Gempak, in collaboration with Astro Shaw, has come up with a Raya short film titled ‘Gerakan Serunding’ with local actors Shaheizy Sam and Syatilla Melvin as leads.

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Betul la kata orang, isteri gembira, hati suami pun senang! Gerakan Serunding, filem pendek Hari Raya dari Gempak & Astro Shaw menampilkan bintang Polis Evo, @shaheizy_sam yang mengisahkan kesungguhan seorang suami untuk menggembirakan isteri tercinta ketika PKP. Jangan tak tahu, ini merupakan kolaborasi pertama @shaheizy_sam dan isterinya @samtilla ! Rugilah kalau tak tonton guys! . . You know the saying, ‘Happy wife, happy life’. This rings especially true in ‘Gerakan Serunding’, a Gempak and Astro Shaw short film starring Polis Evo star @shaheizy_sam is about a doting husband who attempts to satisfy his wife's cravings during the MCO. This is also the first collaboration between @shaheizy_sam and his wife, @samtilla #GerakanSerunding #IndahkanSenyuman #EratkanJalinan #FilemPendek #HariRaya

A post shared by Astro Gempak (@astrogempak) on May 21, 2020 at 7:48am PDT

The film was shot and produced remotely

The most interesting part about the film is that this is the first time shooting and production of a short film have been done virtually, without those involved meeting face to face.

Beginning from pre-production to shooting and post-production, it was all done from a distance.

The production house provided the actors with all the equipment to shoot. Although Shahiezy Sam and Syatilla Melvin shot the film at home, the director played a role in directing and monitoring the whole process to ensure that the story was translated well visually via video calls.

According to the film writer and director, Ezrie Gazali, all shooting activities had to be stopped due to MCO so the team took the initiative and came up with the new idea of asking the actors to also be the shooting crew.

“We sent props and shooting equipment such as cameras, lights and sound system to Sam and Tilla’s house to be used. All the direction and other processes were done through video calls by the director and director of photography.

“Luckily, both the actors are experienced, and this helped us to complete all the shots well and according to schedule,” he said.

Astro Shaw and Nusantara chief and vice president Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said that the short film ‘Gerakan Serunding’ was one of Gempak’s Hari Raya content. “What’s interesting is that this also marks the changes in the local film industry during a crisis when we did the shooting separately.

“As we know, Malaysia will be celebrating Hari Raya during the COVID-19 pandemic. This movie is very apt as it will be a history in the lives of all Malaysians as we celebrate while social distancing and being discouraged from visiting family across state borders,” she said.

She added that ‘Gerakan Serunding’ reflects the current situation.

“We feel that at a time when we are fasting and celebrating Hari Raya while being separated from our loved ones, there is sweetness to being positive.

"For that, we chose the theme ‘love knows no boundaries’ to give a positive message during a tough time,” Jastina said.

‘Gerakan Serunding’ tells the story of a couple who is observing fasting during MCO, a situation made complicated by Siti’s (Syatilla Melavin) cravings for her mother’s Serunding. To make his wife happy, Ali (Shaheizy Sam) tries to replicate the dish but fails, making his wife sadder.

Ali got an idea outside of the ‘new normal’ in order to get the serunding that will make his wife happy. What is his idea, and will he succeed?

Find out the answer below: