Film Directors Workshop

Gavin Lim
Film Directors Workshop

“FilmDirectorsWorkshop” Podcast “FilmDirectorsWorkshop” is a podcast where Singaporean and some regional directors and crew talk about filming in Singapore. Each episode features a different director and crew shining a light on their projects and their journey into filmmaking.

  1. Film Directors Workshop Ep17 - Director Djinn (2023)

    AUG 16

    Film Directors Workshop Ep17 - Director Djinn (2023)

    Recorded in late 2023, I had the privilege to talk to Djinn in a noisy cafe in Sim Lim Square, before she rushed off flying back to LA- hence the aggressive background noise cancelling-sorry. We owe Djinn and all those involved with the Movie, Perth- for pioneering Singapore indie films in 2004, when it was a lot more difficult to write, produce, direct and distribute a feature film. A great person to chat with. Lots to share. In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of Singaporean filmmaker Djinn Ong, best known for her film Perth. Djinn takes us on a journey through her unconventional path into filmmaking, starting with her work at the Economic Development Board (EDB) to her experiences in the Hong Kong film industry and eventually into directing. From casting actors off the street to balancing the constraints of low-budget filmmaking, Djinn shares candid stories about working with actors like Sunny Pang, working with producer Juan Foo, her passion for telling authentic Singaporean stories, and the challenges of bringing independent films to life. Join us as Djinn reflects on her creative process, the evolving landscape of local cinema, and her thoughts on the future of filmmaking in Singapore and beyond. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring filmmakers and anyone interested in the intricacies of storytelling through film. [00:00:17] How Djinn found the female lead for Perth [00:01:56] Casting Sunny Pang [00:04:28] Creating the Film 'Perth' [00:05:51] Journey into Film Directing [00:06:55] Djinn began in early EDB promoting Creative Industries i.e Film [00:10:34] Writing a paper for the establishment of a Singapore Film Commission [00:11:31] Djinn tries an Indiana Jones type job [00:11:47] How Djinn got involved with Yonfan’s Bugis Street [00:13:20] Transition to the US and Short Films [00:17:29] Working in HongKong Film Industry what's the last thing you did, like [00:18:52] Not directing for a while [00:19:33] Reflections on Directing and Storytelling [00:20:53] Balancing Local and Global Storytelling [00:22:57] Returning Home: Reconnecting with Local Cinema [00:23:32] Character Development and Inspiration [00:24:35] The Joys and Struggles of Low-Budget Filmmaking [00:27:07] What Djinn looks for from a DP [00:31:02] Casting Authentic Characters [00:37:27] The Importance of a Good Production Team [00:41:33] Impactful Small Sequences [00:42:42] Exploring Global Cinema [00:43:41] Asian American Productions  [00:48:16] Challenges in Production [00:54:46] Directing and Actor Performance [01:05:22] Encouragement for Independent Filmmakers

    1h 7m
  2. FDW EP15 Talking with Actor/ Action Director Sunny Pang - Recorded Oct 2021

    08/22/2023

    FDW EP15 Talking with Actor/ Action Director Sunny Pang - Recorded Oct 2021

    FDW is back!!! Huge apologies. But FDW will be back as regular as I can keep this up. A nice slate of new activities planned and new energy an vigour. Let me clear the backlogue first. I was worried that these were recorded some time back that its not relevant coz the subjects have went on to great things BUT I found the conversation still very interesting and even more so with some hindsight. Kindly enjoy Sunny when he just came back from hobnobbing with Forest Whitaker and Tom Hardy on the set of Havoc.  1. 00:00:00 Just back from shooting in a Gareth Edwards Hollywood movie "Havoc" in UK 2. 00:00:24 How did Sunny Pang get into the industry in 1993 3. 00:03:31 1999 Sunny felt that he wanted to act more than doing ONLY stunts but after a lot of rejection, he became a bouncer in clubs. 4. 00:04:20 Sunny gets casted in 'Perth: The Geylang Massacre" 5. 00:06:19 Working with Lim Kay Tong in 'Perth' 6.  00:10:06 How disappointments affect his career 7.  00:12:47 How Perth was not seen as a commercial success 8.  00:14:04 Working with James Lee - a prominent Malaysian Director/Producer 9. 00:14:20 Working with his Sifu ?Aleelb Said - a HK/Indonesian Martial Arts Master Action Director working in Asia. 10. 00:15:16 Working with James Lee on "Call if you need me"  (2009) 11.  00:17:16 Meeting Timo Tjahjanto the first time for "Night Come for Us" 12.  00:18:07 Meeting "The Raid" Gareth Evans too. 13. 00:18:25  Then "Night Come for us" production stalled during prepro training. 14. 00:18:38 Then he was approached by Timo for "Headshot" since "Night Come for Us" stalled 15. 00:20:37 Screening of "Headshot" in Toronto International Film Festival 16. 00:21:50  Sunny recalls the first day of shoot for "Headshot" 17. 00:24:30 Learning to hustle as an actor 18. 00:26:52 Importance of being independent in getting jobs 19. 00:32:44 On Singapore's potential in the international arena 20. 00:37:13 Shooting for TV in Singapore - everything is too sanitised  21. 00:41:55 Shooting 'Gareth Evans international action flick "Havoc" 22. 00:43:52 What Forest Whitaker said to him after a take on 'Havoc' 23. 00:45:09 Whats next for Sunny Pang (Nov 21) 24. 00:46:52 Working with different directors 25.  00:49:47 Working on dramatic scenes requiring more focus for Sunny Pang  26. 00:51:37 Working with Indonesian Directors like Timo and Gareth   27. 00:52:42 An actor needs to understand the script well before shooting 28. 00:53:49 On rehearsals 29. 00:54:18 Rehearsal Process with Malaysian Director Zahir Omar 30. 00:55:35 Was there lots of rehearsals for 'Havoc'? 31. 00:56:59  Next projects (Nov 21) 32. 01:00:48 His experience working with Anri Okita a Japanese AV star 33. 01:04:47 His take on crying or emotional scenes 34.  01:01:08 On acting, no actinga nd over acting 35. 01:11:19 Sunny Pang on Inspector Han one of his memorable popular roles 36. 01:12:10 Sunny Pang's management style with Ronin Action Group 37. 01:15:23 About the 'Macho Man' in asian cinema 38. 01:22:16 About being open in the industry 39. 01:26:27 How was Craft Services on 'Havoc'?

    1h 27m
  3. FDW EP13 Talking with Director Wee Li Lin - Part 1 of 2

    05/24/2021

    FDW EP13 Talking with Director Wee Li Lin - Part 1 of 2

    Featuring our prolific Filmmaker Wee Li Lin. This was recorded last June when we were coming out of a CB and we may be heading towards a new CB as we speak.It's ironic that it is twelve months apart- nothing has changed much and yet everything did. She has of course done a lot more since but this series serves to a be a time-librarian of filmmakers in flux. Think its highly relevant and always cool to hang out with WLL- Our WW fllmmaker. 00:5:00 intros 00:39 "Such an effort to document and revise your showreel." 01:00 On how LiLin decided to put her showreel in order 01:32 How doing a showreel made her feel 'better about her work' 02:14 "when you put it together then you realise on you can do waht you do" 02:33 Overall Consistency in her body of work 03:46 How she conceive the short film title "Areola Borealis" 04:15 The use of Dialect Cantonese in "Areola Borealis" 05:10 LiLin on her tackling the use of Cantonese even when she is not versed in the dialect 06:31 Indirectly wanting to 'pay homage to her mom' who is Cantonese. 07:27 "Areola Borealis" had more ad-libbing than her previous works 08:49 The ad-Libbing and the delivered dialogue made the work very natural 09:00 On how English 'doesn't seem natural' in our works 09:45 Mentions on "Areola Borealis" writing being tight 10:11 LiLin on whether she directs mostly her own writing or otherwise 12:12 To be hired for one's unique 'Director's Voice'- about 'Directors having free reign over the scripts' 13:00 on Her personal successful relationship with a fellow writer- Jean Tay 15:02 "Keep chipping at the same Block" again on LiLin's on the type of stories, themes , characters and outcomes. 15:40 On being a craftsman in your work 16:00 LiLin on challenging herself to do things that are not in her usual domain 16:53 About being older and pushing herself to try new stuff, genre, characters and themes. 17:25 LiLin's love for her characters. 19:20 Same same but not necessarily different and doing something different for being different sake may not be beneficial 19:28 "Always a sense of fun" in all of LiLin's works 20:03 Always the 'nerdy underdogs' in all of her works 20:31 Where LiLin psycho-anaylsesing that this theme may be form her formative years as a teenager 21:28 Beyond the eye candy pastel visuals and 80's syths, "CP Kids" was a forgotten stigmatised counter culture in SG 21:45 On how "CP Kids" was supposed to be a docudrama but she couldn't find anyone to commission it. 23:50 On her trying to emulate the fashion and style in her school days (CP Kids) totally ‘out there’ 25:50 CHIJ uniforms 26:24 Autograph vs My Autograph 2015 27:50 Time-slips and time jumps concepts 28:15 On her prolific shorts filmography-how she keeps it going 30:00 on doing personal passion projects. Thirties was occupied with two feature films and going back to school at Tisch 30:15 in her forties she decided to go back short films and how Nicholas Chee facilitated her going back to her Utter Short "That Loving Feeling" 31:04 on her time stamping her works with her own age 32:56 Talking about Box Office 'success' and the true 'merit' of the film 34:42 Looking for a local audience 35:00 End of Part One.

    36 min

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“FilmDirectorsWorkshop” Podcast “FilmDirectorsWorkshop” is a podcast where Singaporean and some regional directors and crew talk about filming in Singapore. Each episode features a different director and crew shining a light on their projects and their journey into filmmaking.

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