Since its premieres and screenings late last year, ‘Plesman’ a movie by Jona Film Production has gotten a lot of positive reviews from audiences, as well as debates and critiques on social media. Speaking to PNG HAUSBUNG, Director of Ples Man, Mr. Ramanathan Undiapah, explained that different people respond the products of filmmakers differently and it is crucial to pay attention to the right people. “There’s the genuine audience; folks who watch a film without any preconceived expectations - they immerse themselves in the story, and if they don’t enjoy it, they provide honest and constructive criticism.” “As creators we must listen to them because we make movies for them.” “There’s also the experienced filmmakers; individuals who bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to the table – their feedback comes from experience in the industry and is invaluable in helping us to improve.” “Filmmakers must respect and learn from their advice.” “Finally, there’s the naysayers who frequently show up out of nowhere and insist that the plot and every aspect of the film meet their own standards.” “Instead of assisting you in growing, they concentrate on pointing out flaws and offering criticism in an effort to undermine you.” “As filmmakers, we must avoid giving too much attention to naysayers. Listening to them can hinder our progress and stifle creativity.” He urged filmmakers to focus on genuine feedback and constructive criticism that aids in improvement. When asked about the first film and its upcoming sequel, he explained that Plesman 2 was intended to continue Eric's journey as the protagonist while also addressing pressing concerns such as tribal conflict, land disputes, rural development, and the effects of these obstacles on children. “It provides an opportunity to delve deeper into these themes and inspire meaningful change.” “The story is particularly significant as it is dedicated to Papua New Guinea's founding fathers, marking a tribute to their vision, and it aligns with the nation's 50th Independence Day celebrations.” “This milestone makes it the perfect time to reflect on progress and reignite hope for a brighter future.” He further explained the casting process during Plesman’s pre-production stage. “My employees and family members from Kabwum, my wife's village, made up the majority of the actors in Plesman; I trained them for a week before they began acting.” “I came into Tuliman, the main guy, via one of his Facebook reels, I chose him for the character because he had the ideal appearance for it and I could see that he had a natural flair for acting.” Undiapah stated that filming for the sequel is expected to take around 6–8 months, considering the increased complexity of the story and additional scenes, such as rural infrastructure development and the requirement for a lot of VFX. Plesman cost K350, 000 mainly due to VFX, freight cost and accommodation and mix mastering which was done in Malaysia. He hopes they will receive support from sponsors during the filming of Plesman 2. “We didn’t have any sponsors for ‘Plesman’, we used our own funding.” “The cost of Plesman 2 will be twice the cost of the first movie.”