Every Tech, Everywhere, All at Once - 2023

This is Christmas eve and this is my first and probably the last blog post for 2023. The year passed quickly and then I realised that I have not blogged for the whole year. I only checked the blog after someone I met at the Asia TV Forum (ATF) 2023, asked about it. 

I am surprised. I stopped writing because I thought very few people, if any, read blogs these days. Instead Tiktok videos are all a rage!

This is My TikTok.

But I am glad that somebody remembers me because of my blog. Well not quite really, as I also learned that she also happened to promote the short film "Gift", which went viral in 2014. So, a good film does  hangs around in people's minds for a very long time,

A video/film is remembered because it tells a story that makes profound emotional connections with the audience. These days with the Internet, videos can go viral worldwide instantly.

The persistence and wide reach of Youtube also means it is now difficult to estimate the loading fees for commercials. As once online, the commercial technically has a global reach and unless it is taken down, it will be online perpetually. I believe this has caused some downward pressure on an actor's loading fees.

Also these days, talent can also be discovered online via social media. Granted that not every online celebrity has the desired acting abilities or of be of commercial material, the Internet does cast the net very wide. Thus thrusting more potential talents to the front of the camera. I cannot complain about this, as I was too talent scouted online via social media 14 years ago. Though not an influencer, I was picked up out of the blue and thrown into the deep end of acting. The rest is history.

So much so that actors are now expected to have some social media presence. However, not much is done to educate them about how they should go about with this new avenue of self-promotion. Many actors formerly protected by their managers are now thrown into the wild wild world of social media. 

Social media can be a double edged sword. Wrongly applied, it can ruin the online persona and branding of the actor. It can also overexpose the actor.

Also these days, some businesses use online influencers, instead of actors, to promote their products. Usually, this results in more casual production quality and possibly risking the desired perception of the brand name.  However, such promotional videos are likely to be cheaper to produce and they usually work well with brand names that have less snobbish requirements.

In some instances, businesses have also done away with human actors/models/influencers entirely and  use Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated avatars. These avatars are sculptured to look picture perfect and will never age a single day from the first day you use them. Besides, they are also free of scandals. These avatars have been applied with some success in the US and China, even though the followers know that they are not real.

As a learning exercise, I have used AI to generate a dialogue, fictitious faces and animate a 2 minute video recently. Here it is:

AI will continue to make onslaughts into film production and acting. At the lower end of corporate videos, businesses may not need a human to illustrate their product. For instance, if it is a video to illustrate the instructions to use a microwave oven, human emotional connection is less important, but rather,  clear and explicit graphics are crucial. I have given a talk to film makers, technologists and artists about this. See here.

Over time bad actors, that is, those that are unable to deliver the necessary human emotional connections will be replaced by photo-realistic avatars in lower end spectrum of instructional videos. 

Conversely, actors that can deliver strong emotional bonds with the audience and turn them to be loyal following, will get more work despite and because of AI. So, now AI can make the actor look younger, or older, to suit the story. In the case of a story where there is a character that goes from youth to old age, the same actor can be cast.

I believe that with technology, there will be more videos/films made, because it will be cheaper to do so and also that it will be cheap enough to create content that cater to niche interests. Though, the audience will still expect quality productions. The lousy ones will still be ignored, unless it is so bad that they attract a cult following. :)

As we speak now, more and more tech is seeping into film production. Besides the well known AI-enabled deepfakes, LED backdrops, robot rigs...etc, there is now automated product placements. So, it is now even possible for product placements to be automatically inserted into the film during post-production. This saves time, effort and money, compared to placing products during production. Besides, product placements inserted during post production can be geography, culture, context and time driven.

Where will this all stop? I don't know. But I know that we can all make the best of it, if we continue to improve our craft. Yes, I believe that spontaneous human analogue delivery will still count and be here to stay.

I have now been in the media industry for 14 years, mostly as an actor, but recently also into screenwriting, producing and directing my own content. To date, I have won 2 acting awards, have 2 short films gone viral, and recently, also had a film that I produced, "WFH - Worry From Home", won a best film award. 

In the last 2 years, I have also appeared as the main antagonist character in "Titan Academy", a uber viral webseries with very young fans, probably from 4 to 16 years old. Each of these episodes garner upwards of 2 million views. So if I do get recognised in public these days, it will most likely be from a child or a teen. The fans have even set up a fan page for me. Thank you so much guys! 

This contrasts a lot with the mainstream media in Singapore, which I estimate probably gets 150k to 350k for each of their drama episodes. I believe this is the same for all free-to-air TVs around the world. This is confirmed by a few random media professionals I met during the recent ATF. 

In fact, I was once corrected by a young chap that I shouldn't use the term "mainstream media" to refer to free-to-air TV (or TV), instead, "mainstream" ought to refer to the the Internet. He then suggest that I refer to free-to-air TV as "legacy media". I find it hard to debate that, especially while still reeling from his harshness!

That said, this is Christmas and we should also give thanks to the legacies that have propelled us this far. Many artistes and talents have spent a lot of their waking hours honing their skills and craft to entertain and inspire all of us all these years. 

Thus Channel News Asia (CNA) has now made a 3-part mini-series called "Untold Legends", to remember some women who have contributed to the arts in Singapore.

I was interviewed in the episodes that featured Doris Young, who was the lead actor in the Cleopatra Wong movie series in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They interviewed me about my part working with Doris in Reel Frenz, a hobby film making group and as the lead actor in the feature film Certified Dead.

Tune in CNA at 9pm, 31st December 2023 for the episode "Untold Legends: Doris Young".

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are living in exciting times!

A Seat At the Table Podcast

 

This is an interview by Jane Singer, a Hong Kong based American podcaster, about how I got started in the film industry and the struggles and joys that came along.  

I have worked hard, but I think have been lucky as well. Now after 400+ gigs and 11 years later, there are no regrets having taken the plunge into a road less traveled of part fantasy and part real life.

Should you take such a plunge yourself? 

Listen in here and find out.

 

Kid Hero

 

Kid Hero, written and directed by Andy Hui, is about a kid's fantasy about his superpowers and his mini roadtrip adventure to look for his father, who is his idol and hero in his life. I enjoyed working with the very talented actors Ricky Lo and Estovan Reizo Cheah; and Esther Leong.

Here is the film:

https://www.viddsee.com/video/kid-hero/zyv8p

And here are some behind-the-scene photos:

The Hero's Journey

For the full interview, click here.

The Oxford Dictionary defines a hero as: "A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities."

So it is an honour to be interviewed by The Hero's Journey's Peter Kuster.

The Hero's Journey is a guide to people who makes money doing what they love, living in various great cities around the world.

I would also like to take this opportunity to send my tributes and love to the many unsung heroes out there. Particularly those who have taken the plunge to live their passions in the arts: to be a professional singer, musician, dancer, actor, sculptor, painter,...etc. I understand the hardeous, but satisfying journey that you are undertaking.

For the full interview, click here.

For the other interviews I have been in:

Asia?" Lush The Magazine.

Radio Inteview at 988

Interview by RSVP Singapore

Journey Home

Journey Home is written and directed by Hochi, inspired by true stories.  We braved the scorching hot sun and rain for three days, shooting in Seletar, Woodlands and Changi.

The story is about a family conflict arising from the mother suffering from mental illness. The disputes, quarrels and violence, eventually leading to a separation.

Here is the trailer:

 

UPDATE (19th Sep 2019) :

Here is the film proper:

---

With Chloe Wee, who plays the mother.

With the very talented young Joyce.

And it rained and we all ducked.

The happy family that came apart. 

 2

Cast and Crew

It's  a wrap!

Bloodline Blues

"Bloodline Blues"
Written, produced and directed by Michael Chua. 

Cinematography, choreography and editing by Elliot Chan.

This 23-minute action film has taken longer than we have expected to complete, as we were not under any commercial pressure and wanted to give it a good finish. There were some production obstacles in the beginning, but once they were weeded out, it never had been easier since. Such a bliss to have everyone else working together through those long hours amid the humid sticky Singapore environment to make things happen. All just for the sake of art and passion. 

"Bloodline Blues" is about a young heir to a English noble family escaping from his family obligations to be reconciled with his lover in Asia (in this case Singapore). 

The main characters Philip (the young heir) and his lover Cindy, have their origins as supporting characters in another of my feature length script "The Next Plot" (see the short version of it here). I wanted to peer into their lives and create stories to make them lead characters in their own right.  Just like we are all lead characters in our own life. So listen even to meek and quiet, as they too have their stories.

"Bloodline Blues" is inspired by the sinister friends that I have made, the stories that they have told me and my observations during my many years living in Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe. Power, money, ego and sex are common motivations for conflicts across cultures and ethnicities. I think this will go on, until we elevate ourselves to Nirvana or Heaven. Until then, there will always be stories to tell and lessons to learn.

Here is the trailer:

c 

The poster shoot:

.

For other productions that I have written and directed:

The Next Plot

CPIB Video Competition: United Against Corruption

Caishen (财神)

"Caishen" (The God of Fortune, 财神), directed by Ding An, is a 20-episode web series in Singlish, shot in the year 2016 and released in time to greet the start of  the Lunar New Year in 2018.

Singlish is a version of English patois spoken in Singapore, often associated with the funny bits of a conversation and its informality. It is English spoken with Chinese speech structure, spiced with Chinese dialect, Malay and Tamil vocabulary.

This series is about the calamitous adventures of Roy Kee, a middle-aged anti-hero and gambling addict who is given a phone app that ironically can only make others, but not himself rich.

For non-Singaporean viewers, do not be put off by the quirky delivery style. Trust me it is quirky even for Singaporeans. That gives it the charm and uniqueness, amid the surreal nuggets of wisdom that you will find useful. They are usually interwoven into the recurring silly moments. Overall, it has this unexpected sarcastic undertones that cynics will  certainly love. I particularly like the deadpan moments.

Here is Episode 1 of the series [19 minutes]. After finishing it, click on the prompt to proceed to the next episode. If you are unable to link to the next episode at some point, then continue watching it via Youtube.

,

Film Review - Certified Dead

By Michael Lim. Before you can say, "another local movie" and dismiss it, "Certified Dead",  being an honest first time effort at movie production, by Doris Young, actually accomplishes several well deserved accolades. Young, better known by her nom de plume, Marie Lee, is best remembered for her 1970s role in the genre of action karate flick films "Cleopatra Wong" and shows that she can also be an accomplished movie producer and director in her inaugural feature film. 

Considering that this is her first feature made with a shoe string budget of $44,000 and volunteer actors, it would be unfair to compare this with a  Hollywood indie feature. Sure, there are areas for improvement but consider the difficulties and the learning curve the director, actors and script writers have to overcome to distill the end product of this feature, it is a triumphant accomplishment for Young and her crew. 

Helmed by a cast of mainly Singaporean actors, it tells the story of Ian Lee, a middle aged man, who in his earnest to live long enough to provide for his family, becomes a "rodent" for an experimental new serum developed by his best friend Dr. Charles Moore, played by Richard Muru. The drug that is supposed to help sustain Ian's athletic pursuits but has other unintended side-effects. For starters it triggers Ian's adrenaline and ups his athleticism and pheromones. This triggers his boss Hilary, as she finds him suddenly the object of her sexual attraction. Hillary,  played by Toni Ravelo, a Cuban Mexican actor, provides the love interest character to Michael Chua's Ian Lee.

Eventually the drug takes a toll on Ian's life and he suffers a heart attack, and supposedly drowns while swimming in the sea. But he is still walking around, seemingly alive only to be discovered by his doctor friend that he is actually dead and the serum is somehow sustaining his brain while the rest of his body is in a state of rigor mortis. Upon realizing this, Ian tries to fulfill his bucket list before the entirety of his body succumbs to complete decay. 

The movie showcase some fine acting by Michael Chua, who is a veteran staple of several locally produced independent films. Ms Ravelo also has some scene stealing performances as Ian's boss who asks Ian to remain behind after a meeting, if only for a post conference tête-à-tête. 

While being a generally dark drama, Certified Dead has some lighter moments, such as when the mediums visit to Ian's home in an attempt to exorcise him, and his supposed wake at the funeral parlour where he starts talking to his Doctor and his daughter Erin, played by an incredibly talented Shayleigh Koh. 

Eventually, the finale was sad as Ian realizes that his demise can only be resolved by his own departure from his family and he is no longer in the land of the living. In a way it reminds us that as Singaporeans when we yearn to strive too much for success, we get so distracted by what we think is important that we depart from and leave the things that most matter to us in our everyday life - family, friends and loved ones.

The last scene of Dr Moore's enticement of a new rodent may serve the possibility of a sequel.

Certified Dead (Final Trailer) from Reel Frenz on Vimeo.

Some photographs of the Singapore Premiere on the 30th October 2017.

For other posts about Certified Dead, click here.

Closure

This is a Ngee Ann Poly student film "Closure", adapted from the book "Men from the Boys" by Tony Parsons. It was again a late night shoot, given that the whole story happens in the evening.

The story is about a teenage boy struggling with his biological mother's attempt to come back to his life.

The working title of this short film was "Mothers", but it was changed to "Closure", as the former comes to close Darren Arronofsky's "Mother" currently screening in the cinemas.

This is my first time working with James. My second time working with Ling and Carin. You may remember seeing Carin playing the role of my daughter in "Father's Devotion" :). See here.

Now, the film itself...

It was quite a struggle remember long convoluted lines after midnight. That is why late night shoots are to be avoided where possible.

For more Ngee Ann Poly shoots, click here.

Let's Go Bananas

Event: Let's Go Bananas (Open Mic)
Date: 12 Sep 2017
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: Flying Monkey
67/68 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199480

Organiser: Stagecraft

Performed a 6 minute Standup Comedy at the event with very local content.


For non-Singaporeans, you may need some background knowledge to appreciate the sarcasm. Click here and here.

Also, 'Angmoh' means White people or Caucasian. 

The next event will be at 8pm on the 26th September 2017 at the same venue. Come and join us.

For other blog post on standup comedy, click here.

Fatima

"Fatima" is a story about an older Malay resident who meets a middle-aged Chinese man during her final days of her life in a nursing home.

I love acting in Malay films. It brings back memories of old Singapore when the language was more commonly spoken. However, as this story is contemporary, more English is used in my dialogue.

See the video:

 It was a hot day and the location was very noisy. So the perspiration on our faces were blotted/powdered away and the sound laboriously cleaned up and designed. Thanks to the industrious crew.

For more Ngee Ann Polytechnic films, click here.

Ask Me Anything in Viddsee

Viddsee.com, an Asian short film curator site, has invited me to their "Ask Me Anything" page.

Click here.

#acting #act #future #futureoftv #futureoffilm #michaelchua #viddsee #questions #films #film #filmmaking #shortfilm #curated


UPDATE (31st August 2017):

It was an overwhelming response - 39 questions!  My favourite question is question 13:

"Can you tell us what been the funniest moment on any of your sets so far? :D"

And my answer is:

Okay, I am mentioning this because this is funny and that you have asked for it. 

In one intimate scene, I was to surprise my screen wife by lifting her up suddenly to  the bed, rolling over and kissing her on her lips, then 'cut'. We rehearsed that and all was well and agreed.

However during the take, the director (a lady) didn't say 'cut' at the point we had rehearsed to. With no 'cut', we had to continue and improvise with our act. That was not a problem between the actress and me, as we were very professional about it, but next to director was a young chap prompting "Cut! Cut! Cut!" next to the director's ear. It was very annoying, but the director ignored him and called 'cut' only at a point she deemed appropriate.

The director prolonged the take because she likes the delivery and didn't want to break the flow too early.

As for the young chap, we learned that he had the hots for the actress and was jealous.

The lesson learned was that there should be only a minimal crew on set during such takes. Young jealous chaps not allowed in.

Here are the list of 39 questions:
Click here to read the answers.

1. I really enjoyed your acting. Can you share some of the challenges of being a local actor?

2. If you are asked to perform for no fee, and you are willing to do so. How does that affect the final film production?

3.If the part asks that you kiss a person (male or female) that you are not attracted to and the kiss must look most passionate. How is this achieved?

4. Thank you for the previous answer, I am also curious to know how you cope with rejection. Is it a natural response or a skill you have developed?

5. Have you ever had strong disagreement with the director on set, and if so, how did you deal with it?

6. What tips could you give to aspiring actors to guide them along their career path?

7. When reviewing a new script, what do you look for and what would you avoid?

8. Which local and international actors do you admire and why?

9. What do you hope to see more in Singapore development of movies? Budgets, scripts or supportive audience

10. What advice do you have for people who have ambitions to become actors/actresses? How do you compare Singapore film industry vs film industries in other countries?

11. What is one advice you have for actors in Singapore?

12. How does the Director help out with uncomfortable parts, if the actors /actresses feel uptight, like sex scenes, etc

13. Can you tell us what been the funniest moment on any of your sets so far? :D

14.What innate talents does one need to have, to make it in acting?

15. Why do some actors /actresses get stereotyped into certain roles?

16. How does a director help the actors portray their characters convincingly?

17. As a Freelance Actor, do think/feel that it is possible to rely solely on Acting(silver-screen only) to earn a living in Singapore?

18. I thought the a couple of the short video clips I saw were quite good, story-wise, acting-wise, not those over-exaggerated acting the I observed in local mandarin movies. Just wondering why we hardly hear or know about them. What are the problems the local English language movies faced?"

19. How far do you think the Internet will disrupt the traditional theatrical distribution of films?

20. What's your advise for those who wants to get into acting?

21. What's your biggest achievement thus far?

22. You left an exciting career in the Cyber Security space to follow your heart and passion in the creative and performing arts industry. Do you have any regrets? What inspired you to make the transition and was it a tough journey ?

23. How has acting changed/enriched you as a person?

24. ...as we all know, 'the Gift' was amazing. How did you prepare for your inspiring role in this film?

25. What's your worst filming experience?

26. Is there any other roles / characters you would hope to attempt in the near future?

27. If you could have it your way, what would be your dream role and movie?

28. What are your artistic inspirations, Michael? And what considerations do you have when taking on a project? What has been your best film experience so far? Would care to elaborate more on that experience? Would you also care to tell more about what is your opinion on the growth of the local art scene?

29.  I will like to know what are some do's and dont's of directing, specifically from the perspective of actors? How can directors work with actors better to create a great piece of work?

30. I have seen that films are made in an order that is not the same way as the final storyline is edited. How do you, the actor, keep track of the emotion and intensity of the scene when they are being created in such a different way to the final sequence?

31. What got you into acting?

32. ...you are very good in crying in your role, how do you make yourself cry?

33. Beside being actor and director have you think of writing , you are good in writing as I have read some of your blog?

34. Good to see your passion for acting. Could you elaborate what drives you the most?

35. Of all the roles that you have played in the past, which is your favourite?

36. When was your first role as an actor?

37. Also would be interesting to know what is the most extreme change to your appearance - in terms of hair, body weight, face changes etc etc, that you have done to prepare for a role?

38. Have there been a time when you had a really bad day but had to act or perform that night. How did you get through it?

39. I'm interested in how you feel about playing against type.

I'm specifically thinking about when you have to assume a character you would not like in real life - how do you approach that, and do you 'enter into' that person's psychology, or distance yourself emotionally?

Ward 4A

Notice how quaint the office is, with a typewriter, antique phone and clock! 

This is a Lasalle short film. It is about a patient who believes that he is wrongly institutionalised and tries to escape from a mental hospital with the help of other patients. 

The location - a disused Singapore Land Authority building - reminds me so much of 'Hentak Kaki'.

I love playing the role of the fictional doctor - the one that is allowed to be snobbish and overpowering. This contrasts with the other doctor role I have in the TV Drama Tanglin, as a Specialist Doctor in Emergency Medicine, that speaks in unusually long convoluted lines with bombastic medical jargons expressed in deadpan emotion.

I have also acted as a mental patient, so I have experienced it from both sides. :) See "Checkmate".



Here is the trailer:

The full film is not released yet. I think it will go around in the festival circuit first. I will post it here when it does get released.

The location is a disused school, built by the Singapore Government in the 1950s to prepare for the post-war babies that needed schools. Many of these buildings are now demolished to make way for bigger and better schools - those complete with covered assembly halls, computer rooms, hockey fields, running tracks,...etc. Such luxury compared to my time when we had to stand on the basketball court under the hot sun during assemblies and rushed for places in crowded canteens. These buildings bring back memories.

For other 'Psycho' short films, click here.

Father's Devotion

This is the shoot I was in, for Cine65 Season IV - an annual short film competition in Singapore - produced by a bunch of Temasek Polytechnic students. This year's theme is "Home Truly". I love this production because it gave me the chance to both act and sing. Wonderful. The title could well have been "Flamingo Once More", given the character's fond memories of the nightclub where he used to sing.
[Spoi l e r    A  l  e   r   t   !   !   !    ]

For other productions that I also sang in, click here.

The original story was of a middle aged man resisting his son's application to emigrate for a better life elsewhere,  as he  loves his little daily joys living in Singapore.

On hindsight, I think the new story is better - less in-the-face and more genuine about what a 'home truly' constitute. Okay, I won't spoil the show for you yet. Let's watch it first..,

 . .

The crux of the story is that, though the father is in a state of dementia, he resists to be put in an institutionalised home, and insists (though through his illusion) on providing for his family by singing at the Flamingo Club. The subtext here is that: to him a home is not just a roof over the head, but a place where love is. And he defends to stay put at where love is.

As an actor, my challenge was to seamlessly go in and out between the illusory and the lucid mind of the character. That is, of his obsession to support the family and of his fond memory of his wife, versus the present realities. These moments were interspersed between the lucidity of recognising the daughter and then forgetting her in a fleeting moment.

Dementia patients must be exhausted everyday just trying to catch up with themselves and their fleeting short term memory. Acting as the character itself makes me understand and empathise with them and their caregivers more.

So keep your mind positively occupied folks. Mental health is prime.

This is the third time I am acting as a person with dementia. For more, click here.

This is my first time acting with Carin Koh, a Mandarin theatre trained actress. She is amazing, being able to deliver the emotions and cry on cue. I love her diction.

The director chose the songs I happen to use in the audition. There were no rehearsals after that  prior to the shoot. The guitar and singing were recorded at a HDB void deck immediately after the principal photography. There was no time to do it properly in a studio. And the editor had only two days to finish everything after that.

I think it all turned out well. I am impressed! :)

Oh, incidentally something very special happened after the shoot. To find out, click here.

The Ninth Wave

This is a NYU Tisch Asia short film I acted in with Kelly Lim back in 2013. It was shot at the Peranakan quarters of Joo Chiat in Singapore. A lot of emphasis on the culture and colours of the place.  This is where I get to speak English, Malay and Cantonese in one film.

The story is about a man who realises that he needs to exit the stale marriage he is stuck in, after stumbling on a discarded painting by the bin.

Here is the video:

For more of NYU Tisch Asia shorts in this blog, click here.

Reunion

"Reunion" (2013) - A NYU Tisch Asia Film, Written & Directed by Joseph Hsu.

- A family struggles to hide the demise of a family member from the matriarch during the Lunar New Year Reunion Dinner.

This is one of my favourite short films, rich in cultural context and acting. I love the last part - the revelation - delivered very delicately by Kelly Lim and Madam Low Heng Joo. This film won the Grand Prize (Student Category) in the 1st Taiwan Weifilm Festival in 2013.

I love the Tisch Asia scripts, as they are very thought provoking. Tisch Asia was the place where I learned a lot of acting from. The stories usually involve major transformations as the plot unfolds, requiring the actor to deliver a wide emotional range in a short time. A hallmark of good scripts. I wish their Asian campus is still here.

Here is the film:

This script is inspired by a true story.

Trivia: 

The Yusheng (a very Singaporean Chinese New Year raw fish salad) was prepared by my sister with the finest ingredients. It was very yummy. We finished it after the shoot.

Here is another Reunion Dinner tragic story I did ... click here.

Rough Mix - The Movie

.

This was made three years ago. I played the supporting role of Inspector Wu, kind of an Asian Inspector Colombo, with long convoluted lines and ever inquisitive over the tiniest of details. I love the character.

This was the second time I acted with Rebecca, the first which was in Mediacorp TV series, "The Pupil".

.

Monochrome Films presents:

Sex, Greed, Murder, Betrayal. 

ROUGH MIX.

A Singapore Love Story.

Starring: Daniela Junko, Alexis Petitprez, Lim Kay Tong, Rebecca Lim

Original Score by: Bill Cunliffe

Edited by: Adam Lobel

Director of Photography: Eric Lim

Written by: Stephen Gerard

Produced & Directed by: Ying J. Tan

. . . .