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Singapore, Buenos Aires and Malaysian Release

February 26, 2009 07:19 by author

Some news, some good, some not so great:-

Sell Out! will be in competition in the Singapore International Film Festival. It's a great honour for me as I lived and studied in Singapore during my teenage years. Our screening's at 9.15pm on 21 April 09 at the Singapore National Museum. If you're in Singapore, please come support us! I'll be there. And, hopefully, so will some of our cast and crew members.

I've just heard that Sell Out! will also be in competition in the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (BAFICI). If only I can afford the flight...! The festival's in March.

Finally, the not so great news. Our Malaysian release has been postponed, from March to (probably) May. I've learnt so much about dealing with Malaysian distributors these last weeks. They look down on Malaysian films. They draw conclusions and draw up release plans for our films BEFORE they've even seen the films! One distributor who has been in the industry for close to 30 years even advised me to copy Hollywood movies and not try doing original stuff. I stared at him and realised that I was living a scene from Sell Out! The entire distribution experience so far has been surreal. It's like someone's telling me Sell Out! Part 2 should be all about film distribution in this country.

Fighting against these people is so exhausting. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't write novels instead.

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Comments (56)

Comments

V A Emuang wrote on 26. February 2009 at 21:23 #
Hang in there! Breakthroughs happen because someone made the impossible possible. I am sure you are on the brink of something really extraordinary. All best!

joonhan wrote on 27. February 2009 at 08:44 #
Hey, thanks. I'm doing my best to stay positive!

gnew wrote
on 30. March 2009 at 09:10 #

I believe that there are a lot of things in malaysia related to distribution are generally horrible to local talent...movies, music, the works..

But ya know what? I really think that this film is really promising and for the first time for a loonnng time actually gives me tremendous urge to watch it...(no disrespect to any other malaysian filmmaker).

Really looking forward to it and I'll do my part to tell everyone I know about it..
Great job...

chak wrote
on 30. March 2009 at 10:48 #

Someone sent me the link to your trailer, and I have to say, it looks really promising. I haven't really enjoyed much in the local scene cept for Ciplak, but I have to say yours looks like something that I'd love to watch, and love seeing on Apple Trailers someday.

Forget the local market. It's a chicken and egg of "No one markets, no one supports, no one watches". I dragged 7 friends for the premiere of Ciplak, and we only saw one other small group of people in the cinema. They were the cast and crew of the movie. Sad to say, be prepared to accept this.

So as cynical as it sounds, don't bother too much about a local screening until you've made waves overseas. Then people here will be interested.

But if you do have a screening anywhere in KL, please do let me know about it

Paula wrote on 30. March 2009 at 15:46 #
I've seen Sell Out! yesterday in the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (BAFICI). I just couldn't stop laughing! I just want to tell you that you've made an excellent film. I hope it will be available for rent in Argentina, I'd love to share this with my friends that weren't able to go to the festival. Congratulations again!!!

Federico wrote
on 2. April 2009 at 04:01 #

Your movie was a great hit at the festival in Buenos Aires. If I tell you my opinion of the movie I'd be "sucking up to you", and im sure you don't like people/employes that suck up to you. Its sad the organizers set the last feature for Tuesday and didn't leave enough time to spred the "mouth to mouth". Now everyone wants to see it and no one can. Jessicas performance in the film was a big hit here also. If she is reading this... well... Hi Jessica.

I know that the posibilities of releasing the film here are very low. But I'd really like to see it again. So we'll be waiting for the DVD realease in amazon or yesasia.com.

What we really can't wait for is for the Soundtrack. So please if there's a way to get it that would be amazing!At least a couple of songs while we wait for its release. Cause we only remember the parts that are in the trailer, and if we have the compleate song then we can all just sing along!

And as Paula said previously... congratulations. It's good to see that Malasya it's not just Tsai Ming-liang type films.

Hope you come to Buenos Aires for your next release.

Johnny wrote on 21. April 2009 at 08:59 #
Hi Joon Han, I can't get any ticket for the show tonight. it's "sold out". :-s Anyway, I will still come down to support you guys. Cheers, Johnny

FML wrote on 22. April 2009 at 11:54 #
Hi My husband told me to watch this trailer 'Sell out' on youtube and it was awesome.. i cant wait for it to be screen in malaysia..forget about hollywood , we want 'buatan malaysia'... Cheers

pfun wrote
on 25. April 2009 at 20:16 #

Hi Joon Han! I caught the premiere of 'Sell Out' at the National Museum in Singapore. And I really liked it alot! It's been a really long time since I caught a comedy where I actually laughed from the start to the end of the show. It's brilliantly funny! Just a pity though that in the end the dreamer had to die.

I really hope Malaysians will get to see it and you can finally get through all that distribution red tape and what nots. I'm going to catch it when it comes out it cinemas on 7 May again. If you get an OST and DVD out, I'll definitely buy both the originals!

I hope to catch more of your future productions on screen! Jia you!

Swei wrote on 30. April 2009 at 18:08 #
awesome !!

xing wrote on 2. May 2009 at 12:39 #
i wanna watch it but i don't know whereee

Andrew wrote
on 3. May 2009 at 20:56 #

Hey..i'm a malaysian located in brunei and i saw the preview on Astro and i must say that this is one cool film. I don't think it'll be in the cinemas near me but i'll try to get a copy of it on DVD. I think it's like when singapore movies just started and not many people knew how to appreciate it till it made it's name internationally then only the local market accepted it. Anyway joon...keep it up and i wish you all the best and hope to see more films from you soon.

lai mun wai wrote on 4. May 2009 at 12:25 #
may i noe wad name of the theme song of the movie pls? ? bcoz it is really anwsome!!!

Yeo Joon Han wrote
on 4. May 2009 at 23:46 #

Hi everyone,

I'm really sorry. I didn't realise you guys have been dropping by and writing such encouraging messages! Most people just scribble on our Facebook group wall, ha ha.

Mun Wai, by "theme song", I guess you mean the song we're using on our trailer. The lively pop song? That's "You're Not My Type". We're finally printing our soundtrack CDs, so hopefully they'll be in the shops soon

Paula, Federico, thanks for your messages! I'm really, really happy you enjoyed the film. I don't know if our DVD will get so far as Amazon, ha ha, but I'll let you know when it's released here. Maybe I can send one to you. Same with the soundtrack

gnew, chak, as you might already know, Sell Out! will start playing in Malaysian cinemas this Thursday (7 May 09). Please, if you have the time, do come see it in the cinemas. One particular cinema chain is refusing to display any of our advertising materials so you might not see our posters but the film WILL play in most of the big KL cinemas and also several other town cinemas around Malaysia. Thanks for giving our crazy little film a chance

FML, I hope you'll enjoy yourself when you see the film! If you see me or the cast hanging around the cinemas, do come and say hi!

pfun, thanks! Looks like Malaysians will see it on May 7, on the same day as Singaporeans. I'm thrilled to hear you laughed so much during the film! The OST should be out in Singapore very soon. Not sure about the DVD, though.

Andrew, what are you doing in Brunei? Making good money, I hope

Hey, our "making-of" will be playing on Astro's AEC channel this Friday. I think it's at 10PM. Watch it lah if you have nothing better to do that evening.

Thanks again, everyone. Have a great week ahead while I bite my fingernails, wondering what's going to happen when Malaysians see the film

joon han

JLIM wrote on 6. May 2009 at 19:40 #
HI~ Cheer UP~ fighting go go go go go.............. We are so exicting and waiting for the "SELL OUt" showing on Cinema.. Hope its asap! We will just sing together every time we see the preview on Astro!~The music is awsome too!! We are so proud of you ~ never fed up ~b'coz we're stand by your side to support you creation artwork(film) !!! ^^ all the best~

Jo wrote on 7. May 2009 at 16:03 #
Hey, I saw the trailer on my friend's blog. Normally, i dont play the trailers the friend posts. But somehow, I played the Sell Out! trailer. Surprisingly, I thought it was great! Good job! Looking forward to the movie! Cheers!

Monster wrote on 7. May 2009 at 16:14 #
erm... pirated one released already or not? clear or not? AVI or RMVB?

James Tan wrote
on 7. May 2009 at 19:08 #

Just saw it just now with a huge grp of friends and you assistant director, Kareem...got to say, its been a while i had such a good laugh in the cinema..love the show, the acting, the songs, gosh, the songs are sticking to my head and not getting out..looking forward to more awesome works from you and crew..keep it up..to the rest of Malaysian reading this..go watch it and have a good laugh and enjoyment..life is too short not to laugh...a side note, watch it in a group of 5

Yeo Joon Han wrote
on 7. May 2009 at 23:13 #

Hi JLIM and Jo, thanks for your support. It really helps to know you guys are out there. I hope you'll enjoy the film. Try not to watch it when you're too tired, though, ha ha.

Monster, you're really a monster, huh? Haha. See it in the cinema lah

DVD will take some time to come out, heh heh.

James, I'm really glad you liked the film. Thanks for watching it. Say hi to Kareem! That guy worked really, really hard on the film. Went through a lot of hell, ha ha. I'm very proud to have worked with him!

Monster wrote on 8. May 2009 at 16:34 #
it's not air on any cinemas at Butterworth or Bukit Mertajam. Only at Penang Island, my parents wanted to see but too far for them to travel. PS: if one day I see your movie on the pirated stall, YOUR MOVIE IS FAMOUS~!!!!. anyway, I bet Peter Davis felt super different when suddenly turned into an actor without wat... Astro Talent? Superstar Talent? Malaysia Idol? <-- Fuck!, Who Cares!!!

Monster wrote on 8. May 2009 at 16:36 #
By the way, "You're not my type", that song... is there any lyrics on the site? I do wished that I can get a hold of this mp3. it's SO DAMN GOOD~!!!!!

chris wrote
on 10. May 2009 at 14:10 #

Hi,

I've seen the trailer that shown on Astro channel. I've also seen the 'making of' that played on the Astro AEC channel. It's awesome!! Although 'Sell Out' is not getting play in the cinema at my place, but I will wait for the DVD to come out. I think this is a great movie that will catch many peoples' heart. Keep it up Joon Han!!! We are really proud of you!!! We're looking forward to your next project. All d best to you and your crew!!!

Colin T. wrote
on 11. May 2009 at 17:47 #

im in big support of local english film industry and just got back from watching your film at IOI GSC. Unfortunately, there were only 2 people in the theatre besides me and my wife.

i was the only person ROFLed most of the lengths throughout the film. kudos to the other 2 viewers who gave themselves a chance to watch it. kudos to you! i believe it's the magnitude of viral support and various medias that can make the difference.

fabian chan wrote
on 12. May 2009 at 07:21 #

I have seen your film in Malaysia last few days. Wow, i can't believe that it is so great! I haven't laughed so hard for so many years over a local film. Good job! I wish Malaysian media can promote this film further more since this is a local film. I watched this movie in the cinema out of boredom of other movies. And if its not because of this boredom, I would never know this movie exists. And not all local cinemas are screening it, only a few, compared to Singapore-based films like Ah Long Pte Ltd. Anyway, keep it up.

Allan wrote on 20. May 2009 at 00:38 #
Must be such a coincidence to have watched the trailer of Sell Out!, well thanks to Facebook, YouTube and what have you... Congratulations Joon Han for making this very personal film of yours a great reality! Will try to get hold of the DVD or something to show support. Well done and cheers!

FML wrote on 20. May 2009 at 11:29 #
Hi Ive watched the movie more than once!!!!! I love the movie and the songs too especially the song 'you're not my type' with the line 'you're not my type ...i rather be a bi....' hahahahah...btw mr yeo i ve just sent an invitation email to your joonhan@amokfilms.com and hope to receive your favourable reply soon... thanks...keep up the great work!!!! Cheers

beelie wrote on 21. May 2009 at 12:28 #
hey i've watched the movie and love it very much! It's has been a long time since i laughed so hard for a movie. Now i'm promoting the movie to as many people as possible. Keep it up!

Joe Gan wrote on 23. May 2009 at 14:40 #
Just came back from GSC Mid Valley with a group of friends, and i must say... $ell Out is hell of a movie. After the movie, I st8 walk to record store and bought the soundtrack. I do hope you wont give up and continue produces good movies.

jinsarn wrote on 24. May 2009 at 16:24 #
Enjoyed watching this very much last week -- pls get the DVD out soon, lots of people who missed it or who are overseas will want to get their hands on the DVD, and I'm sure many would support Malaysian cinema by buying original DVD if available.

Wan Kimm wrote
on 24. May 2009 at 21:01 #

Greetings, sir! Watched this with a whole bunch of classmates last week and I must say it was really spectacular! What a breath of fresh air. The verve and wit... Forget Hollywood blockbusters. Sell Out! was something outrageously new, and it was such a change from all the typical stories and movies out there.

Word just has to get out about Sell Out.

I'm sure in time people will come to appreciate it for the soon-to-be immortal classic it'll become. As it is, I'll just pimp it out to fellow friends all around.

So don't be discouraged, sir! It looked promising, and it really delivered. I haven't watched anything so new and movingly memorable in a very long time. Thank you so much for giving us this masterpiece, and all the various accolades you received were really well-deserved!

Cheers!

sweechs wrote
on 3. June 2009 at 19:22 #

Best movie of the year! Definietly. I think I underestimate what malaysians can do man! I laughed my head off and I think my boyfriend sitting next to me suffered alot of bruises as I kept whacking him everytime I laughed out loud!

Brilliant Yeo,it was the best comedy I have ever watched because it kept me in stiches from the begining to the very end. I could not find any mistake with it, it was perfect, very malaysian, very realistic, very entertaining!

Five thumbs up (max rating), hope your next film will be just as entertaining and like you mentioned, make part 2 about the local film distribution. Ho Ho Ho... keep up the good work and you have really made us Malaysians proud of you man!!!

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Haha...i just happened to know this movie recently...May i know when will the DVD release?

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