No ‘gov’t interference’ expected on LKY film: producer
The executive producer of an upcoming film about a young Mr Lee Kuan Yew does not expect to see any "interference" from the government on the portrayal of the former Singapore leader.
"If there is any interference, it won't be the 'interference' people might think it is because we're not re-writing history. We're looking at documented facts," said veteran Singaporean film-maker and producer Daniel Yun of the planned film, 1965, The Beginning.
"The spine of the film is really about the small moments of the characters and how their lives have changed, so if there might be any interference, it may be other things that in any other movie we would face," he added.
Yun, who is the former CEO of MediaCorp's Raintree Pictures -- famed for such local hits as Home Run -- also emphasized that it is not a political film and it is not under the endorsement of the Singapore government or anyone from the Lee family.
He told local newspaper Today: "I personally have faith in MDA that they will look at this film as they would any other commercial film."
1965, The Beginning is a historical drama that examines the ideas of home and identity during the year that Singapore gained independence from Malaysia, an event that Mr Lee had a big role in bringing about. It is being co-produced by Yun's own movie production company Homerun Asia and China's Zonbo Media.
The movie, which has a budget of S$6 million, will be shot in Singapore, Malaysia and China and will be released in August 2012.
On rumours that Hong Kong thespian Tony Leung has been approached to play the role of Mr Lee, neither Yun nor 1965 writer-director Lee Thean-jeen confirmed or denied the reports.
"When I was writing the character, the only person I had in mind was Mr Lee Kuan Yew," said Lee, who added that "I really wouldn't pass up the chance to work with Tony Leung."
What is certain is that acclaimed Hong Kong director Peter Chan, who was recently in Singapore to promote his new movie Wu Xia, has confirmed he will be a consultant for the movie and would be overseeing 1965's production, reported The Straits Times.
Local talents are going to be roped in as well. Famous songwriters Lee Wai Shiong and Lee Shih Shiong will do the score for the film, while local fashion designer Lai Chan will be in charge of set and costume design.
