To mark the 25th anniversary of the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), Our Stories, Well-Told aims to bring Singaporeans closer to local cinema by celebrating Singapore’s filmmakers, inspiring budding film talent and growing appreciation for local films. Catch free screenings of 25 acclaimed Singapore films and shorts at Esplanade during Red Dot August.
These four short films and one full-length feature throw the spotlight on emerging filmmakers and the young ones in our midst. Alvin Lee's Smoke Gets into Your Eyes is a dark comedy about family ties and a mix-up leading to a sham funeral. In Tan Kang Sheng's Back to One, a young man struggles with work and relationships in this introspective film set in uncertain times. ADAM by Shoki Lin is a tender short about a young boy struggling to find and express himself. Nicole Midori Woodford's The Permanent Resident offers a window into one woman’s mounting obsession with the man-made Little Guilin quarry. And Jack Neo's I Not Stupid is a laugh-out-loud yet moving take on the rat race and its impact across the generations.
Back to One
At the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, Kang Wei struggles to prepare for his graduation film. Unable to return home and balancing his personal relationships with work, he barely holds on. Set against uncertain times, this story is a meditation on filmmaking and the choices one lives by.
Duration: Approximately 15mins
About Tang Kang Sheng
Kang Sheng is a filmmaker and film researcher who takes a special interest in the fractures within human connections and the exploration of the perception of time and memory in his films. He has directed short films that have travelled globally. His most recent film Back to One was screened at the Singapore International Film Festival (2021) and won the Special Mention Award at the National Youth Film Awards (2022).
Taking a special interest in Singaporean film and television of the 20th century, he has an ongoing research project into that era. He was a guest curator for the 4th Singapore Film Festival New Delhi (2020) and is also a film educator, having received an MFA in Film Directing at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
Crew
Written and Directed by: Tang Kang Sheng
Produced by: Yeo Zhi Qi & Tang Kang Sheng
Director of Photography: Nissryne Dib
First AC: Buck Goddard
Second AC: Daniel Hongkuk Song
Gaffer: Gaby Spaminato
G&E: Abe Molinero, Hansuk Sohn, Juan C. Nogales, Lorenzo Valencia, Nick Almanza, Will Gundlach
Sound Recordist: Khiam'e Fields
Boom Operators: Zhang Yi Chi, Liang Zhe Yu
Production Assistants: Akansha Tokas, Anna Nakamura, Emmi Tosunoda, Yen Dinh
Colorist: Nissryne Dib
Sound Designer: Ben Chesneau
ADR Talents: Tang Lui Sing, Tay Sai Geok, Yong Poh Chew, Goh Siew Tee
Makeu SFX & Prop Fabricator: Pedro Rios
Special Thanks: David Maquiling, Leander Sales, Stephanie Morrison, Albert Malvaez, Thientam Nguyen, Erik Kjonaas
Adam
Tired of his turbulent family life and caught between different identities, Adam seeks out an alternative arrangement in the hope of finding his place in this world.
Duration: Approximately 19mins
About Shoki Lin
Shoki is a director, writer and cinematographer based in Singapore.
His thesis short film ADAM was part of the Cinéfondation Selection at the 72nd Festival de Cannes. His previous works include Chasing Paper which was in competition at the 2018 Busan International Film Festival and Changi which won best picture at the 2017 National Youth Film Awards.
Cast
Adam: Ayden Liow
Adelia: Wan Sharmila
Boon Seng: Elvis Chin
Qiu Xian: Serina Sng
Kai Feng: Jacob Teo
Passerby: Syazali
Barber: Kamaludin
Crew
Writer & Director: Shoki Lin
Producer: Wan Murni
Co- Producer: Queenie Loh
Cinematographer: Ibrahim Zubir
Production Designer: Beaunice Toh
Sound: Natasha Jumari
Editor: Al-Azmir Ibrahim
Assistant Director: Queenie Loh
Music Composer: Sulwyn Lok
Project Supervisor: Nicole Midori Woodford
1st CA: Al-Azmir Ibrahim
2nd CA: Deryck Tan
Boom Op: Junyuan Loo
Gaffer: Dylon Goh
Grips: Fendi Yasuda, Josiah Tan, Mathias Choo, Syazali
Art Assistants: Angelina Marilyn Bok, Elizabeth Liew, Phoebe Zoe Ho, Tong Xu Han
Makeup Artist: Lim Ziyu
SFX Makeup Artist: Audrey Ng
Production Assistants: Goh Kang Yu, Yuquan Hee, Mohd Adali, Nur Muhd Iskandar
Sound Mix: Natasha Jumari, Shoki Lin
Sound Engineer: Leon Teo Yu Yong
Clarinetists: Stephanie Tan Hui Min, Lim Wei Cheah
Colorist: Shoki Lin
Flame Artist: Makoto Amemiya
Storyboard Artist: Junyuan Loo
Data Wrangler: Daniel Siew
BTS Photographer: Rifdi Bin Rosly
Presented by: Nanyang Technological University School of Art, Design and Media
Supported by: Singapore Film Commission
Distribution: Lights On
Permanent Resident
A middle-aged woman, her son and her mother reside together in a small flat near a quarry bearing the name of Little Guilin, modelled after a famous landmark in China. Madam Teo creates for herself another persona and takes on the role of a prospective buyer who arranges to view several condominiums, claiming a token from each family residing in these homes. Glimpsing the man-made quarry through different windows, her obsession comes to a head when she finally decides to take an excursion to the heart of the quarry. The quarry becomes a manifestation and symbol of the absurdity of wanting to live someone else’s life.
Duration: Approximately 20mins
About Nicole Midori Woodford
Nicole Midori Woodford is a Singaporean film director, writer and editor. She is an alumna of Berlinale Talents, Asian Film Academy, Torino Film Lab and Talents Tokyo. Her short films have competed in various festivals including Busan International Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Singapore International Film Festival amongst many others. She is currently in post-production for her debut feature film project, Last Shadow at First Light, a Singapore-Japan-Slovenian co-production which was selected for Torino Film Lab, Talents Tokyo at Tokyo FILMeX, SEAFIC and Asian Project Market. Nicole is a recipient of the prestigious Young Artist Award in 2020 in recognition of her achievements in filmmaking. She is also one of the director-writers for the second season of the acclaimed HBO Asia series Folklore 2.
Key Roles
Director and Writer: Nicole Midori Woodford
Executive Producers: Ric Aw and Pok Yue Weng
Producer: Heni Sugiarto
Director of Photography: Hideho Urata
Production Designer: James Page
Wardrobe & Stylist: Karen Lai
Assistant Director: Sabrina Poon
1st Camera Assistant: Shawn Fonseka
Gaffer: Benjamin Ong
Location Sound Recordist: Emmanuel Ombilod
Editor: Nicole Midori Woodford
Colourist: Chen Junbin
Sound Editor & Re-recording Mixer: Lim Ting Li
MAIN CAST
Madam Teo Jieyi “Mother”: Yeo Yann Yann
Ah Ma “Grandmother”: Chng Tuan Meng
Nigel “Son”: Brayden Koh Rui Heng
Smoke Gets Into Your Eyes
A funeral director finds himself hapless when the wrong body is sent for cremation. When there seems to be no other way, he devises a plan for a sham funeral with the deceased’s three estranged children.
Duration: Approximately 19mins
About Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an award-winning writer-director who graduated from the prestigious Beijing Film Academy with a Bachelor's degree in Film Directing. His short films have screened and won awards at acclaimed international film festivals, including Busan, Clermont-Ferrand and Hong Kong.
Cast: Wang Weiliang, Benjamin Heng, Priscelia Chan, Oon Shu An
Crew
Written and Directed by: Alvin Lee
Produced by: Angelina Marilyn Bok, Alvin Lee, Chew Peiyi
Director of Photography: Chuck Tham
Art Director: Javeus Toh
Supervising Sound Editor: Lim Ting Li
Columbarium Staff: Javeus Toh
Funeral Host: Chew Ching Ling
Taoist Priest: Ng Cheng Chuan, Mr Tan, Ong Yin Kim
Pallbearers: Kenny Lim, Marcus Tan, Jason Chua, Yuan Hao Ming
Funeral band: Lin Xiu Xiang, Bao Fa, Jensen, Xiao Yuan, Ah Be
Funeral guests: Arumi Ho, Benjamin Leong, Bernard Tay, Cassie Koh, Chin Wei Zhi,
Chong Shing Ann, Danny Yeo, Eric Bok, Florence See Toh, Heng Kok Wan, Ignatius Tan, Joanne, Joey Ho, Katherine See, Lee Boon Yang, Lee Ming Yong, Mandy Lee, Matarsha Ho, Neo Lay Hwa, Pan Li Mei, Priscilla Lee, Ong Kim Huang, Say Tee Hong, Sheila Ann Koh,
Tan Eng Seng, Toh Gek Grace, Tong Lee Kall, William Tan, Wu Zhiwei, Zandell Lee
Taoist Priest (Voice): Richard Liu
1st Assistant Director: Gina Tan
2nd Assistant Director: Ng Kah Hwee
Script Supervisor: Giselle Lin
Co- writer: Kew Lin
Art Assistant: Cheery Ng
1st Assistant Camera: Jeremy Chua
2nd Assistant Camera: Fiona Wong
Cam Grip: Ryan Wong
Gaffer: Eljin Tan
Grips: Vivienne Chong
Key Grip: Elton Tan
Key Grip Assistant: Zhang Jiapei
Location Sound Recordist: Audrey Lee
DIT: Mavis Lai Shujun
Wardrobe Stylist: Melissa Chang
Wardrobe Assistant: Amer Mok
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeffrey Linus Lee
Casting Assistant: Sabrina Wong
Production Assistants: Barry Teo, Karen Lee, Keith Lee, Sabrina Wong
Location Caretakers: Charlene Mayling Engtay, Ng Guan Zu Keith
Stills Photographer: Axel Toh
Editor: Ewe Shen, Tee
Subtitles Editor: Alvin Lee
Colourist: He Na Jia (China)
VFX Artist: Kew Lin
Original Music Composed by: Sulwyn Lok
Supervising Sound Editor & Re-recording Mixer: Lim Ting Li
Sound Editor: Filipe Paszkiewicz, Lim Ting Li
Dialogue Editor: Lim Ting Li
Foley Artist: Kim Yongkook
Foley Recordist: Lee Seungyeon
Special Thanks: William Tan, Bernard Tay, Jackie Ong, Melissa Chow, Brylnel Khoo, Gwendaline Lim, Maryann Chan, Shelley Yip, CM Chen, Qian Ling Ling, Lai Weijie, Zheng Ge Ping, Anthony Chen, Munesh Varadaraju, Feefee Nurfitri Abdullah, Ryan Loi, Eric Bok, Priscilla Lee, Ivy Shen, Chu Hoi Ying, Lee Boon Yang, Neo Lay Hwa, Mandy Lee, Ong Ang Choo, Cassie Koh, Fourdee, Garret Kwek
I Not Stupid
“I Not Stupid” is a satirical comedy which will make you laugh and cry. It portrays the struggles of three young children and their families in pursuit of academic excellence in a highly competitive society. The parents are equally challenged by the rat race, taking their own “exam” to survive in the modern society.
Duration: 1hr 45mins
About Jack Neo
Jack Neo Chee Keong is a Singaporean filmmaker, comedian and actor. He was a prominently a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1983 to 2003. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he was best known for his cross-dressing roles, as Liang Po Po and Liang Xi Mei in the long-running television comedy show Comedy Nite.
Cast: Shawn Lee, Joshua Ang, Jack Neo, Xiang Yun, Richard Low, Selena Tan, Patricia Mok, Mark Lee
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