From left to right: Kelvin Tong, Eric Khoo, K Rajagopal, Royston Tan, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng, Jack Neo
In 2007, 7 filmmakers came together to form The
Lucky Seven Group to film what was known as ‘The Lucky Seven Project’, an
omnibus of 7 short films which are joined narratively head to tail and share a
common character. Two of the filmmakers from that class of 2007 are now part of
another ‘lucky seven’ group. K Rajagopal and Boo Junfeng join Jack Neo, Kelvin
Tong, Eric Khoo, Royston, Tan Pin Pin in ‘7 Letters’, a omnibus that
celebrates Singapore’s 50th year next year.
Royston Tan, who is leading the project says, “The title – 7 Letters – is a perfect representation of
this first-of-its-kind project. Each of the short films is an intimate
reflection of our unique stories and connections with Singapore – very much
like writing a personal letter. These are our collective love letters to the
place we call home.”
Paying
tribute to the nation’s jubilee, the directors individually picked out themes
that have stood out over the last 50 years of nation-building in Singapore. The
seven stories tell of Singapore’s heartland and its people through tales of
lost love, identity, inter- generational familial bonds and tensions, unlikely
neighbours, and even references to traditional folklore.
Boo
Junfeng said, “Our ‘letters’ each differ in terms of time periods, relationships,
and settings; and they stem from various aspects of our own memories of
Singapore – but what threads them all together is a common sense of home. What
the viewer ultimately sees, I hope, is a genuine portrait of what it means to
us to be Singaporean.”
The
project will also be roping in the talents of some luminaries in the music and
literary scene, including Golden Horse-winning music composer Ricky Ho,
acclaimed composer and musician Patrick Chng, local artist and illustrator Koh
Hong Teng, President’s Design Award 2014 recipient Larry Peh and his team at
&Larry, Singapore’s first lady of song, Rahimah Rahim, and award-winning
writer and playwright, Alfian Sa’at.
7
Letters will also be the first film to show
at the newly refurbished Capitol Theatre, commemorating the iconic theatre’s
return to Singapore after a 17-year hiatus. This partnership between the
majestic national icon and 7 Letters is of special significance to the
directors, and is representative of the bridge between the golden age of Singapore
cinema and today’s resurgence of the local film industry.
For
more information, visit www.7letters.sg.
