Royston Tan never fails to make headlines at different points of his career, being one of the most illustrious Singapore directors in our times. In his early 20s, he burst into the scene with the inimitable '15' and TIME magazine named him one of the Top 20 Asian Heroes in 2004. Nobody could forget that trademark rabbit suit of his(see picture below). He went on to travel the film festival circuit flying the Singapore flag high. In his early 30s, he made getai fashionable and achieved box office success with '881'. In his mid-30s, he became the poster boy for nostalgia, championing the preservation of old places and capturing them in film. Now approaching 40, he is back with a new feature film after a hiatus of 8 years. What's in his mind right now? SINdie invited him to LUNCHBOX last month to talk honestly about his life, his films, his friends and of course '3688'. 
***
Jeremy (SINdie): What’s a typical day the life of Royston Tan these days?
Royston: I had 4 projects
overlapping each other. It’s like getting out of character from one project and
changing into another for another project. And I have been falling ill as well.
J: Oh dear.
J: Oh dear.
R: Today marks the first time I
officially have some time to breathe.J: Give me an example of what one day, any day, feels like.
R: Morning I wake up, I have my coffee and stone for half an hour. After that, I would have my breakfast and then go straight to work. Last Saturday I spent the whole day doing audio post for 3688. This takes me till evening time at which I would steal some time in between to grab a drink. Then I go back to my work. (pause, then laughs) And then more drinks!
J: What time was it by the time
you finished your drinks?
R: Well, after that and
reaching home, it was 10 plus at night. I would take my shower, then unwind
myself by going to some naughty website, and that’s when I will sleep. (laughs)
A round of giggles.
A round of giggles.
J: How many
emails do you get in a day?
R: About….actually
not a lot of emails, cos my partners all know I don’t like to type. So, they
would whatsapp me.
J: How many
uniquely different people whatsapp you in a day?
J: All work
related?
R: Yes.
J: I know
you’ve had a very busy year. How’s it been like so far?
R: Towards
the end of last year, when January was about to start, I started to panic a
little. At Chuan Pictures, we told ourselves that we would only do 3 projects
in a year. But because of SG50 and several events, we exceeded our quota and
took on 8 projects! And the timing overlapped each other. So it’s been crazy,
very exciting but I was also very happy that I had a chance to work with the 6
other directors from ‘7 Letters’.
R: I was
the first to shoot and I shot my segment in December last year.
J: Did you
have to supervise the other segment shoots?
R: I didn’t
need to go on set but I had to ensure a consistent shooting format, monitor
deadlines, talk to MDA and many other things.
J: Which
project made you the most anxious?
R: 3688,
because I have not made my own feature film for 8 years. (pause) I really lost
10 kgs from the shoot. Even my friend asked me if I had cancer! Or if I took
drugs. I asked why, he said I looked like I was very ill (laughs) During the
shoot, I only got to rest one day after every 8 days. (beat) There were 38 days
of filming in total with 14-hour shooting days. (beat) I had to deal with a lot
of heart attacks because we were shooting during the rainy season… 拍到我真的是精神分裂！(shot till my mind went berserk!)
J: Oh dear!
What were the biggest challenges making the film?
R: I think
it is myself. After 7-8 years of not making a feature film, you have forgotten how
it feels like. I called Eric (Khoo) every 2-3 days and he just told me ‘It gets
better.’ I really think it is the physical exhaustion. (pause) One thing that made
me very happy about the shoot was that I found back the ‘881’ feeling when
doing ‘3688’, mainly the closeness of the production ‘family’, the fun, the
team spirit, people brought their own cakes and all, which made everyone feel
less stressed….. (pause) even though I was very stressed!
J: How do you feel now that that is done?
R: The
moment I finished shoot, I went for a bottle of whisky and finished it
straightaway! (laughs)
J: Any
funny incidents during the shoot?
R: Because
we used long lenses to shoot many of the scenes, which means our camera was
well-hidden, whenever our ‘saman’ aunties (parking wardens) appeared, there
would be no problems with people traffic. People naturally disappeared when
they saw them!
J: They
thought they were the real ‘saman’ aunties!
R: Yes, all
literally just ran.
J: That’s
why they call them pontianaks. (female ghosts)
Fong Fei Fei translated - lyrics prompter in Hanyu Pinyin for the cast on set
J: By the way, pre-production for 3688 started last year?
R: Yes. In
fact, I have been leading a very disciplined life. I exercised and avoided
drinking. I didn’t alcohol at all during the whole production period.
J: When was
your script written?
R: It was actually
co-written with Wei Lim and we started in 2012.
J: I see.
R:
Actually, all credit should be given to him cos all I did was tear away his
script hahaha! (beat) But really, the visual conceptualization of the script,
or rather translating his script to visual was challenging to me because I
never worked with co-writer before. And I really respected what he does.
R: Ya… So
this time was different and I really had to respect him for doing this. This
was also a reason why making ‘3688’ was more stressful because if I wrote it
myself, I would not feel so stress. If it falls flat, it’s just my fault and I
would take the blame. But this is another person’s script! I had a greater
responsibility.
J: But why
so stressed? He is your working partner, not your boss.
R: But
because I respect him. He put a lot of dedication into writing this, so I
didn’t want his efforts to be in vain. (beat) The funny thing is when I brought
him to the set, he was even more ruthless than me in killing his own written
scenes. He just said ‘Cut! Cut! Cut!’ ‘I can’t believe I wrote this, cut it
away!’
J: Why did
you select him to be your writer?
R: I think
it was all fate. (pause) When I heard Fong Fei Fei (凤飞飞)(also known as the queen of hats) passed away, I was in London. I was having my tour, trying to see the
Northern Lights but never see. (giggles) Then I finally regained my network
when I reached London. That was when I realized Whitney Houston passed away.
(beat) After that, Fong Fei Fei also passed away. And I wondered ‘what’s going
on?!’ (pause) When I came back to Singapore I was really very badly jetlagged,
so I could not sleep at night. I was actually very affected by Fong Fei Fei’s
death. At the same time, I saw Wei Lim posting something on facebook about Fong
Fei Fei non-stop. It was almost one song every hour to commemorate her!
J: You and Wei Lim were friends already then?
R: Yes, but we lost contact for a while because he was doing his things
and I was doing mine. So when I saw him post, I asked him why he kept posting
these things because these were songs that I quite liked. He replied that Fong
Fei Fei meant a lot to him. And I told him she meant a lot to me as well! I
think we should meet up for a chat. And that’s when it started. (pause) When I
met him, I said I want to do a story about Fong Fei Fei, but mine would be the
Singapore Fong Fei Fei (aka carpark warden who issue fines) So he was quite
interested and he started drafting something. After 8 drafts, the story took shape.
J: So this story started developing since 2012 I guess?
R: Yes. The year she passed away.
J: By the way, do the relatives of Fong Fei Fei know you are making this
film?
R: I think they know. At the same time, I know in Taiwan, they are also
making a film about her called 好好愛我. I think they are very curious
to find out more about the Southeast Asian version of the Fong Fei Fei story
and how her songs have made an impact in Southeast Asia. They were quite
surprised that Fong Fei Fei is such a popular figure in Singapore as well. So
they are looking forward to the movie.
J: So none of the relatives contacted you?
R: None. So the only ways we got connected with her was through the
record companies and also fans who are very close to her. These fans gave us a
lot of information and pointers. Both Singaporean and Taiwanese fans. (beat)
You would be amazed that Singapore has a lot of hardcore fans!
J: How big is the fan club in Singapore?
R: I am not sure but I managed to get in touch with a major fan of hers
who knew her schedules and could tell me how to sing like her and dance like
her on stage.
J: Just to share, I am a big Fong Fei Fei fan too as my first partner
introduced her to me.
R: I see… Do you know after her last concert in Singapore, I took it for
granted that she would come back and perform again. I could have brought my
parents to watch her at the indoor stadium. They have never been to the indoor
stadium before. So I promised my parents that I would bring them to watch her
the next time she was here. Then of course, when I heard the news that she
passed away, I felt a sense of guilt. And my parents are fans of her as well.
And if I have one regret in life, it is that I never got to see Fong Fei Fei
live.
J: You mean your parents or you?
R: Both. Yes, I have never seen her live. And I know all her trademark
lines she used on stage. I know them by
heart. (laughs) And what is so amazing about her is that 在她的脆弱中能看得到她的坚强 (you can
witness her strength in her moments of vulnerability). She does not have to
pretend to be strong and I think that’s the spirit of Fong Fei Fei. Even my
hair is standing as I say this!
J: Yes, her spirit is sitting next to us right now! (pause) What’s your favourite Fong Fei Fei song?
R: There is a lot, but one of them has to be…….. (in thought) maybe because of the community that we are in, I can relate a lot to 我是一片云 (‘I am a cloud’) (see video below for an old snippet of Fong Fei Fei performing a rendition of this song)
J: Is this song in the movie?
R: Yes. And there is also a character that personifies this song in the
movie, like a passing cloud…
J: Interesting….
R: This character comes and goes without motivation but yet it makes you
hold it as something very important. I think there are many people in our lives
who are like that. The reason why they are in our lives is not very clear but
yet through time, we realize that they matter to us so much, especially when
they are gone.
J: Just make you don’t treat your loved ones as that passing cloud.
J: Did Joi feel pressure playing this role?
R: I think she adapted well. First and foremost, she knows she is not
playing Fong Fei Fei. But I also told her to sing Fong Fei Fei’s songs in a way
to reflect how she feels currently in the stage of her own personal life. So
that’s when she really delivered it. (pause) I am not asking for a perfect
pitch delivery, I wanted a honest, sincere delivery. So in fact, some of her
off-takes are the ones that I picked. Some of them were a little airy, off-key
but I liked them because the emotions were real.
J: Is Joi a Fong Fei Fei fan?
R: Not really, but some of the songs resonate with her, like 掌声响起 (a Fong Fei Fei classic). The song
articulates what any artistes go through. Behind every glorious moment, all
that glitter is years of hard work and lots of scars! (looking dramatic) The
scars of time.
Dramatic pause. We take a moment to breathe and ponder….
J: Over the years, many people were eagerly waiting for you to come back
with a feature film. There were many rumours over the years. I even remember
one which said you were going to make a horror film. But of course, that didn’t
happen. So what made you really come back this time (with a feature film)
R: As I mentioned, Fong Fei Fei’s death really meant something to me. At
the same time, another person I want to mention is director Chai Yee Wei. If he
did not drag me one morning out to meet Melvin Ang of mm2 Entertainment and to
talk about this project, I would have just hidden in my comfort zone and
continued doing the things I was doing. (pause) Over the last 7-8 years, I
found myself being very occupied attending to more immediate things (that were
close to my heart) like capturing vanishing Singapore. I know many people said
I was being overly nostalgic and self-indulgent. But I didn’t care because I
saw a sense of urgency there. I felt a part of Singapore was disappearing so I
wanted to do all I could. And this kept on going until her death hit me and
finally inspired me in a big way.
J: I can understand that very much. I guess as filmmakers, you cannot
schedule yourself to make films at a certain time. When the inspiration hits
you, nothing can stop you.
R: Exactly. When it comes, everything falls into place and starts
happening, naturally. I took time off and even went to visit Fong Fei Fei’s
birthplace in Taiwan…. Visiting Taoyuan in Taiwan where she spent bits of her
life… locking myself up in a room to storyboard the film using the script that
was already written.
J: So when you met Melvin, was the script almost done or half done?
R: It was the 5th revision. (pause) So Melvin said this
project seems interesting… but promise it is not a musical! So I told him yes
it is not a musical. It is just a film with a lot of songs!
J: Hahahah!
R: He said he really liked the story very much. He came on board as
producer and gave me 100% creative freedom to do what I wanted. But must
promise him, cannot suddenly break out into a song!!!
Some Royston trivia
Most popular film
Hock Hiap Leong
Most surprising audience reaction
Ghosts of Capitol Theatre
'because people thought an Ang Moh made it'
Most satisfying
Ghosts of Capitol Theatre
'We spent a long time making this and kept about 20-30 chairs from the old theatre'
Most fun
Bunga Sayang
Most vulgarities
15
Most expensive
After the Rain
'we shot on 35mm'
Most cheap
033713
Most well-travelled
Cut
Most difficult to make
Anniversary
'never been to a mass orgy before, so had to rely on second accounts, lol'
J: ‘881’ was your first commercially released film. How was the feeling
then compared to right now when you are about to release your first commercial
film after such a long time? I mean before ‘881’, you were doing a lot of
independent arthouse films and you were travelling the film festival circuit
and all that. Then, in the last 8 years before ‘3688’, you have also been doing
a lot, but a very different set of things and experiencing new things, meeting
new people etc. (pause) So how is Royston version 2015 compared to Royston
then?
Some Royston trivia
Most popular film
Hock Hiap Leong
Most surprising audience reaction
Ghosts of Capitol Theatre
'because people thought an Ang Moh made it'
Most satisfying
Ghosts of Capitol Theatre
'We spent a long time making this and kept about 20-30 chairs from the old theatre'
Most fun
Bunga Sayang
Most vulgarities
15
Most expensive
After the Rain
'we shot on 35mm'
Most cheap
033713
Most well-travelled
Cut
Most difficult to make
Anniversary
'never been to a mass orgy before, so had to rely on second accounts, lol'
J: ‘881’ was your first commercially released film. How was the feeling
then compared to right now when you are about to release your first commercial
film after such a long time? I mean before ‘881’, you were doing a lot of
independent arthouse films and you were travelling the film festival circuit
and all that. Then, in the last 8 years before ‘3688’, you have also been doing
a lot, but a very different set of things and experiencing new things, meeting
new people etc. (pause) So how is Royston version 2015 compared to Royston
then?
R: I think when I was doing ‘881’, my personality was more competitive
and I liked to prove things to people. In fact, ‘881’ was sparked off by a
comment from a filmmaker who said that I can only make films to satisfy myself
but I can never make a commercially successful film. But after these 7 or 8
years, I think I have become a calmer person. I think my crew can attest to
that. I did not at once lose my temper during production this time. 
R: Yes. And often without realizing. I tended to be very intense once I
went into my work mode. I remember my poor sound man James who had to change
headphones often on set. Whenever it did not sound right, I would just throw
the headphones and talk to the person myself. It was very sub-conscious but I
think it frightened him a bit! However, this time I was much calmer. It seems
like I am able to be more relaxed about many things as I got older. I don’t
care so much about winning or losing now. I feel like half of my life is
already complete. I think I probably have another 20 years more only, don’t
think I would hit 80 (laughs) so it’s important to be level-headed and more
relaxed about things. (pause) I really feel like I have gone through love,
happiness, sadness, betrayal, anger and many more in these 7 years. I do feel I have grown up.
J: Maybe after ‘7 Letters’, you should make ‘7 Years’! Each centred around one emotion!
J: Maybe after ‘7 Letters’, you should make ‘7 Years’! Each centred around one emotion!
R: Yes, I definitely feel more emotionally stable and able to deal with
things better now.
J: Who are the people you feel were very important to you or made a difference in the last 7-8 years?
J: Who are the people you feel were very important to you or made a difference in the last 7-8 years?
R: One of them has to be my producer Karen Khoo. She came in in the last
four years.
J: Wait, wasn’t she New York Girl? (‘New York Girl’ was an early short
film by Royston Tan)
R: I always knew her but she was just my stylist at that point of time.
She is basically a mad woman who is driven by passion to do what is right. She
has been my pillar of strength. And also my gatekeeper. Like for a ten-second
shot, I am willing to get a crane and go to the forest but she will control me,
while at the same time sharing my vision. So she is like a wonderful soulmate.
(pause) So when a challenging project like ‘7 Letters’ came in, she stood by my
side. It was really not an easy project. She said we will do it together.
J: What was her role in ‘7 Letters’?
R: She coordinated the production teams of the respective segments. If
you see the rolling credits, Chuan Pictures has only four names under it, and
it is us four managing the entire production!
J: So it’s Karen, you,….
R: My two interns. (pause) She has always believed in the cause of
whatever I do. Recently she asked if I really wanted to take down the gates. By
the way, I am doing a new project which involves us taking down gates from
Tanglin Halt, first generation gates, to save it from demolition.
J: Real gates?
R: Yes, I am going to save them.
J: Put where?
R: No sure yet. In fact I still have the old chairs from Capitol
Theatre. (pause) So, she believes in my madness, and she somehow holds me back
if I go to the extreme. (beat) So she is a friend, a producer and a very sound
mind to me. She will challenge me.
J: She is your business partner in Chuan Pictures?
R: No, she is my producer.
J: Anybody else?
R: Actually, to be honest, the Chinese media. (beat) They will keep
calling me to remind me that they have not forgotten about me and ask me when I
am going to make my next film or ‘how is everything?’. Which is why I really
must specially thank the Chinese media at the upcoming premiere of ‘3688’.
(pause) They really know I have experienced a lot in the last 7 years.
J: What were the most difficult moments in the last 7-8 years?
R: The year after finishing ’12 Lotus’ was a traumatizing year for me
because one of the investors disappeared, and I had chicken pox which affected
hearing. I could no longer gauge whether my voice was loud or soft. So I
stopped talking for 6 months and the doctor said I might lose my sense of
hearing. That was when my mother said, too bad you were in this situation, you
just have to face it.
J: Finally, this is a question we ask at every LUNCHBOX interview, would
you starve for the sake of art?
R: If it is something I really believe in, I would do it. Life is really
too short. What other people say don’t matter to me anymore, it’s all noise.
Interview by Jeremy Sing (far left)Photograpohy by Mohan Deitrich (far right)
Interview by Jeremy Sing (far left)Photograpohy by Mohan Deitrich (far right)
'3688' opens 17 Sep islandwide, be sure to catch it!
Here is the trailer:
Here is the trailer: