角色

活在电影的世界里，你在扮演什么角色？

我就是要躲在云里。所以你看不清楚我，而我也看不清楚你。

Hisar Short Film Festival

Mithat Alam Film Centre


The cosy theatrette - a full house.



A cake to celebrate the festival.



This is where the festival puts me up.


A casual gathering of filmmakers & festival directors.




View from a window. My room's window.


Morning's visitors.



Turkish Delights. Oh, they are super super sweet.



Yasemin & Recep - My 2 volunteers,
and they are super super sweet too.





Such colours and such lights . . .



The Magnificent Blue Mosque.

The Beautiful Bosphorus River.

"The Beauty of a Landscape resides in its Melancholy." - Ahmet Rasim

Istanbul, a city I'd love to revisit someday, and preferably with someone who enjoys the slowness of life.

感激它们短暂的贡献

又有谁会去记得那些被残留下的生日蜡烛？

它们不是也曾经为你绽放短暂的光芒，散发微薄的温暖吗？

纵然，生命有限，它们也在你闭上双眼许愿时，

静静的看着你，悄悄为你祝福。

Our Daily Bread

When Yuni asked me to do the main trailer for SIFF,
I just have to say YES to it.

I thought about what I should come up with, especially it is the 21st year of the film festival (a year that signifies that the festival is fully "grown up" and ready to move on), I found myself staring at the ceiling and the four walls of my apartment (which happens to be my usual activity at home as well). I was not inspired.

[Time Lapse]

Yuni was very kind and patient. She did not bother me or ask how I was doing. In fact, I was actually in a semi-panic attack, the deadline is coming soon, and I have nothing. My mind a complete blank.
I told my Producer (Ivy) that I wanted to do something with bread. She growled at me, asking me what has a film festival gotta do with bread? I replied, "Nothing!" (" And Everything!" in hind sight).
She asked me with utmost concern, "Does Yuni know about this? Does she approve of it?" I shook my head.

[Time Lapse]

So, the trailer was shot and done. Just like that.
3 months of constipation. 3 days of work.
Finished. Done. Baked.

When I showed it to Yuni, observing her reaction,
I was really relieved that she liked it. No question asked.
Furthermore, Philip likes it too.
He said, "There is something about bread-making, it is sexy!".

Really, it is just not about bread or bread making.
It is about a tender moment between a father and a son.
Both working together, quietly. The close relationship between them.
The son brings in the coffee, the father sips the drink. Both hands are
busy kneading the dough, working hard for the day.
No words, no dialogue.
All that is needed to tell are in the silence of the film.

And then, it is also about bread and bread-making.
Traditional bread-making, one of the local vanishing trade,
still struggling to survive these days.
This trade has to be passed down to the next generation,
like the father passing on to his son.
Our local roti, something so common, so familiar,
so simple and humble but yet it satisfies our basic needs.
I thought about it if it should be like film.

This year, I do not have a cake to celebrate the 21st edition of SIFF.
I only have a humble bread to offer, with my heart and soul in it.

21st Singapore International Film Festival Official Trailer (Production Shots)

This bread is simple, humble yet precious.

Jie Bakery & Confectionary, 

a shop may no longer be there for long . . .

The aroma of the bread brings back a sense of nostagia and warmth.

Production Briefing.

Discussing with the cast.

Jack

"Father & Son" - Uncle Jimmy & Ler.

A special thanks to Hui Cheng (acting Producer of the Day); Ler, who gladly said yes to the role; Uncle Jimmy who graciously sponsored us his shop for the shoot and even played the father's role. Jack, who came down and helped me for FREE even he was tired and exhausted from the previous night's shoot. My 2 guardians - Ivy & Ying Sien, who backed me up no matter what. And J, for being there and took all these lovely pictures.

*photography by JL.

View the Trailer: