Our Expertise Is No Less Than Hollywood's, Says Tiara Jacquelina

Tiara Jacquelina, a prominent figure in Malaysian entertainment, reflected on her early career when she landed roles in the 1994 Hollywood production 'Beyond Rangoon.' Directed by John Boorman, the film brought Hollywood to Malaysia, offering local talent a chance to shine.

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The director, John, came to Malaysia to find actors. I was aspiring to act in Hollywood films at the time, so as soon as I heard Boorman was looking for local talent, I immediately went for the audition.

Jacquelina, then in her 20s, seized the opportunity to audition, seeing it as a unique chance to break into Hollywood without leaving her home country. Her audition impressed Boorman, leading to her being cast in two distinct speaking roles within the same film. She played a receptionist in one scene and a student protester named San San in another, showcasing her versatility.

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At that time, I considered it a very good opportunity because we didn't have to fly to Hollywood; they came to Malaysia. So, without thinking twice, I immediately seized the opportunity.

Witnessing the local crew's dedication and skill in building sets for the international film profoundly impacted Jacquelina. She observed that Malaysian crews possessed expertise comparable to their Hollywood counterparts, often working on both local and international projects. This realization fueled her ambition to one day produce an epic film that would prominently feature and rely on Malaysian talent as its backbone.

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I was fortunate to be given two roles in the same film. If you watch the film, you will see me playing the role of a receptionist in one scene, while in another scene I played another role, San San, one of the students participating in a large protest against the government. So, you can see me playing different roles in the film, and both characters have dialogue.

Her experience on 'Beyond Rangoon' also provided valuable insights into the professional treatment afforded to local actors by international productions, which she noted differed significantly from the standards on local film sets at the time. This exposure solidified her belief in the potential of Malaysian filmmaking.

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My involvement in that film opened my mind when I saw local people working to build film sets for a Hollywood film. Our expertise is no less than Hollywood's. These are the same people who create film sets for local films.