This document is downloaded from DR-NTU, Nanyang Technological University Library, Singapore.

Transcription

1 This document is downloaded from DR-NTU, Nanyang Technological University Library, Singapore. Title For rent.( Press Kit - for public ) Author(s) Citation Lim, Xin Hui.; Goh, Moy Yen.; Ong, Kai Wen.; Thong, Serene Wan Ling. Lim, X. H., Goh, M. Y., Ong, K. W., & Thong, S. W. L. (2009).. Final year project report, Nanyang Technological University. Date 2009 URL Rights Nanyang Technological University

2 Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Press Kit [FOR RENT] A Video Documentary that explores the stories of a forgotten community residing in the one/ two room rental apartments in various parts of Singapore.

3 Contents 1. Video Fact Sheet 2 2. Production Stills 3 3. Project Background Sheet 6 4. The Crew 7 5. Contact Information 9 1

4 1. Video Fact Sheet Title of Project: Total Running Time (TRT): 20mins 10secs Date of Completion: March 24, 2009 Synopsis: Living in a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat has become commonplace and many in Singapore take home ownership for granted. Within their well developed housing estates, many do not notice their lesser counterparts who are unable to afford home ownership. Instead, they rent subsidized one/two room rental flats from the government. Some even struggle to pay the seemingly small monthly rental fee for their small living spaces. They have become the forgotten community. Compromise, often associated with concepts of balance and tolerance, mark the lives of those who reside in one/ two room rental flats. 78-year-old Mdm Ong finds herself having to compromise when living with an unreasonable housemate forces her to move into another unit. A young Malay father of two, Ali, has to compromise with the confined space of a one room flat his family shares with his brother-in-law s family of eight, after finding themselves without a home overnight due to a lack of understanding of the housing policies. attempts to paint a clearer picture of the challenges that this forgotten community residing in subsidized HDB one/ two room rental flats in many parts of Singapore face. It sheds light on some underlying social issues that a common Singaporean may overlook and forget, while living comfortably in their own housing estates. Principle Crew: Name Role Contact No. Goh Moy Yen Director meiyan12@gmail.com Alicia Lim Producer alicialim.xh@gmail.com Ong Kai Wen Editor ong_kai_wen@hotmail.com Serene Thong Cinematography serenethong@gmail.com This work was produced as a final-year project in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. 2

5 2. Production Stills Companionship She looks after me, and I look after her, Mdm Neo (Mdm Ong s current housemate) We usually find them this way Mdm Ong excitedly talking about her day s adventures while Mdm Neo sits silently in her corner. 3

6 Competition for space It s twelve persons in one room, Uncle Ali Under one roof The two families find their smiles for a picture with the matriach. Sound Recordist, Kai Wen, conscientiously picks out interesting natural sounds, like children s laughter, so as to piece together an emotive audio mix. 4

7 Community I will help, as long as I can, Mdm Yip A heart to serve the people she love, Mdm Yip is a volunteer with Yong-en. Light up the dark The crew s attempt to fit in lighting equipment for the interview with Mdm Yip 5

8 3. Project Background Sheet started out as a quest to delve deeper into the lives of a seemingly forgotten community in Singapore s society of today. The inspiration for the project had materialized while the filmmakers took a moment to pause in the hectic pace of everyday life, taking a closer look at the little things that surrounded them. Living in a HDB all my life, we tend to take home ownership for granted, said the director Goh Moy Yen. It never occurred that under the façade of the familiar HDB landscape, there are many who struggle having a roof over their head. The journey they embarked on was not an easy one, as can be seen by the many challenges that they faced. The director of photography, Serene Thong, remembers hawking our equipment in the van outside our profile s home, waiting for something to happen ; only to be met with disappointment as most times, nothing does. This sense of helplessness is compounded by the collective chorus of how mentally and physically exhausting the process was from the entire team. Even so, producer Alicia Lim feels (no) regret (for) all the wrong turns we have taken down the road, as it made us stronger as a team and also, as individuals. She muses that the film would not have been this rich without all the tears, sweat and blood; and the well of both good and bad experiences behind it. Now that their stories have been told, editor Ong Kai Wen hopes that it will help to raise awareness about this unknown group of people, as well as to show that there are loopholes in the system, so that more help can be given to this group of people. It is the team s common dream that the film will now make its rounds across the film festival circuit, and in some way, become a force of hope for these people. The filmmakers are hoping to be able to create a longer piece in the near future, so as to be able to deliver fully the story of these people. This work was produced as a final-year project in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. 6

9 4. The Crew GOH MOY YEN DIRECTOR / EDITOR Moy Yen has had experience directing since her secondary school days, when she was an active member of the Drama Society. In university, she co-wrote and directed In Your Shoes, an annual arts production by NTU s Hall of Residence 7 in 2008, and then moved on to produce 72 Hours in A keen interest in production led her to self-source an internship with local production house, Threesixzero Productions, in early 2005, gaining experience as an Assistant Producer for various documentaries. Her latest venture into production was as a Junior Editor in 2008 for Freeflow Productions, where she edited numerous commercials and corporate videos, produced locally and overseas. LIM XIN HUI (ALICIA) PRODUCER Alicia first developed a keen interest in production when she did stage managing for 2 years consecutively for her hall s annual art production, which was held in the Singapore Repertory Theatre in 2008 and the Lee Foundation Theatre in Having recently completed a six-month internship at as a Producer at The Moving Visuals Co, she gained valuable industry experience in all aspects of television production. Alicia helped produce an eight-part infotainment series for MediaCorp TV 5, Slurp!, that involved coordinating for shoots that took place across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. As a Production Assistant on-set, she has been involved in shoots for Disney, The History Channel, and MediaCorp TV. Most recently, Alicia was involved in researching and producing a two-part documentary on car racing history in Singapore. 7

10 ONG KAI WEN ASSISTANT PRODUCER / SOUND RECORDIST / EDITOR Kai Wen began her relationship with production in Hwa Chong Junior College, where she was part of the production team for her school s annual art production, Huang Cheng Ye Yun. This passion continued into her university days, as part of the production crew for her hall s art production. In terms of television production, she has gained experience working as a Trailer Producer and Production Manager for MediaCorp TV On-Air Promotions department. She also has experience as a Production Assistant for various shoots. Kai Wen is currently doing freelance work as a trailer producer for MediaCorp TV On-Air Promotions (Ch 8). THONG WAN LING SERENE CINEMATOGRAPHY Serene has always had an interest in the camera, being an avid fan of photography herself. Upon entrance into NTU, she quickly developed an eye for the camera, and has since secured her place behind the camera, having done camera work for numerous video projects in school. In 2007, she gained experience as the studio director for Born To Shine, a children s Christmas musical for Faith Communist Baptist Church that was streamed live to a large audience. Outside of school, Serene continues to hone her camera skills she is currently a camera operator for her church, part of the production crew that does live studio broadcasting of the church service. 8

11 5. Contact Information Lim Xin Hui (Alicia) Producer, Moment Studios Undergraduate, Division of Electronic and Broadcast Media Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Mobile: