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Royston’s back

SINGAPORE — Looks like homegrown award-winning director Royston Tan’s first feature-length film in seven years will be one multi-cultural kaleidoscope of song, dance and ... rap.

(From left) Shigga Shay, Liu Ling Ling, Royston Tan, Joi Chua and Rahimah Rahim at the press conference for Tan’s latest feature film 3688. Photo: Genevieve Loh

(From left) Shigga Shay, Liu Ling Ling, Royston Tan, Joi Chua and Rahimah Rahim at the press conference for Tan’s latest feature film 3688. Photo: Genevieve Loh

SINGAPORE — Looks like homegrown award-winning director Royston Tan’s first feature-length film in seven years will be one multi-cultural kaleidoscope of song, dance and ... rap.

His highly anticipated return to feature film-making, titled 3688, sees a powerhouse combination of local singer-songwriter Joi Chua, getai veteran Liu Ling Ling, Singapore’s “First Lady of song” Rahimah Rahim and hip-hop star Shigga Shay.

The story revolves around Chua’s character, Fei Fei, a parking attendant who dreams of becoming a singer like her idol and famous namesake — “Queen of Hats” Taiwanese songstress Fong Fei-fei. Liu plays Auntie Hai Xian, a rambunctious kopitiam owner who loves to sing, while Shigga Shay plays her son, who speaks in rap lyrics. Singer Rahimah plays Jenny, Fei Fei’s rival and fellow “summon auntie” who is the terror of drivers everywhere.

Tan said today (Dec 9) he is in his 27th day of shooting and that he is almost 90 per cent done with his filming, which was done primarily in a car park lot on location at Dakota Crescent. The director said that of all the films he has done, this has truly been the hardest, especially after a hiatus from long-form film-making.

“There was a lot of emotion put into this film,” he said. “I called Eric Khoo during the first week of filming and said, ‘I have forgotten how to shoot a film!’ Eric had to reassure me and say that it was normal and that it also happened to him during (the making of) his film, Be With Me.

“He told me that I had to get through the first week and then afterwards, I’ll be okay,” he continued with a laugh. “Being seven years older, I guess my stamina is so good any more! But it was wonderful because I had a wonderful cast and team. It felt like we were a family on set.”

There is so much of a family vibe that even Rahimah calls Tan “darling”.

“This is my first time (doing a movie) in many years,” said the veteran singer. “I am very honoured because Royston is very patient and he’s my inspiration,” Rahimah shared. “Because before I go on set, he would act (the role out) first for me. So when he gives me the inspiration, I’d go, ‘Yes!’ I’d get hyper and then I’d say, ‘Okay now, I’m ready for you Royston!’ He’s also very patient with all the dialogue I had to go through.”

Tan said he wanted to cast the singing icon from the start, although he admitted that when he first got to know her, he thought she was a “very serious lady”. “But who could have thought that this great, hilarious, crazy woman would appear?”

He said the 55-year-old was so enthusiastic and up for anything on set that he made her character talk, sing and even scold others in Mandarin.

The movie, which follows the director’s penchant for naming his features with numbers in the title — 15, 4:30, 881 and 12 Lotus — has a production budget of S$1.8 million and is slated for release in June next year, to coincide with Father’s Day.

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