After 2 horror features, one of Singapore's most prolific film directors Chai Yee Wei brightens up the colour palatte with the world of xinyao and music making in his latest feature 'The Girl in Pinafore'. Never mind the marketing collatrerals reminds you of Taiwan's 'The Apple of my eye', this is an original story rooted in 90s Singapore. We catch up with Yee Wei on his newest baby.
This is how Yee Wei introduces the movie.......
Do you follow your heart or follow your head? This is a coming of age tale set in 1993, involving first loves and dreams, inspired heavily by 'Xinyao'. This film is many years in the making. I draw many inspirations from my earlier years in secondary school. Because I grew up in a family where my parents do not speak or read English, so I was very much entrenched into anything Chinese related back then and I hardly could speak any English until I went to University. CLDDS (Chinese Language, Drama, and Debate Society), Xiang Sheng (Chinese crosstalk), ShiGeLangSong (Chinese Poetry Performance), Story telling competitions, and of course Xinyao music. But because I was really weak in English, my other subjects like Math and Science faltered. Ironically, after spending 6 years living in the States for my undergraduate studies and work, my English got much better and my Chinese suffered. I guess it is a reflection of the Singapore's society on a whole - in order to make it in Singapore, you need to be good in English, Chinese is optional. I see popularity of Xinyao being closely related to the level of Chinese standards in Singapore. There is no more Xinyao as we did before because the general standard of the Chinese language has deteriorated. This movie on the surface is a conventional teenage love story, but on the metaphorical level, it is to reflect the demise of the Chinese language in our society.
This is how Yee Wei introduces the movie.......
Do you follow your heart or follow your head? This is a coming of age tale set in 1993, involving first loves and dreams, inspired heavily by 'Xinyao'. This film is many years in the making. I draw many inspirations from my earlier years in secondary school. Because I grew up in a family where my parents do not speak or read English, so I was very much entrenched into anything Chinese related back then and I hardly could speak any English until I went to University. CLDDS (Chinese Language, Drama, and Debate Society), Xiang Sheng (Chinese crosstalk), ShiGeLangSong (Chinese Poetry Performance), Story telling competitions, and of course Xinyao music. But because I was really weak in English, my other subjects like Math and Science faltered. Ironically, after spending 6 years living in the States for my undergraduate studies and work, my English got much better and my Chinese suffered. I guess it is a reflection of the Singapore's society on a whole - in order to make it in Singapore, you need to be good in English, Chinese is optional. I see popularity of Xinyao being closely related to the level of Chinese standards in Singapore. There is no more Xinyao as we did before because the general standard of the Chinese language has deteriorated. This movie on the surface is a conventional teenage love story, but on the metaphorical level, it is to reflect the demise of the Chinese language in our society.
Xinyao Geek chic for director Chai Yee Wei
Are
you more the horror guy or the musical guy? After 2 horror features, why the
change in genre?
Actually
this film with an early draft and pitch was already written right after Blood
ties back in 2009. But due to the 'Xinyao' theme, many producers and investors
found it too niche to be commercially viable for the amount that it needs to be
produced. It was not until 2012 when we received the P-assist grant from SFC,
and mm2's involvement in production did the project gain any traction.
What
did you do to prep for the film in terms of research? Who did you speak to (who
in xinyao in particular)
Because I
am such a huge fan of the genre, I already had plenty of background information
required for the film even before it was written. What we did for story
development at one stage was quite unique I think in terms of how Singaporeans
write screenplays. We had a group of 6 screenwriters meet once or twice weekly
for almost 2 months to discuss and brainstorm ideas. After the bout of
brainstorming, myself and the screenwriter Violet Lai starting meeting and
working on a draft separately from the group to distill all the ideas
that we have had till that point and see how to put them into a coherent story.
the direction we decided upon was not to try to make a film that talks about
the experiences of the song writers back then, but to do a film about kids
inspired by the songs written by the Xinyao pioneers. So what was more
important was the spirit of Xinyao that we were trying to preserve.
Anything interesting you learnt about the development of xinyao from the people
spoke to?
The
people we spoke to like Liang Wern Fook, Li Feihui, and Colin Goh, they all
share the same passion when it comes to making the songs that they did back
then. They just did it because they felt it was fun, and wanted to create
somethings that they can call their own. They didn't think their works were
going to influence anyone or did they do their songs to make big bucks. They
did it because they had a dream and they followed their guts. As such, I think
Xinyao is the best embodiment of what a "Singaporean dream" is.
The
marketing of the film (e.g poster) raises some dejavu about Taiwan's hit Apple
of my eye. Do you think people might compare this film to It? If so,
how would you assure them of its difference? :)
I think
regardless, people will draw their comparison before watching the film. But I
think all those who had watched it will realise how shamelessly Singaporean
this film really is. This is a film made by Singaporeans, starring homegrown
Singaporeans, featuring all things Singapore. :) There's nothing taiwanese
about this film I guarantee you that.
How do
you think this film will appeal to Singaporeans?
I made
this film first and foremost for the friends that I grew up with. But at the
same time, because the things that we did back in the 90s are what most kids in
the 90s would have done anyways, so many people will find the things in this
film very familiar. Remember Fire disco? Remember studying at the airport
overnight? Remember pagers? Remember cassettes? This post by a blogger who
happened to watch the film at the Gala says it all. http://merlionwayfarer.blogspot.sg/2013/07/that-girl-in-pinafore-bringing-laughter.html?spref=fb
What is
the main message you would like them to take away from the film?
While
listening to your head is important, but please don't neglect to nurture what's
in your heart.
Tell
us about the casting in your film.
We had
multiple rounds of auditions and open casting calls and saw more than 200
hundred people. It was tough because I needed kids who can, act, sing, dance
and play their own instruments. Some actors were cast so late we were so
worried how the film was even possible at one stage. In fact Daren Tan was the
last to be cast.
Tell us about some of the
funniest or interesting things which happened during the shoot.
There
were so many! There was one funny incident that was particularly
memorable. That scene had a Filipino helper who came out of the house telling
May, the female protagonist that her mother is on the phone. May was supposed
to grab the cordless phone and enter the house with her. But in that take she
took the phone, waved the boyfriend goodbye and closed the door behind her
leaving the helper outside the house. And it was so awkward she was knocking on
the door asking to be let in. After I shouted cut everyone on set just burst
out laughing so hard!
What
is your favorite xinyao song and why?
麻雀衔竹枝 The lyrics roughly talks about Liang
Wern Fook's (the writer of the song) younger years, being born near Tekka,
growing up in Queenstown and going to school at Middle Road (Catholic High). It
also briefly mentioned the bombing of Singapore during the Japanese occupation
and other singapore icons like the HDB flats. But the crux of the song, talks
about how Singaporeans living abroad, still longs for their home back in
Singapore. There's no place like home.
Being a
Singaporean who has lived overseas for 6 years, this song really speaks to me.
Not to mention, the primary school that is mentioned in the song was the exact
same one I used to go to. My whole family used to live on Middle road too.
An old Xinyao classic remixed for 'The Girl in Pinafore
Give
us a pitch for the film to our Sindie readers out there!
This is
not just a film about teenage love and dreams, but it is also about rekindling
your love for Singapore. For those who are in their 30s-40s, it is a love
letter to the Singapore of the 90s and I am sure it will bring back lots of
memories.
The movie opened to rave reviews from various media. Here are some of the reviews.
Movie EXCLUSIVE gave it 4 stars calls it 'Our favourite local film of the year'. Here is the review.'
TODAY gave a glowing review calling it Chai Yee Wei's homegrown gem, see it here.
Here is a comprehensive write-up by blogger Merlion Wayfarer
Finally, Film Biz Asia said,'Chai's lively direction, the kids' excellent ensemble, and the script's cheeky wit (lightly sending up Singaporean "patriotism" and even including a joke about chewing gum) make the film seem absolutely fresh.'
The Girl in Pinafore has opened islandwide on 1 Aug. Go Catch it today!
Movie EXCLUSIVE gave it 4 stars calls it 'Our favourite local film of the year'. Here is the review.'
TODAY gave a glowing review calling it Chai Yee Wei's homegrown gem, see it here.
Here is a comprehensive write-up by blogger Merlion Wayfarer
Finally, Film Biz Asia said,'Chai's lively direction, the kids' excellent ensemble, and the script's cheeky wit (lightly sending up Singaporean "patriotism" and even including a joke about chewing gum) make the film seem absolutely fresh.'
The Girl in Pinafore has opened islandwide on 1 Aug. Go Catch it today!