The ghostly encounters at German Girl Temple

It has been a good 8 mths since I last blogged.

Been lazy I guessed. But after my trip to Pulau Ubin to pay my respect at the German Girl Temple just last Saturday, thot of following up on a commentary I made about the ghost happenings at German Girl Temple two years ago.

I did a tele-movie for Arts Central entitled Moving Gods in 2004.

During the first night of production, we were shooting right outside the temple. Got this boy actor and some villages residing in Pulau Ubin to act as extras. In the scene the boy and the villagers are in a ritual dedicating the boy to the gods as a caretaker. Got the boy to wear a yellow bandana (since yellow is sort of the "national" color for all 拿 督 temples). I was not aware of what happened behind the scenes as I was busy directing the cameraman but my art director told me that the boy vomited and that this driver by the name of Vincent (also a resident of Pulau Ubin) told my art director to remove the yellow bandana from the boy.

I did not have any issue with it and did not feel anything amiss though I felt spooked of shooting at night right outside the temple. But I remembered that in between breaks I did approached the boy's mum and she just mentioned her boy was not feeling well.

But wah lao second night lucky best!

Was shooting a ghost scene in a kampong near the German Girl Temple. It was way past midnight and around 2am we managed to wrap up the shoot. My sound recordist Melvin went to turn off the generator but somehow the "handle flew out" and knocked his head and he went into a concussion. Two of my crew members dragged him inside the hut and have him seated on a chair..... The driver Vincent and two of the other crews members try to revive him. Then for the most scary 15 to 20 seconds of my life... I saw him entered into a "fit" or "possession". His eyes were rolled up and his arms were eerily hanging in the air like zombie... I remembered quite clearly that I was just standing there with my intern behind me super frightened at what we have seen. And I do recalled with laughter now that I shouted to my sound recordist some insensitive remarks like "Melvin, Melvin... are you all right, eh dun play leh."

During the 15 to 20 seconds, the two crews tried to pin him down and Vincent, the driver came to the rescue, he took out some kind of religious amulet from his neck and recited some teochew words. After that Melvin got back to his senses. And the best of it all, he appeared pretty calm and said that it is alright and it is just "fit".

But I was freaking demoralized as I was afraid that the next night would be worst and already I can sense that my interns (especially the girls) were scared shitless and wanted to go back home. In fact the intern that was standing beside me told me that she is very scared and wanted to go home but I explained how are we going back to the mainland in the middle of the night.

It was also during that night that I realized that the driver has "six sense" and he tried to explain that it is late and funny things can happened. But to have him around was quite re-assuring since he told me he can sensed it and have been through such encounters before.

I went back to the resort (I booked a double-storey chalet for the actors and for the girls, for director and AD while the rest of the male crews stayed in Vincent's house)... when I entered into a chalet, shit another goose pimples experience got over me... I heard a girl (my wardrobe assistant) crying and another girl (my production manager) chanting some buddhist mantras upstairs. I asked my assistant producer, Xavier what happened and he told me this:

That while I was busy preparing the ghost scenes in the village... Xavier who stand in as an extra playing a ghost go around and frighten this girl. The girl then got verbally abusive and "cursed" the German Girl. Then she vomited six times. Xavier felt very guilty and told her that he will bring her to German Girl Temple to pray for forgiveness first thing in the morning.

But thats not all, half an hour later Xavier got a call from one of the crews.....

kill the messenger, we're Singaporeans

A caption from the 144th ranking press about the government proposed amendment to the Film Act:

"Under proposed amendments to the Films Act, live film recordings of election rallies, public speeches or processions, as well as anniversary celebration videos by political parties will not be considered as party political films."

drum roll..."BUT THE EVENTS BEING FILMED MUST FIRST BE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW."

That means films such as this may be passed.

But films such as this maybe illegal. (For your information this man is now a member of parliament)

This sadly reminds me of those kungfu martial arts movies that the Emperor upon hearing some bad news from a messenger, ordered the guards to chop off the head of the messenger.

So now for filmmakers or video journalists like us we can only film those ra-ra events like politicians kissing babies, shaking hands or youth groups dress up in some weird costumes for national day parade.

But if we choose to record events of some people (especially this chap) holding a protest, we may get ourselves prosecuted for publicizing such incidents.

Of course one of their rationale is that they link the Mumbai terrorist attack where journalist are unwittingly giving information to terrorist holding up in hotels... but man i think they are seriously way off the mark unless I am wrong, that psychopaths who practiced civil disobedience are terrorists too.

One man's meat is another man's poison, good news to some are bad news to others... for instance, if someone managed to record and uploaded a video of a man pushing an old lady down the stairs in an attempt to steal her belongings, does society blame the videographer that it may generate copycat crimes or that people would appreciate the video and warn their old relatives to be more careful.

I just wondered if Burma enact such a similar law prior to the saffron revolution, will the world ever get to see the junta's brutality of dealing with "illegal" protest such as this and this

Hopefully filmmakers and journalists can escape such fate.

For more information, please refer to our deputy chief executive officer of One Nation Under the Film Act.

Random Thoughts over the last quarter of 2008

Been very busy for production and post production thus far for the recent few months and will stretch over early next year. But guess that after two of my friends, Shafiie and Isrizal got released from prison yesterday (They were sentenced to one week jail for contempt of court)... i thought of squeezing a day to reflect some highlights over the last few months.

In fact I have been out of active activism over the last few months... mainly because of work... hope to join the rest of these activists but not in jail I hope :P

Anyway was with some friends doing a candelight vigil for Shafiie and Isrizal outside Queenstown Remand Prison just yesterday. Quite funny that we composed a song to the tune of Amazing Grace and sang it to them when they got out from the prison gate.

Then back in September, we have an ex-SGHR reunion... catching up with those guys, many of them might be going to prison soon (perhaps early next year) as they were charged in court for illegal assembly. Around the same time, some of us went up to KL to attend the Freedom Film Festival (Seelan's film One Nation Under Lee was screened)

I guessed that are some of the highlights :S

But aside from political and social activities... just want to mentioned that my evil twin brother got married just two weeks ago and was a judge for a film competition (Fly By Night)

I still do not have a chance to find my nanny yet :(... oh yes but i recently picked up guitar and can play a few songs :P Meanwhile I am wondering how's Hai Leong... it has been quite a while since I last visited him.

to the late JBJ: may we continue the good fight

When I received a sms of J. B. Jeyaretnam's death from a friend in the early morning... somehow I was not too sad about it.

Perhaps I already knew his time is near. In fact when he finally cleared his undeserving bankruptcy and decided to form a political party... I was not too excited about it.

Of course I am not meaning what the States Times reported "Yet, the old warhorse refused to believe that he was irrelevant to Singaporeans."

And I mean well..... he has already fought the good fight... it is time for a master to hand over the gloves and pass on to his disciples. I guess I made up this impression during the 2006 elections when he missed (because of the arduous task of clearing his bankruptcy) what I thought was his last chance to stand as a candidate. I felt that he really deserved the hero's exit even if he has lost so many battles. I wished that he could spend his twilight years more with his family, his grandchildren and I believed that no Singaporeans can fault him for retiring cause he has tried his extreme best... (compared to some Big Brother who still want to rise up from his grave to look over us)

Just like so many old people and him, they should not have work at this ripe old age and it is up to us the younger generation to repay our debts and continue their legacies.

But my fear is that are Singaporeans still so dependent and basking our hopes on one lone fighter and with his demise... no one can fill in his shoes?

My lament is that it seems that people are forgiving towards the past, towards the dead but when it comes to the present and the living, we are not there to support them... in fact we criticized and stunned them.

As a documentary filmmaker, I always find it a bit amusing that people like to dig out old history, pay tributes to dead rebels... as if they start to realize their forefather's mistakes of abandoning and persecuting them during their fight. Are these "rebels" so ahead of their times that it always take another generation to recognize their efforts?

Thus my hope is this, Singapore's history is short but it is not short of people like JBJ who have fight for democracy. Yes there were the old-timers who have either died or exiled or retired but yet there are also a growing number of young people who have in one way or the other being inspired by JBJ and his contemporaries to continue the path. And my wish is that we Singaporeans be more tolerant, more supportive and not be dismissive and critical of these young guns as mere "psychopath".
I guess it will be a repeat of the same tragic fate that JBJ faced when he had to "leave" the party, when he had to go alone to sell his books if Singaporeans are still so bo-chap and at best KPKB at kopi-tiam about PAP and opposition disunity and at worst expect some people to fight on their behalf and the greatest travesty of all, when some kind souls decided to fight for their interest, they get mocked at.

Jeyaretnam definitely deserved a tribute... I believed one day history will be true and kind to him. But it is not much use to give a posthemus award to a dead man. I believed a fitting tribute to JBJ will be what he wish Singaporeans to do "Cast off the slumber into which you have been led into for the last 10 years. Wake up to your rights as a human being, to your proper role as citizens of this country."

Just this afternoon I went to the wake, I saw Mr Singapore Rebel writing a passage on the condolences book something to the effect of pledging himself to continue the fight for democracy in Singapore :)... may many more join this pursuit.

An afterthought... JBJ maybe a giant but he is still very human. We may not be equal to his accomplishment as a lawyer and former MP but if we decided to take up his call to do the right thing, we can held our heads high and walk like giants too.

Let a hundred films unbanned

Above: Surprise...even undercover police doing "political films" :P

Got an email from Board of Film Censors a few days ago with this standard message:

Dear Sir/Madam,
This is to inform that the Board of Films Censors (BFC) has completed vetting your video(s) under IR No. A/0804/I006241L .Please proceed to the MDA counter (45 Maxwell Road URA Centre East Wing #07-11/12) with your original NRIC to collect and make payment for your video(s) within 7 working days from the date of this email.

The total fee payable is S $10.80.

Please log on to MDA Online (www.mda.gov.sg) to find out the rating and decision for your video(s).

Thank you.

So this afternoon went down to Board of Film Censors to collect my films. Saw the same counter staff whom I met five months back when I sent my films for submission. She immediately recognized me and was very friendly :). In fact a bit of pleasant surprise when she asked me whether I would be submitting any more films in the future. I mentioned that this will not be the last time we met and she told me that very soon BFC will be located at Fusionpolis... sometime in November.

Did some payment and signed some documents and before I left, I asked what's the ratings for Martyn See's film 'Nation Builders'. "Confidential" she said and off I go. I guess I should also asked her what's the status with Seelan's film 'One Nation Under Lee' that kanna confiscated by MDA not too long ago :P

Anyway here are the ratings for six of my films:


Human Rights Torch Relay (M18 ratings)

Burmese Says No (NC16 ratings)

NUS international students vigil walk (PG ratings)

Singaporean started 5 days fasting against ISA on Hindraf 5 (PG ratings)

Burmese staged peaceful demonstration in Singapore (PG ratings)

Morning May Day Montage (PG ratings)

Quite curious about why two of my films above got a M18 and NC16 while the rest PG..... I guess that even before the Film Act will be amended next year... BFC is already working hard to fine tune their process to vet such films. In due time the process will be more transparent..... I hope.

Anyway this is an encouraging sign... recently Martyn put up a list of 100 political films... so let's see how many films will get passed by BFC :).

For more breaking news:

Censors ok political films

By Sue-Ann Chia
SIX short films that document political activities in Singapore - from street demonstrations to protest fasting - have been given the nod by the film censor.

The films were produced by Mr Ho Choon Hiong who collected them from the Board of Film Censors (BFC) on Friday.

The 33-year-old had submitted them to the board five months ago to be vetted.

They were the first of such films to be passed since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong indicated last month that the ban on political films could be relaxed.

Given the outright ban on political films now, Mr Ho applauded the Censor's decision, saying: 'It is an encouraging sign'.

The Films Act prohibits the making or distribution of 'party political' films, which include advertisements by political parties or other political organisations here, or films 'directed towards any political end in Singapore'.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.

All well and not so good in one nation under LEE

Have been away overseas for over twenty days and on the day of arrival back home... :)

I was greeted with what I have been waiting for... that the Film Act and Public Assemblies will be amended and relax. But there are some irony to it.

It is of no surprise to me. I guess the authorities have realized a bit late the collateral damage they have incurred for being too restrictive in this digital-age. My opinion is that with these new technologies (video cameras, youtube, blogs, podcasts etc) available, advocates of civil resistance in Singapore now at least have a good fight against the state machinery for withholding information or being too repressive... basically whatever harsh actions they undertake, it will be documented and the whole world will be watching and those face saving bureaucrats wanting to put the little red-dot as a "vibrant hub here and there" will have a lot of explanation and accountability to do :P

Either way I am optimistic to the point that time is on our side... for instance if Film Act is not amended, any films banned and subsequently uploaded... more people will yearn to watch it... and if now the Film Act has been relaxed... it opens a floodgate for people to forgo their fears and starts recording alternative news.

And at this point... should myself or others be contented. I hope not. Cause it is precisely the actions of a few (like Martyn See and some filmmakers who persistently choose not to be silenced that pressure the authorities to relax the law) and it is also the actions of a few like Dr Chee Soon Juan and some activists who brave themselves to protest that the authorities decided to spare an avenue to "let them off steam".

Thank you but it is actually our rights, we only got it partially back and we will continue to push for more. I am happy and yet "ungrateful".

Talking about who being the ungrateful one...

Ironically while the authorities are now "enlightened to know that they are being too restrictive" and thus offer those little goodies to open up, they seems to be coming hard on those "agitators" - the very people who cause them to be wise up in the first place.

It is with dismay that recently there is no letting up of activists being charged in court for "illegal assemblies" and worst of all some Burmese activists have their stay in Singapore revoked.

So I guess... after the boy alerted the King that he has no clothes on, instead of bestowing the boy with gifts, the King has the boy whipped for saving him the embarrassment.

Martyn... will you ever get a PBM or cultural medallion from the Trinity?

We are all individuals!!!

Yes SGHR has formally disbanded :)... so goodbye SGHR but hello again human rights.

To me it is good riddance cos leaving this "group" is another strategic choice... will explain later.

However I am still proud to be an ex-member of SGHR as it is from there that I discovered and learned activism... I have benefited from each of them and discovered my own strength and weaknesses.

The shotgun birth of SGHR

Just to recap how SGHR started... It never dawned on me that we made a deliberate choice to form SGHR, one situation leads to another... for me it was because of SDP organizing the Burmese candlelight vigil that I got to meet some youthful faces who are concerned about the Burma's saffron revolution and the signing of the ASEAN charter on human rights. I started to know each other and we talked... so pretty much after the candlelight vigil, I felt that their wavelength in approaching human rights are quite similar and we are eager to plan activities together in the near future...

But sometimes without much anticipation, planning and meetings... situations propels us to move together... with the coming of the ASEAN summit, we went through sort of baptism of fire, alot of events were happening and we rush to meet up to discuss what to do and before I can tell myself that I am mentally prepared for it.... I got myself together with three others walking down Orchard Road to hand a petition card "Free Burma, Free Singapore" to the ASEAN secretariat and kanna stop by Police. To tell you I was a bit apprehensive to know that I was going to take part in some form of "public illegal assembly" but I am encouraged by these group of young activist and knowing in my heart, that I am doing it for a just cause.... I ploughed myself into this form of "civil disobedience" and I can say that after the above experience in Orchard Road, the rest of the "civil disobedience" activities we planned were quite a bliss for me.... namely the fear of repercussions naturally subside in me.

Why SGHR and not other "NGOs"

Some people think that SGHR are too "confrontational"... too much like "SDP"... already as we form SGHR, there were members who are known to be "troublemakers". I think the best way to sum up is to relate one incident when a friend ask me to consider other safer NGOs... my reply is this... I dun think in terms of activism there is a one size that fits all, some prefer dialogues with authorities, some wish to only push a certain specific human rights issues like woman's rights, gay's rights etc, some choose to embrace all areas but avoid talking "taboo" or "OB markers" like freedom of expression, political rights etc as they think it is a long term strategic choice not to irk the authorities too much but to slowly convince them to open up step by step...

I guess all roads lead to Rome... but ultimately whoever wants to be in the activism line must answer whether such approach is comfortable to them and he/ she can contribute effectively.

For me I am of no use in joining a large organizations or umbrellas and run by some "top" people where wordings, letters, activities, replies etc must be well discussed and thought off so that the organizations will not get into "unnecessary troubles" with authorities over their articles and events etc... I "kind of" understand their predicament cos if anything goes wrong, the leaders will be haul up and the rest of the group (even for those who might not have directly drafted a letter) will be in trouble.

Basically I am bad in dialogues :(, going to meetings and have to subject myself to some form of party discipline so that I wont babble wrong things in public and that the organizations will not get implicated as well.

And when I join SGHR, I joined because it is a group that can "best" allows me to render my service productively, we are ad-hoc, no leader structure, we are more like like-minded individuals who share the same passion in films etc... and we do things pretty fast and without much "arrowing". For me, I know my strength comes into film-making and I render such service as a labor of love and without much "censorship" too (for SGHR, we are quite open minded in terms of each other opinions)

And when SGHR is deemed "confrontational"... it is just at best "civil disobedience" to break against an unjust law that perhaps are new to Singaporeans (they prefer to dialogue)... but have either results bear fruits.... maybe and maybe not... it is too quick to judge that...

At least for me the best example can be seen in Martyn See's Singapore Rebel incident.... well when Martyn See was in trouble, some people criticize him and said that he deserves it (the Film Act has been in place since 1990s) and Martyn "knowingly" breaks the law by producing the infamous film.... and incurring the wrath from the authorities.

Well my counter argument is this; what other best examples to show an unjust law than to break it... cos only when Martyn See's film got uploaded in youtube and other festivals, then we Singaporeans and the authorities themselves (even MM Lee) can witness the absurdity of such a law in place.

Anyway I am not here to champion about SGHR, in fact SGHR despite being small and highly mobilized, we do have our pitfalls like any organizations.... we have differences in opinions on some approaches and we can argue passionately about the differences... especially so when each of the 9 of us are so energetic and "leaders" or "psychopath" in our own ways. Thus even without banding together, each of us can effectively engage in activism in our own individual ways.

SGHR a poooodle of SDP :P

Some people think we are the opus dei of SDP and people get frightened or dislike of associating too much with SDP. For me, I am non-partisan, not a member of any political party. But for me I embrace alot of Dr Chee's ideals... anyway it is not that he invent the concept of human rights... Human Rights are as old as the trees and both myself and Dr Chee and many others share the same similar vision... vision like freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and naturally when either myself, SGHR, SDP or say Dr Chee have the same vision, more or less we will take part in activities together (Singapore is a little red dot after all)

However I can dare say that Dr Chee at least in the Singapore context has been the forefront of pushing such ideals and lately his actions and courage has caused more people to examine his actions much closely.

As for all the other political parties.... like I believe for the rest of the NGOs, all paths can lead to Rome, for all critics, supporters, kiasi and kiasu Singaporeans who want to do something but are afraid, pappies spies etc, please go DO something instead of criticizing (not that it is not wrong), please go DO something that you are comfortable with... if to you shopping is more important than human rights, I am fine with that too... whatever it makes you and your conscience happy... please do it. If you are uncomfortable with SDP or SGHR or any psychopath... by all means join an organizations that suits you and you can render your best... in fact if you are a Pappiee grassroot internet brigade team (if ever there is such as one more secretive than the Priory of Sion) go ahead and pappy if you think your actions are patriotic to one nation under Lee :P

Now for the rest of the unknown human rights "fanatics" or potentially social disorder personalities... here are the good news:

Join us but not SGHR

I was a christian for 12 years, even if I no longer holds on to the faith... but so many wonderful examples from the bible itself. So here's one for you... Jesus raise up from his grave and ascend to heaven leaving 11 disciples (motley crew of fisherman... and in Singapore context... if you go to Pasir Panjang Fishmarket... you will see alot of Phu Chu Kang there) to go out and preach to all nations.

But then there is Saul who have not seen Jesus or the disciples before and in fact a tormentor of this bizarre new age religion called Christianity until he himself got converted and martyred.

So the message is this SGHR disbands for a strategic choice.... we will like to see more Singaporeans joining the cause as a leader and follower at the same time.... to us having SGHR has a liability tag on us... we cannot expand more than 9 people or else we run foul of the societies act and we never like the idea that once in a group, you somehow have to subscribe a certain sense of "loyalty" to this group so much so that other groups will withhold certain information or people will label a groupie tag on us... whatever nice names people can call themselves... it is just some fanciful names like a salesman calling themselves sales executive or sales director and all the bs. Again what is more important is the belief of human rights that you are pursuing and you only wish that one day more and more people will pursue together as well (but never be afraid that you are in the minority.... a movement has to start from zero anyway)

And in all humbleness, we all 9 of us are your equals, we hope that without any baggage or linkage to SGHR, we do not want to say our views are "better"... we hope that as each of us continue our own individual activism, we will somehow (very often i think) do things together again on ad-hoc basis and in high mobility fashion but most importantly with new faces.... :)

Already I am encouraged that recently myself, Martyn and Seelan thought over who will be the new faces that does video as a form of activism... but looking carefully in youtube there are already new people contributing their works (people whom I have never rub shoulders with) and I guess it is a viral effect... as more people engage in their form of activism, it will influence others to do their own too. Just as I did not join SDP, Dr Chee has by and large play quite a big influence in my involvement with activism.

Even if there are "new blood" who for some reasons choose to engage in their own form of activism and not work with us.... we are definitely more delighted and encouraged to know that all of us are individuals and that despite our differences, we all are at least trying.

So go on, be crucified :)

Lastly some other announcement of alternative news of the Chees Vs the Lees (that has been quite hot while I was in Maldives)... you can ever get to read the actual transcript and hear the audio recordings of what transpired in the court case.

namely go to www.theonlinecitizen.com, http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/