First Take May 2011

First Take
Monday 9 May, 8pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: Free
This is an InHouse event 

First Take, happening every 1st Monday of the month, is a popular screening of new local short films and is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. A platform for new filmmakers and anyone who is interested in filmmaking to meet, exchange ideas and show their work. See the future of Singaporean film!

LOCKED WITHIN / SALEEM HADI / 7 MIN / 2010 / PG

A school boy vents his frustration in a public toilet by illustrating his thoughts on the cubicle walls, till one day he finds a surprising message from a stranger.

Saleem Hadi is the first Singaporean to have won the Cannes 2008 Distinguished Community Documentary Award for his 3 minutes documentary, Take, which was on Singaporean’s perception of death. He also won the Best Director award for his film, Natchathiram, at a talent search programme aired on Mediacorp channel, Vasantham. Saleem Hadi has directed 10 short films.

THE HIGHEST STAKES / GAVIN RAMOUTAR / 6 MIN / 2010 / PG

A gambling father goes in search of his neglected daughter after losing her in a crowd in Little India, ultimately coming to terms with his addiction.

A native of Guyana, South America, Gavin earned his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in New York. While in school he produced two short films and a narrative documentary. One of his works has also debuted at Fordham’s Centre Gallery in New York. He currently attends New York University Tisch School of Arts Asia in Singapore; and is currently in pre-production on his graduate thesis film, a narrative short, and completing post production on Migrant Workers in Singapore, a short documentary.

MOVIE STAR – SLEEQ / PHILIP TAN / 4 MIN / 2010 / G

This MTV is a collaboration with local Hip-Hop/R&B duo SleeQ. It’s an attempt to use concert style lighting technologies, to suit a cinematic visual style that features the glamour that is Moviestar.

Philip Tan is currently undertaking a Bachelors’ in Fine Arts at Nanyang Technological University, part of the Digital Filmmaking program at the School of Art, Design and Media. As a cinematographer, he has embarked on various short film projects which have received various local and international screenings. Being a visual storyteller with a passion for lighting, he believes that he can contribute to the growing visual culture in this very young country of Singapore, hoping to highlight scenes with a Singaporean aesthetic.

LOST SOLES / NG WEE KIAT / 10 MIN / 2010 / PG

A mother tries her best to buy new shoes for her son only to receive an accusation of theft in return.

Wee Kiat is currently in the third year of study in Film, Sound & Video in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, School of Film and Media Studies. He has directed several student films and a television commercial which was shortlisted in the MOFILM London Film Festival. He is currently directing his final year film, working titled Sanzaru – a thriller about the birth of a serial killer.

HIDING UNDER COVERS / MICHAEL DAVIES / 13 MIN / 2010 / PG

Two undercover cops have their covers blown when they both go after the same big-time criminal. When one of them shoots the crime boss, they must figure a way out of the jam.

Michael recently graduated from the Film, Sound and Video course at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. As a student, he constantly pushed the boundaries of storytelling and plans to continue doing so as a filmmaker in future.