17 Apr – Budding director Syamsul Yusof encountered what might be box office snag when his latest flick "Bohsia: Jangan Pilih Jalan Hitam" is slapped with an 18PL rating by local censors in Malaysia. Famous for his RM 4.5 million success with the U-rated "Evolusi KL Drift" last year, the son of prominent filmmaker Datuk Yusof Haslam however does not appear too bothered about the movie's classification. Speaking at a press conference for "Bohsia" in GSC Mid Valley lately, Syamsul held: "The 18PL classification for this movie has been expected ever since I completed the movie. When we submitted it to the censorship board and they saw the explicit content, we were given two options – get the U with cuts or get the 18PL but without cuts. I went with the risk of 18PL because I wanted to protect the originality of the story. I don't want to ruin even the smallest bit of the dialogue or action scene just for the sake of getting the U classification." He added: "The movie is obviously based on how these people talk and behave – it has to be realistic to fit in the movie's genre. I can't imagine watching the movie with cuts here and there. Consequently, it would only spoil the movie's flow as a whole."
When pressed to concede the possibility of his second film not being able to reach the same box office heights as "KL Drift" due to the 18PL rating, Syamsul refused to be pessimistic about its prospects. According to the ex-lover of actress Diana Danielle, study has shown that a major percentage of cinema attendance comes from the above-18 groups. As a director, I have put in my best efforts to ensure this film is not only value for money but also contains a positive message. Meanwhile, his producer father Datuk Yusof Haslam also responded positively: "I strongly believe in his work. Film business is unpredictable. Classification alone doesn't determine the success or failure of a movie in the market. As filmmakers, if we offer the audience a good film, I believe that the audience would come to the cinema. At this stage I hope for the best support from our audience, especially the young ones. Like I said earlier, the final say on the film's collection is not us - it's absolutely up to the audience now." Aside from Syamsul Yusof, "Bohsia" also sees the line-up of young talents such as Nabila Huda, Salina Saibi, Shaheizy Sam, Aaron Aziz, Diana Danielle, Nasir Bilal Khan, Lando Zawawi and Adam Corrie among others. Opening in 60 cinemas nationwide plus another three in Singapore, the RM 1.5 million "Bohsia: Jangan Pilih Jalan Hitam" is Skop Productions' 24th title and Syamsul's second film. It is co-produced by Skop Productions Sdn Bhd and Grand Brilliance Sdn Bhd. "Bohsia: Jangan Pilih Jalan Hitam" is slated for release in Singapore and Malaysia this 23 April 2009.