,anddecidedthatonlytheWAPOgrouphadsufficientfootagetoproduceashortfilm.BYCandKTCSteamsjoinedparticipantswhowouldbeshootingnewfilmsinKotaKinabalu.Prior to the workshop, the Suara organisers had devised four story concepts for new shoots;water conservation as practiced by Kota Kinabalu resident Nordin, the history of Tanjung Arubeach,thefemalemembersoflocalenvironmentalNGOSEPA,andtheartcollectiveCrackoArtGroup(CAG).Afterlunch,NordinandrepresentativesofSEPAandCAGattendedtheworkshoptogive brief talks about themselves and their organisations. The participants shooting new filmswerethendividedintofourgroupsbyHarunandZan,eachgroupworkingonadifferentstory.They spent two hours developing their story ideas and assigning roles within their groupsaccording toproduction (director, cameraman, soundman,etc.) andpost-production (editing),before presenting their plans to the trainers. Following feedback from the trainers, theparticipants concluded the day by revising and finalising their plans for a location shoot thefollowingmorning.

Left:TrainerAndydemonstratingthebasicfunctionsofaDSLRcamera.Right:TheladiesfromSEPAgivingatalktotheintermediategroup.

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WorkshopDay2-1OctoberBeginnerFromDay2untiltheendoftheworkshop,SeokandAndywerejoinedbylong-timeSuaratrainerAnthony Lam. The participant groups continued where they had left off the previous day,continuingthedevelopmentoftheirshortfilmsideaswithoversightfromthethreetrainers.Bymid-morning,theywerereadytogooutandshootinthegroundsofJKKN.Thetrainerswereonhandtooffertechnicaladviceonhoweachgroupshouldsetuptheirshots,andtocorrectanymistakesinframingandfocus.Oncetheyhadfinishedcapturingtheirshots,theparticipantsandtrainersreturnedtothetrainingroomtoreviewtheirefforts,andofferconstructivecriticism.After a lunchbreak, the trainers gavean introductory training sessionon theuseof the videoediting software programme Adobe Premiere Pro. Once they had been shown the basics, theparticipantsspent therestof thedaydoingsomehands-onpracticewiththe footagetheyhadshotinthemorning.

IntermediateTheparticipantswhoweretaskedwithproductionrolesspentthemorningshootingonlocationinvariouslocationsaroundKotaKinabalu,whilsttheeditorsreturnedtoJKKNtoreceivetrainingfromNagi andHarun.Nagi began this sessionwith a presentationon animation in film, givingexamplesofwhenandhowitcanbeusedeffectively,andconverselywhentheuseofanimationcan be distracting and inappropriate. She followed this up with technical training on how toanimate Google Earth maps using the software After Effects. Harun then took charge of thesession -givingageneral talkonthe importanceofediting,howdifferenteditingstylescanbeemployed,andmore technical insightsonaudioandcolourgrading.After lunchhewenton todiscusstheeditingflowtypicallyemployedintheindustry;fromorganisingfootageandassembleedittoroughcut,review,finecutandfinalcut.TheproductionteamsreturnedtoJKKNbymid-afternoon,andbegandownloadingtheirfootageandholdingdiscussionswiththeireditors.Twoofthegroups(producingfilmsonthewomenofSEPAandNordin’swater conservation activities) screened theirmorning’s efforts. The trainersgavecommentsonthetechnicalshortcomingsofthefootageandsuggestionsonhowthestoriescouldbedevelopedfurther.Allgroupsthenrevisedtheirplansforadditionallocationshootsthefollowingday,andworkshopconcludedby6pm.

Left:AnintermediateteamonlocationshootatTanjungArubeach.Right:AnothergroupinterviewsEganofCrackoArtGroup.

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WorkshopDay3–2OctoberBeginnerThe beginner group continued working on their short film projects, spending the morningshootingnewfootagearoundtheJKKNareaunderthesupervisionofSeok,AndyandAnthony.Intheafternoontheyreturnedto thetrainingroomtoedit theirnewfootage,movingslowlybutsurelyclosertothecompletionoftheirveryfirstshortfilms.IntermediateFromDay3onwards,thetrainerteamwasbolsteredbytheadditionofEvaZahar(returningforher second stint as a Suara trainer) and Suara veteran IkhwanRivai. Theworkshop day beganwithareviewofthefootageshotbytheCAGandTanjungAruproductionteams.Severaloftheproduction teams thenwentout for additional location shoots,whilst the editors remained atJKKNtoworkontheirprojectswithguidancefromHarun,Zan,Nagi,IkhwanandEva.By mid-afternoon all production teams had returned to JKKN, and each group screened theirnewest footage to the trainers.Now that all location shootshadbeen completed, the trainersgaveadviceonhoweachprojectshouldbefinalisedandshapedintothemostcompellingshortfilmpossible.Thediscussionscontinueduntilaround6pm,whenallparticipantsmovedovertotheJKKNauditoriumtoattendtheopeningnightfilmscreeningsofBEFF2015.

WorkshopDay4–3OctoberThebeginnerandintermediategroupsspentthemajorityofthisdaytogether.Aftercontinuingediting work for the first couple of hours of the day, a special lecture session and discussionsession was delivered to all Suara participants by Mr. Bird Runningwater, the director of theNativeAmericanandIndigenousProgramoftheSundanceInstitute,USA.Birddescribedhisownpassionandperspectivesonindigenousandcommunityfilmmaking,screeningseveralexamplesof indigenous short films produced within the Sundance network. This session provided theparticipantswithabroaderinsightoncommunityfilmmakingonaglobalscale,andwillhopefullyleadtonewthinkingandapproachestotheirownwork.Bird’ssessionconcludedwithaquestionandanswersessionandgroupphotograph.

Left:DiscussingmemoriesofTanjungArubeachwithaninterviewsubject.Right:InterviewingHarjinderKlerofSEPA.

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After a lunchbreak, theparticipants returned to their training rooms to continueediting theirprojects,withacompletiondeadlineofmid-dayonDay5loomingevercloser.At4pm,beginnersand intermediates again convened in the same room for a screening of all rough cuts. Thisprovidedagoodopportunityforthebeginnerstogetanideaofsomeofthemorecomplexideasbeing explored by the intermediates, and for the intermediates to see the very rapid stridesbeingmadeby thebeginners.Aftereach screening the trainersadvisedeachgrouponhow tofocustheireffortsforthebriefamountoftimeremainingtocompletetheirfilmsforscreeningintheauditoriumthefollowingnight.

WorkshopDay5–4OctoberBeginnerThefinaldayofthebeginnerjourneywasopenedwithaninstructionallectureonfileandmediamanagementdeliveredbyEvaZahar.Thefourgroupsthenreturnedtheirfocustofinalisingtheirshorts ahead of the evening screening. Seok, Andy and Anthony gave close assistance to theparticipants, guiding them towards rendering and exporting their projects by early afternoon.Once their work was complete, they brought their final cuts to the auditorium to run a fullrehearsalinpreparationforthescreening.IntermediateWith tensionmounting and a cut-off deadline of 2 pm looming ever closer, the intermediatesbeganthelastdaywithascreeningontheirdraftfinalcuts.Thetrainersgaveincisivecriticismastohowtheteamshadcarriedouttheirworkovertheentire fivedays,givingfeedbackonhowthe community filmmakers could improve their story development, shoot planning and teamcoordination whilst on location. The trainers decided that two of the new films (local waterconservationeffortsand thehistoryofTanjungArubeach)werenotof sufficientquality tobescreenedintheauditorium,buttheremaindercouldbeshown.Editorsmadethefinalalterationstotheirfilmsandpreparedtoexport,whilstHarunledasessionwiththeremainingparticipantsin which he demonstrated various inexpensive methods that filmmakers can use to makeequipmentsuchasreflectors.Intheafternoon,theteamswenttotheauditoriumtoconductarehearsalinpreparationfortheeveningscreening,beforeconcludingtheworkshopsessionswithapresentationofcertificates.

Left:BirdRunningwateroftheSundanceFilmInstitutedeliveringatalktotheSuaraparticipants.Right:BirdposingforapicturewiththeSuaratrainerteam.

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EveningauditoriumscreeningsAt8pm,participantswerefinallyabletoenjoythepayoffofalltheirhardworkoverthepreviousfivedays,andforsometeams,theworkofanentireyear.TheSuarasegmentoftheeveningwasintroducedbyAgnesAgama,whogaveabriefoverviewoftheSuaraprogrammetoanaudienceof Kota Kinabalu residents and some tourists. Seok and Andy brought all of the beginnerparticipants up on the stagewhile they introduced the concept of the film projects that theirstudents had beenworking on, and screened all four groups’ outputs.Once the applause hadsubsided,Zantooktothestagetogiveashorttalkonthetrialsandtribulationsundergonebytheintermediatesduringtheworkshop.Thesixintermediatefilmswhichhadbeencompletedwerethenscreened,eachintroducedbythecommunityfilmmakersthemselves.TheSuarafilmsreceivedaverypositivereceptionfromtheaudience,andthescreeningsprovedto be a highly satisfying conclusion to Suara’s efforts in 2015 for participants, trainers andorganisersalike.PleaserefertoAppendix8.4.4forfurtherdetailsontheSuarafilmspremieredatBEFF2015.5. OUTPUTSTheprinciplematerialoutputsincludethecompletionofsixSuarafilmsandtheirscreeningtothegeneral public during the festival. The four of these films were shot on location in theparticipants’ communities, and represented the culmination of efforts undertaken during theentirety of 2015. This constitutes a great stride forward for the Suara programme, and thegrowing skill,dedicationandmaturityof community filmmakerswas trulyevident in their finalproducts.

TopLeft:Harunofferingsomefinaltipsandtrickstotheparticipants.TopRight:AdzminreceivinghisworkshopcertificatefromtrainerNagi.Bottom:Allparticipantsposeforagroupphotoattheendoftheworkshop.

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Moreover, thisworkshopmarkeda significantexpansion in theSuara familyasweopened thedoorstonewparticipantsfromseveralcommunitiesandorganisations.Thebeginnerfilmmakersmade remarkable progress during the festival, and over the course of five days managed toproduceshort filmswhich impressedtheBEFFaudience. Indeed, the festivalscreeningswerearesoundingsuccessinprovidingourparticipants(botholdandnew)withanoutlettosharetheirworkwith the public, whilst exposing the audience to fascinating stories told by communitiesfromaroundSabah–anopportunitywhichtheywouldbehard-pressedtofindwithoutSuara.Inadditiontonewparticipants,Suaraalsowelcomedseveralnewfilmmakingprofessionalstothepooloftrainersin2015whohaveembracedSuaraandbroughtawealthofnewknowledgeandexperience to the programme. In conjunctionwith the veteran trainers, Suara nowhas a fullyrounded trainer base with professional expertise in practically all aspects of filmmaking –including direction, screenwriting, audio-visual production, editing and even animation. Thesetrainerswillbemorethancapableofguidingtheever-improvingcommunityfilmmakerstowardsgreaterheightsastheSuaraprogrammemovesintoitssixthyearandbeyond.

TopLeft:Theparticipantsgatherintheauditoriumaheadoftheeveningscreening.TopRight:TheteamfromHutanintroducingtheirfilmTuripas.Bottom:Thebeginnergrouponstagereceivingawell-earnedroundofapplause.

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APPENDIX8.4.1WORKSHOPATTENDANCE

NO NAME GENDER ORGANISATION/COMMUNITY INTERMEDIATE/BEGINNER

1 MuhammadAdzminAbdulFatta L GreenSemporna Intermediate

2 DarwisHabir L GreenSemporna Intermediate

3 AhnafSazisAzizJaafar L GreenSemporna Intermediate

4 RhenaIsmail P GreenSemporna Intermediate

5 Mohd.YusofBural L BanggiYouthClub Intermediate

6 AhmadSofieMohd.Salleh L BanggiYouthClub Beginner

7 SitiNoraidahJunlai P BanggiYouthClub Beginner

8 NordiansahSandong L KesenianAnakTidung Intermediate

9 HayatiSandong P KesenianAnakTidung Intermediate

10 DominikKandai L Melangkap Intermediate

11 FauziahMinsin P Melangkap Intermediate

12 MohdTaufiqSaadudinJaudin L YayasanSabah/ICCA Intermediate

13 DavidFrancis L YayasanSabah/ICCA Intermediate

14 HerdaAlbi P CAMPBorneo Intermediate

15 DianSyhiraLoren P CAMPBorneo Beginner

16 EddieAhmad L HUTAN Intermediate

17 AzriSawang L HUTAN Intermediate

18 BerjayaElahan L HUTAN Intermediate

19 MahathirRatag L HUTAN Intermediate

20 HermanSuali L HUTAN Intermediate

21 SelamatSuali L HUTAN Intermediate

22 MasmeraJimlan P WAPO Intermediate

23 ErraFazirahMansula P WAPO Beginner

24 MohdIkhwanMansula L WAPO Intermediate

25 NurulismaMansula P WAPO Intermediate

26 MohdSukriRobin L WAPO Beginner

27 MohdZakiRobin L WAPO Intermediate

28 Mohd.NizamAndan L PACOSTrust Intermediate

29 VictorTingkun L Sayap Intermediate

30 AbritusJikim L Sayap Intermediate

31 LarryLestanlyLisua L SungaiEloi Beginner

32 RolandAgansai L KTCS Intermediate

33 RudyAgansai L KTCS Intermediate

34 SuzieMagunding P KTCS Intermediate

35 WanAsri L KTCS Beginner

36 NurAtiqahSaifulbahri P KTCS Beginner

37 RasyidKasman L KTCS Beginner

38 RosliJukrana L KOPELBHD Intermediate

39 SaidalUdin L KOPELBHD Intermediate

40 MohdFaijanMustapah L KOPELBHD Intermediate

41 BaharuddinBudin L KOPELBHD Intermediate

42 NorsallehMalik L KOPELBHD Beginner

43 MohdAzwanAmizan L KOPELBHD Beginner

44 JavierAban L BunduTuhan Beginner

45 PisraelfiebinPiul L BunduTuhan Beginner

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NO NAME GENDER ORGANISATION/COMMUNITY INTERMEDIATE/BEGINNER

46 HarryRaynerRoss L BunduTuhan Beginner

47 AlfianAloysius L BunduTuhan Beginner

48 AndyChia L Trainer Beginner

49 AnthonyLam L Trainer Beginner

50 EvaE.Zahar P Trainer Intermediate

51 HarunRahman L Trainer Intermediate

52 IkhwanRivai L Trainer Intermediate

53 NagiMaganti P Trainer Intermediate

54 SeokWunAuYong P Trainer Beginner

55 ZanAzleeZainalAbidin L Trainer Intermediate

56 AdamMurphy L BEFFBoard/Melapi

57 ChiwonChin L BEFFBoard/Melapi

58 EvangelineMajawat P BEFFBoard/Melapi

59 AgnesLeeAgama P BEFFBoard/Melapi

APPENDIX8.4.2WORKSHOPPROGRAMMEWEDS,30SEPT

08.30-11.30

INTRODUCTION:Ice-breaking,introductiontoworkshopprogramme,orientation.LECTURE:Storytelling-Generalintroductiontodevelopingideasandnarratives

11.30-12.30 PRE-PRODUCTIONTEAMWORK:Assigningteams&choosingstoryideas

13.00-17.00

PRE-PRODUCTIONTEAMWORK:DevelopmentofshortfilmproposalsandshootingplansPresentationanddiscussionofideas,assigningProductionTeamsandPost-ProductionTeams.

THURS,1OCT

08.30-12.30

PRODUCTIONTEAMS:Shootingonlocation.POST-PRODUCTIONTEAMLECTURES-BEGINNER:Theroleoftheeditor-howvideoeditorsshapeandcraftstories,anddeterminetheexperiencefortheviewer.INTERMEDIATE:Graphicsandanimation–itsusageinstorytelling.

13.00-15.00

PRODUCTIONTEAMS:Shootingonlocation.POST-PRODUCTIONTEAMLECTURES-BEGINNER:Introductiontothebasicuseofeditingsoftware.INTERMEDIATE:Practicalexercise–creatingastoryfromstockfootage.

15.00-17.00 ALLTEAMS:Reviewoffootagefromlocationshoots,discussionofadditionalshotsrequired.

FRI.2OCT

08.30-12.00

PRODUCTIONTEAMS:Shootingonlocation.POST-PRODUCTIONTEAMLECTURES-BEGINNER:Practicalexercise–creatingastoryfromstockfootage.ADVANCED:Whathappensaftertheshoot-filesmanagement,scripts,music,VO,maps

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14.00-17.00

POST-PRODUCTIONTEAMS:BEGINNER:Editingoflocationshootfootage.INTERMEDIATE:Editingoflocationshootfootage.PRODUCTIONTEAMSPRACTICALEXERCISE:Usingadaptiveskillstocreateastorydespitelimitations.

SAT,3OCT

08.30-12.30

INTERMEDIATE&BEGINNERGROUP:SpecialguestlectureonindigenousfilmmakingbyBirdRunningwater,SundanceInstituteUSA.

13.00-17.00

POST-PRODUCTIONTEAMS&PRODUCTIONTEAMS:BEGINNER:Screeningandreviewofroughcuts.INTERMEDIATE:Screeningandreviewofroughcuts.

SUN,4OCT

08.30-12.30

POST-PRODUCTIONTEAMS:BEGINNER:Productionoffinalcuts.INTERMEDIATE:Productionoffinalcuts.PRODUCTIONTEAMS:Shootingtipsandtricks–usingeverydayitemstoimprovelightingandsound.

13.00-15.00

POST-PRODUCTIONTEAMS:Completionofeditingofshortfilms.Renderingandexporting.PRODUCTIONTEAMS:Rehearsal(auditorium).

15.00-17.00

ALLTEAMSDISCUSSION&FEEDBACK:WhereshouldSuaragonext?WORKSHOPCLOSING.

19.30-21.00 SCREENINGOFSUARAFILMS:CompletedfilmsarepremieredatBEFF2015(auditorium).

APPENDIX8.4.3TRAINERPROFILES

EXPERTISE BIOGRAPHY

Videographer AndyChiafirststartedfilmingasanunderwatervideographerthoughitwashisinterestinfilmingweddingsandeventsthateventuallypersuadedhimtogetoutofthewater.Stillinthedeepend,Andyimproveshimselfbyhardwork,akeeneye,lotsofobservations,andbylearninganddippingintoonlineresourcesforthelatestknowledgeandtechnologyinfilming.HerunsDeeBeeStudiofocusingonevents,weddingsandprojectfilmingaswellasSchizoStarswhichfocusesonunderwater,aerialanddocumentaryfilming.

Editor,videographer,photographer

Eightyearsago,AnthonyLamwasanetworkadministratorinInformationTechnology,workingfromeighttofive,sixdaysaweek.Oneday,herealisedthiswasnotwhathewantedandleftMalaysiaforNewZealandtoseetheworld,whereherediscoveredhislong-lostloveforphotography.Heisafastlearner,andinashortperiodoftimehelearnedalot.UponreturningtoMalaysia,heenteredtheworldofweddingphotographyprogressingswiftlytovideography.Fromthere,hedelvedintofilmmakingandstartedtoworkonshortfilms,advertisements,televisionshowsandmusicvideos.In2014,hehadasmallachievementattheKotaKinabaluInternationalFilmFestivalwherehewontheKKIFF2014JuryAwardsfortheshortfilm“I’mSorry”.

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Editor EvaEmmanynaZaharisaprofessionalfilmeditorfromKualaLumpur,Malaysia.Shehascloseto10years’experienceworkingintheMalaysianfilmindustry,andhaseditedadiverserangeofdocumentaryandfictionalpiecesforbroadcasterssuchastheDiscoveryChannel.Sheisalsoanactor,andhasfeaturedinseveralMalaysiantelevisiondramasaswellasregularlyappearingonstageinKualaLumpur.

Director Novista’sfounderHarunRahmanisanaviddocumentaryfilmmakerwithmorethan20years’experience.HemajoredinfilmproductionatMinnesota,thenpursuedacareerinfilmandtelevision.Hehasdirectedandfilmedmanyawardwinningproductionsbothdomesticallyandinternationallyincluding“AmongtheGreatApeswithMichelleYeoh”forNationalGeographicChannel,winnerforbestwildlifefilmattheAsianTelevisionAwardsandMalaysianDocumentaryAwards2010,“OnBorrowedTime”,BestFilmattheMalaysianEcoFilmFest,“Temengor–BiodiversityintheFaceofDanger”,BestDocumentaryattheMalaysianFilmFestival1998.HaruniscurrentlyasupervisingproducerfortheMalaysianFilmBoard’s(Finas)“MalaysiatotheWorld2011”initiativeandcurrentlyworkingonaproductionforanewHistoryChanneldocumentarytobeairedearlynextyear.

Documentaryfilmmaker

IkhwanRivaihasworkedinfactualprogrammingformorethan5years.Hedirectedhisdébutdocumentary,TheSeasmithswhichwaspartofDiscovery’sEyeonMalaysiaseries.OvertheyearsIkhwanhasworkedonvariousproductionsforchannelssuchastheHistoryChannel,Crime&InvestigationNetwork,DiscoveryChannel,Travel&LivingandNationalGeographicChannel.

Motiongraphicdesigner

Upongraduatingfilmschool,NagiMagantifoundherselflikemostfilmschoolgraduates,completelyclueless.Shewassoonintroducedtotheworldofmotiongraphicswhichhelpedhercombinehertwoloves,filmanddesign.Shenowworksasamulti-disciplinarydesignerwhoseworkcomprisesmotiongraphics,illustration,identitiesanddatavisualisationandcountsNationalGeographic,DiscoveryChannelandHistoryChannelamongstherclients.Herfavouriteaspectofworkingindesignisthechallengeofhavingtocombinecreativitywithfunctionalitytosolveabrief,achallengethatpresentsitselfdifferentlywitheveryjobandkeepsheronhertoes.

Underwatercinematographer

SeokWunAuYongisafilmmakerandunderwatercinematographer.OriginallyfromKualaLumpur,SeokmovedtoSabahin2004toworkasascubainstructorfor2yearsbeforeshebeganherfilmingcareerbyworkingasunderwatervideographerin2006.Sincethen,shecontinuestoworkonherskillsonallaspectsoffilmmakingincludingproducing,directing,writingandediting.In2013,shereceivedagranttostudyfilmmakinginNewYorkFilmAcademy,USA.Shehassinceworkedasdirector,writer,editor,topsideandunderwaterphotographer&videographerforvariousprojectsincludingcorporatevideos,documentaries,shortandfeaturefilms.Oneofherfilm'Angmo&Amoi',afeaturelengthmockumentary(inwhichsheplayedmultiplerolesasco-director,co-writer,editorandactress)hasbeenscreenedonseveralfilmfestivalsinPhilippinesandUSA.SheiscurrentlyworkingasthecreativedirectorofLkwidProductions,wheresherunsunderwaterimagingstudiosonislandsaroundSabahandisalwaysworkingonhernextfilmprojects.

Journalist,documentaryfilmmaker,writerandacademician

ZanAzleeZainalAbidinisajournalist,documentaryfilmmaker,writerandacademician.HeiscurrentlyEditor/ExecutiveProducerforMagazineProgrammes,atASTROAwani,acolumnistatTheMalaysianInsiderandlecturesatvariousuniversitiesinKualaLumpur.HehasmadedocumentariesinconflictareassuchasAfghanistan,Lebanon,SyriaandSouthernThailand.Hespecialisesinsolo-journalism(one-man-crew-production).ZanAzleehaswontheBestDocumentaryAwardsattheAnugerahSeriAngkasaandFestivalFilemMalaysia.

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APPENDIX8.4.4AUDITORIUMSCREENINGSOFSUARAFILMS(4THOCTOBER2015)SCREENINGORDER TITLE RUNNING

TIME TEAMMEMBERS BRIEFSYNOPSIS

1 Kumpulan1 2.41 KOPEL,Kg.SungaiEloi BeginnergroupshortfilminJKKN–Group12 Kumpulan2 1.32 Kg.BunduTuhan BeginnergroupshortfilminJKKN–Group23 Kumpulan3 2.29 PulauOmadal,Pulau

Mantanani,KTCSBeginnergroupshortfilminJKKN–Group3

4 Kumpulan4 2.39 PulauBanggi,PulauOmdal,KTCS

BeginnergroupshortfilminJKKN–Group4

5 SenikuJiwaku–CRACKO

4.08 YayasanSabah,PulauMantanani,Kg.Melangkap,KOPEL

ExaminationoftheworkandmotivationsoftheKotaKinabalu-basedartcollectiveCrackoArtGroup

6 Lokos 3.27 KOPEL(11personteam)

ArtisticdepictionoftheimpactsofpollutionintheKinabatanganriveronthetraditionallivelihoodsoflocalpeople

7 MastalArikik

2.01 WAPO(6personteam) BriefprofileofayoungboyonOmadalislandwhoworksasateacherinhislocalprimaryschool

8 KebakarandiKg.Bangau-Bangau

4.59 Kg.Sayap,PulauOmadal,KTCS,Kg.SungaiEloi

DocumentaryportrayingthedisplacementoftheresidentsofKg.Bangau-Bangau,Semporna,duetomassivefires

9 Turipas 5.30 Hutan(8personteam) ExplorationofthegrowingtradeinthebirdTuripas,askingwhetherKg.Sukau’straditionalbird-keepingculturecanbebalancedwithconservationconcerns

10 KisahBudakJalanan

6.49 GreenSemporna(4personteam)

ExposeofthethreatsandchallengesfacedbystatelesschildrentryingtosurviveincontemporarySemporna

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8.5 Suara2015CommunityFilmmakers

TEAM NO NAME M/F VILLAGE

WORKSHOPATTENDED

1 2 3 4

BANGGIYOUTHCLUB(3)

1 Mohd.YusofBural M Kg.Perpaduan,Banggi ü

2 AhmadSofieMohd.Salleh M Kg.Maliangin,Banggi ü

3 SitiNoraidahJunlai F Kg.LimbuakLaut,Banggi ü

BUNDUTUHAN&SABAHPARKS(4)

4 JavierAban M Kg.BunduTuhan ü

5 PisraelfiePiul M Kg.BunduTuhan ü

6 HarryRaynerRoss M Kg.BunduTuhan ü

7 AlfianAloysius M Kg.BunduTuhan ü

CAMPBORNEO&MANTANANI(4)

8 AidaRahman F ü

9 HerdaAlbi F Kg.PadangMantanani ü ü ü

10 JulainiJumaani F Kg.PadangMantanani ü

11 DianSyhiraLoren F Kg.PadangMantanani ü ü

GREENSEMPORNA(5)

12 MuhammadAdzminAbdulFatta M Semporna ü ü ü

13 RhenaIsmail F Semporna ü

14 AhnafSazisAzizJaafar M Semporna ü ü ü ü

15 AwangRadziAwangRosdi M Semporna ü

16 DarwisHabir M Semporna ü ü ü

HUTAN(7)

17 AzriSawang M Kg.Sukau ü

18 EddieAhmad M Kg.Sukau ü ü ü

19 BerjayaElahan M Kg.Sukau ü ü ü

20 HermanSuali M Kg.Sukau ü ü

21 MahatirRatag M Kg.Sukau ü ü

22 SelamatSuali M Kg.Sukau ü ü ü

23 FaslanUdau M Kg.Sukau ü

KOPEL(7)

24 RosliJukrana M Kg.BatuPuteh ü ü ü

25 SaidalUdin M Kg.BatuPuteh ü

26 Mohd.FaijanMustapah M Kg.BatuPuteh ü ü ü ü

27 RazisNazri M Kg.BatuPuteh ü

28 BaharudinBudin M Kg.BatuPuteh ü

29 NorsallehMalik M Kg.BatuPuteh ü

30 MohdAzwanAmizan M Kg.BatuPuteh ü

KUDATTURTLECONSERVATIONSOCIETY(8)

31 JasmanOniau M Kg.SimpangMengayau ü

32 EddyOyoi M Kg.SimpangMengayau ü

33 WanAsri M Kg.TajauLaut ü ü

34 NurAtiqahSaifulbahri F Kudat ü

35 RasyidKasman M Kudat ü

36 RudyAgansai M Kg.BavangJamal ü ü

37 RolandAgansai M Kg.BavangJamal ü

38 SuzianaMagunding F Kg.BavangJamal ü

MELANGKAP(2) 39 FauziahMinsin F Kg.MelangkapTomis ü ü

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TEAM NO NAME M/F VILLAGE

WORKSHOPATTENDED

1 2 3 4

40 DominikKandai M Kg.MelangkapTiong ü ü ü ü

PACOS(1) 41 Mohd.NizamAndan M PulauBumBumSemporna ü ü ü ü

SAYAP(2)42 VictorTingkun M Kg.Sayap ü ü ü

43 AbritusJikim M Kg.Sayap ü ü ü

SEARRP(2)44 JamiluddinJami M Danum ü

45 ArnoldJames M Danum ü

SEBATIK/KASTI(4)

46 NordiansahSandong M Kg.SgTongkang,PulauSebatik ü ü ü ü

47 HayatiSandong F Kg.SgTongkang,PulauSebatik ü ü ü

48 KasumawatiSandong F Kg.SgTongkang,PulauSebatik ü

49 NorainiMajid F Kg.SgTongkang,PulauSebatik ü

SUNGAIELOI(3)

50 MeddyEning M Kg.SungaiEloi,Pitas ü

51 SudinIping M Kg.SungaiEloi,Pitas ü

52 LarryLesstanlyLisua M Kg.SungaiEloi,Pitas ü ü ü

WAPO(8)

53 MohdSukriRobin M Kg.PulauOmadal ü

54 MuhammadZakiRobin M Kg.PulauOmadal ü ü

55 MohdIkhwanMansula M Kg.PulauOmadal ü ü

56 NurulismaMansula F Kg.PulauOmadal ü

57 ErraFazirahMansula F Kg.PulauOmadal ü

58 RahinahMansula F Kg.PulauOmadal ü

59 MasmeraJimlah F Kg.PulauOmadal ü ü

60 RoziahJalalid F Kg.PulauOmadal ü

YAYASANSABAH(2)

61 MohdTaufiqSaadudin M Kg.Jawi-Jawi,KotaBelud ü ü ü ü

62 DavidFrancis M Kg.Imbak,Tongod ü ü ü ü

TotalMALE: 45 TOTAL 17 32 18 47

TotalFEMALE: 17

GRANDTOTAL: 62

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www.beff.org.my