Ep 21: Saw Teong Hin - Director, Producer & Writer [Puteri Gunung Ledang; Hai Ki Xin Lor (You Mean the World to Me)

Saw Teong Hin is an award-winning, Malaysian director, producer
and screenwriter for film, TV and theatre and was Louis Vuitton
Malaysia’s Generation Next (2003), was Tatler’s 100 People You
Must Know In Asia (2006), received the CHT Essence Art Award
(2009), was August Man, Men Of The Year (2017) and was Chinese
Film Association Malaysia Leading Film Industry Person
(2018). 





He is best known for his directorial debut of “Puteri Gunung
Ledang” (2004) - the first Malaysian submission for the Academy
Awards and the first Malaysian film invited to the Venice
International Film Festival. And his production company, Real
Films, provided production support for Ang Lee’s “Lust: Caution”,
produced the Sudirman-tribute musical film, “Hoore! Hoore!”
(2012) and the Penang Hokkien film “You Mean The World To
Me”(2017).





Childhood


Born in Georgetown, Penang in 1962, Teong grew up the youngest
son of six siblings. He later obtained a scholarship to study
double physics and mathematics at the National University of
Singapore; the first of his generation to head to
university. 





However, he never graduated. 





Teong Hin’s parents were incredibly understanding and encouraged
him to return as after he was kicked out of NUS, but the shame of
what had happened meant that he couldn’t do so and moved instead
to Kuala Lumpur.





Moving to Kuala Lumpur


Teong Hin started off couch surfing among his friends, before
landing a model gig for Shell. 





We then discussed:


How he ended up as a production assistant to Joe Hasham;

Learned the ropes as a production assistant before rising to
become a producer in 3 months; and

Set up his own company and made a name for himself in the TV
commercial and music video (e.g. KRU “Fanatik”) world.






Puteri Gunung Ledang


What really allowed Teong Hin to enter the public eye was with
his directorial debut of “Puteri Gunung Ledang” in 2004. But it
was hardly an easy journey.





We discussed:


How boredom pushed Teong Hin to spend the next 2 years trying
to break into the film industry as a director - but failed;

How he was on the verge of quitting when a phone call with
Tiara Jacqueline changed everything;

Why he changed the direction of the Puteri Gunung Ledang
script into that of a love story at 2am;

The pushback he received for being chosen as the director of
one of Malaysia’s largest film productions to date at the time;

What it was like directing the Puteri Gunung Ledang film;

His experience at the Venice Film Festival (hint: Johnny Depp
& Tom Cruise!); 

Why the success of Puteri Gunung Ledang backfired on him; and

How Mi Fang (Astro at the time) & a feng shui master
changed his fortunes!






You Mean the World To Me (Hai Ki Xin Lor)


In 2009, Teong Hin began writing a semi-autobiography of his
life. A script that was written as a tribute to his now deceased
mother. 





Teong Hin faced a lot of pushback, with many asking why he would
be willing to air his dirty laundry. But Teong Hin persevered and
we discussed:


Why Hai Ki Xin Lor first debuted as a stage performance
during the Georgetown Festival;

The storm that threw everything into chaos on the eve of the
performance;

The reception he received from viewers & also family
members;

What it was like filming the silver screen version of Hai Ki
Xin Lor; 

The impact that the film had on moviegoers;

Whether he would’ve still proceeded to create the film
version if his family had been strongly opposed to its
production;

Whether Teong Hin found his “voice” with Hai Ki Xin Lor;

Whether he would do anything differently






Other Things We Talked About


Being the creative director for opening (19 Aug) &
closing ceremonies of 2017 Southeast Asian Games 

Impact of COVID on his life and career;

The challenges of creating a regional film directing
career; 

Whether it’s important to move to other locations to obtain
“better” career opportunities; 

Teong Hin’s advice for those seeking to break into the
industry. 






Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/21