(6) Sandcastle by Boo Junfeng

Beautifully shot, poignant and meditative, Sandcastle succeeded in being an intimate journey into the life of the young protagonist En. I try to support as much local films as possible but sometimes they can push the boundaries of art so much that it can be rather self-indulgent. Thankfully Sandcastle managed to avoid this pitfall, at least it did for me. Cannes entrant, mai siaosiao.

I had the honour of speaking to Boo a couple of years ago at a local film event. He displayed to me a very humble man who credit his success to being lucky at having supportive friends and mentors.

With 3/5 of the theatre filled for a 9:30pm show on a weekday is a good sign that Singaporeans are beginning to support local films. Compared to 4 years ago when I caught Be With Me in an empty theatre on a weekend afternoon.

Having served in the committee for the past 6 years, I think I can finally let my mind take a short respite. It hasn't been an easy journey, though it really has been fulfilling and definitely some of the best moments of my life. There are still official duties here and there and I think I regret not giving myself a proper rest and recharge before starting my career.

'Doing the right thing' isn't so simple

by MAK YUEN TEEN

As this great nation of ours turns 45 and we celebrate the progress we have made, we should do some soul searching and ask ourselves this: What will become of us in 10 or 20 years' time?

Each year, the international non-governmental organisation, Transparency International, publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which measures the levels of public sector corruption around the world. It also publishes a map of the world which is coloured according to the levels of corruption.

In previous years, this map was colour coded such that the darker the shade of red, the higher the level of corruption indicated. Countries with low levels of corruption were represented by shades of yellow. The most striking thing about the map was how much of the world was in different shades of red and therefore, had relatively high levels of corruption as measured by the CPI.

The other striking thing was that Singapore was actually a little yellow dot surrounded by masses of red. On these old maps, we were not the little red dot that we are often referred to as. We were a little yellow dot - and that's good. Last year, Singapore ranked joint third with Sweden out of 180 countries on the CPI.

It is actually quite remarkable that Singapore has managed to stay "yellow" when it is surrounded by "red" countries. It is very easy to do what others do especially when we are so small. For this, the Government deserves credit for a low tolerance towards corruption here. Institutions such as the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and the Auditor-General's Office have all contributed to ensuring that we have one of the cleanest public sectors in the world.

The level of private sector corruption here is relatively low too. However, as our government-linked companies and small-to-medium enterprises increasingly venture overseas into "red" countries, the issue they must all face is how to do business in countries where corruption is the norm.

While we may be able to continue to manage our corruption at home, the behaviour of our companies overseas can ultimately damage our reputation as being one of the cleanest countries in the world. Over time, this may also creep into business practices in Singapore and destroy our hard-earned reputation.

At an anti-corruption conference here last year, a participant asked our Minister for Law this question: How would Singapore maintain its high standards of integrity and ethics in light of our open immigration policy?

I thought the minister's answer was honest and perceptive. The gist of what he said was this: Singaporeans are not inherently more honest than our neighbours because we come from the same roots. However, our strict rules against corruption and strong enforcement keep everyone honest - and will also keep our immigrants honest.

WILLING TO BRIBE ABROAD

During the panel discussion, I asked one of the panellists the corollary to that question: If Singaporeans are not inherently more honest and it is our strict rules and enforcement here that keep us honest, does this not mean that when our companies venture abroad and the rules and enforcement are less strict, they will pay bribes like others?

Transparency International produces another index, called the Bribe Payers Index, which measures the propensity of firms from leading export economies to bribe abroad. On this index, Singapore is ranked joint ninth out of 22 countries. This suggests that our while our internal corruption is low, our firms appear more willing to pay bribes when they do business abroad. When we look at the masses of "red" around us, this should not surprise us.

I have spoken to a number of businessmen and I can see the constant struggles they face in trying to "do the right thing" and also trying to survive and grow the business.

One businessman talked about having to add a 10-per-cent "facilitation" fee when bidding for public sector projects in a neighbouring country. Another said that he uses third parties so that he is not directly involved in paying bribes. The anecdotal evidence supports the data that corruption in some form by our companies operating overseas is not as uncommon as we would like to believe.

There may also be differences between how our laws define corruption and what our businessmen perceive as corruption. Take the example of companies paying the media in some countries to cover their events - a not uncommon practice in countries like China and Vietnam.

If payment is not made, the media will not cover the events. Some companies use third parties to do so, and many probably do not see this as corruption. Yet, I have been told by a senior regulator that paying the media is a form of corruption.

I think we are faced with a difficult dilemma of sustaining growth while maintaining our pristine reputation. I hope that we will look into the challenges faced by our businesses in doing the right thing and making money at the same time.

Just telling them "not to do it" may not be a helpful answer. They need to have a better understanding of how to manage corruption risks when they venture abroad because if we lose our hard-earned reputation as we regionalise and globalise, we may never get it back.

This may cause us great harm in the long term as global companies are increasingly concerned about the impact of corruption risks in overseas countries on their legal liability and reputation. It is troubling to think we might truly turn into a little red dot.

The writer is an associate professor at the NUS Business School. He serves on the boards of two large charities in Singapore and is a member of the Charity Council.

I received this hat as a gift from Pedro after he returned from his exchange in the States, but didn't knew what it was for, until he told me about the significance behind it 2 nights before. Honestly I'm honoured and what a good and timely reminder about the dreams that I have had before. I still have them. Just trying to follow a different path. Thank you. I hope I've not disappointed anyone with my choices. I'm not giving up. Never.

Tropa De Elite by Tihuana

This is my inspirational song for the running regime, especially the stretch when your mind starts telling you to give up but the song just keeps pushing you forward.



Tropa de Elite remains on the list of my favourite films, its soundtrack motivating. Part 2 just got released overseas. I'm usually wary of sequels and whatever that comes next.



Same director, same lead and hopefully same results. Tropa de Elite won a Golden Bear. Unlikely for the sequel to repeat a similar feat but will be interesting to see how it matches up to the previous effort.

59. Gomorrah

Want to see how I can shoot?

Gomorrah. 5 little interwoven stories. Mainstream audiences may be disappointed that it does not have the flair of Goodfellas, nor as stylistic as City of God. It's a film that is very hard to watch (digital video-like) and unpretty but perhaps is the message the director wants to drive with his images; a gritty but realistic potrayal of the underbelly, sans the glamourization of Hollywood underworld. Winner of the Grand Prix in Cannes 2008.

The closest people always fail you.

The world always disappoint.

And you continue to wonder what's it like at the end of the tunnel. I've done my best, fulfill my duties, but there isn't anything left to harvest.

还是做坏人比较好！

Burnt

I burnt my pocket for $428 on a brand new H4 Zoom. But quality sound. Almost perfection. This filmmaking is a very expensive hobby at the start.

This is one event I didn't have much hand on and words cannot describe how damn proud of you guys, standing up on stage and taking the lime light.

Something went terribly wrong with the Internet connect. Has always been a perennial issue with Starhub but this time round, it's more acute. I'm close to a week deprived of proper Internet connection (save for the iPhone of course).

I see meaning in my work. And I see myself here for a really long time.

Next up, pre-production for Marcus' directorial debut, Journey to the West.

(5) au reviour taipei

For an indie Taiwanese film, a close to full house theater must say something despite little publicity efforts. It's a beautiful film, though not exactly a 'best film' kind of film (the film did won Best Asian Film in this year's Berlin Film Fest). A winning formula that I had discussed with the Grasshopper; a mainstream but exciting story mix with indie/arthouse aesthetics. Thoroughly enjoyed the film and came out of the theater wondering why haven't a Singaporean made something like that?

On another note, I realise the lead bears an uncanny resemblance to...

Chong Ziliang. Right?

Who's that boy?

Photos: ST Online.

This is the boy (Low Wei Jie) who touched my heart on two consecutive early mornings and I'm sure, did the same for many Singaporeans.

You're the real Champion, even before the YOG kicks offs. Your spirit and perseverance is a good reminder to adults like myself. I hope you continue to grow up the same as a passionate young man. The country needs more people like yourself. Never mind the detractors and their criticism of yourself, they are merely narrow-minded whiners (and wankers).

Read his story here.

Happy Birthday Singapore

How apt that I'll be reporting for work tomorrow and a dedication of my next 2 years and more, towards serving this beautiful island and its people. Everything about Singapore reminds me why I love this place so much and why I want to serve her in my own ways. Its the same motivation why I like to make films based on nationalistic themes. Now to walk the talk and not pay mere lip service anymore. I don't think I did my best during National Service, it has been one of my regrets. Tomorrow and onwards will be my second chance to make it better for my country.

Happy 45th Birthday Singapore.

We have come so far, lets continue to strive on.

We had the motivation to make this video in 2008, after encountering many criticism of National Service, something which Ming and myself feel very strongly for.

One from Liew Shi Xiong on Vimeo.

One was a segment from an intended longer script, which we made for a Total Defence video competition last year. Won nothing but made me ponder a lot more about what our pledge stands for.

A Light in the Darkness from Liew Shi Xiong on Vimeo.

The thesis film was made following the economic crisis of 2009, to remind Singaporeans that we always prevail, despite the hardships.

They do care

Singaporeans are usually shy and reserved but it was really heartening to see the students cheering and singing as the YOG torch relay and motorcade came through this sleepy side of Singapore. Even the residents came down and cheer. It's a rarity to see Singaporeans so passionate. Even officials and volunteers on the bus were waving fervently.

My morning sleep may have been interrupted but I'm glad it did.

We do care afterall.

Have we become so narrow-minded, so spoil and so comfortable that we only think about ourselves? That we do not know how to be appreciative of our homeland anymore? That each time something goes wrong, or something causes an inconvenience, we go up in arms over the Internet? Thankfully most Singaporeans don't behave like that.

Rhetoric attracts people. The harsh reality don't. We can choose to escape and hide into the fantasy of a world that is 'promised' but how much substance is there? How can these ideal ideas work when they have not even been tested? We have to learn to differentiate reality from fantasy. The airy fairy and the firm hard ground that we are standing upon. There are flaws in every political system, this one included. But we have to be practical in our pursuits to find an answer, a safety blanket for those who fall through the net. Not rhetorics and rhetorics and rhetorics. We are still very much Asian at heart, despite a Westernised education and outlook.

The loneliness of the long distance runner

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)

Recently, I began to explore a new route into the nearby industrial area. The place buzzes like a beehive during the day but by night, it transforms into a ghost town.

I like long solo midnight jogs. The silence and loneliness of the streets is a refreshing experience and a change vastly different from the day. It gives me some time for myself. Time to relax and reflect. Almost the perfect therapy. Loneliness is not a terrible feeling at all. It is defined as a form of sadness in conventional English but my interpretation of it is merely a moment of being true to yourself, a state of vulnerability no less but an understanding and acceptance of your true nature of being. You have nothing to hide, nothing to pretend about, no secrets to tell and no one to harm. Just for that one moment.

Giving way for 2 weeks - Thoughts about YOG

Well-written and thoughtful post by a NUS undergraduate:

"I guess we have seen lots of complaints about the YOG everywhere. Be it on blogs, newspapers, ST forum, etc. What's the big deal about YOG? Why is Singapore spending so much on it? Do we really care about it? Is it just another big wayang? Why must we give way to the YOG buses? And what's with the Olympic lane? Aren't our roads not congested enough?

Frankly, from the day Singapore showed it's bid for the YOG, I was a cynic. What's the big deal? It is something for us to feel good about, since we can never be an Olympic host city? Hype? What hype?

Over the past month, I was proven wrong slowly.

For the past month, I've been attached to a secondary school. And it was then I begin to realise what YOG is doing to our youths. Many of them, I wish you could be there to see it for yourself.

I wish you could be there to see how sports seem to have a greater relevance to the students now. Each school is twinned with a country for a few years already, and they have been having exchanges. My school, for example, hosted students from their twin country last year, and had a friendly match. Without this exchange, I doubt many of them will even know this country existed, and thought that the country is just "African".

I wish you could be there to see the pride the students have, when it is made known that 2 of the students are selected to be torch bearers of the Olympic flame. I do not know the torch bearers, nor have I met them. But when this news was announced to my students, I can't describe the amount of pride they felt that their peers are holding such a responsibility, even though many of them don't know the torch bearers personally.

I wish you could be there when the students were told that there are free tickets to the YOG games. Even though it is held on weekends, even though it wouldn't be an excuse to miss school, I wish you could be there to see the excitement they have and how much they want to go for the event when given the opportunity to watch this events. This was even before they were told that they will receive a free commemorative EZ-link card to cover the transport cost for the day. How I wish there could be more tickets for them, as a total of around 100 tickets is given over 4-5 events for a school of 1400.

Now you might think that YOG may have hyped up the sports, but what about the other students who are not interested or involved in sports? What about them, other than the cultural exchanges?

I wish you could be there to see my students who are part of the Military Band. They have been selected to perform for the YOG opening ceremony. They pride the hold, the commitment they give to the long hours of practices and commute to the floating platform, the weekends burnt - you have to see it for yourself to know what I mean.

I wish you could be there to see some of the FB exchanges, of my ex-students and kids, who are involved in the performances for the opening ceremony or YOG related events. Some of the things they love, such as cosplay, break-dancing, have been demonised and marginalised by their parents and other adults. Finally, they have a platform to show them that there is nothing wrong with it, and hopefully, let them have a better understanding of what their passion is about.

I wish I could tell you more, and I'm sure you've heard of such non-sports exposure related to the YOG.

But if it aren't clear to you, YOG is a platform and a catalyst for many aspects of development for our youths. It gives them not just a platform to display, but a platform to learn, to show, to benchmark, and a platform to be proud of. And as I've shown, it's not just for the sports people or the sports super-stars.

I may be exaggerating, but this can very well be a monumental event for many of our youths in Singapore, regardless if they are involved directly, indirectly, or not at all. It could very well be the common memory of their generation.

I guess sometimes, we adults use the acronym in YOG so much that we forgot what it stands for. YOG starts with the word YOUTH. How come we've forgotten that it is all about the YOUTH. If we adults don't feel it, or feel the relevance of it, why should it be a surprise, since that it is mainly for our youths? And I'm not even talking about the cliché benefits, such as the Olympic values or those who are competing for from our youth volunteers interacting with different cultures around the world etc.

And since it is for our youths, is it still asking for too much, to give way for the 2 weeks, in exchange of a catalyst, a platform, and a lifetime memory for our future generation?

I know, cause my year-end holidays has been cut short by 2 weeks, and my school term has been pushed back by 1 month to host the YOG. As much as I grumble sometimes, I'm heartened by what I'm exchanging these for. "

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=426192107128&id=639732745

people-quoting

"You want too many things!"
"Can you afford to have the best of both worlds?"
"Sacrifice, my dear... Lot's of them."
"0.01% of success, but I'll just try."
"Succeed? Can. But you gotto work damn hard."

The worst toilet in Scotland.

Trainspotting by Danny Boyle. (1996)

No, the above quotes are not from Trainspotting. Just some of the things I've heard today - voices going thru' my head and the words from people around me.

One of the most unforgettable and powerful imagery, the worst toilet in Scotland. At a time when we were 17 and when the legality of pirated DVDs was still a confusing mist, the only way you're gonna watch a banned film was to get them from Johor Bahru. Kudos to Zak for the dvd.

Screening

The thesis short film will be screened at Sinema Old School on 31st August, 7:30pm, together with other local short films in a program titled 'Oriental Flavour'.

A Light in the Darkness from Liew Shi Xiong on Vimeo.

That's if you're interested to watch it on a big screen together with short films made by other local filmmakers.

Have I made the right choice?

I believe so. Human beings are just like this. When you have no choices, you wished you had one, just one. When you have too many options, you spend some time fretting if you've made the right choice.

jocks' fantasy

Watched a double-bill of action short films made by young Singaporean filmmakers. Zak said it's every jocks' fantasy. Story isn't central but that's the way it is with most action films. Kinda reminds you of homages to American B-grade cult films. Made with lots of heart and passion. Admirable.

your so called freedom?

The public smearing of pro-ruling party grassroot leaders, like the "expose" of one of them being a homosexual made me ponder a little bit more. So is this the kind of trashy "freedom of speech" that critics of the system want? Cyber-bullying at its best.

YOG or not

Before we had YOG, everyone was lamenting about the lack of support and opportunities for young Singaporeans with a sporting dream. Now that we have YOG, everybody is complaining that the games is a waste of taxpayers money and resources. And to rub salt in the wounds, they really don't care.

So what do we really want?

I put up the purple car decal a few days ago. This is the least I can show my support and not pay mere lip service. And of course, go watch the games.