Damsel of A Lesser Breed

Everything Has Its Moment

2010-03-12T09:26:00.000+08:00

Excerpt from HANYUT's script (English version)

EXT. A CLEARING IN THE JUNGLE - DAY

At a clearing close to the river, Dain's crew loads jungle

products from the Dayaks/Locals into containers - they are

buying merchandise - rattan, bamboo & animal skin.

Nearby, hidden among the bushes, Nina balances on a low

tree branch and lifts another branch to have a clearer

look.

Suddenly, two Dayak men in full gear appear right in front

of her.

Nina is startled and loses her balance, falling to the

ground but landing on her feet.

To her further surprise, she recognizes that one of the men

is Dain.

Dain holds a bundle in his hand. He moves forward.

DAIN

It's not wise to creep around spying on

other people.

NINA

I'm not doing anything wrong.

She turns haughtily but, again, loses her footing.

And, again, a smile plays around Dain’s lips as he looks at

Nina.

DAIN

You speak Malay.

NINA

Who do you think you are?

He moves forward holding out his hands to help her but she

gets up, refusing Dain's help, while staring at Dain

defiantly.

DAIN

I've been to your house. I'm Dain

Maroola, a Sulu from the island of

Balinini.

NINA

I know who you are. You came to trade

with my father.

DAIN

Yes, with the Master White, Master

Almayer. And your name is…

Nina walks majestically away and gets onto her sampan. She

starts to paddle home.

ON THE BANK, Dain laughs out loud, then moves quickly.

*****************************************************

The day that Nina is sexually awakened.

Do you remember yours?

Confessions of a Lover

2010-03-05T12:59:00.000+08:00

Excerpt from HANYUT’s Screenplay (English Version), A U-Wei bin HajiSaari film.

EXT. BULANGI'S CLEARING - NIGHT

ALMAYER

Do you know what is waiting for you if

you follow him? You'll be a plaything

and then a scorned slave, a drudge and

a servant, just a flight of fancy for

the man!

Nina raises her hands to stop her father from talking more.

NINA

Dain? Is it true?

We see Dain's silhouette.

DAIN

By god in heaven and earth! That is a

white man's lie. I give my soul to you.

I breathe with your breath, I see with

your eyes, I think with your mind and I

give you my heart forever.

Young Nina

2010-01-08T20:38:00.000+08:00

Nabilah Yasmin, auditioning for Young NIna.

Name: Nabilah Yasmin

Formal Training : Yes

Specilaisation : Animal acting

First gig : Stage Play ( as a squirrel)

To vote Nabilah go to Findingnina.com .

Finding NIna

2010-01-05T15:45:00.000+08:00

Maya Karin auditioning for Nina. More Casting videos can be found at findingnina.com

Casting is 65% of directing.

-John Frankenheimer, filmmaker

Finding the right person to do the right job, is critical for any type of work.

As far as filmmaking is concern, it could make or break a film.

Finding the right Nina, proves to be a challenging task, a very challenging task.

This girl got the look, but hasn't the soul.

That girl can act but not european enough.

This girl has the look, but cannot really act.

This Nina, is not just vital to the story telling, but vital for the bottom line as well.

Welcome to the Jungle

2010-01-04T17:57:00.000+08:00

The production team of Hanyut, 'scourging' the jungle of Kuala Lipis in order to find the perfect location to built the set of the film.

It is no easy task building the set in the jungle, but difficult it may seem, it is of necessity.

It is vital to the story telling, the set is part of the story, a big part of the story. It will not only give a glimpse of life in the early 19th century Kuala Lipis, but will set the mood, feel, and tone for the film as well.

more video here .

Lord of The River

2010-01-04T17:41:00.000+08:00

Sam Hobbs, the production designer is an Australian, but he looks like as if he was born at the Jelai riverside!

Talk about commitment and passion. Not to mention professionalism.

Making film is tough, that much I can tell you!

more photos and videos can be found at findingnina.com .

Where there is a river, there will be boats.

2010-01-04T16:53:00.000+08:00

Sam Hobbs (Production Designer) looking for boats and boat builders.

More info, more videos, just go to findingnina website.

Lesser Breed

2010-01-04T15:53:00.000+08:00

Almayer's Folly, is a tale of personal tragedy as well as broader meditation on the evils of colonialism.

Well, at least that is what is written on the back cover of the book. I am no expert on Conrad's, but I do believe that Nina, the character of the daughter in the novel is the product of the so called the evils of colonialism.

Nina is neither.

Neither Malay nor Caucasian.

Neither barbaric nor cultured.

Neither here nor there.

In the eyes of the villagers she is a 'mem', to the European, she is nothing more than a half breed. Half breed from a lesser womb. Therefore, she can never be one of them.

Nina is the legacy of colonialism, 'Crisis of Self-Concept'.

Perhaps.