#Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

[starbiopic]

2024 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival: Major Winners, Powerful Stories

The 33rd Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF) recently concluded, bringing nine days of captivating storytelling, powerful social issues, and celebrations of the documentary genre to Hot Springs, Arkansas. This year’s festival, recognized as North America’s longest-running documentary event, honored compelling films that showcased resilience, creativity, and the importance of telling…

[qnewsau]

What to watch at Queer Screen Film Fest

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/what-to-watch-at-queer-screen-film-fest/

What to watch at Queer Screen Film Fest

Check out thirty-five new queer movies, and a few favourite returning films, at the 11th Queer Screen Film Fest.

Mardi Gras Film Festival organisers Queer Screen are holding Sydney’s second annual LGBTQIA+ film festival again in 2024 on the cusp of Spring, from August 28 to September 1.

“Get ready to feast your eyes on thirty-five new, and a few favourite LGBTIQ+ films, at the 11th edition of Queer Screen Film Fest,” Queer Screen festival director Lisa Rose said, ahead of the festival’s launch.

“We’re bookending the festival with two fabulously flirty and romantic films, and we’re continuing that theme with an incredible documentary in the program.

“Enjoy appearances from well-known faces like Elliot Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Lukas Gage, and Australia’s own Keiynan Lonsdale. Don’t miss our two Australian films, including one having its world premiere.”

The 2024 Queer Screen Film Fest will feature in-person screenings at Event Cinemas George Street, with an on demand program running from September 2-8.

This year’s program comprises three short film programs and a total of thirty-seven films including one world premiere, twenty-six Australian premieres, and seven Sydney Premieres.

Eight feature films will screen exclusively in cinemas during the festival, while eight will screen both online and in cinema, and two encores from past festivals will play exclusively online.

Opening the festival is the Australian premiere of The Astronaut Lovers from Argentine director Marco Berger who returns with another story about male desire that sizzles just below the surface.

One hot summer, openly gay Pedro returns to Buenos Aires to spend a holiday with his cousin and some friends – including Maxi, who’s seemingly straight and full of swagger. The pair enjoys some friendly, machismo fuelled flirting that even they’re not sure how to contain, but are they playing with fire?

Canadian film Close to You is also having its Australian premiere at the festival and stars Academy Award nominated actor Elliot Page as a trans man visiting his hometown for the first time since transitioning.

Baby, from Brazilian director Marcelo Caetano, tells the story of two sex workers in love on the streets of Sao Paolo as they try to balance business with their relationship.

Backspot stars Westworld’s Evan Rachel Woods as the coach of a professional cheerleading squad when two cheerleaders who are in a relationship join the team.

American Parent follows the everyday life of a lesbian couple who are trying to raise their toddler during the Covid pandemic.

The Judgement features an Egyptian-American gay couple who are forced back into the closet when visiting family in Alexandria.

In Fragments of a Life Lived, lesbian documentarian Chloe Barreau revisits her past loves since she was a teenager, offering a unique perspective on human connection.

Australian film Strange Creatures is having its world premier at the festival, and tells the story of two brothers, one pansexual, reuniting to scatter their mother’s ashes after four years of not speaking to each other.

Turtles tells the story of an older gay couple who find themselves struggling with each other’s company in retirement before fighting to rekindle their flame.

Videoland is another film premiering at the festival and follows a young lesbian video store clerk in Australia in the 90s who watches every sapphic film she can get her hands on in navigating her identity before falling for a customer.

Closing the festival is the German film Gondola. Told without dialogue over 82 minutes, this film follows the romance between two young female cable-car conductors as they pass by each other in the sky at work.

-For more information go to www.queerscreen.org.au.

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[hellogrinbearfilms]

Deerwoods Deathtrap from James P. Gannon on Vimeo.

50 years ago Jack and Betty were hit by a train and survived. This is their story.

A short documentary by James P. Gannon

Starring - John W. Gannon, Elizabeth Gannon Editor - Jason Tippet Producers - James D. Cochran, April Gannon, Matt Ferrin, Joseph K. Gannon, Chris Cipriano Original score - Stephane Laporte (Domotic) (domotic.bandcamp.com/) Sound mix/editor - Patrick Janssen Cinematography - James P. Gannon Title Design/Vimeo Thumbnail - Matt Ferrin Graphics - Horatio Baltz

A Pocket Storms Production

Shot on Kodak Super 8mm 50D

FESTIVAL SELECTION Sundance Film Festival Aspen Shortfest - Winner Special Jury Award Oak Cliff film festival - Winner Special Jury Award NHDOCS - Winner Best Short Film Philadelphia Film Festival - Winner Best Local Short Holly Shorts - Winner Best Super 8 Short Digital 8 & Super 8 Film Festival - Winner Best short Fantastic Fest Palm Springs Shortfest Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Thin Line Film Festival Florida Film Festival Athens Int Film Festival Wisconsin Film Festival Atlanta Film Festival Arizona Internation Film Festival Milwaukee Film Festival Seattle INT Film Festival Calgary Underground Film Festival Rooftop Film Festival Brooklyn Film Festival The Norwegian Short Film Festival Georgetown Film Festival Lago Film Festival Southside Film festival Desertscape Film festival Hot Springs Film festival SideWalk Film Festival Drunken Film Festival Indie Street Film Festival Sydney Underground Film Festival Jacksonville Film Festival Montclair Film Festival Picture Farm Film Festival Chicago Critics Circle Vilnius Short Film Festival Prague International Indie Film Festival Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival Virginia Film Festival

[counterweightproductions]

Dicks That I Like from Johanna Gustin on Vimeo.

Visual artist Daniela Torres creates colorful ceramic dick sculptures inspired by the men who have been dicks to her. In this intimate artist portrait, Daniela shares her struggles, anger and catharsis as she creates a sculpture modelled after a series of unsolicited dick pics. She also shares her process with a diverse group of women who come together in one of her popular Berlin-based dick sculpting workshops. It's a hands-on approach to healing that yields beautiful results.

DICKS THAT I LIKE premiered at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and went on to screen at numerous festivals, including Slamdance, Palm Springs International ShortFest, HollyShorts, and the Calgary International Film Festival.

Directed by Johanna Gustin Cinematography - Jonathan Gustin Editor - Fionn George Sound - Luisa Nawka Music - Max van Dusen

Protagonist Daniela Torres (danielatorres.net)

[maholnapbeautytoday]

Visual artist Daniela Torres creates colorful ceramic dick sculptures inspired by the men who have been dicks to her. In this intimate artist portrait, Daniela shares her struggles, anger and catharsis as she creates a sculpture modelled after a series of unsolicited dick pics. She also shares her process with a diverse group of women who come together in one of her popular Berlin-based dick sculpting workshops. It's a hands-on approach to healing that yields beautiful results.

DICKS THAT I LIKE premiered at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and went on to screen at numerous festivals, including Slamdance, Palm Springs International ShortFest, HollyShorts, and the Calgary International Film Festival.

Directed by Johanna Gustin

Cinematography - Jonathan Gustin

Editor - Fionn George

Sound - Luisa Nawka

Music - Max van Dusen

Protagonist Daniela Torres (www.danielatorres.net)

[13thgenfilm]

A new short documentary carved out of the DIAMOND DIPLOMACY feature enterprise, BASEBALL BEHIND BARBED WIRE tells the inspiring story of baseball being played inside the internment camps during the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans.

This film celebrated FIVE MAJOR PREMIERES last month, including its world premiere at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, followed by the Hawai‘i International Film Festival, The Newport Beach Film Festival, and a very special screening in the San Francisco Bay Area at the 26th UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival).

Congratulations to our long-time filmmaking collaborator, director Yuriko Gamo Romer, and our entire team! ⚾❤️

Follow the project's adventures into 2024 at diamonddiplomacy.com and for more fall news from Marc Smolowitz and 13th Gen, check out our latest newsletter: 👉 https://bit.ly/4779wYE

[andynortonuk]

We Are Here from 271 Films on Vimeo.

25+ festivals, 2 awards and counting. Doménica and Constanza Castro are the first Mexican Sisters to be in the run for an Oscar® in the Academy's history.

Four young immigrants reveal their hopes and dreams as they navigate a perilous system that defines their fate and freedom.

Awards and Nominations 2023 NAACP Image Awards - Best Animated Short - Nominee 2022 Animated Shorts Jury Award - New Hampshire Film Festival *Oscar Qualifying 2022 Grand Jury Prize for International Fragments - DocsMX

Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival, 2022 LACMA Shorts "I Am Series", 2022 Cleveland International Film Festival, 2022 The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, 2022 Festival Internacional de Cine de Guadalajara, 2022 Barnes Film Festival, 2022 Palm Springs International ShortFest, 2022 Pyeongchang International Peace Film Festival, 2022 Nantucket Film Festival, 2022 Guanajuato International Film Festival, 2022 Doqumenta Festival de Cine, 2022 Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2022 Hollyshorts, 2022 Salute Your Shorts Festival, 2022 Tallgrass Film Festival, 2022 Indie Street Film Festival, 2022 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, 2022 New Hampshire Film Festival, 2022 DocsMX, 2022 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, 2022 DOC NYC, 2022 Still Voices Film Festival, 2022 Cucalorus Film Festival, 2022 Pittsburgh Shorts, 2022 Festival Internacional de Cine de Almería, 2022 3ra Edición Semana de Cine Migrante, Cineteca Nacional, 2022 Official Latino Film and Arts Festival, 2022 Miami Film Festival, 2023 Chicago Latino Film Festival, 2023

Miami Film Festival, 2023

CREDITS: Cast: Dulce Valencia Deron Ingraham Anonymous Valeria Marchesi

Crew: Directed and Produced by: Doménica Castro, Constanza Castro Executive Produced by: 271 Films , Antigravity Academy, Eloy Méndez, Scott Minerd, Carlos López Estrada, Kelly Marie Tran Written by: Doménica Castro, Constanza Castro, Salvador Pérez García Visual Art & Animation by : Cecilia Reeve Edited by: Salvador Pérez García Music by: Jesi Nelson Digital Intermediate : Company 3 Senior Colorist : Jill Bogdanowicz Company 3 Senior Producer: Matt Moran Company 3 Executive Producer: Ashley McKim Audio Post Production: One Thousand Birds Sound Design & Mix by: KT Pipal Recording Engineer: Jackie! Zhou OTB Executive Producer: Guin Frehling

[slavkocz]

A Broken House from Jimmy Goldblum on Vimeo.

The Syrian architect Mohamad Hafez received a one-way ticket to the United States. Missing his homeland, he decided to create a stand-in, sculpting life-like miniatures of the Damascus cityscape he had left behind.

Winner of the International Documentary Association (IDA) Award for Best Documentary Short, "A Broken House" is among the most celebrated documentaries of 2022.

Awards & Recognition: 2022 Oscar Shortlist Winner: IDA Awards for “Best Short” Nominee: Emmy Award for "Best Documentary Short" Nominee: Cinema Eye Honors for "Outstanding Nonfiction Short" Shortlist: DOC NYC

Festivals: WORLD PREMIERE: Hot Docs International Documentary Festival WINNER: Palm Springs International ShortsFest | Audience Award for Best Documentary Short WINNER: Palm Springs International ShortsFest | Mozaik “Bridging the Borders” Award WINNER: Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival | Jury Award for Best Editing WINNER: RiverRun Film Festival | Jury Award for Best Documentary Short WINNER: Salem Film Festival | Jury Award for Best Documentary Short

Cast and Crew: Featuring - Mohamad Hafez Director & Producer - Jimmy Goldblum Producer - Matt Weaver Producer - Congressman Richard Gephardt Producer - Harrison Nalevansky Executive Producers - Senain Kheshgi Executive Producers - Matthew Gephardt Executive Producers - Nick Stern Cinematographer - Oliver Millar Editor - Brad Turner Original Music - From the Mouth of the Sun

[chonacas]

This Is Not Financial Advice Feature Documentary Premiered at Tribeca Film Festival

Zach Ingrasci is a director and the co-founder of Optimist. Best known for directing the feature documentaries Living On One Dollar and Salam Neighbor, Zach’s films have been released by Netflix, Amazon Prime, National Geographic, and HBO. His 2020 short documentary, The Undocumented Lawyer, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and went on to Hot Springs, DOC NYC, Flickers Rhode Island, St. Louis and other top festivals, winning best documentary at The Boston Shorts Fest. It premiered on HBO in 2021. He also directed the feature documentary, Five Years North, which premiered at Full Frame Film Festival in spring 2020 and showed at MountainFilm, DocLands, and won the Grand Jury Prize at Flickers’ Rhode Island and the Grand Jury Prize at DOC NYC. The film had its theatrical release at Film Forum in 2021 and premiered on PBS’ America Reframed in 2021. Five Years North was a finalist for the 2021 duPont-Columbia Awards for Outstanding Journalism. In 2022, Zach was named to DOC NYC and HBO’s 40 under 40 list and this June, Zach will premiere his new feature documentary, This Is Not Financial Advice, at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.

  Learn more: https://optimist.co/

https://www.instagram.com/optimist/

  She's All Over the Place Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast/

https://www.chonacas.com/podcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiechonacas/

  Please leave a 5 star and review on Apples Podcast as it supports independent podcasters :)

Check out this episode streaming now in over 100 countries

[upl8inthe818]

THE PREMIER LADIES OF THE SFV – PART 1 OF 2

Georgia Joan Waldor (aka Joani Hannan) was a pioneering female jazz drummer who toured with the USO and played alongside Marilyn Monroe in the 1959 classic “Some Like It Hot.” Despite the challenges and constraints of the 50s and 60s for women and queers, Joani transcended stereotypes, exemplifying to all she met the strength, self love and courage to be true to oneself no matter what.

Between 1957-1958, she owned and operated “Joanie’s Bar” in Palm Springs. In 1961, she opened “Joani Presents,” a nightclub and music venue in North Hollywood that featured performances by well-known jazz musicians and other entertainers, with Joani as the star attraction. “Joani Presents” catered to the lesbian community during a time when lesbian bars were considered safer to patronize than other gay bars, which were often raided by police.

“Joani Presents” ran until 1976 at 6413 Lankershim Boulevard. (The building was later sub-divided into addresses 6411 and 6415.) Joani then relocated to Humboldt County in Northern California with her wife, Marion Cane, where she owned and operated a nightclub in Garberville during the 1990s. Joani died on April 13, 2012, at age 83.

A new documentary, “Joani: Queen of the Paradiddle,” is currently screening on the film festival circuit.

Comments on Joani’s obit page reflect her lasting legacy and influence as an iconic trailblazer for the gay community in the SFV:

“I worked for her at Joani Presents. She gave me a job cleaning because I was starting college. Loved her energy and advice.”

“To this day, the most compelling eyes I've ever seen. Thank you for the memories Miss Georgia.”

“I have such fond memories of Joani. Her marvelous talent has been a source of inspiration to me for many years. Remembering her uniqueness and joie de vivre always makes me smile! She was definitely "one of a kind".....smart, savvy and gutsy enough to always be herself! BRAVO JOANI! Thanks for such great memories!”

[whatsonmedia]

Film Friday: This week's top 5 Movies!

The movies in this week’s Film Friday mix genres like science fiction, action comedy, thrill, and adventure drama comedy. Get ready to make your weekend worthwhile by watching some of the best movies that WhatsOn editor Tama has chosen for you. 1. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania American superhero movies Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Hope Pym/Wasp are two characters from Marvel Comics that are featured in the film. Marvel Studios produced the movie. Early in February 2021, filming in Turkey got underway. Along with Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne travel the Quantum Realm. There, they encounter odd species and go on a journey that defies their preconceived notions of what is possible. The movie, which serves as the first installment of the MCU's Phase Five, was released in the US on February 17, 2023. https://youtu.be/ZlNFpri-Y40 2. Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist Nicolae: The Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist Christian thriller movie was based on Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins' The Rise of the Antichrist, the third book in the Left Behind book series. It follows Left Behind (2014) and has an entirely new cast the globe falls into anarchy and millions of people vanish. And the charismatic leader who leads the U.N. becomes the only source of hope. But does he make you hopeful about the future? Or is the end of the planet near? On January 26, 2023, as part of Fathom Events, it was theatrically released as a constrained four-day run in a few locations. It was directed by Kevin Sorbo. Starring in the movie is Corbin Bernsen, Neal McDonough, and Kevin Sorbo. https://youtu.be/dFlu7dmHQ_g 3. Eternal Spring In 2022, Jason Loftus’ Canadian documentary, titled Eternal Spring (Chinese :), will be released. The movie focuses on Changchun’s broadcast television stations being taken over by Falun Gong in 2002 and China’s ongoing persecution of ethnic and religious minorities. It is based on animation by Chinese artist Daxiong. In March 2002, followers of the banned spiritual organization Falun Gong took control of a state TV station in China. Their intention was to refute the government’s account of their method. Following this, police raids take place all around Changchun City, forcing Falun Gong practitioner, comic book illustrator Daxiong to leave. On March 15, 2022, the movie had its world premiere at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. After then, it was shown at the 2022 Hot Docs. https://youtu.be/5XpGpbaiz4Q 4. Mission Majnu Mission Majnu is a Shantanu Bagchi-directed spy thriller movie in Hindi from 2023. The filmis based on made-up events.It is a made-up account of an undercover operation carried out by India during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. An undercover Indian snoop undertakes a dangerous mission to reveal a clandestine nuclear weapons program deep within Pakistan. The movie's planned theatrical run was scrapped, and on January 20, 2023, it was made available only on Netflix. https://youtu.be/paGeUDKRVeE 5. Pathaan Siddharth Anand is the writer and director of the 2023 Hindi-language action thriller movie Pathaan. It is the fourth entry in the YRF Spy Universe and Khan's follow-up to Zero as a lead actor (2018) The Indian government revokes Article 370, which accords Jammu and Kashmir special status, in 2019. A cancer-stricken Pakistani army officer named Qadir is affected by the news and intends to wreak revenge on India. He enters into a deal with Jim, the head of the covert terrorist organization "Outfit X." On January 25, 2023, Indian Republic Day weekend, Pathaan was released in India in IMAX, 4DX. Critics gave Pathaan mostly favorable reviews. https://youtu.be/vqu4z34wENw Read the full article

[philipperivrain]

We Are Here from 271 Films on Vimeo.

25+ festivals, 2 awards and counting. Doménica and Constanza Castro are the first Mexican Sisters to be in the run for an Oscar® in the Academy's history.

Four young immigrants reveal their hopes and dreams as they navigate a perilous system that defines their fate and freedom.

Awards: 2022 Animated Shorts Jury Award - New Hampshire Film Festival *Oscar Qualifying 2022 Grand Jury Prize for International Fragments - DocsMX

Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival, 2022 LACMA Shorts "I Am Series", 2022 Cleveland International Film Festival, 2022 The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, 2022 Festival Internacional de Cine de Guadalajara, 2022 Barnes Film Festival, 2022 Palm Springs International ShortFest, 2022 Pyeongchang International Peace Film Festival, 2022 Nantucket Film Festival, 2022 Guanajuato International Film Festival, 2022 Doqumenta Festival de Cine, 2022 Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2022 Hollyshorts, 2022 Salute Your Shorts Festival, 2022 Tallgrass Film Festival, 2022 Indie Street Film Festival, 2022 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, 2022 New Hampshire Film Festival, 2022 DocsMX, 2022 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, 2022 DOC NYC, 2022 Still Voices Film Festival, 2022 Cucalorus Film Festival, 2022 Pittsburgh Shorts, 2022 Festival Internacional de Cine de Almería, 2022 3ra Edición Semana de Cine Migrante, Cineteca Nacional, 2022 Official Latino Film and Arts Festival, 2022 Oaxaca FilmFest, 2022

CREDITS: Cast: Dulce Valencia Deron Ingraham Anonymous Valeria Marchesi

Crew: Directed and Produced by: Doménica Castro, Constanza Castro Executive Produced by: 271 Films , Antigravity Academy, Eloy Méndez, Scott Minerd, Carlos López Estrada, Kelly Marie Tran Written by: Doménica Castro, Constanza Castro, Salvador Pérez García Visual Art & Animation by : Cecilia Reeve Edited by: Salvador Pérez García Music by: Jesi Nelson Digital Intermediate : Company 3 Senior Colorist : Jill Bogdanowicz Company 3 Senior Producer: Matt Moran Company 3 Executive Producer: Ashley McKim Audio Post Production: One Thousand Birds Sound Design & Mix by: KT Pipal Recording Engineer: Jackie! Zhou OTB Executive Producer: Guin Frehling

[haute-lifestyle-com]

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Announces Line Up #janetwalker #hautelifestylecom #theentertainmentzonecom #documentaryfilm #festival #lineup #hotsprings

[nopefun]

Interview #495: Quince Pan

q: Give a short introduction of yourself: a: I am Quince Pan, a documentary photographer born in 2000, currently based in Singapore. I am now waiting to enter university to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

q: What is your series "JBM" about? What was the process of making the series? a: “JBM”, my family’s abbreviation of “Jalan Bukit Merah”, is a documentary photo project centred on my maternal grandmother, Lau Giok Niu, her cultural heritage and her HDB flat where I spent my childhood under her care. It is my first exhibited series and also my first serious long-term documentary project.

In 2015, I followed my grandmother to visit her hometown in Fengwei, Quangang District, Quanzhou City, Fujian, China. Bringing my camera along on the trip, I noticed that instead of shooting purely for fun or beauty, I would include certain objects (for example, a calendar on the wall) in my frames because they had historical significance. I submitted those Fengwei photos as my portfolio for the 2016 Noise Art Mentorship (Photography and Moving Images). I got selected, and my mentor, Jean Qingwen Loo, urged me to pursue a project which I could speak authentically about. Through her criticism, I learnt to further prioritise meaning over style. My grandmother and my childhood were topics close to my heart, especially as she cared for me during my childhood and gave me the gift of the 头北 Thâu-pak dialect, a unique variant of Hokkien from the Quangang District. Eventually, “JBM” was born as my mentorship capstone, and was exhibited at the “Between Home and Home” Noise Art Mentorship Showcase at Objectifs in 2017. I haven’t stopped shooting; that’s why it’s an ongoing long-term project!

“JBM” contains a range of visual styles, ranging from photojournalistic fly-on-the-wall documentations of heated family discussions and visits by distant relatives from China to more tender images of sunlight at the void deck where my late grandfather’s wake was held in 2006. Rituals and festivities are anthropologically significant, so I pay particular attention to Chinese New Year, the Qing Ming Festival and the Winter Solstice, which my family celebrates. I also look at how other photographers document their families: Bob Lee, Nicky Loh, Bernice Wong, Brian Teo and Nancy Borowick.

More broadly, “JBM'' extends beyond photography and is a family history project. Since 2013, I have been researching the Quangang district, 头北 Thâu-pak dialect and my grandmother’s clan. I discovered that other descendants from her clan established an ancestral temple in Singapore, which initially stood on Craig Road but is now housed in a flat in Telok Blangah. I already did some fieldwork, interviews and preliminary documentation, which led to an article I published in April 2021 in Daojia: Revista Eletrônica de Taoismo e Cultura Chinesa. Maybe I will explore this in greater depth in future photo projects!

q: How did you get into photography? a: When I was around seven years old, I loved to play with my father’s Fujifilm compact. As a young student, I hadn’t heard of terms such as “light painting”, “Dutch angle” and “rule of thirds”, but those were the techniques I subconsciously used in my photographs. 

I entered the Noise Art Mentorship, as previously mentioned. During the school holidays, I worked as a media intern at Logue and as an assistant at Objectifs for the “Passing Time” exhibition and book by Lui Hock Seng. Through these work experiences, I learnt so much from Jean Loo, Yang Huiwen, Ryan Chua, Lim Mingrui and Chris Yap: news angles, editorial writing, scanning and touching up negatives and slides, colour management for print, liaising with clients and issuing invoices, among other skills. As part of the Noise Art Mentorship, I was given a copy of “+50” by the PLATFORM collective, which opened my eyes to diverse approaches within the documentary genre. I started to regularly attend talks at Objectifs and DECK, where I got to know people in the local photography scene, particularly in the documentary tradition.

q: You also do videography. How do you see it in relation to your photography? a: Videography requires a different way of seeing and thinking compared to photography, because video has additional temporal and auditory dimensions. With photography, I don’t have to think about how long I want a scene to be, what foley and B-roll I want to overlay, or have a storyboard in my head before heading out to shoot. In that sense, photography is more reactive to and receptive of situational contingencies because it requires less pre-planning. 

Also, photography can be a solitary endeavour, but it is quite difficult to make films alone, and the schoolmates I used to make films with have since embarked on separate paths in life. However, photography and videography share the same basics as visual media: composition and sequencing.

Fundamentally, I see myself as a documentarian, and this applies to any medium I work in, be it photography or videography, or even writing. The end goal is to record and share history by telling stories from lesser-known perspectives. Thus, the topics of my video projects are similar to the topics of my photo projects; sometimes I do both side by side! The films I made were all documentary shorts of places which do not exist anymore, such as the Hup Lee coffee shop at 114 Jalan Besar and the old Sembawang Hot Spring before NParks took over the site from MINDEF and redeveloped it. 

Currently, I am working as a videographer for Sing Lit Station’s poetry.sg archive. Thankfully, this job can be done solo!

q: What or who is inspiring you right now? a: Bob Lee, for being an amazing father and spreading hope and joy to others through his images. Alex and Rebecca Webb, for pairing literature with photography. Tom Brenner, for approaching photojournalism like street photography. Sim Chi Yin, for her international achievements and being both an academic and a practitioner. Brian Teo, for being an eminent contemporary. Last but not least, Kevin WY Lee’s advice, “CPR: Craft, Point, Rigour”, which I try to benchmark my work against.

q: Upcoming projects or ideas? a: Nothing concrete on my mind so far. I am just going to see where life takes me and what topics life makes me want to explore or talk about.

q: Any music to recommend? a: First and foremost, my fight song: “倔强 Stubborn” by Mayday. A close second, Queen’s 1986 “Under Pressure” live performance at Wembley is a transformative experience. The catchy “他夏了夏天 He Summered Summer” by Sodagreen brings out the grandeur in the mundane. “Silhouette” by KANA-BOON and “Everybody’s Changing” by Keane remind me of the fragility of life and time. I also like The Fray, Kings of Leon, Last Dinosaurs, Stephanie Sun, Tanya Chua, and the Taiwanese indie band DSPS.

his website.

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