aaaaaaaaa

The hard times faced by the movie industry don’t change storytelling. Good and effective stories will always continue to resonate with audiences. The mode of distribution may have changed, but the art of storytelling remains the same.

Streaming platforms allow the Singaporean storyteller more access and exposure to a wider global audience, which means more opportunities for creative storytelling to connect with these viewers.

I guess it really depends on what the story calls for, and I would like to believe that we will continue to discover and develop varied and interesting Singaporean filmmakers.

A couple of years back, Kirsten Tan directed the award-winning Pop Aye in Thailand with a completely Thai cast. To be international storytellers and not merely defined by our nationality or origins, now that’s exciting.

I’ve been really impressed with what the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G can do for a filmmaker. Now I want to make an entire feature on a smartphone.

It blew my mind. Short film competitions are crucial in discovering new talents. I’m a firm advocate for short films; in fact, my career started with them.

I’m so glad that Samsung is taking the lead. The art of storytelling is the best form of engagement for any brand wanting to connect with an audience.

I believe it’s an especially important message during these difficult times when the world needs healing and love. Go check out the timeless Burt Bacharach-Hal David song [of the same name]!

I loved Chernobyl on HBO and Kingdom on Netflix.

Maybe a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.... but seriously with what the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is capable of, I would like to think that all home videos would now be Oscar-worthy!

I believe local films would slowly but surely reach and connect with international audiences. With greater exposure to content from around the world, local filmmakers are now expanding and exploring new ways of storytelling. It’s exciting to identify local works and bring them to the international spotlight.

Creativity shines bright on its own. When a production or a performance leaves you stunned with its originality, you start wondering about the mind behind it.

But even with such talent, you need to keep pushing the boundaries so you don’t fall behind. Having the X factor can only bring you so far. The rest is hard work.

The smartphone makes filmmaking more accessible. It’s something you always have with you, so it’s the first step towards experimenting with shots and storytelling.

I’ve filmed my recipe videos on the smartphone — or rather, a couple of smartphones that I set up around the kitchen when I do my own filming. I’ve never tried making a short film on a smartphone. I should explore that one day.

I’m thrilled about Samsung’s support for the arts. Short films have often been overlooked when they can be the most challenging to make. Telling an impactful story within such a short amount of time isn’t as easy as many would think. To encourage more aspiring creatives to take this first step, Samsung’s support is so important.

Love this concept. I can see so many possibilities and interpretations and personal points of view. I look forward to the submissions.

I watched The Queen’s Gambit some time back. I really liked that it’s an imaginative and (at the same time) emotional story of psychological struggle. It also made chess exciting to a lot of people. It just goes to show how a successful production can have the astounding power of bringing positive awareness to a subject.

With the rise of streaming platforms and social media, distribution channels and media are clearly evolving. But the core of storytelling has stayed the same.

Humans have been storytellers since the start of civilisation, and good stories will always find and connect with audiences.

Being Singaporean and hailing from a diverse and cosmopolitan society, we have quite a broad world view and are highly adaptable. So I can see Singapore storytellers stepping up to telling stories beyond our shores.

For example, I’ve been working on a film about an African woman’s struggle to define her own existence after landing on the shores of Greece as a refugee.

For me, it’s never about seeking colloquialism for the sake of it. I always seek truth and honesty in my work, and the only way is to get to the core of the characters.

Many great films have been made on a smartphone. Korean master Park Chan-wook shot an award-winning short film [Night Fishing] entirely on a phone. So did Sean Baker with Tangerine. In fact, the behind-the-scenes clips for my last film Wet Season were all shot on a smartphone.

Not an entire feature film, but short films. I guess it might be really liberating.

It’s great that Samsung is taking the lead to discover a new generation of Singapore filmmakers with Short & Sharp — especially at a time when we consume so many stories and content through our smartphones and mobile devices. Smartphone technology and content, there’s a natural synergy.

Actually, I’ve been pondering the same thing throughout the pandemic last year, and I’ve even made a short film in response to the pandemic. I think 2020 has thrown everyone into some kind of existential crisis, and it’s a good time to figure out what we really need, as we move forward as individuals, as a society, as a world.

I rarely watch Netflix, but I did watch a bit of The Queen’s Gambit to find out what the craze was all about. But for those who haven’t seen it, I would suggest checking out Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-winning film Roma.

Home videos should just look like home videos. 4K home videos? The high quality of smartphones really makes them look too good these days.

In future, I hope to see more avant-garde directors and more movies with international appeal. Because nowadays we don’t just watch movies at the cinema, but we also stream and watch many quality movies from all over the world. More people are watching short films too. And we have a good crop of up-and-coming storytellers who, I hope, will put Singapore on the international map. The fact that storytelling/filmmaking has become so democratised only makes it easier for Singaporeans to shine on the global stage.

That person must not be afraid to express themselves and be creative, even when they are not yet embraced by the masses. Sometimes it could just be a matter of timing. When the stars align, their ideas and creativity will be appreciated. So to me, how hard that person is willing to work to reach their potential makes all the difference.

The smartphone today is no longer just a simple handphone. Besides the usual photo- and video-taking features, the smartphone’s post-production capabilities and special effects are also getting better. Not to mention the apps that are getting fancier and more impressive.

So making a movie on a smartphone can become a norm in the future. Many people with limited budgets have already produced many quality short films with just their smartphones. With that said, the broadcast platform may need some tweaking.

Five, ten years from now, I believe the smartphone may very well replace the camera for full-length feature films, which will mean much lower production costs. If the opportunity arises, I would like to shoot a 90-minute movie myself using a smartphone.

I am very happy to be part of it. I look forward to seeing many different genres and types of content, and the ways the participants use the smartphone to come up with something that’s very different from what we see on television or in movies. Hopefully, I’ll also be able to learn and pick up some tips from the younger generation.

It really unleashes people’s imagination and creativity. There are no limits — just like the content we create with our smartphones.

What does this world need? To be honest, I’m not quite sure. Is it love, strength, a cure or simply hope? But that’s the beauty of it – let our storytellers tell us. I can’t wait to see their interpretations.

Terence
Social media is a powerful way for content creators to bypass traditional gatekeepers in the entertainment industry to find their own audience. At the same time, it’s easy to get caught up in maintaining one’s online presence and navigating the complex web of algorithms rather than creating content.

Haresh
Social media definitely helps storytelling. A great story doesn’t need high production standards or traditional filmmaking principles to get out there.

On the flip side, it has opened up the floodgates for anyone to share anything with the masses. But for every “amateurish” video, there are probably ten video stories people love that would never have been made if not for social media.

Terence
Technology helps. As consumer digital camera technology gets closer and closer to what’s being used for Hollywood productions, there’s really no excuse not to be out there making films with your smartphone.

Terence
I think it’s amazing when a brand like Samsung is taking the lead and encouraging people to get out and create, especially in this climate where traditional film festivals aren’t allowed to hold any physical events.

Haresh
Without a doubt: HELL YEAH! I absolutely love the idea of a mobile film festival. The COVID-19 pandemic has fuelled the need for more efficient ways to create content, and Samsung’s Short & Sharp is a great step in the right direction.

Haresh
It’s a timely theme. This past year has been challenging for filmmakers and anyone working in media. But at the same time, it pushes everyone to become more introspective. I think people are brimming with perspectives, ideas and learnings they cannot wait to share with the world.

Terence
Treat your loved ones to a good meal, and save up the rest for a rainy day.

Haresh
Use the money to invest in yourself and your craft, and always question the urge to indulge. Any time you want to spend on something, be sure to ask yourself: “Is this going to make me 5% better in 2 months, or 50% better in 2 years?”

Terence
I like true crime dramas and documentaries. I’ve just finished watching Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel on Netflix.

Haresh
I recently watched All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur, an Amazon documentary about José Mourinho’s first year as manager of the football club. I loved that the film gave the viewer a sneak peek into the world of elite football.

It’s definitely grown and becoming more confident. Local filmmakers are finding their own voices and becoming more self-assured in exploring many different issues. And judging by the many Singapore films that have been nabbing accolades abroad, I don’t think they are suffering from an identity crisis. The fact that they are making their presence felt on the global stage means their movies are not only uniquely Singaporean but also have universal resonance.

I think film industries everywhere have been hit by the pandemic. I guess this means that they will just have to be more resourceful, think and work harder to realise their vision. It is not necessarily a bad thing.

I’m a glass half full kind of guy. At the most basic level, technology has seen to it that filmmaking is no longer an expensive undertaking or the preserve of those with the means. People can make films with their mobile phones today and that has prompted many to come forth to tell stories that they want or ache to tell.

Techniques are important, but a good story is the core and soul of a film. A filmmaker without a good story is like a chef without an idea or a recipe. He may be able to slice and julienne up a storm, but will that help him serve up something delicious and memorable?

It’s a great initiative, and conduct very becoming of a good, responsible corporate citizen.

Excellent. The world will always need love and creativity to solve problems, heal, move and inspire.

Recent ones I’ve watched and liked include The Queen’s Gambit, Lupin and Little Big Women.

It’s wonderful to see so many films by our Singaporean filmmakers getting recognised internationally in recent years. I have so much admiration for them. It’s an incredibly tough industry. We know filmmaking isn’t an easy job, and they’ve really paved the way for those after them.

It’s also amazing to see the younger generation being very vocal about issues they care about. There’s a diversity of content and genres emerging from younger filmmakers as well.

With regional platforms setting up their bases here looking out for Singaporean content and stories, I think these are pretty exciting times!

So many memorable experiences! The friendships, the camaraderie, the discussions, these are what make me tick. My favourite memories are of heading down to the next shooting location at 2, 3 in the morning, full from supper, tired from the day, driven by adrenaline — but excited to get the cameras rolling again.

Nowadays, you can really just pick up your phone and start recording things. I remember a short film I did many years back that was shot on actual film. They had to ration their takes because of the limited rolls of film they had. They couldn’t check their shots on the spot to see if they had captured what they needed. No matter your role on set — be it director, actor, director of photography or focus puller — you had to be, in some ways, so much surer of everything.

What’s great with phones is that you can try, practise, experiment and review your shots. You can check things like, “Is this the story I’m trying to tell? Does this accurately reflect what I have in my head?"

I always find this a complicated question to answer. Working on an international set has taught me so much. While working in a different country’s industry would surely be an incredibly eye-opening learning experience, I’m also a huge homebody and deeply passionate about Singapore’s stories.

I was thrilled! It sounds like a fantastic learning environment. Technology has changed the game by making the tools to tell our stories super accessible. Also, having a tech giant like Samsung actively supporting and nurturing the art of storytelling? Yes, please!

I love it. I think many of us have been conditioned to think, “Does it really matter what I think? Who am I to say anything?” How many ideas, relationships and connections have we missed as a result? Where does this questioning voice come from and why do we automatically view it as more valid than our own? All our voices are important because each and every one of us brings our distinct life experience and perspective to the table. I love that Samsung believes in the importance of our voices by setting such a big theme! I can’t wait to watch the entries.

The Queen’s Gambit. I was enthralled from start to finish. Everything about it took my breath away. [Leading actress] Anya Taylor-Joy gave such an enigmatic performance. The storytelling is so human and it’s a real visual spectacle. And I almost always have Friends on repeat.