A MALAYSIAN-STYLE LOVE STORY
Jinnyboy TV has a new-found passion for making annual feature films in collaboration with tonton. DENNIS CHUA has the story
VIDEOMAKERS Jin Lim and Reuben Kang, a.k.a. Jinnyboy TV, plan to produce annual feature films in collaboration with video streaming service tonton.
The duo has been encouraged by support for their first film By MY Side, made possible with tonton’s help.
It premiered last Saturday in conjunction with Malaysia Day, and is running for two weeks at TGV cineplexes nationwide.
By MY Side, a love story between childhood friends, was shot two months ago in the Klang Valley and Terengganu, with the support of tonton general manager Loh Ben Jern.
Lim said: “We’ve just toured four colleges to promote By MY Side, and more than 1,000 students came to show their support.
“They gave their thumbs up, saying it was a true reflection of friendship, Malaysian style and a celebration of 1Malaysia.”
Kang said they enjoyed their first-time experience producing and directing a film, largely because they had first-timers forming the bulk of the cast and they were all committed.
“Since we enjoyed it so much, we’ve been encouraged to make a film a year for fans.”
Asked about the type of films they planned to make, executive producer Lim and director Kang will do “extensions” of their hilarious Malaysian stories found on their Jinnyboy TV YouTube channel.
Lim said: “For starters, every film will be cameo-rich, our typical trait. Just like By MY Side, we will squeeze in as many cameos as possible: actors, television hosts, directors, producers and even sportsmen.”
Kang added: “We are pleased with By MY Side’s hero, Fly FM announcer Brandon Ho. He did a fantastic job in his first film.”
Kang played a friend of Ho’s named Tim.
Expressing gratitude to tonton for giving their film full support, Lim said the video streaming service’s creative team shared many ideas on how to improve By MY Side’s script.
“Without them, we would not have seen our story take off.”
Jinnyboy spent two months filming the 90-minute film, which is inspired by their teenage years in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
With a 30-member cast, By MY Side has Ho and Ola Bola actress Marianne Tan playing childhood pals and lovers Ben and Faye.
Ho thanked Jinnyboy for giving him his big break in acting, adding that he loved the film.
Tan thanked Jinnyboy for making her character representative of Malaysian women.
“Faye is someone I am familiar with in terms of experience. She fitted me like a glove!”
Formed in 2012, Jinnyboy TV has produced dozens of hit-generating videos, which include Oppa KL Style and Ah Wing, Malaysia’s Number One Salesman.