Documentary ProposalName: LEE SWEET WANStudent ID: 2014050053

Subject: Documentary & Short FilmSemester: 5

Lecturer: Ahmad Ibrahim

Title: Malaysia “The King Of Fruits” – Durian

Synopsis:

The name durian comes from the Malay word duri (which mean thorn). Add the suffix -an and you have a noun in Malay. The word durian usually refers to the fruit but it can also mean the durian pulp or flesh (technically called arils) that we eat, and also to the tree.

The Durian is a fruit formed by the Malvaceae, a plant which is in the same family as the hibiscus, okra, and cotton tree family. This fruit is widely known and used in Southeast Asia. The Asians consider this to be the King of Fruits because of its distinctive size, odour, and husk. You may be surprised to learn that the Durian was named to mean thorny fruit. There are actually thirty species of the Durian in Southeast Asia although only nine of these species are edible. The Durian is a nutty sweet fruit and the outer portion of the fruit is a thorny husk with a meaty inside. 

The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

The Durian is rich with history and legends. Part of the history of this fruit includes a quote from Alfred Russell Wallace, a British naturalist in 1856. He said the fruit was custard in colour with an almond flavour. If you go back even further you will find that during prehistoric times in Southeast Asia this fruit to be consumed by the native people. From the prehistoric age references in the 15th century on through to the 1700's it is possible to tell that there has been interest in this particular fruit. A German botanist provided some of the most accurate descriptions of the fruit and its tastes. He also created the taxonomy of the genius Durio for later generations. 

Duration: 25 minutes

Languages: English

Media: TV, Online Platforms such as YouTube

Target Audience: Malaysian of all ages, Visitors

Objective: For the knowledge of local and overseas people on The King Of Fruits – Durian

Treatment:

Location: Sim Koe Yen the durian tunggal dam in Malacca, Malaysia, Jonker Street in Malaccca, Malaysia.

Actor: Durian Tunggal Dam Owner, Visitors

Extras: The workers in the Durian Tunggal Dam, visitors

Equipment use: Normal video camera 2, Neewer Portable Film Maker System with Camera/Camcorder Mount Slider, Soft Rubber Shoulder Pad and Dual-hand Handgrip For All DSLR Video Cameras, 1 LED light

Days for shooting: 2 days

Impact of the film: Since some of the people think that Durian smell like hell so they never try it but they don’t know that it taste like heaven. Therefore, this is on a purpose for attracting them to have a try through knowing more about it.

Scene by scene:

Scene 1: Showing some animation on where durian comes from and also durian season

The island of Borneo is generally accepted as the original geographic origin and center of diversity of the genus Durio.

It has been reported that Durio has about 27 recognized species.  The island of Borneo has 19 indigenous or native species of Durio while the island of Sumatra has 7 native species. Peninsular Malaysia has 11 species. Myanmar has 2 recognized species indigenous to the country. It was also hypothesized that a land bridge connected Palawan in the Philippines with Borneo during the pleistocene era with D. zibethinus L. found occurring naturally on Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago as well as Palawan. 

West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia) has two fruiting seasons because durian is grown in different localities affected by either the north-east or south-west monsoon or both.

The durian growing areas in West Malaysia can be divided into 3 regions influenced by the monsoons and the change from wet to dry weather and the effect of a dry spell. 

East Malaysia’s (Sarawak and Sabah) main durian season straddles across June through August and Sabah has a small one in November-December. Both states do not export their crop as they are mainly consumed locally. 

Scene 2: The growing process of Durian

Durian is origin from Malaysia, most of the Durian tree has more than 20 meters high. There are also a few low trunk. Durian tree can grow for fifty or sixty years, and also it has a different characteristics from general short growing season tropical fruits, it grows 15 years after the beginning of the results. The results will be showing once or twice a year, it takes 3 months for it to get mature. It was brought to the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, China. Now the highest yield is in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

After showing all the process, will have an interview session with the owner of the durian tunggal dam.

Scene 3: Showing the reaction of visitors in Jonker Street to durian and durians’ foods.

Some common uses of the Durian fruit include milkshakes, Yule Logs, cappuccinos, rice, and other Asian dishes. It will depend upon the type of Durian that is used for the different items listed. Some are not available to eat, but others can be used to make dishes like Tempoyak.

Some nutritional and medical information demonstrates that the fruit contains a high amount of sugar, vitamin C, potassium, and tryptophan. It is considered a great rave food. In Malaysia the leaves and roots have been used as antipyretic and the leaf juice is often applied to the head of a fever patient to reduce the fever and help the patient return to normal health again. Other uses and impressions come from Chinese medicine. The Durian fruit is considered to have warming properties and cause sweating. Those who have high blood pressure or are pregnant are not supposed to have the Durian fruit as it is supposed to be hazardous to their health due to these warming effects. Another belief is that Durian is harmful when you eat it with coffee or alcoholic beverages. In other words the Chinese legend says that you should never have those things combined. An 18th century theory is that indigestion and bad breath will result from eating this type of fruit. Another legend tells you not to eat the Durian fruit when consuming brandy as it can be poisonous to your health. 

Therefore, we will have an interview session with some of the visitors who trying the durian’s foods in Jonker Street. They have to react and tell us how they feel after having the durian’s food. Why is it must be in Jonker Street? It’s because one of the famous Durian puff located at there.

Quotation breakdown:

Scripts and Ideas (Scriptwriter): RM 5000

Producer: RM 3000

Director: RM 15000

Production Manager: RM 6000

Make Up Artist: RM 2500

Art Director: RM 4000

Runner: RM 2000

Technical Team (DP, Assistant Cam, Gaffer, Grip): RM 6500

Cost & Materials (recce and petrol fees): RM 1000

Catering (Food - 20 per head per day, Drink – 30 bottles per day): RM 800

Equipment rental: RM 3000

Editing: RM 5000

Van: RM 360

Insurance: RM 200

Sponsor: RM 25000

Total: RM 54360 – RM 25000 (Sponsor) = RM 29360