(above - three of my actors in An Unanticipated Journey - Syaamil, Am and Haris)
Just like wind, the idea just came all at once. It was in 2008. I had wanted so much to try my hand at directing. So, I prepared a short script. A story told in actions, and not in words. The four characters in the story would not be talking, they would just be acting.
In December that year, I consulted my friend who's good in camera. Having done numerous videography and cinematography jobs, Malik seems the perfect choice for this small project of mine. I have known him since I was doing Scriptwriting course at FINAS in 2002. He was a classmate.
To play the characters, I had four youngsters who lived in my neighbourhood. Three of them are brothers, while the other one is a friend of theirs. Without dialogues, it was easier for them to act despite having zero acting experience.
It was really a sole project. I did basically everything - props, and everything else, except being the cameraman and the actors.
In one full day, we completed shooting. Tired but satisfied.
And that was something I never really expected of doing. It was more of an impulse. Thus, I name the film "AN UNANTICIPATED JOURNEY".
I do not know what else lies ahead of my journey. What I know is, there may be some I'd well anticipated, and some unanticipated. Regardless, I'd go through it with positivity, confidence and determination.
