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”.

Tan is known for his low budget films, highly localised treatment of Singaporean issues and the liberal use of Singlish in his films.[3] 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][4] 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 Univers

Career

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.[5] Many fans offering to host the 42mb video file on their servers, and it became 'Singapore's first viral short film'.[6]

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.”

Shot in 7 days with a borrowed camera,[7] 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.[8] Two years after Tak Giu was released, 284 State fields were upgraded and opened for public recreation.[9] Tak Giu gathered over 100,000 internet views.[1]

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

In November 2005, Tan's 2nd film, Zo Peng (Go Army), won 2nd place at the Panasonic/MDA Digital Film Fiesta,[3][10] and in 2008 received Jury Prize for Short Film from Asian Film Archive.[11] 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.ity.[12]

Zo Gang, his 3rd short film about a struggling filmmaker wannabe.[13] 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 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.[3]

In 2009, Tan released Kwa Giu (Watch Football), a documentary tribute to the former National Stadium of Singapore. It was filmed during the during the AFC Cup Final (Singapore vs Thailand) on 31 January 2007. The stadium was demolished in 2010.

In 2011, Jacen released Hosaywood,[14] a DVD compilation of his short films.[14]

In 2015, Tan released Homeground,[15] 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.[16]

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 Tay and Benjamin Heng. It has been described[17] as 'Ah Boys To Men' meets 'The Walking Dead'.

After seven years of development, the film was announced[18] in Asia TV Forum & Market 2017.

Filmography

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

Music videos

Hymns from the Blazing Chariot, Rudra – 2009

Silverpiece, Lunarin – 2006

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 "Zo Hee (Make Movie)". Toronto Singapore Film Festival. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  4. ↑ Lizard, Lounge. "Interviews: documentary in amber". Aging Youth. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  5. ↑ "Tak Giu". mrbrown.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Review - 'Homeground' by Jacen Tan". www.sindie.sg. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Making Films, The Jacen Tan Way". Sinema.SG. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  8. ↑ Lim, Chen (2005). "Interview With Producer / Director of 'Tak Giu'". sgfootball.com. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  9. ↑ "S'pore Land Authority makes 284 state fields available for public use". Channel News Asia. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "The Asian Film Archive Young Jury Awards 2008". Asian Film Archive. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  12. ↑ Course Instructor: Lim Lee Ching. "HL208: Singapore Literature & Culture II". Nanyang Technological University. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  13. ↑ "Jacen Tan's films & Seletar Airbase @ Sinema at Timbré". Sinema.SG. 9 March 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Hooray, Hosaywood!". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "A 'love letter' to playing spaces". straitstimes.com. 25 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "A 'love letter' to playing spaces". AsiaOne. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ "《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.
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