STEPPING behind the camera for her directorial debut was always going to be a steep learning curve for Liyana Jasmay — and choosing horror for her first film brought a wholly different set of challenges.
At 38, Liyana is far more accustomed to being in front of the camera, having spent years establishing herself as an actor.
The singer and producer first entered the entertainment industry as a child actor in 1997.
She achieved widespread recognition and critical acclaim for her roles in films like 'KAMI The Movie' and 'Papadom', the latter earning her Best Actress at the 2009 Malaysian Film Festival.
Directing 'Pemuja Syaitan', however, required her to take responsibility for every single aspect of the production and focus on the bigger picture.
"This is my first experience directing a film and there were so many things I learned throughout the filming process.
"As an actor, we usually focus on our own character, but as a director, I had to look at the entire production, including the acting, camera, storyline, the emotions in every scene and how everything can come together."
NEWBIE DIRECTOR
The transition proved particularly demanding because horror is a genre where fear cannot simply be manufactured through sudden scares.
For Liyana, the real test was creating an atmosphere that would draw audiences in.
"A horror film has its own challenges because we don't just want to shock the audience. We want them to enter the world of the story and feel the fear experienced by the characters."
"That meant there were many things I had to think about on set, including how a particular scene should be performed so that the emotions and atmosphere could reach the audience."
If making the movie was a new test in itself, filming on location in Cherating, Pahang, added an extra layer of mystery.
Liyana says several strange incidents occurred at the site, which had been abandoned.
These unexplainable events were felt not just by her, but also her sister and the production crew.
The team had already been warned about the state of the location, an area rarely visited even by locals.
Even so, experiencing strange occurrences while filming a horror movie naturally put everyone on edge.
"There were several incidents during filming. The location we used had been abandoned for a long time and even the villagers rarely went into the area.
"So, when we arrived to shoot there, we had already been told about the condition of the place. What happened afterwards made us even more careful."
STRANGE ENCOUNTERS
One particular incident left a lasting impression on Liyana.
The Kuantan-born mother of two claims that an unsettling feeling followed her off the set.
"I experienced something quite frightening myself. I saw something like a black figure, perhaps a 'hantu raya', and it felt as if it followed me all the way back to the hotel."
Rather than letting fear take over, Liyana turned to her faith to stay calm.
"I prayed and recited the Quran. After that, I tried to practise certain recitations as often as possible and not think too much about what had happened."
Despite the eerie occurrences, Liyana never thought about stopping production.
"I didn't want us to focus on things like that because when we talk about them too much, we can end up becoming even more afraid.
"So I chose to act as though nothing had happened and continued focusing on the filming. What mattered was that everyone took care of themselves and made their own preparations."
PROTECTING CAST AND CREW
As a precaution, the production team brought in an ustaz (religious teacher).
Even so, Liyana made sure to remind the cast and crew to not let their guard down.
"I told everyone to be prepared. Even though an ustaz was with us, we still had to take our own steps to protect ourselves."
The ustaz advised the team to keep their focus on filming while maintaining their religious practices.
For Liyana, the experience taught her one of the most valuable lessons of directing.
"As a director, I have to think about everyone. It's not just about the film, but also the condition of the actors and crew.
"This is my first film as a director, so there are many experiences I will carry with me into future projects."
UNSETTLING REALITY
Liyana also revealed an even creepier dimension to the shoot.
"In the film, audiences can see for themselves a scene where one of the actors was genuinely 'possessed'.
At the time, the actor was acting but was also already possessed.
"I'm confident audiences will be able to feel that aura because when I was editing the film, I could feel that there was 'something' within the actor."
Whether seen as genuine paranormal encounters or simply part of the superstitious lore that often surrounds horror films, 'Pemuja Syaitan' has given Liyana far more than her first credit as director.
It has tested her leadership, storytelling and sense of responsibility.
Produced by Mermaid Studios in collaboration with Suraya Filem Production & Distribution, 'Pemuja Syaitan' stars Zul Ariffin, Elizabeth Tan, Nadhir Nasar and Aila Azizul.
The film follows a group of school-leavers who reunite in their coastal hometown island.
Their nostalgic gathering takes a dark and terrifying turn after they dig up an old time capsule, accidentally triggering dark rituals, rising tensions and long-buried secrets.
'Pemuja Syaitan' screens in cinemas nationwide from Oct 15.
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