Directing Racing Film 'TERBANG' Was a Major Challenge – Chiu Kicks: Too Exhausting, Won't Do It Again

Racing scenes may look like just a few short seconds on screen, but behind the scenes, half a day could be spent just preparing! Malaysian director Chiu Kicks (Chiu) took on his first racing film, 'TERBANG', and admitted that the filming process was much harder than he had imagined. Every stage tested the team, from car scheduling, safety control to weather changes. Racing not only burns money, but also consumes a massive amount of time and energy, prompting him to joke: “I probably won’t be making a sports-type film again anytime soon, because it’s just too exhausting.”

On the night of the 29th, Chiu led the film’s stars Irfan Zaini, Zizan Razak, Shweta Sekhon, Diana Danielle, Mikael Noah, Luqman Hafidz and Nam Ron at a press conference to announce that 'TERBANG' will premiere throughout Malaysia on September 17, and also unveiled the official poster and trailer. Speaking about the film’s imminent release, he admitted his feelings are “very complicated”. Although the production is finished, the transition from creation to actually facing the audience still leaves him feeling uneasy.

'TERBANG' is adapted from the true experiences of legendary Malaysian rally driver Karamjit Singh, marking Chiu’s second time bringing a Malaysian legend to the big screen after 'Ola Bola'. He shared that he was deeply moved by the story: “I think this is a source of pride for our country and should be recorded on film as an honor.” He revealed that the choice to release the film on September 17 is also meaningful, as it falls close to Malaysia Day. He hopes to dedicate the work to Malaysia and Malaysians, so that more people can know this proud chapter in history.

However, working behind the scenes of a racing movie was far from easy. Chiu revealed that a single racing turn shot might only last 2 seconds, but it could take the crew half a day to set up. “If the car isn’t fast enough, the shot isn’t exciting; but after each shot, everyone and everything has to be reset.” Add in weather, safety and other factors, and the entire filming process was full of pressure.

In addition to Malaysian locations, 'TERBANG' also went to New Zealand for racing scenes. Chiu joked: “New Zealand is very expensive.” He explained that filming procedures there are extremely strict, with staff precisely calculating time—everything from meals to breaks is regulated—keeping him under pressure the whole time, although he highly praised the professionalism of the local crew. Regarding the budget, he said 'TERBANG' is considered a high-budget production by Malaysian film standards, but compared to international racing blockbusters it still falls far short; the budget is less than one-tenth of theirs. Even so, the team still hopes to tell a local Malaysian story, in a Malaysian way.