Yusof back with new cop drama

 

Veteran filmmaker Datuk Yusof Haslam is back in the director's seat with a new drama series about his favorite topic, the Royal Malaysia Police.

Admitting that it is not easy to produce a drama or film about the "boys in blue",  he has always found stories about their work "interesting or challenging."

"Police screen each of my actors very strictly. The stringent conditions they set are normal, and I do not see it as a burden on my production company Skop Productions Sdn Bhd," said Yusof in a recent interview with 'Berita Harian'.

"Anyone who wants to make a story about police officers must comply with the conditions set.

"Before filming, the production company must send photos and profiles of the actors to the police headquarters in Bukit Man for evaluation.

"This procedure is not new, on the contrary, since the time I directed the drama 'Gerak Khas'," said Yusof at the recent launch of his latest drama series Polis Peronda at Sri Pentas in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.

Present were the chief executive officer (CEO) of Media Prima Television Networks (MPTN) and Primeworks Studios (PWS) Nini Yusof, Yusof's son, producer, and director Syafiq Yusof, and the cast members Shah Iskander, Puteri Sarah Liyana, Ramona Zam Zam, Raja Afiq and Soffwany Yusof.

Yusof said veteran actress Erra Fazira and veteran actor Datuk AC Rizal also had to go through the same procedures and it was not a problem with them.

They both starred in 'Gerak Khas' during its earlier seasons in the 1990s.

"In addition to not allowing the image of the police to be tarnished, the conditions set by the police are aimed at avoiding any subsequent controversies.

"When I produced 'Gerak Khas' more than a decade ago, there were actors who played the role of law enforcers who were rejected because they had a criminal record.

"The police have their data and because of this, they get to know the background of the artiste."

Yusof said some actors had to be dropped from police dramas and films because they had been involved in criminal or court cases.

"The police do not want actors with images that are not squeaky clean. Getting such actors to appear in dramas has implications for them.

"They need to ensure that every actor is free from controversy, including not being involved in drug abuse."

Yusof, who also produced blockbuster films 'Sembilu' and 'Sembilu 2', said he had been advised by his daughter, producer Syamin Yusof, not to produce police dramas anymore and to "take a break" from them.

"However, I have refused to let my legacy disappear and due to the request of many fans, I have decided to continue producing police procedural dramas because coming up with such manuscripts is my lifelong passion," he said.

"I will not retire from producing police dramas. Even though my son is the chief executive officer, I have used my veto power to produce 'Polis Peronda' as it is a fresh, new look at our heroes in blue.

"After all, many people ask, when I do want to produce a police-related drama after 'Gerak Khas'? That legacy needs to be continued because I have been working on it for decades," he said.

Produced by Skop Productions, 'Polis Peronda' has Yusof as the director, in addition to Syafiq and C. Kumaresan as co-directors.