By Wilfred Pilo
BAU, Oct 28: A Hollywood film, “The White Rajah” which is based on the epic life of Sir James Brooke is expected to be screened in the cinema by the middle of 2020.
Producer of the film, Roy Allyn said they were in the final stage of filming here and hoped the film could be ready in March next year.
“We want the film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival where new films of all genres are being previewed.
“The festival is the biggest market for films and we hope that we can accomplish the production work before the festival. That is our goal,” he said at the press conference held at Siniawan town here today.
Allyn said despite the challenges they have been facing, he was amazed that they could shoot the film in an environment akin to the natural film studio.
“Sarawakian hospitality, the government of Sarawak, the good local actors and film crew made it much easier us to shoot the film and to overcome all the challenges,” he said.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hoped that the film can be a big box office hit when it is screened.
He said the film was shot in many beautiful locations in Sarawak and hopefully it will also arouse audiences’ interests to come to Sarawak.
Abdul Karim said that the Sarawak government will try to promote the film “to get it to somewhere”.
He said they will discuss with the producer of the film on what to do with the movie set after the filming is completed as many props used could be of values of interest and attraction especially if the film were to make a hit.
Abdul Karim said he was amazed by those who did research for the film as they were actually able to come up with details of the structure of the buildings and the furniture in that era of history for the movie set.
Commenting on the film, grandson of Sarawak last White Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke, Jason Brooke said he was excited by the film, especially the scenic location of Sarawak, after watching its short rough cuts.
“The film, the scenic locations will be a very good advertisement for Sarawak,” he said.
Hollywood actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the lead star who is playing the role of Sir James Brooke in the movie. — DayakDaily
