Meet the Crew
- Carman Chew
- Jan 30, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 3, 2022
Meet the crew behind the camera of The Lorong Halus Project: a motley trio from the NUS Department of Communications and New Media working on this final-year project.
Just in case you missed what the project's about, here's the quick recap.
What got us started and what keeps us going?
Find out more in the rest of this interview.
Meet Alina
What got you into photog and videography?
It's a bit of a long story but I guess it started when I was watching some K-variety shows and had the thought that it'd be quite fun to be the ones behind the program.
I initially wanted to enrol in Film & Media Studies at Ngee Ann Poly after O's but I was afraid I'd regret it because back then I was very uncertain about what I'd want to do in the future.
By the time I got to uni, I still had production on my mind so I took up a module related to film in NUS and realised that "ok, I can actually consider doing this in the future".
Why did you decide to join this project?
The main reason would be to gain more experience.
I am still new to production as compared to others around me who may be more familiar with how everything works. And there's a limit to how much you can learn from seminars.
So I took this on as a challenge and a learning experience.
Any favourite places in Lorong Halus?
The first time I'd been to Lorong Halus was with Carman and Hay Thi during our recce.
Prior to that, I didn't even know that area even existed.
My favourite place on the wetland would definitely be the one by the kiosk — the one with the reeds and ponds. There's just something about that place that seems surreal and picturesque to me.
What do you hope people can take away from this film?
Just as I have learned about the value of the place (in terms of history, biodiversity and conservation), I hope others do too. It's also made me realise that green spaces are becoming increasingly sparse in Singapore and to cherish the spaces we still have.
Future plans?
I'm still taking things one step at a time. When this project concludes, I'm thinking of getting some equipment to familiarise myself with the technical aspects of production.
Meet Carman
What got you into photog and videography?
I started making home videos with cousins years ago and just could never put down the camera after that lor. My time with nuSTUDIOS, a film club in NUS, definitely helped a lot with building skills, contacts and collaboration opportunities in the more recent years.
Ultimately, I think what draws me to the medium is how film can be used as a means for memory-making and community-building.
Why did you decide to join this project?
I first heard about Lorong Halus' potential redevelopment while I was out floating on a kelong in Pasir Ris as part of my internship at Ocean Purpose Project.
Having seen the vast swathe of land and having talked to the communities who've built themselves a home on the water, I wanted to capture the precious temporality of all that.
Thankfully, I found two great fronds who agreed to deep dive into this hellhole with me, and we got started from there!
Most memorable experiences shooting thus far?
Wah, so many. But I definitely have to mention the time I went out for a recce and ended up caught in a clash of clans between wild dogs and macaque monkeys.
What do you hope people can take away from this film?
Echoing what Alina said, I hope people see the bigger picture, that this is not just a Lorong Halus phenomenon; redevelopment is happening everywhere, all the time and it is not inherently a problem.
Instead, what we're trying to do is help people draw connections.
While it's almost a running joke now that highways and developments pop up overnight in Singapore, the incidence of human-wildlife conflict, low community spirit... these are not problems that were suddenly born yesterday.
But in the same way, the lush forest and parks that we can enjoy today were also slowly and surely built up by communities over time.
We want to honour that and use Lorong Halus as a testament to what green spaces can continue to be in the future.
Future plans?
Welp, hopefully, more production work? I think there's still so much more to explore with the medium. Am definitely looking to continue telling stories about people, culture and places, especially in Southeast Asia.
Meet Hay Thi
What got you into photog and videography?
I actually started photog when I joined my sec school CCA! But back then, we mostly did events/concert photography for the school and I had not really explored my interests much...
It was really in JC that I started using photo outings as a procrastination excuse (to get out of the house and away from the desk) and began shooting everything: film, people, fashion, places!
As for videography, I was listening to one of my favourite songs someday during the lockdown period and thought it'd be nice to make a short music video for it. So yep, that's how it started!
Why did you decide to join this project?
Carman jio-ed me to make a film so of course I couldn't say no!
Also, this being our final year, I thought I could do something different to end off my 20 years of education and the project seemed pretty perfect for it.
Personal connections to Lorong Halus?
The Lorong Halus Wetland reed fields had actually been a secret photo spot of mine from years ago! It's definitely more well-known now as we do see people having photoshoots even during our visits there for the project.
As someone who lives at the other end of the country, I did not really frequent this area haha. Thankfully, the project got me exploring the place even more!
What do you hope people can take away from the film?
I hope people gain a better understanding of the different communities and biodiversity that are connected to the space that makes up this entire ecosystem.
Ultimately, places come and go — but what are the consequences of change on the unseen communities that rely on these same spaces?
We hope our film can get people to be more aware and appreciative of these people and places, and perhaps even encourage some active participation in conserving what we have left.
Future plans?
It's really just job hunt shenanigans at the moment on top of school (#adulting is really not my thing...) but am working on some photography projects and will work towards realising and sharing them as soon as life allows me.
Meanwhile, please look forward to our final film for The Lorong Halus Project.
Stay connected! We've recently launched our Instagram page for a more visual timeline of our latest happenings. Follow the development at #TheLorongHalusProject.
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