The makers of Expose “Truth Be Told” invited me to audition for their corporate video project and I’d realised that its been more than a year since we finished shooting the film. Amidst the overhanging grey clouds as I made my way back there, I remember how they overran due to wet weather problems back then.
“Never plan outdoor shoots in April”, said a resigned Jen Nee back then.
The audition was fun, and this was the second corporate video project I’ve auditioned for that is going to be shot like a short film. Gee, I wonder if this is the start of a new trend. If it is, I hope it continues. Doing short film versions of corporate vid is so much more fun than the usual run of the mill ones, where not much acting chops is actually required. Plus it would mean I can finally stay clear of pro bono productions to get my fix. Yayness! 😀
After I was finished, we talked about the film’s launch and also the state of the current film industry. Hearing it from them, I get such a clearer picture of how tough it really is out there. And the idealist in me have to take a step back and look at the whole picture from their perspective, and understand why they have to do what they are going to do to get there.
“If you can’t beat’em, join’em,” I told Jen Nee. “Then beat’em.”
Easier said than done, I know. And when I’ve analysed the situation more clearly, I fear that it might already be all too late to salvage a far less ideal situation from happening in the long run. I fear the day when a truly S’porean film can take the world by storm is becoming more and more distant, for the powers that be here seem hell bent to make S’porean films as “regional” and “international” as possible.
Am I the only one here that feels confident a truly S’porean film will have a global audience? I really can’t see how making a “rojak” movie that is not uniquely S’pore can have more mass appeal. I’m no film student, for sure, but don’t we watch foreign movies to get a taste of their culture? And by not showcasing our own culture, aren’t we making our so called local films more bland?
The Japanese, the Koreans, the Thais, they have all made waves in their industry by sticking to their roots and showcasing their culture. And even our neighbours, the Malaysians, are doing it this way as well. Makes you wonder why we are so “special” eh?
Maybe, it’s already part of our culture to hate our own culture. Maybe it’s already our culture to try and be like other cultures. For a country claiming to seek its own identity, we sure seem hell bent on losing what’s already uniquely ours.
Sorry about the rant, but it just pains me to see our true potential going down the drain even before it can be reached. Yes, I might be utterly wrong about all this, what do I know, I’m just an actor. 😛
Do catch the trailer here. The movie will be out in October this year.
I play the character “Ang Chee Beng” (the poor sod sitting on the floor and whose name is plastered on the wall) and will be in the movie as early as the opening scene. 😛
