The 21st Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) kicks off next week, with many exciting films screening. SIFF has managed to pull together a show with limited funding. I wonder why the authorities can spend millions on something that few people can appreciate (Singapore Biennale, huh), but not support a film festival? (Most Singaporeans watch movies)
Read filmmaker Tan Pin Pin’s interesting blog on SIFF.
Spent the last few weeks working on the album artwork for Zero Sequence:
Zero Sequence is a local progressive-rock/metal band. Listen to their awesome album samples here. Their members have also helped out as cast/crew on Hosaywood short films.
The album launch is at The Esplanade, 5th & 6th April 730pm.
Can’t wait to see the final product!
Zo Gang was screened last Monday at Sinema Showoff, with the premiere of the exclusive Zo Gang Blooper Reel. Be warned, it might be funnier than the film itself!
Jeremy Sing (Director of The Girl in the Red Sarong) spotted something interesting in Zo Gang:
“…Boy (young man) walks across basketball court to place something that looks like a jacket on the ground, all that while Merlion Tan was talking to the camera.”
Read it here on his blog and also on Sinema.
The screening was attended by less than 20 people though. Do come down for the repeated sessions on Mar 17, 24, 31. Entry is free, with other great films on show!
Remember this?
I’m Fandi, and here’s the score
The captain in ’94
We’re jamming and that’s for sure
Cos’ we are the Lions of Singapore!
Many soccer fans will be familiar with the songs in this CD released by FAS in 1994. Here’s a bit of trivia: The poster of this album is seen in Zo Gang. Can you spot it?
Meanwhile, in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers, Singapore will be facing Lebanon on 26 April at the National Stadium (still don’t wanna close ah?). Go Lions go!
Zo Gang will be screened at Sinema Showoff, together with an
exclusive never-seen-before Zo Gang blooper reel!
Sinema Showoff happens on Mondays on 10, 17 and 24 March 2008. I will be there on 10 March for Q&A session. (And no I’m not the guy in the poster)
Visit www.sinema.sg/oldschool for more details.
The 4th Singapore Short Film Festival (4SSFF) will be happening at The Substation in March.
Do come down and support! Films include ‘Man With Camera’, a documentary which features Hosaywood during the Zo Gang shoot. Tickets are available at Gatecrash.
Btw there is another SIFF which is 21st Singapore International Film Festival. Don’t get confused!
Most people won’t know that there were props created for Zo Peng:
Our crew Aaron even created Beer Hosay with customized labels. But damn, you wouldn’t notice the design since the whole film was a wide shot scene! Anyway, it goes to show how detailed we are =P
It’s been almost 2 years since we shot the music video for Lunarin – Silverpiece. And yea, it was done in my living room:
Given the constraints, I was quite happy the way it turned out. There’s always room for learning and improvement.
Wesley (Ah-Tan) is back from the Asian Hot Shots Berlin festival. Local filmmakers had a nice outing, playing to a full house at the Singapore hot shots programme!
(Pic thanks to Jolene)
Many friends I met have mentioned that they wish to get into local music or film, but don’t know how to. Where should a newbie start? I feel that it will be a good idea to introduce some local bands with reference to foreign acts:
1. Pop/Rock
Love bands like The Killers, Franz Ferdinand or Coldplay? Singapore’s very own Electrico and The Great Spy Experiment will leave you in no doubt that we can match the hippiest bands in the world! Shirlyn Tan has also been making waves as a singer-songwriter.
2. Alternative
Radiohead gave their music away for free, but you need to buy The Observatory and B-quartet cds. In my opinion the most innovative bands in Singapore!
3. Punk
Nofx and Mxpx fly the flag worldwide, but The Suns, Plain Sunset and Force Vomit are our local punk-rock heroes.
4. Metal
Are you a headbanger like me who worships Slayer and Dimmu Borgir? Kneel before the blackened altar of Rudra, Impiety and Meza Virs!
5. Alternative Metal
Tool and Deftones rose from the nu-metal period, and here Lunarin push the boundaries of grunge art-rock.
6. Progressive
Dream Theater fans love a bit of everything, so they should check out the highly talented Zero Sequence!
7. Post-rock/experimental
Sigur-ros and Mogwai may be kings, but on our shores I Am David Sparkle and Documentary In Amber provide the cutting edge.
8. Local music websites
There’re tons of ‘underground’ websites about local music and film, but whether a newcomer can find them, is another thing.
Soft.com.sg – This is THE site for local music. Get info about bands, gigs. Almost the whole local music community here!
Aging Youth – Read interesting interviews, reviews about local bands.
Channel V Amp is a regional portal where many bands post their songs and profiles. Songs here stream faster than from Myspace!
9. Gigs/Shows
There are local gigs happening almost every weekend nowadays. Check out the Soft forum under ‘Gigs and Concerts’. Timbre Bar/Cafe at Armenian Street features local musicians daily.
The Esplanade has free outdoor shows every weekend. Also, the annual Baybeats, the most happening local indie festival, happens around August at The Esplanade!
10. Magazines
Junk is an indie magazine from KL, and is dedicated to SEA music, including many Singapore bands! Junk comes monthly with a free CD and can be found in major bookstores and newstands.
11. Radio
On radio, 98.7fm has a local music program ‘Home’ on Saturdays, 7-8pm. Unpopular Radio and Rampage on the Airwaves have been faithfully podcasting sounds from our shores.
12. Stores
Some of the bands mentioned have their cds stocked in major stores like HMV and Grammaphone. Otherwise, Earshot Cafe at The Arts House and Roxy Music (#02-15 Excelsior Shopping Centre) stock all the local cds you need. Straits Records and Inokki (#03-30 Far East Plaza) also have good selections. Alternatively, email the bands you like and order cds from them!
Note: The above is not a definitive guide to the scene. This is just a general overview of the local music scene, for people to get started with. Most of the bands above belong to the rock spectrum, which I’m more familiar with. Heck, the genres above may be inaccurate too. There are many many other bands, websites and genres in Singapore. Feel free to go discover!
Look out for the 2nd part of this series, Beginner’s Guide to Singapore Local Film.