Jacen Tan

Jacen Tan is a Singaporean independent film director,[1][2] and has been named by The Straits Times Life! as one of Singapore's "most exciting young talents" and “Singapore’s latest film funnyman”.

Jacen's first short film, Tak Giu (Kick Ball), became a viral hit on the Internet in 2005, with over 100,000 views. It was spread by e-mail in the pre-YouTube days, and overwhelming traffic caused the servers to crash.[3] Many fans offering to host the 42mb video file on their servers, and it became 'Singapore's first viral short film'.[4]

Popularising the local slang “Hosay” (“Great!”) has helped Tan stand out as a filmmaker who has embraced being Singaporean by touching on topics close to the hearts of the people. 8 Days magazine refers to Jacen's films as having “more Singaporean flavour than a pot of curry.”

In 2011, Jacen released Hosaywood,[5] a DVD compilation of his short films.

Jacen's latest short documentary, Homeground, was awarded for the POSB Storytellers Grant[6] in 2015.

Jacen also served as assistant director on Han Yew Kwang's comedy hit, Rubbers.

He will release his first feature film, Zombiepura[7] in 2018.

Background

Tan is known for his low budget films, highly localised treatment of Singaporean issues and the liberal use of Singlish in his films.[8] All his film titles consist of commonly spoken Hokkien words. He has directed music videos for popular Singaporean bands Rudra, Lunarin and Documentary in Amber,[1][9] and has been named by The Straits Times Life! as one of Singapore's "most exciting young talents". His films Tak Giu and Zo Peng are used in the course "Singapore Literature & Culture II" at Nanyang Technological University.[10]

Filmography
  • Zombiepura (2018) - Feature film
  • Homeground (2015) - Documentary
  • Kwa Giu (2009) - Documentary
  • Zo Hee (2008) - Short film
  • Zo Gang (2007) - Short film
  • Zo Peng (2006) - Short film
  • Tak Giu (2005) - Short film

Zombiepura

Zombiepura is Jacen's first feature film. The horror-comedy revolves around a zombie outbreak in an isolated army camp where a lazy reservist soldier and a commander need to fight to survive. The film stars Alaric and Benjamin Heng. It has been described[11] as 'Ah Boys To Men' meets 'The Walking Dead'.

After seven years of development, the film was announced[12] in Asia TV Forum & Market 2017.

Homeground

In 2015, Jacen released Homeground, a documentary about playing spaces in Singapore. The film pays tribute to weekend warriors and their 'homegrounds' where they play soccer and forge friendships. The film was the winner of POSB's Storytellers Grant. The full film can be watched online on YouTube and Facebook.

Hosaywood DVD

The below collection of short films[5] was released in a DVD, Hosaywood, distributed by Objectifs Films.

Kwa Giu (Watch Football) - A tribute to the National Stadium

Kwa Giu is a documentary about the electrifying atmosphere of the Kallang Roar. It was filmed at the Kallang National Stadium during the AFC Cup Final (Singapore vs Thailand) on 31 January 2007. Kwa Giu is a tribute to the Stadium which was demolished[13] in 2010.

Zo Hee (Make Movie)

Zo Hee, the sequel to Zo Gang, was specially commissioned by The Substation Moving Images and premiered at The Substation during Moving Images' 10 years anniversary celebrations, and includes cameos by prominent Singapore film-makers such as Juan Foo, Tan Pin Pin, Sun Koh, Kristin Saw and Lionel Chok.[8]

Zo Gang (Go Work)

Zo Gang, his 3rd short film about a struggling filmmaker wannabe, has received rave applause from Hougang to Berlin. The film includes parodies and references to Quentin Tarantino, Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Electrico, Royston Tan. It includes cameos of musicians from the Singapore rock scene such as Linda Ong from Lunarin and Patrick Chng of The Oddfellows.

Zo Peng (Go Army)

In November 2005, Tan's 2nd film, Zo Peng (Go Army), won 2nd place at the Panasonic/MDA Digital Film Fiesta,[8][14] and in 2008 received Jury Prize for Short Film from Asian Film Archive.[15] In Singapore males are required to serve two years of mandatory army training as part of their national duties. Zo Peng postulates a future where females are similarly required to serve two years of mandatory army training. The film re-genders the issue of national duty and military service in a light hearted comic treatment. Some have criticised the film as being male-centric as it is told from a male's perspective albeit with female characters.

Tak Giu (Kick Ball)

In land scarce Singapore, the lack of playing spaces has restricted the development of local soccer talents as young children have difficulties sourcing for fields for soccer practices. Shot in 7 days with a borrowed camera,[16] Tak Giu critiques the lack of playing spaces in Singapore in the context of the nation's drive to enter the World Cup Finals in 2010.[17] Two years after Tak Giu was released, 284 State fields were upgraded and opened for public recreation.[18] Tak Giu gathered over 100,000 internet views.[1]

Music videos

Hymns from the Blazing Chariot, Rudra – 2009

Silverpiece, Lunarin – 2006

Additional sources

References
  1. Baey Shi Chen, Theresa Tarpey and Terry Ong (3 April 2009). "The Next Frame – Online Maverick: Jacen Tan, director". IS Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  2. "Making films, the Jacen Tan way". Sinema. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  3. "Tak Giu". mrbrown.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. "Review - 'Homeground' by Jacen Tan". www.sindie.sg. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  5. "Hooray, Hosaywood!". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. "A 'love letter' to playing spaces". AsiaOne. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  7. "Not dead yet: Long overdue Singapore movie 'Zombiepura' starts filming in January 2018". Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  8. "Zo Hee (Make Movie)". Toronto Singapore Film Festival. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  9. Lizard, Lounge. "Interviews: documentary in amber". Aging Youth. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  10. Course Instructor: Lim Lee Ching. "HL208: Singapore Literature & Culture II". Nanyang Technological University. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  11. "There's Going to be an Ah Boys to Men X The Walking Dead Local Movie in 2018". Goody Feed. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  12. "《尸杀军营》筹备辛苦 导演与演员差点变"活尸"". 联合早报网. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  13. "National Stadium Demolition | The Long and Winding Road". thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  14. "WINNERS OF THE DIGITAL SHORT FILM (OPEN CATEGORY)" (PDF). Media Development Authority. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  15. "The Asian Film Archive Young Jury Awards 2008". Asian Film Archive. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  16. Chuan, Ng Khoon (19 July 2005). "Screw it, Just Do it!". Youth.SG. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  17. Lim, Chen (2005). "Interview With Producer / Director of 'Tak Giu'". sgfootball.com. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  18. "S'pore Land Authority makes 284 state fields available for public use". Channel News Asia. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  19. "Members of Hosaywood: Stanley Huang". 26 May 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  20. "Jacen Tan's films & Seletar Airbase @ Sinema at Timbré". Sinema. 9 March 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  21. "Flash: Spore Short Cuts". The Void Deck. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  22. Lay, Yeo Ghim (14 June 2008). "New fund for first-time film-makers". asiaone.com. Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  23. "SLA improves 284 fields for community use". Football Association Singapore. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
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