KUALA LUMPUR: Rock singer and actor Datuk Awie has called on all production companies to reward veteran artistes appropriately as they are the elders of the industry.
"Production companies should honour those who brought up the industry by paying them well," he said at a recent press preview of his big screen directorial debut Rebel at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), The Starling Mall, Petaling Jaya.
"Do not neglect them but give them a chance to shine as supporting actors in dramas and films.
"If they are still able to contribute give them roles," said Awie adding that junior artistes should not forget that someday they will also become veterans.
"Veteran actors and actresses are the heroes of the film industry. They are like our parents and grandparents.
"This means we should show them love and respect just as we would our parents and grandparents," said Awie who is also starring in the movie which premieres on May 2.
Last year, veteran actress Datuk Fauziah Nawi urged Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil to help resolve the "age-old problem" of payments to artistes, especially veterans.
Fauziah, 69, lamented that artiste associations had failed to ensure that artistes were sufficiently remunerated by production companies.
Rebel is an action-packed drama that looks into the minds of young and restless people.
The film is produced by Wau Production and Rumah Produksi Merah.
It also stars Ben Amir, MK, Shiqin Kamal and Azlan Komeng.
