The Substation Moving Images presents
THE BEST OF FIRST TAKE
1 December 2008
The Substation Theatre
8pm, FREE ADMISSION
First Take, happening every 1st Monday of the month at The
Substation, is a popular screening of new & fresh local short
films and is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. A platform
for new filmmakers and anyone who is interested in filmmaking to
meet, exchange ideas and show their work. See the future talents of
Singapore film!
For this special screening, we are presenting the audience
favourites of each month, and a final vote is cast for the Top
Favourite of First Take 2008! Come watch the most popular First
Take films of each month and cast your vote to support your
favorite film!
Top Favourite of First Take 2008:
1. FLYER / HELMI YUSOF / 19 MIN / PG
Walking down a busy street, a reporter is handed a flyer that
reads: “Would you like to die? Visit us at Block 108, Kallang Way.”
He goes to the address to investigate but gets sucked into a
bizarre world of shadows and enigma. His colleagues try to rescue
him, but they too become ensnared…
2. THE MITRE SPELL / TONY KERN / 15 MIN / PG
THE MITRE SPELL began as a curious query more than anything. Coming
from the States, I was fascinated with Singapore's slight obsession
with the supernatural and began location scouting spooky places for
inspiration. I was soon directed to the now defunct Mitre Hotel,
which still has a few tenants and operates as a bar... sort of.
What started off as a one night visit and a few questions, soon
became a fledgling documentary project. At the Mitre, there was an
endless supply of quirky answers that inevitably gave rise to more
questions. We started recording interviews on tape and were given
permission to roam the premise for a time. Soon it would seem, I
too came under the Mitre spell and became fascinated with the old
place. This is part of the story.
3. WHITE / TAN WEI KEONG / 2 MIN / 2006 / G
A man, dissatisfied with a white cube for a head, decides to give
it up immediately for a fanciful one in the name of
self-improvement.
4. COMMA / EZZAM RAHMAN / 3 MIN / 2008 / PG
“Life is similar to a cup of tea, once the cup is broken, the tea
remains as tea.”
Anonymous
5. DI MANAKAN KU CARI GANTI (WHERE CAN I FIND A REPLACEMENT) /
SHAFIQ ISKANDAR / 16MIN / 2007 / PG
A subjective video in the style of a documentary about P. Ramlee
and the fall of Malay Film Industries during the 70s, of how they
have been forgotten by the people today and to bring back memories
of what it is to be called the golden era of film at that time.
Could we have another P. Ramlee today?
6. SHUT IN / PAMELA PANG / 23MIN / 2008 / PG
Shut In explores the dysfunctional world of Jason, a young urban
hermit whose solitary lifestyle is disrupted when Janice, a
vivacious young woman turns up unexpectedly at his front door. A
beautiful chemistry develops. Janice brings life and vitality to
Jason, something that was lost to him when he shut himself in. But
it seems that Janice has a little secret and as with all secrets,
it eventually unravels.
[Intermission]
7. ELECTRONIC, I LOVE YOU / SEAN LI-WEN CHEONG / 20 MIN / 2008 /
PG
A portrait of the accidental dissolution of human relationships,
set against the backdrop of hollow, superficial and volatile
electronic communication. Peggy (Neo Swee Lin), a lonely retiree
hooked on American soap operas, has an introverted son, who suffers
from social anxiety disorder. They live in the same house but exit
in completely different realities that never converge.
8. IN OUR OWN WORDS / MELINDA TAN / 17 MIN / 2008 / PG
What is the definition of normality? Two young kidney patients go
on a quest to challenge society’s perception of them. In the
process, they discover their own ability to redefine what being
normal is all about.
9. TAK DONG CHENG / SUFFIAN ZAINUDDIN / 36 MIN / 2008 / PG
Best Friends Jas and Farid are interested in learning lion dance.
However, they face many obstacles and challenges while learning a
different culture. In a multi-cultural country such as Singapore,
will they be able to realize their dreams?
[Final votes, vote-counting and prize-giving]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBMISSIONS ARE WELCOME ALL YEAR ROUND! For more information or to
screen your work at First Take, please visit our website at www.substation.org
or contact
the Programme Manager of Moving Images at 6337 7535 / [email protected]
First Take is presented as part of The Substation Moving Images
programme and supported by the Singapore Film Commission!