Hold onto your empty horses, don’t be so quick on the draw to snort, but I do think we do not make enough movies.
Yes, you read that right. Singapore should produce more films.
I’m driven to the above suggestion, from reading about an embarrassing incident at the last Venice Film Festival (September) when the Scandinavian actor Mads Mikkelsen was asked about diversity in his film.
A journo took him to task about the all-white cast.
The actor was flummoxed.
The actor was flummoxed.
It is a Danish film set in 1750, he offered by way of explanation.
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Backgrounder, from 2024 film submissions to the almighty Academy (of Arts and Sciences) for Oscar consideration will have to tick at least two of four boxes under criteria.
The new standards are, onscreen representation, creative project team, industry opportunities, audience development.
To have a shot at best picture Oscar your movie must meet two of the four standards:
- One of leads must be from an under-represented racial ethnic group, or the story or plot is centred on an under-represented group.
- The production team, creative and department heads — at least two from under-represented groups, or film crew and technical positions, at least six from under-represented groups.
- Distribution, production, financing must offer paid apprenticeship/internships to under-represented groups.
- The marketing and publicity must have senior executives from under-represented groups.
I do believe Singapore has got it all.
We are, we can be, Oscar-worthy, peeps!
Using the simplest most basic of examples: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Well hello, the leading lady will of course come from our Caucasian community.
Leaving the seven crucial character parts to three Chinese, two Malays, one Indian, one Eurasian.
Whether the Chinese is Grumpy and the Indian is Doc, etc let the wicked stepmother sort out that one.
The prince can be mixed race.
A caveat though. No lah, don’t do Singlish movie, okay? Unless you’re after the half-past-six prize one.
When it comes to diversity, we can’t – almost – be bested.
I grew up – here comes the grandfather stories – with an Indian neighbour, and the floor below housed Malay and Eurasian families.
We grew up colour blind and knew only that we were Singaporeans. After school we played all afternoon in the compound of seven, four-storey blocks.
Ethnic, multi-racial, quota, were neologism terms to come.
Decades after, a friend said she only realised she was Eurasian, because she was made to feel one, with the introduction of CDAC, EA, MENDAKI, SINDA.
The self-help groups, Chinese Development Assistance Council, Eurasian Association, Yayasan Mendaki, Singapore Indian Development Association.
It may not be too late in the day now to re-think self-help groups. I mean the appellation. Should it not be group-help rather than self-help? C’mon!
But back to the business of talking pictures, Singapore.
Not only are we more diverse than a packet of M&Ms (in my day we called them Smarties) we have the plus points of Indians who speak Chinese, and Chinese who can pantun in Kristang!
We do have MPs who can chat outside of their mother tongue, too.
But of course on no account put them in your picture.
They might just corner all the acting prizes.
(Er, joking only hor, please continue to upgrade my estate.)
(Er, joking only hor, please continue to upgrade my estate.)
In the last some 25 years Singapore has produced 30 feature films. We have 280 cinema screens and an annual 10 million attendance, before the lockdown switched the lights back on.
We’re on the bounce back, so, to name a few of our more well-known movie directors or filmmakers: Glen Goei, Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Tans (Royston and Pin Pin) and Viknesh Silva, who made the award-winning film about the Life of an Indian Migrant Worker. All right this list is not diverse enough, wokie.
But, go lights, camera, action!
From our diverse historical and cultural tapestry spin and weave a tale say on the Merlion.
Four friends, yes, yes, Malay, Indian, Eurasian, Chinese, on one of their weekly outings, stared too long into the blinding eyes of the Merlion which effect caused them to switch identities.
The Chinese became Indian, etc.
I think the stunned quartet are still roaming around Sentosa.
I am a quarter Burmese, I could be your gaffer or water boy.
