A good friend of mine just had one of his songs allegedly stolen by some international artistes. I will not rest until I get to the bottom of this.
Well, actually, I will rest soon. I need some sleep.
Framkly, I have had enough. Creative people in this country are treated like shit. Since I'm the most creative motherfucker ever, that goes double for me.
Years ago, in my dying days as a reporter, I was approached by some actors, wanting to do a guild of sorts. A professional union like in other countries.
They were really gung ho about it, because the rights of creative people were being trampled on.
As the greatest journalist ever, I did what any greatest journalist ever would do. I stood by and waited for them to do something. I cannot interfere. I was Uatu, the Watcher. I can't delve in the matters of mortals, or the Celestials would come and kick my ass. They never did do anything.
Fast forward a few years later, I heard some dudes who wanted the guild are now fishing. I mean, literally. Fishing.
They got no work. Cause people thought of them as trouble-makers. Jimmy Hoffa wannabes.
I also was a freelance scriptwriter, and perhaps still am. I tried to start a screenwriters' guild.
A few things stood in my way.
1. Writers are not aggressive.
They're meek and mild and polite. Especially in Malaysia. They are mostly willing to settle for scraps and abuse from anyone. Some of us get paid, poorly, if at all. SOme, are just used and abused.
Fuck creative independence. Fuck creative rights. Fuck getting paid on time.
The apathy was the one that killed it. That, and my own apathy.
2. Rules
Laws and regulations in Malaysia are a bit anti-union. I found out from some people, don't know if this is true, but MSC-status companies can't deal with unions.
Fuck MSC. Fuck all of you motherfuckers.
The existing associations are set-up by people who should not set them up. Producers should not set-up and be union leaders of screen actors and writers and lighting men and whatever else.
As much as your boss, or whoever in management can't be union leaders of your workforce. You can't have that. It's called conflict of interest.
Okay, so I tried and failed. Boo fucking hoo. I still have hopes of establishing a scripting house, as a start. Be a charter and piggy-back on any association that would have us.
Now, I'm in the Press. Again. If you have grouses with your unions or lack thereof, especially concerning the creative industry, come to me.
Let me tell you a bit about reality. The two most powerful Gods in this world are not the Christian Allah or Eloheim. It's money and Makcik Bedah Mulut Jubur.
Basically, money and people's perception.
People who have money, or organisations that have money, do not want you to take their money or your money. Especially your money.
And there's a lot of money in the creative industry. We're talking billions. A piece of that pie - a secured piece - is not too much to ask.
So you need to become bigger and take what's yours.
They can be bigger than you and bigger than me, but they can't be bigger than you AND me. Can you dig it?
Dy-no-mite! Dy-no-mite!
Ehhh... nothing will come out of this. But who gives a shit?
I failed before. I didn't die. I'm still here, motherfucker. Still saying, 'fuck the free world'!
