ACTOR Jack Tan's name does not appear much in the media, but he's going places.
Tan, 32, was in the independent film Fly By Night and had a role in badminton biopic Lee Chong Wei, Rise Of The Legend, playing former shuttler Wong Choong Hann.
Most recently, Tan starred in Jin Ong's Abang Adik, which won the Audience Award and Ecumenical Jury Award at the 37th Fribourg International Film Festival in Switzerland.
And last year, he played a Royal Malaysian Air Force Special Operations Force member, Hujan, in Air Force The Movie.
SHUTTLER AND COACH
The actor, with 15 years' experience, will soon appear on the silver screen as another badminton player, paralympic athlete Cheah Liek Hou, in Gold.
He will appear with Farid Kamil, who will portray his second non-fiction character, former national shuttler and coach Datuk Rashid Sidek; Dalam Botol star Redzuan Abu Bakar, or Wan Raja; and his Fly By Night co-star Fabian Loo.
Wan Raja will play former national shuttler and coach Datuk Misbun Sidek, while Loo will play Teng, a fictitious character who is Cheah's strongest able-bodied competitor.
FIRST SPORTSMAN
Gold, a production by Astro Shaw and Act 2 Pictures, is directed by Adrian Teh of Paskal, Wira and The Assistant fame, and is his first movie about a sportsman.
Filming began on March 25 for two months, and the film is scheduled for release in mid-2024.
Tan said: "I trained for three months to look fit.
"I never took part in tournaments but enjoyed playing badminton, and have played it since primary school."
LOST 10KG
Tan, who lost 10kg in three months through exercise and dieting, would have to regain the weight towards the end of filming for a scene in which Cheah was not in good shape.
"There was a stage where he did not play and packed on the kilos. However, he got himself into shape again."
Tan said: "It's an honour to play Liek Hou. I'm a big fan of him as well as Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Lee Zii Jia. All of them are role models and inspirations."
VERY SUPPORTIVE
Farid said: "I admire Rashid as well as his brothers, who have taken Malaysian badminton to great heights.
"I spent hours interviewing him, and I'm glad that he was very supportive of me."
Farid played badminton during his schooldays but not much after he started working.
"To play Rashid, I had to play badminton with Jack, but I got tired easily. Nevertheless, it was still fun."
Farid described Rashid as humble, friendly and generous. "He had a good look at my game and guided me all the way."
DATUK ROSYAM NOR
Wan Raja said Misbun did not appear much and did not play badminton.
"He is an elder statesman of the sport who advises Rashid and Cheah.
"I loved Datuk Rosyam Nor's version of Misbun in Lee Chong Wei, Rise Of The Legend, but Adrian wants me to be a different version."
NOT AN OBSTACLE
Teh said: "Cheah is 100 per cent behind the story, and I spent hours interviewing him as well as Rashid.
"We want to share his story with Malaysians. He is living proof that being handicapped is not an obstacle to achieve greatness."
He added that 20 per cent of the story was filmed at Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, and Cheah might make a cameo appearance.
"Farid looks like Rashid, Wan Raja looks like Misbun and Tan looks like Cheah. They are great actors who love sports."
REACH FOR THE STARS
Executive producer Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said Cheah's story was an inspiration for Malaysians to reach for the stars despite the odds.
"It is a Malaysia Boleh story, and it is great Adrian is back in the director's seat."
Raja Jastina, Teh, Farid, Tan, Wan Raja and Loo attended the launch of Gold at Stadium Melawati recently.