2nd Michael Chua Evening of Short Films (2016) - Review

Thanks for coming to the 2nd Michael Chua Evening of Short Films yesterday. Click here.  It was a full-house.

11 short films (120mins) were screened. They took at least 30x10 hours of shoot time, many more days of pre-production and post-production, and many tedious hours curating the films, seeking permissions, locations, testing out the films, publicity...etc, to make it all happen.

There are many short films in Singapore that do not get screened much, if at all. Which is such a pity! So I thought I'd do my small part to help. Capturing the audience's spontaneous response live is priceless - critical feedback for actors and directors/writers, in my view.

It is different watching films live on a big screen. Synergies happen when like-minded people meet face-to-face. Online 'likes' is no substitute.

Yesterday, a member of audience suggested that I should look at making such screenings commercially at mainstream cinemas. Another wants to meet the director and cinematographer of one of the short films to collaborate. I also got to discuss about a collaboration with a cinematographer and action choreographer, myself.

I think the next one should also screen good short films that I am not in. So in time, this event will pride itself as a screening of curated good short films.

Last, but not least, a big thank you to Lasalle, the film makers, the event helpers and the two beautiful bouquets.

The next one will be in two years' time. See you then.

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The following films were screened (2 of original 13 were not ready in time.)

1. Mr Postman
2. Dispher
3. The Collector
4. Penghulu
5. Checkmate
6. AFLOAT  斗鱼
7. The Next Plot
8. 有情常在 BFF
9. I Could Have Been Happy
10. My Father's Smile
11. Hua

Feedback:

"Afloat" is the favourite among many, for its exquisite cinematography, strong story and realistic acting.

"Checkmate" is liked for the clever dialogue and metaphors, Some in the audience say that they like the believable insanity of the lead character.

"The Next Plot" - my friend notice that I had fleshed out the character very well. It looks very convincing that I was in pain. Well, the fact is that, I was really in pain. My back was killing me during the shoot, but the show must go on. Fortunately it helped with the performance.

"Dispher" - a cinematographer likes the clever use of camera angles and the postproduction. Evidently so, as many projects by Singapore Polytechnic film course students do. They love special effects.

"The Collector" is liked for its realistic backdrop and morbid story of a loving father who misses his daughter.

"有情常在 BFF" is liked for its Taiwanese feel. I supposed intentionally not made to look Singaporean. Meant to be exportable to China and Taiwan. So the producer's intention works.

"Mr Postman" - many laughed at the deadpan dark humour, so the writer's jokes work. Congratulations.

I did not gather much comments about the remaining films.

Some criticisms:

"Hua" - the audience was not clear that the older man is the step-father.

A general criticism that most of the films do not have good clear endings. Which I agree, including "The Next Plot", which I produced,

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2nd Michael Chua Evening of Short Films (2016)

Only 80 seats available at the time of writing. ADMISSION IS FREE!
Priority will be given to Lasalle College of the Arts students and the cast and crew of the productions.

NO MINORS BELOW 16 YEARS OLD.

Number of seats available will be updated on Facebook (about this blogpost).
Admission by registration only.

Register by emailing "Name + Mobile Num" to: Mysticmichael@gmail.com
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Once in a while with the permission of the copyright owners, I would organise a screening of short films I have acted in. The last one was held two years ago. 

Some of the films are available online, but it is better to watch it on big screen in the presence of many, and to understand more about the films and how they were made during the Q&A session that follows.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG IF YOU WANT TO BE INFORMED OF FREE EVENTS LIKE THIS ONE.

Event Details

ADMISSION IS FREE!

DATE: 27th February 2016 (Saturday)
TIME: 6.30pm
VENUE: Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore. Room F201

Directions/Map: click here.


Map and Directions

LASALLE’s campus at 1 McNally Street is located between Short Street and Prinsep Street.

By MRTRochor, Exit A (2-minute walk)
Little India, Exit A (8-minute walk)
Bugis, Exit A (9-minute walk)
Dhoby Ghaut, Exit A (15-minute walk)

By BusSBS: 23, 48, 56, 57, 64, 65, 131, 139, 147, 166
SMRT: 66, 67, 170, 851, 857, 960, 980

CarparkThe entrance to LASALLE’s basement carpark is located along McNally Street. The carpark parking rates as follow:

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Some comments from the previous 'Michael Chua Evening':

"Generally well organized, get to see film clips completely different from the cookie cutter style comercial films. Displays how budget films attempts to wow audiences with subtle messages that address bigger issues in life"
--- Larry Lim


"I really enjoyed the short films - interesting, touching, entertaining.....Looking forward to the next screening. Thk u Michael for organising it."
--- Sally Teo

"It was a wonderful evening with a mix of talent and art from the film fraternity accompanied by the actor himself. Great work and an even humble and down to earth person. Michael truly was the star of the evening:). FABULOUS WORK! ! Looking forward to the next meet up."
--- Sankeshwari Deo

To find out about the previous 'Michael Chua Evening' (2014), click here.

Thirteen selected films in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay. 124 minutes.

Restricted to audience above 16 years of age only.

List of Films

1. Mr Postman

A Ngee Ann Polytechnic Production

Directed/Written by Mohit Rajgopal

Actors: Michael Chua & Ronald Goh

A mockumentary of a father and son team in a reality show.

(In English, 12 minutes)

2. Dispher

A Singapore Polytechnic Production.
Directed/Written by Yap Wen Hui
Actors: Michael Chua, Patrick Ong & Daeng Amer

A night taxi driver tales surrounding a mysterious box and his dilemma.

(In English, 6 mins 21 secs)

3. The Collector

Produced/Written by Mark Alexander
Directed by Darren Tan
Actors: Michael Chua, Ali Khan, Cherie Tay & Kelly Lim

A psychologically unstable man who is compelled to confront his inner demons when he discovers a small music box that sparks memories of his daughter. 
(In English, 6 mins 58 secs)

4. Penghulu

Commissioned for the Singapore Writers' Festival, Utter 2013.
Story adapted from Pak Suleh (from Penghulu) by Suratman Markasan.
Directed by Lillian Wang

Actors: Michael Chua, M Ramlee, Nurijah Sahat, Syafiq Akmal, Shaquille Daniel, Husnen Nanaz, Robiah Binte Murat & Mohd Bin Razali

Pak Suleh used to be the Penghulu (headman) of his village, but five years ago, the government relocated his family to an HDB flat on the mainland. Life is very different for him, cooped up in this “birdhouse”. Without a village to tend, Pak Suleh feels lost.

(In Malay, 16 mins 29 secs)

5. Checkmate

A Nafa Production

Directed/Written by Willy Tan

Actors: Michael Chua & Amy Yan-Luong

David Lee, a man disillusioned with life, goes through counselling in prison for the murder of his wife.

(In English, 14 mins)


6. AFLOAT  斗鱼

A Ngee Ann Polytechnic Production

Directed/Written by Reuben Foong

Actors: Kong Ling Jing Sherry Tao & Michael Chua

Xiao Wen and her mother are a close-knit pair, but the former’s wish to return to their homeland remains only hers. When her mother’s new partner enters their lives, Xiao Wen decides to take action.

(In Mandarin, 14 mins)


7. The Next Plot

A Michael Chua Production and Red Dot Filmmakers 

Directed/Written by Michael Chua

Actors: Michael Chua, Amy Yan & Joann Wu

Kit Lee is in deep grief over the lost of his wife and the complications that follows.

(In English and Mandarin, 5 minutes 28 seconds)








8. 有情常在 BFF

A Production by Revelation Productions

Directed/Written by Kelvin Sng

Actors: Michael Chua, Hui Xin, Shawna Wu, Sun Yifang & Daniel Moore.

Xiao Hui lives her life like many young people, living a busy and hasty life, until an life changing event hit her, as a reminder to cherish the people close and dear to her, and that life is after all, beautiful.

(In English and Mandarin, 11 minutes)

9. The Piano Teacher

A United World College, SEA, Singapore Production.

Written by
Directed by David Boot 

Actors: Michael Chua & Edmund Heng.

The story of a once well established piano teacher, now in dementia. 

(In English,  8 minutes)


10. I Could Have Been Happy

A Nanyang Technological University, School of Arts, Design and Media productions.

Directed/Written by Anson Goh

Actors: Michael Chua, Linda Goh & Rosemary Lau.

A middle-aged man futile attempt to seek love and happiness. 

(In English,  7 minutes)

11. Last Week My Brother Raped Me

A Lasalle School of the Arts, Puttnam School of Films Production

Directed/Written by Say Peng

Actors: Michael Chua, De Zhong & Leeiann

The trauma that follows the rape of the daughter in the family.

(In English, 12 minutes)




12. My Father's Smile

A Lasalle School of the Arts, Puttnam School of Films Production

Directed/Written by Marisa Goh

Actors: Michael Chua, Yolby Low & Kelly Lim

A divorced man takes his son to a journey of fantasy and make-belief to mask the harsh realities of life.

(In English, 12 minutes)

13. Hua

A Ngee Ann Poly

Directed/Written by Derek Ong

Actors: Michael Chua, Derek Ong, Kelly Cheung & Catherine Ho

A picture paints a thousand words and more, much to his astonishment in the barn.

(In Cantonese, 9 minutes)


SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG IF YOU WANT TO BE INFORMED OF FREE EVENTS LIKE THIS ONE.

Michael Chua Evening of Short Films

I would like to thank Lasalle School of the Arts; James Khoo from Pangolin Films; Osman from Hijrah Films; Chef Jeremy Cheok; Harvaraj from Lion City Film Studios; Marrie and the Reel Frenz;  the film producers and directors who are so generous to allow me to screen their films; and most of all the seventy or more of you whom had taken time to attend the event on a Saturday evening.

I have received very positive feedback about the films and some are already asking for another screening. I will organise another one, probably in six months' time, as I am doing all these amid my productions, scripts and shoots. It also takes time to request for the films and the  permission to screen, converting them to mp4, testing them out in the theatre, getting the theatre itself, organising the catering, publicity and registration. 

Some of the comments received were:

"Awesome acting!! 2 thumbs up!! Thanks for organizing ."  
--- Calvin Huang

"Good acting from the cast and the scripts explored a spectrum of society issues. Thought-provoking, touching and insightful. Thank you very much to Michael and all the assistants who helped organise and make yesterday's screening a success!" 
--- Emily Woo









"Generally well organized, get to see film clips completely different from the cookie cutter style comercial films. Displays how budget films attempts to wow audiences with subtle messages that address bigger issues in life"
--- Larry Lim


"I really enjoyed the short films - interesting, touching, entertaining.....Looking forward to the next screening. Thk u Michael for organising it."
--- Sally Teo

"It was a wonderful evening with a mix of talent and art from the film fraternity accompanied by the actor himself. Great work and an even humble and down to earth person. Michael truly was the star of the evening:). FABULOUS WORK! ! Looking forward to the next meet up."
--- Sankeshwari Deo

There is a French man in the audience who said that he was surprised that there are such entertaining and inspiring films made in Singapore, particularly so as he didn't think that there is a film industry here.

The next screening will likely be a smaller one with a more selective audience, according to their interest in films and their being punctual. Some of the very late comers in this screening will be banned. In the next screening I will lock the door when the screening start. Those who registered and did not turn up this time will also be banned.  You have been warned.

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Finally, I got my act together to choose eleven short films out of the 150plus productions I have been in over the last three years. Then I had them converted to mp4 format and tested out. Alas...

This wil be a once in a long while screening of the short films I have acted in. This screening has been requested by many of my friends, but something which I have procrastinated for about two years. So here you are...

This event is FREE, but registration is necessary. RSVP here and ALSO email your name, email address and mobile phone number to jupilier1@gmail.com .

Seats are very limited, so please change your RSVP well ahead of time if you cannot turn up, so that we can re-allocate them to others. Those who fail to do so will be banned from future screenings.

Date: 15 February 2014 (Sat)

Time: 4.30pm to 8pm

Venue:

Room F208, Lasalle College of the Arts,  

1 McNally Street, Singapore.
187940

Registration will start at 4.30pm
Screening will start at 5pm.
Q&A at 6.45pm.

Mix and mingle after that.
Light snacks, tea and cold drinks will be served.
Courtesy of Lion City Film Studios and my banker brother. The food will be catered by my good friend Chef Jeremy Cheok, whom I befriended during the Secret Supper Club days.


LIST OF FILMS

We only have time to screen eleven films as that will already take close to 90 minutes.
For more write-ups about some of the films and others, please refer to other articles in this blog.

1. Dinner


Directed by Heng Le, Winner of Open Category, 180 Short Film Competition 2013, organised by Singapore Media Academy.
Actors: Michael Chua, Kelly Lim and Ezekiel Chee.

A security guard is a father and also like a superman to his son. (In Mandarin, 2 mins 18 secs)

 
2. Godverdomme Coffee
 

Directed by Eric Eloffson. 
Actors: Michael Chua & Sjors Wijers.

A Dutchman's last wish to have his cup of coffee before death row. (In English, 9 mins 47 secs)

 

3. Change

Directed by Leon Tai. 
Actors: Michael Chua, Karen Tan & Horsey Hui. 
A beggar is a beggar until he comes in handy in times of need. (In English, 8 mins)

 


4. Last Wish
 

Directed by Jeah Goh. Actor: Michael Chua & Sean Goh. 

About the final reconciliation of father and son.(In Mandarin, 10 mins)

 




5. Detour

 
Oirected by Michael Kam. Nominated in 4 categories of the 5th Singapore Short Film Awards - Best Fiction, Best Director, Best Performance (Michael Chua, Presley Lim & Yolby Low) and Best Script. Screening in competition at the 13th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short & Animation Films over in India from 3 to 9 Feb '14.

On a hot sunny afternoon, a father and two restless siblings stuck in a traffic jam took a detour that leads to a misfortune that the family struggles to come to grips with... For more details, click here. (In Hokkien, 7 mins 22 secs)

6. Anniversary


Directed by Joseph Hsu. 
Actors: Michael Chua & Aki Masabayashi.
  
On a visit to the cemetery, a man catches a girl stealing flowers he laid on his wife's tomb. For more details, click here. (Silent, 4 mins 19 secs)

 
 
7. Stitched


Directed by Paul Tang. 
Actors: Michael Chua, Dora Teo & Phumtida Kiatthat. 
Horror befalls a father and his daughter after the former deserted his pregnant girlfriend in Thailand.(In Mandarin and Thai, 10 mins)

 


8. Reunion
 

Directed by Joseph Hsu. Grand Prize (Student Category) 1st Taiwan Weifilm Festival (2013).
Actors: Kelly Lim, Low Heng Joo, Jiayi Wang & Michael Chua

A family is compelled to an awkward revelation during a Chinese New Year Reunion dinner... (In Mandarin, Hokkien and English, 10 mins)

 
9. Gift

Directed by Daniel Yam. 
Actors: Jim Koh, Jon Tay, Michael Chua, Yoro Tan Yuan Chong. A touching story about a karunguni man, exemplary father and generous soul...For more details, click here. (In English, 7 mins 32 secs)

 
  
10. Hentak Kaki


Directed by James Khoo. Winner of Silver Screen Award (Short Films) at the 24th Singapore International Film Festival (2011).

Actors: Michael Chua and P Muruganandan
 
Winner of Best Performance and nominated for Best Director and Best Script at the 3rd Singapore Short Film Awards (2012).

"Hentak Kaki" is one of the few local short films that have gone viral on the Internet and even gotten the mainstream press attention. It is currently the most popular video (by far) on viddsee.com

2nd Warrant Officer Teck Hong served his entire life in the army, but now finds himself needing to make a pivotal decision to continue serving in the army or leave and face the harsh reality of life outside. (In English/Singlish, 10 mins)

11. Deviant Ink

Directed by Brett Rogstad. 
  
A defiant teen, her tattoo and her motivation. (In Mandarin, 10 mins 21 secs)

 




Total: 88 min 39 sec