KUCHING, Dec 16: Nurturing the state’s creative industry to be among the best in the country as well as in the region, will require the Sarawak government to lend a helping hand to aspiring local filmmakers, entrepreneurs and undergraduates in this field.
Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (Azam Sarawak) board member Dato Nurhyati Ismail said now that the state is moving toward a Digital Economy, resources and technologies for the creative industry would now be more accessible to these creative people; however, the cost would pose a problem for most to even start a project.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of Azam Sarawak’s “Telling Sarawak’s Story” Content Creation workshop at The Waterfront Hotel here today which was attended by some 100 participants from companies, film associations and universities, Nurhyati said among the things the state government could do was through the newly established Development Bank of Sarawak (DBoS) provide some funding or assistance to creative talents, and to help them promote their products or works not only in the country but also overseas.
“The initial funding is always the problem and very high. If the state government can help them, then when these aspiring local filmmakers, entrepreneurs and undergraduates achieve success with the help of the state government, they would be able to pay back or even earn more,” she said.
Nurhyati added that not only that, if the government is active in promoting the products of the local creative industry, it would also attract foreign talent scouts and investors.
“Also, our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg came up with the idea of setting up Sarawak’s own television station as well as Digital Economy; this is where we from the creative industry can play our roles,” she said.
Nurhyati also pointed out that among all the fields in the various creative industries, the country was lacking in writers. She said more youngsters should delve into writing for screenplays or such as it is the backbone of the creative industry. — DayakDaily
