HAVING produced several television programmes, popular comedian and TV host Nabil Ahmad, 34, has set his sights on filmmaking next, but he won’t settle for a cheap trial run.
Instead, he is aiming high for his debut feature production by setting a whopping budget of RM5 million, an amount considered substantial since a regular film would usually cost around RM2 million to make.
Titled Unwonted (which means extraordinary), the film centres on a man with a photographic memory.
After watching one too many fighting videos on YouTube, he is able to imitate the skills and use them to fight his father’s enemies.
“I want (my production house), Nabil Production, to work like how an international outfit does. We mustn’t be afraid to invest more to achieve a better quality product.
“For example, we can pay our actors more and hopefully motivate them into delivering great work,” said Nabil at St. Regis Kuala Lumpur recently.
Popular Indonesian action star Iko Uwais, best known for his role in the critically-acclaimed Indonesian action thriller The Raid, has been picked to star in the action romantic comedy.
“We have yet to decide on the full cast. But Remy Ishak and Aaron Aziz have been confirmed for a cameo appearance in the film,” Nabil said.
He said the cast would receive combat training by experts for two months so that the fight sequences look convincing.
“I want every part of the film to have a high-quality look and feel to it.
“It’s either I make it big, or don’t put out anything at all,” said the Negri Sembilan-born artiste, who is also responsible for the screenplay.
Nabil, who took two years to complete the script, said he was confident that Unwonted would be well received.
The film will be helmed by Helmi Yusof, who directed the 2013 action comedy Bikers Kental.
Nabil will sit in the assistant director’s chair for this film.
“I still have a lot to learn about directing a film,” he said.
On whether he will be starring in the film, Nabil said “I haven’t decided on that yet since my work also involves behind the camera.”
For Unwonted, Nabil decided to employ the action genre with hopes to export the film to Thailand and Indonesia as moviegoers there enjoy action flicks.
“I think this is one genre that would appeal to the international market. I hope it will be marketable enough.”
Nabil is looking for partners keen
in co-producing the film. Filming will begin next year, and is slated for a 2019 release.
Should Unwonted become a commercial success, Nabil plans for a sequel that focuses on Muay Thai.
Meanwhile, Nabil is one of the many local celebrity voice actors involved in HBO’s (Astro Channel 411/431) Bahasa Malaysia-dubbed The Secret Life Of Pets.
It will premiere on June 25 at 8pm.