Speaking to Bernama, Afdlin, who was appointed an adjunct professor at Universiti Utara Malaysia in June, said the association can serve as a medium for exchanging views and gaining knowledge on the correct methods of making films from more experienced filmmakers.
"Honestly, I am delighted to see many new ideas coming from young directors because they bring fresh perspectives and, unintentionally, challenge the veteran directors to be more open-minded, which for me is good.
"However, young directors need to learn from the experiences of older directors on how to complete a film by joining PFM so that they can network with other directors... no one can become skilled on their own," he said.
He also discouraged learning through YouTube as he felt it was incompatible with this country's working methods.
Afdlin, who is also Film Directors Association of Malaysia chairman, said filmmakers also need to equip themselves with fundamental theoretical knowledge, which is important and can contribute to the success of a film.
Afdlin, who acted in and directed the blockbuster film 'Papadom', believes that theoretical aspects are often overlooked by newcomers, ultimately affecting the quality of their work.
"If they are educated and experienced, they will be able to produce a good product because some of them have great ideas but then, they don't know the value and intricacies of a good production, so they take shortcuts where they see fit.
"The problem is when everyone thinks they can be a director or producer. They want the title of producer or director but don't understand the scope of work involved because they just want the title. It is not just about directing people; you need to understand the language of cinema, the meaning of camera movements and so on," he added.
-- BERNAMA
