And so we came to National Library Level 16, which was a gallery where you can see the magnificient view of Singapore River, Esplanade, Marina Area and blah blah blah.... was hoping to see Indonesia, but since the Indoneisan government is facing the problem of their countless forest fire, it was impossible for me to see Indonesia.
And when talking to Lawrence, all of a sudden, i felt that i am attending a seminar in Genting Highland. The only difference is the climate and the atmosphere, where it is freaking cold in Genting, yet it is extremely warm there.
Both Royston and Kelvin were late for 40 mins, and the seminar begins with their development of film making and their view on local films. Some extracts from Royston on his view of local productions and movie making:
1. Never take making short films as a doorway to making full length feature films. It will never work. The experience one got from making short films and full length features are different.
2. Teens would rather spend $9.50 on a $6 million blockbuster production than a small budget production. True, not every teenagers like me (around my age) could learnt how to appreciate a low budget high quality production, but too much high cost low standard productions would simply pull down the taste and appreciation of an audience. Are we going to be stuffed with craps such as Date Movie and Scary Movies Series in theatres, or more gems such as The Departed and controverisal blockbusters such as Munich and WTC in future ?
And it leaves some room for thought on the future of Singapore Cinema.
In the Q&A session, i opened 2 questions to Royston and Kelvin:
me: how has movie making change your life and what movie leaves you with the deepest impression?
Royston: ...movie making makes me realised that there is no take 2 in life....and the movie that leaves me with the deepest impression is Three Colors by (Krzysztof) Kieslowski. You know who is he? Everytime when i watched it over and over again, i find new meanings to the movie.
After the semianr, Royston was kind enough to take pictures and give autographs to his fans. This is the diamond opportunity to achieve our objectives. Royston was nice enough to give his signature to his latest movie 4.30 on DVD, and on his Royston's Shorts, a DVD featured all of the short films made by him in his previous years. And i had a short chat with him.
Me: I was amazed that Three Colors was the movie that leaves you with the deepest impression, cos it left me with deep impression too. So have you heard of this Spanish director named Pedro Almodovar?
Royston: You mean Almodovar?
Me: Yep.
Royston: Oh yes...
Me: His All About My Mother leaves me a deep impression too, and that was my all time favourite film. He potrays the love of a mother, where she would do anything for her son. That was so great.
Royston: Oh yes...what's the another Almodovar film that leaves me a deep impression...Bad Education. Have you seen it?
Me: Yes! And how about his Woman on the Verge of Nervous Breakdown?
Royston: Eh no...
Me: Mabey you should watch that if you had a chance. That was a really great film. But sad to say, Yangtze cineplex had a run of Almodovar's Matador, a 1986 drama which stars Antonio Banderas, ended up in Yangtze as a cheap...you know what i mean. What a waste to the film...
Royston: Ooh...seems that you are a movie buff. (smiles)
And Lawrence got his opportunity to complete his project. He finds Royston is a friendly chap too.
We did not leave the seminar empty handed. We got what we wanted eventually.
Both of us headed to Gloria Jean's Coffee at Raffle City SC for a cuppa and a cake. Had low fat iced mocha, and he had carrot cake, while i had 2 iced cupcakes. (And iced cupcakes seems to be the favourite among the 4 girls in Sex and the City.) Made our way to The Grand Cathay for the 5.20pm show of The Departed. It just happened that we walked pass The Cathay Gallery, and we were amazed with what is displayed on the Gallery. It was like walking down the memory lane to the history of Cathay Organization. Lawrence was surprised to find the traditional ticket booklets used as a display. ;)
Scorsese brings in new life to Infernal Affairs Trilogy in The Departed, and within 152mins, he concluded the whole story. Go see it for yourself, for you will loved the ending if you find the ending of Infernal Affairs 3 disappointing.