Our Stories, Well Told: The Up-and-Coming

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