Aaron Toh Ming WeiWhat comes to mind when you think of films made in Singapore?
Maybe Singaporean actresses and actors such as Fann Wong and Adrian Pang. Some might think of home grown directors like Royston Tan and Jack Neo. But Michael Kam?
Nope, it doesn’t ring a bell. Unless you are one of his students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Film & Media Studies, or a true blue short film buff, it’s entirely reasonable to have not heard of him.
However, with his film having gone overseas to the Berlin Film Festival, or Berlinale, in February, Kam’s name is one that should be appearing a lot more in the Singapore film scene.
His short film, Masala Mama, was selected out of over 4,000 short films screened at the prestigious Berlinale, a yearly event that garners a staggering attendance of 19,000 filmmakers from around the world.
Out of the thousands of submitted films each year, less than 300 are selected for screening. Masala Mama was entered in Generation, a film category catering productions tailored for younger audiences.
The 9-minute long production is about a comic-crazy boy who befriends an Indian convenience store owner, traditionally called a “mama” shop owner, and ends up having his own superhero-inspired adventure.
The film, which cost a solid $14,000 to make, gave Kam a good amount of grief.
“I had to shoot the film twice. The first filming was too rushed, and the mama shop owner didn’t really understand his part, “ he said, at a screening of his film at Ngee Ann Polytechnic on May 5.
The mama shop owner was eventually replaced with Mohan Vellayan, a regular actor on the Vasantham Channel.
Here’s a shocker for you – the Singaporean-made film has clear homosexual elements. It even qualified for the Teddy Awards, a film competition catering specifically to queer cinema.
The Indian mama shop owner is discernibly effeminate in his acting – something that was planned all along by Kam. “The film is based largely on my childhood experiences,” he explains. “I had a few homosexual friends when I was growing up, so that queer element makes the film more authentic.”
Kam had previously completed 3 short films. His first short film, Twilight Rose, was also screened at several film festivals internationally.
What can we expect from this filmmaker in the near future? “I’ve just applied for a grant from the Singapore Film Commission for another short film,” he said. “I’m not going to reveal its content to you, though, I normally wait for it to be finished.”
Giving some valuable tips on getting into international film festivals, Kam listed out a number of qualities that a budding filmmaker needs to strike it big.
“Aspiring filmmakers who are starting out need to develop a good sense of storytelling, find a pool of talented people to collaborate with, and have the perseverance to keep practising to make better and better films,” he said. “Berlin and other A-list festivals are not easy to get into. While there are some 6,000 shorts that are submitted for consideration, only some 200 plus short films get screened there.”
“Rejections are part and parcel of the process of filmmaking. But with passion, perseverance and some luck, filmmakers can create short films with compelling story ideas that are well told. Then, doors will open and film festivals will beckon.”