Another brilliant commercial from Japan, which won big awards two or three years ago.

My two favourite commercials at the Media Spikes were both from Japan.

This time, the Petronas campaign (Tan Hong Ming/Race/Karate) won, as a whole.

one show pencil
Originally uploaded by yasmin the storyteller

It was announced last night.

At the 2008 One Show awards ceremony (the most respected in America), the Petronas campaign, comprising the three commercials listed above, was given the Silver Pencil for the Best Public Service Television Campaign in the world.

No Gold or Bronzes were given.

In other words, it was the only public service TV campaign in the world to receive a prize that night.

Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah.

"Tan Hong Ming" wins 2 Gold Awards in New York.

andy's head
Originally uploaded by yasmin the storyteller

"The international ANDY Awards were established in 1964 by the Advertising Club of New York.

The goal of the competition is to honor creativity in advertising throughout the world, recognize the contributions of individuals and companies who create the work and encourage raising the standards of craftsmanship in the industry.

Judged by a jury comprised of internationally renowned creative directors, awards are given to both single and campaign executions, distinguished by product, service or technique category. The ANDY's began as a New York print only show that has evolved into an international show covering print, radio, television, out-of-home, direct mail, video/cinema, interactive and other media." (http://www.andyawards.com/about/index.php)

"Tan Hong Ming" won a Gold Andy for Film Direction and another Gold for Public Service Advertising. "Race" won a Bronze.

And no matter how much Ila condemns me, I cannot help but give praise and thanks to my beloved Creator.

Alhamdulillah.

Trailer of the music video which Yuhang and I shot.

On the 24th of April, 2008, about 100 volunteers gathered at KLPAC and made a video about being One People in a nation of many.

The song, "Here In My Home", was written by Pete Teo. The music video is officially described as having been directed by Ho Yuhang and Yasmin Ahmad, but in truth, the celebrities who had come forth to offer their time and energy for free, pretty much directed themselves.

Yuhang and I knew, at the very onset of the project, that we did not want fancy camera moves or graphics that would have brought attention upon themselves. (Music videos have a habit of doing just that!)

We figured that when you have charismatic people like Afdlin Shauki, Harith Iskandar, Awie, Jason Lo, Reshmonu, Sheby Singh, Ning Baizura, the "Sepet" couple (Ng Choo Seong and Sharifah Amani), Maya Karin, Tony Fernandes, Reshmonu, Jaclyn Victor, Ida Nerina, Amber Chia, Atilia, Nikki and all those other wonderful personalities singing and dancing to a beautiful song, the best thing to do was to keep everything constant. A mostly un-moving camera, lots of space for people to run around in, and a flat coloured location.

So in the end, what you'll see are Stars in their element.

We'll be releasing the video in the next week or so, inshaallah. And when it's out, spread it around, O good people of Malaysia!

Someone in Europe likes our films. Alhamdulillah.

They've agreed to sell the rights for this achingly beautiful song to us for "Talentime". Alhamdulillah!

The latest developments in the pre-production of "Talentime":

One, my young Singaporean actor has pulled out, due to some family problems. He will be replaced by Mohd. Syafie Naswip of "Mukhsin" fame. (Poor Syafie had been pleading with me to put him in another film, so he was well pleased when I told him he was on.)

Secondly, this song entitled "O Re Piya", which I've so badly wanted for "Talentime", is now available to us. Sung by Rahat (nephew of the late Nusrat) Fateh Ali Khan in a way that makes the hair on my arms stand every time, the lyrics of this haunting piece sounds like it was just written for one crucial scene in "Talentime".


"Feels like I've been walking barefoot on burning embers
Feels like I've been growing up among total strangers
O beloved, take me away to your destiny
This blind, narrow-minded world is my enemy"


Sigh. Heartbreaking...