Screen Singapore: Great show but where’s the audience?
The curators and organisers of Screen Singapore are to be praised for putting up a great showcase of films. The films that were screened during this month-long festival are all made in Singapore and reflect the Singapore of the past before independence right up to the present. Apart from documenting Singapore’s little known film history, Screen Singapore has allowed audiences to better understand the social and physical transformations of our nation over the years. In addition, the curators made special effort to include English subtitles for the older Malay films (produced in the 1950s and 1960s) in order to increase their accessibility.
Despite these efforts, attendance at screenings for the older films was very poor. I watched four of such films and the best attendance record was but a miserable eight individuals. This was in contrast to the popularity received by the contemporary films such as Forever Fever, 15 and The Maid. Poor attendance for the older films cannot be attributed to poor publicity for Screen Singapore. The festival was well publicised in the Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and Today. People who read about Screen Singapore and who were interested in it would have been able to obtain film details from the website, brochures or ticketing venues.
As no particular films were specially highlighted through these channels, it is likely that people actively chose to watch the contemporary ones that were better known and perhaps perceived as more entertaining than the earlier films. This is a shame as the earlier films have captured valuable snippets of Singapore’s past not just for the reminiscing of the older generation, but also for the understanding and appreciation of younger Singaporeans. Are Singaporeans just not interested in our heritage, too weaned on a diet of mainstream films, or both?
And how ironic it is that Screen Singapore was the brainchild of a Frenchman and not a Singaporean! This guy has taken pains to collect 360 over Singapore-made films and is in the midst of writing a book on Singapore film. Where is the passionate Singaporean film buff? Are local filmmakers too busy making their own films to bother about showcasing films of the past?
I certainly hope to see Screen Singapore make a comeback next year, and for older films to still be included in the festival. How can we make more people appreciate them? Perhaps the most effective way is to do a special on older films in ST Life!, plus some reviews (and before the screenings, mind you, not after!). If even this doesn’t work, I don’t know what else to say.
Despite these efforts, attendance at screenings for the older films was very poor. I watched four of such films and the best attendance record was but a miserable eight individuals. This was in contrast to the popularity received by the contemporary films such as Forever Fever, 15 and The Maid. Poor attendance for the older films cannot be attributed to poor publicity for Screen Singapore. The festival was well publicised in the Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and Today. People who read about Screen Singapore and who were interested in it would have been able to obtain film details from the website, brochures or ticketing venues.
As no particular films were specially highlighted through these channels, it is likely that people actively chose to watch the contemporary ones that were better known and perhaps perceived as more entertaining than the earlier films. This is a shame as the earlier films have captured valuable snippets of Singapore’s past not just for the reminiscing of the older generation, but also for the understanding and appreciation of younger Singaporeans. Are Singaporeans just not interested in our heritage, too weaned on a diet of mainstream films, or both?
And how ironic it is that Screen Singapore was the brainchild of a Frenchman and not a Singaporean! This guy has taken pains to collect 360 over Singapore-made films and is in the midst of writing a book on Singapore film. Where is the passionate Singaporean film buff? Are local filmmakers too busy making their own films to bother about showcasing films of the past?
I certainly hope to see Screen Singapore make a comeback next year, and for older films to still be included in the festival. How can we make more people appreciate them? Perhaps the most effective way is to do a special on older films in ST Life!, plus some reviews (and before the screenings, mind you, not after!). If even this doesn’t work, I don’t know what else to say.
posted by goddazz @ 1:43 PM
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