With its witty remarks and humorous melody, the music video ‘We Are BIG’ garnered over 40,000 views within days of its upload on the O2 Cinematics YouTube channel. The video, which showcases the elements of Sarawak, has captured the attention of many people while instilling a sense of pride in those who have watched it.
Capturing the essence of Sarawak
The “We are BIG” music video has become a favourite among many Sarawakians after receiving over 42,000 views on YouTube in just three days of being uploaded.
The song and music video, produced by O2 Cinematics and directed by Chai Koh Khai, aims to highlight the elements of Sarawak while also making witty remarks about what it means to be a Sarawakian.
Chai, a self-taught filmmaker, said the production featured Sarawak’s stunning natural beauty, developed cities, cultural diversity and unity among the people, native food, and other unique characteristics of the state.
“We also joked about what non-Sarawakians thought of us!”
Chai said the team spent seven days filming the music video across three different locations in Sarawak, namely Kuching, Sibu, and Miri.
He also said that it took the team six months to complete the music video, from initial concept development to planning and shooting, then going through intensive post-production work.
The most challenging part of making the video, he said, was that “WE ARE REALLY THAT BIG,” referring to the extensive travel required by the team to complete it.
Sharing further, Oliver Wong and Oliver Kiing, co-founders of O2 Cinematics, revealed that their main challenge was coordinating multiple locations and obtaining permission to shoot in certain areas.
“Additionally, capturing the essence of Sarawak’s cultural diversity in a concise music video format required careful planning and creativity,” they added.
For the love of Sarawak
The song, sponsored by Doremart, was created and uploaded in conjunction with Sarawak Day, which took place on July 22.
The four-minute video, composed by Rooy Ang and choreographed by Malaysian video production group 3P’s Danny Lee, was a thrilling adventure for the team.
Five talents — Oliver Wong, Christopher Kho, Amanda Lo, Alfred Ho, and Riona Chung — had all signed up without hesitation for their love of Sarawak.
Recalling their journey, Wong said that his most memorable moment was while visiting 35 different places between Kuching, Sibu, and Miri; for him, it was an opportunity to get to know Sarawak better and discover beauty beyond the architecture.
For radio announcer Kho, What impressed him the most was the team’s race against time, given they all had busy schedules and time constraints.
His most memorable memory throughout the filming, though, is being drenched by rain.
“Our shooting plan had been thrown off by heavy rain on the first day. The director then spontaneously added a scene in which I had to be drenched in water. It was pouring and quite cold that day, but the end result was stunning.”
For dancer-singer Ho, the entire production process was equally memorable.
Having grown up as a performer, he said that he never imagined he would have the opportunity to represent Sarawak by delivering an amazing masterpiece.
“I’d like to thank O2 and the team for the opportunity to participate in this project. Everything, from listening to the demo, recording, dancing practise to actual footage shooting, was something to remember for a lifetime. We got to travel around Sarawak, and I must say, Sarawak is beautiful!”
Another memorable moment for him was getting to dance with his sister, HITZ FM radio announcer Lanny Ho, during the video production.
Meanwhile, Chung, 25, described the entire experience as “fun and happening.”
Travelling around Sarawak has made her appreciate how beautiful the state is, and she hopes that more people will see it through their music video.
“The sky is something I’m particularly proud of as a Sarawakian. Every time I return to Sarawak, I notice that the sky is far more blue and calming. Friends from West Malaysia told me that it is uncommon to see different races and religions gather in one place at the same time. Our food is also the best!”
Lastly, radio announcer Lo recalled how she felt on the final day of filming the video during the Rainforest World Music Festival’s rehearsal.
“… the scene in which all of the members and our dancers danced together. Behind us was the Sarawak flag, accompanied by spectacular stage lights. It was a lot of fun shooting that scene!
“As a Sarawakian, I believe that multi-racial society deserves to be carried forward. I’m proud of how we live together, tolerate each other, and share our cultural values,” she added.
The shoot at the Rainforest World Music Festival
Among the many scenes taken, the one at the recent Rainforest World Music Festival stood out the most.
According to video director Chai, the shot was taken the evening before the event, during their rehearsal.
“Our biggest challenge was that, despite having authorisation to shoot there, we couldn’t access the sound or play our music. On the stage, bands were running sound checks. During the sound check, just as I was worried over how to shoot a music video without music, all 30 dancers and five talents began to dance along to At Adau’s song. It was definitely a touching moment when everyone was attempting to make the shot happen,” he said.
About O2 Cinematics
An online content creator based in Sarawak, O2 Cinematics was formed in 2016 by Oliver Wong and Oliver Kiing, both of whom shared a passion for creating cinematic-style videos.
“Our initial focus was on producing captivating videos that explored the diverse beauty of Sarawak’s landscapes and culture. As time passed, we developed a passion for promoting Sarawak’s food and travel experiences through our videos.”
Producing a variety of videos, including cinematic travel vlogs, food reviews and cultural showcases, O2 Cinematics has released over 200 videos on its YouTube channel.
“To ensure smooth production, we share responsibilities as a team. Wong primarily hosts the video, while Kiing is in charge of research, scriptwriting, and managing our social media presence. There is also an editing team and a marketing team.”
O2 Cinematics will not rest on its laurels after the success of its ‘We Are BIG’ music video.
In order to preserve the state’s culture and heritage, the co-founders revealed that there are more exciting projects planned for the future.
“We intend to keep promoting Sarawak through captivating cinematic and music videos that highlight various aspects of the state, including its lesser-known destinations, cultural events, and traditional cuisines.
“Additionally, we hope to work with other content creators and local artists to create innovative and engaging content that showcases Sarawak’s charm to the rest of the world. Our ultimate goal is to continue inspiring people to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of our beloved Sarawak,” they added.
