Cut - Team Word Short Film for the 48 Hour Film Project Singapore 2010

Three weeks ago, I had the opportunity of joining my acting friends from WORD ( A weekly scene acting workshop where actors come together and work the craft with visiting directors) to participate in the Singapore arm of the 48 Hour Film Project. Led by Waikit, a group of us ‘wordies’ got together over the weekend of the 31st April to the 2nd of May and made a short film in 48 hours!!! Always wanted to be part of one of these competitions, and I’m definitely glad I participated. . Great fun and surprising what you can can put together in a weekend!

On Friday 31st April – all the Teams gathered at TISCH ASIA and were given the debrief including the elements that must be included in the film:

Prop: Pillow
Line: Well, That Certainly Changes Things.
Character: Eugene or Eunice Ling – Personal Trainer

Everyone also had to draw a genre from a hat and we got horror!

Here’s our film below: Do leave a comment at the bottom too!

THE 48 Hours, Screening & Awards:

Ideas started flowing from 7pm with the initial two team members – Waikit and Tushar. By 11pm our team of 6 had come together and by midnight we had a storyline. We then split up tasks while some of us went out to get props required, the rest of us starting blocking out the story and developing the characters. Finally we started shooting around 4am. Unfortunately none of the footage was good enough. so after wrapping at about 8am Waikit (our trusty DOP, Director and editor) went home and wrote out a script ready for us to shoot later on saturday night after most of us tried to get some rest:)

Team Word after Wrap on Sunday Morning

We shot from 11pm till about 8.30am, and despite Waikit not getting home till about 10am and even having a half hour nap, we managed to get our film in on time by 7pm that day! Great work on Waikit’s part!

All the finished entries were screened at a real cinema – This was very exciting to have my first film I had helped make shown in a cinema, nay an Imax Screen at the GV Cinema on Wed 12th May. A day later after all the films were revivewed by the panel of judges – we were informed we got selected for the final screening and were very happy to find out we Won Best Acting (Ensemble) and Best Directing!!!

48 Hour Film Wrap Party with Event Organisers

With Steve outside the Cinema before our Debut Short Film Screening Next to "48 Hour Film" Poster

48 Hour Film Project Screening at GV Grand IMAX!

End of Screening

With Most of the Word Cast & Crew from CUT after our screening (missing Jacklyn!)

With the Organisers at the Best of Screening - Happy after Winning Best Acting (Ensemble) and Best Directing:)

Thanks to Meghan Shea and Mike Rogers from 48 Hour Film Project for organising everything and giving us an opportunity to participate

It was great to be a part of it and good encouragement to continue working on the craft of film making!

Do leave a comment!!

CREDITS –

Team Word are: Tushar Ismal, Jacklyn Kuah, Steve Lai, Derrick Siu, Simon Wong & Waikit Kun
Produced by Team Word
Story by Team Word

Script, DOP & Editing by Waikit Kun
Cast: Tushar Ismal, Jacklyn Kuah, Steve Lai, Kate Lim, Derrick Siu & Simon Wong
Props: Tushar Ismail & Steve Lai
Make Up: Kate Lim
Photography : Derrick Siu & Steve Lai
Design: Simong Wong of Chemistry

23rd Singapore International Film Festival

About 3 weeks ago I got an excited call from multi-talented Director Joshua Simon sharing the news that the short film he cast me in was selected as a finalist for the 23rd Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Short Film Competition.  This was definitely great news and kudos to Joshua’s vision and imagination for writing and directing this short film as part of his Film Media Studies course at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.  Over 70 films were submitted this year from which 7 Finalists were selected.

I remember being quite excited when I was cast to do the 25th Laura – my first short film ever, only a couple of weeks after arriving in Singapore in June last year (2009).  It was exciting for a number of reasons – previous to this, most of my acting roles were for small guest roles, this was my first lead as an actor.  Also I don’t think I have shot in film previously – although I could be mistaken .  I’m really excited for Joshua and his crew, hope they win a Silver Screen Award!!!

The 25th of Laura

25th of Laura

By Joshua Simon / Singapore / 2009 / PG / 13

Laura is a missing emotion and puzzle piece in the photographer’s life and knows that. With a soft smile and looks, she challenges and tests his desperation in needing to complete his life.

Cast: Derrick Siu, Robert Devoe, Myra Tay
Producer: Tan Shu Jun
Music & Cinematography : Marjorie Teo
Art Direction: Pamela Soh
Sound Design: Zheng Hui Ting
Editor: Sabreena Shanu
Special Thanks: Douglas Kwon, Zef, Rick Chan, Lau Chee Meng

It was definitely a great experience and I look forward to seeing the film on the big screen as well as the other finalists.  The Film is screening along with the other 6 Finalists at 11.30am on Saturday 17th April(1st Screening) & 24th April (2nd Screening) at Sinema Old School.

• Book your tickets at sistic here
• Direct link to the Singapore Short Film Competition webpage
• Direct link to 25th Laura page

Here are some Production stills that were taken during the shoot in July 2009.

25th Laura Crew

Happy New Year! I wish you a grand 2010! Personally I got off to a rocky start with some Holiday drama, but thats behind me now, and I’m back and ready to rock it in 2010:)

Now, I know I have been very slack on my blog, but I have made a New Year Resolution to update happenings at least weekly for 2010. You see, since the History Auditions last October, things have been extremely crazy busy with Radio Courses, Short Films, Acting workshops with Word and Drama Lab (TISCH School of the Arts) and various other film projects, so have had very little time for my blog, but have definitely decided to make it a priority this year.

Anyway being my first post for 2010, I thought I it would be a good idea to put down a few of my major goals I wanna kick for this year: (and use for reflection at the end of the year – hopefully a happy reflection:)

1. Be in a short film that is selected for a Film Festival
2. Master Basic Conversational Mandarin
3. Learn to Sing and Join a Choir
4. Learn Wushu and finally get a 6 Pack (hmm. .I think this may prove to be the most challenging!:)
5. Visit SE Asia countries esp – HK, Thailand and Taiwan

Finally Its been 3 months since my last post, so one of my last resolutions/ goals is to do retrospective blog entries for the major happenings for me here in Singapore for those 3 months.

So Stay Tuned for my retro entries and my new weekly entries here on my Blog. Love to hear your thoughts – post your comments below and share your resolutions or goals for 2010!