Shining a light on young S’pore film-makers

SINGAPORE — Young aspiring film-makers recently got the chance to develop their ideas and techniques as part of a project aimed to help the next generation of Singapore’s movie makers.

Commissioned by investment company Temasek, the Temasek Short Film Project project saw 20 groups of aspiring film-makers come up with 20 short films of varying genres, which will be rolled out online starting from Frday (May 20).

The participants come from eight schools: LASALLE College of the Arts, Nanyang Polytechnic, Nanyang Technological University, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, School of the Arts (SOTA), Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

The short films, ranging from documentaries to fiction narratives, look at life in the various communities here. They are inspired by real-life stories drawn from the work done by non-profit philanthropic organisations and community programmes supported by Temasek, although the company said it did not give any direction with regards to the films’ content.

Instead, the students were mentored by a selection of notable local film-makers, including Boo Junfeng (Sandcastle, Keluar Baris), Boris Boo (Where Got Ghost, Lucky Boy), Chai Yee Wei (Blood Ties, That Girl In Pinafore), Lee Thean Jean (Homecoming), Sanif Olek (Sayang Disayang, the Singapore selection for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2014 Academy Awards), Wee Li Lin (Gone Shopping, My Autograph Book) and Wilson Yip (Madam Chan, Heng Or Huat).

“We were inspired to put together Project 20/20 to give young film-makers the opportunity to tell stories in different ways,” said Mr Stephen Forshaw, Temasek’s managing director, Strategic & Public Affairs.

“We believe that the assignment to produce these short films have benefited the young film-makers, who had the opportunity to learn from some of Singapore’s better-known film-makers,” he added. “By telling these stories, they use their medium of choice to raise awareness of key needs in our community.”

Mr Boo Junfeng, currently in Cannes where his film, Apprentice, is screening, mentored two of the groups. “I hope it was a good learning experience,” he said. “A lot of work is involved (in making a film) and I hope that our mentees now have a better understanding of how the film-making process works.”

The first four films — I Believe, Windmill, Home For A Heart and Paati, My Beauty — were put up online (http://www.project20twenty.sg/) on Friday, and the rest will be rolled out in the next five weeks.