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Local hit 'Comic 8' to return with more explosions
After the action-comedy film Comic 8 became the most-viewed movie in Indonesia this year, plans are afoot to make a sequel to be released in 2015
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fter the action-comedy film Comic 8 became the most-viewed movie in Indonesia this year, plans are afoot to make a sequel to be released in 2015.
Shooting on the new movie, titled Comic 8: Casino Kings, started last week ' with a larger cast, more explosions, and, as a consequence, a bigger budget.
Director Anggy Umbara said that producers from Falcon Pictures were willing to invest more than Comic 8's budget of Rp 6 billion (US$495,000) based on the success of the first movie.
'It started with a story idea that developed as we progressed. We want this movie to be better than the first in terms of story and technical things. The viewers will find Casino Kings twice as funny, with three times more action and four times more success in bringing people to the cinema,' Anggy said at a ceremony to mark the start of production last week.
The critically acclaimed Comic 8 was a phenomenon in the local film scene, featuring famous stand-up comedians who wrote and starred in the movie.
The headline cast of 25 comedians, actors and actresses included Pandji Pragiwaksono, Ernest Prakasa, Indro Warkop, Mongol, Kemal Palevi, Arie Kriting, Babe Cabiita, Fico Fachriza, Nirina Zubir, Boy William, Laila Sari and Henky Solaiman.
The story, laden with humorous social criticism, revolved around eight young men united by their intention of robbing a bank. The film has been screened at several international film festivals and exhibition rights were bought by HBO Asia.
For Casino Kings, the cast will be at least 50, including veteran action movie stars Barry Prima, George Rudy and Willy Dozan.
Award-winning actress Prisia Nasution, Sophia Latjuba, Hannah Al Rasyid and Lydia Kandau as well as actors Donny Alamsyah and Ray Sahetapy have roles.
'We started casting in February. We hope we can meet the expectations of Comic 8 fans,' said Frederica, the sequel's producer.
Cast members have started practicing martial arts and weapons training, which they say has come easy for most of them.
'No problem for me. I've know my way around martial art,' comic Arie Kriting said.
Sophia, who suffered a knee injury during practice, is a yoga practitioner; while Prisia and Hannah both hold black belts in pencak silat.
'The duel between Prisia and Hannah will be worth watching,' Anggy said.
In the sequel, Prisia is set to play a Interpol officer from Singapore investigating illegal gambling in Indonesia.
'It will be my first action movie. Since I have a background in martial arts, I just realized during the practice how I missed flip and tumble,' said Prisia.
Unlike as in the first movie, Anggy plans to shoot using EPIC and Phantom Flex cameras and to use DJI Ronin three-axis handheld camera gimbals for a better cinematic experience.
An aerial camera will also be used to shoot a scene of an exploding helicopter, he said. 'The scene will be partly using computer-generated image ' but we will blow up three to four cars for real.'
Anggy, who was previously in advertising, drew his artistic team from commercial video makers.
'They work in details, just the way I want it. I want the settings to be perfect.'
The shoot is slated for 30 days in Greater Jakarta and West Java.
Dispelling belief that Casino Kings might fall prey to the formulaic 'the bigger, the better' formula for a sequel, Anggy said that it would set a new benchmark.
'New cast must have basic skills of shooting and martial arts to join. We have already prepared stories for the Comic 8 series and spin-offs for main characters.'
