Malaysia’s Award-winning Producer Sean Lin collaborates with Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to drive sustainability message

Celebrated Malaysian film producer, Sean Lin, is collaborating with the Malaysia Pavilion to deliver the country’s message for a progressive sustainable future, at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The 30 year-old’s award-winning music video ‘Birthplace’ will be featured at the Malaysia Pavilion throughout the Expo from Oct 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, delivering a powerful message on the need to protect the ecosystem for the survival of people and planet.

The video will also be screened on Emirates inflight entertainment Expo 2020 Dubai channel starting 1 November 2021, giving a wider space for Malaysia to showcase its commitment to sustainability.

Lin, who is the Executive Producer of Studio Birthplace & New Frontier Pictures, will be one of the ‘voices’ representing the country at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, MGTC Chief Executive Officer said: “As a firm believer of planetary boundaries, Sean Lin leverages enthralling and creative storytelling to create awareness and inspire action towards a sustainable future. Sean Lin’s powerful, vivid 5-minute music video captivates audiences through a symbolic story of a man arriving on a perfect earth, who proceeds to encounter his nemesis in the form of ocean trash.

“The video’s message is aligned to our sustainability theme for Expo 2020 Dubai and our advocacy for ‘Planet Over Plastic’. We are inspired to feature this video with a special message from the Malaysia Pavilion as a motivation for others to do their part in biodiversity conservation and preserving planetary health.”

He added, Malaysia is currently finalising the Plastic Sustainability Roadmap (PSR) which will be launched by the fourth quarter of 2021. The roadmap specifically outlines strategies and action plans to achieve greater levels of plastics circularity in Malaysia. Among the key actions for this roadmap are the adoption of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme and public awareness programs.

The video ends with a message that reads: “Malaysia Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai believes in creating an impact today for a better tomorrow. Planet over Plastic.”

The video features a life-size 13-meter prop whale, constructed from bamboo and covered with actual, collected, plastic waste. In total, the crew spent 35 hours filming underwater, with more than 250 free dives performed by freediver Michael Board, alongside eight divers controlling the artificial whale underwater.

The music video has gained over 5 million views on YouTube, to-date, and garnered global recognition by winning over 20 awards at film festivals locally and internationally including Video of The Year at the UK Independent Music Award and Best Music Video at the Camerimage Film Festival in Poland. By placing Malaysia on the map, Birthplace inspires the Malaysian creative industry to produce meaningful stories.

Lin produced the music video for Welsh singer-songwriter and musician Novo Amor, for his song ‘Birthplace’.

Aside from the talented producer’s work, the Malaysia Pavilion also has three other award-winning creative studios on board which have created special animation features for the Pavilion’s screening. They are; R&D Studios which is known for the Batik Girl animation, Digital Durian (known for “Didi and friends” and many more) and Monsta (creator of the “Boboiboy” series).

About Malaysia Green Technology Center

Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) is an agency under the Ministry of Environment and Water whose scope involves green growth, climate change and sustainable lifestyle.
Three national policies – the National Green Technology Policy (NGTP), the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and the Green Technology Master Plan (GTMP) – outline MGTC’s role as a catalyst for green economic growth.
Its three core roles are:
 Mainstreaming the Green Economy through green product and service expansion programmes such as MyHIJAU Mark Certification Programme, Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS) and green technology tax incentives, namely the Green Income Tax Exemption (GITE) and Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA) In addition it provides training and human capital development schemes.
 Drive climate change mitigation actions such as advocacy for energy efficiency and renewable energy, low carbon city programmes and low carbon mobility initiatives.
 Cultivate a green lifestyle through publicity and awareness programmes in fostering cooperation between the government and private sectors via global-scale platforms such as the International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) and other public programmes.