Filmmaking

FEB 6 — When you make films that deal with real events and people, there are always sensitivities that are of concern. The responsibility that comes with being a non-fiction filmmaker is tremendous. So tremendous that I almost quit years ago when I was criticised for not being a responsible filmmaker.

I made a documentary film about people who travel in public busses entitled ‘The Black, White & Grey’. It was a documentary centred around the chats I conducted with random people in a bus. One of the passenger I spoke to was a teacher who spoke to me about his private life (ie: sex life). Then he tried to hit on me!

I produced my documentary and that guy became the star of the show. To cut a long story short (and to avoid legal issues), somehow, somewhere, I made a big mistake. I judged him, made my own assumptions and portrayed him in a bad light which could have cost him his career and reputation. But I didn’t realise this until the public screening.

Many of those who attended the screening and were professionals in the industry as well. There were other filmmakers, producers, writers and journalists. I felt quite proud when laughter erupted from the crowd during the screening. Then came the question and answer session.

Someone (An editor of an arts magazine… are you reading this P**g Kh** T**k? Heheh!) stood up and asked me about my motivations for portraying the individual the way I did. My answer was quite stupid and I basically said that I did it for fun (I was young!). Then came the barrage of criticisms from him and the audience.

“Why did you judge him? Did he actually do anything wrong?”

“Should you punish someone for his or her sexual preferences?”

“Did you do this just as a cheap stunt to get laughs?”

“You need to have some ethics.”

“You’re the professional filmmaker. You have a responsibility to your subjects.”

“Don’t make assumptions about people.”

This went on for some time and I tried my best to crawl under the stage but unfortunately, there were no openings, and I had to just make do with smiling sheepishly in front of everyone. I was quite relieved when the show was over and everyone went home.

I went home and pondered about the evening, and my film. I wanted to quit and not make films anymore. It was too hard I thought to myself. And I did stop entertaining any thoughts about making any more non-fiction films for a while. I thought I would just concentrate on other things.

But the call was too strong. I couldn’t just give up. I was young, and that particular film was one of my first ones. Give it some time. You don’t want to have make your best film early on and then have everything go down hill after that. Why not just learn from the experience and make better films? Ohh… I was maturing!

These days, my number one priority when making my non-fiction films is towards my subjects (Second priority is my own fame and glamour!). I try my best to respect them and to feel their full weight on my shoulders (Can you imagine how hard this was during my stint as a producer on The Biggest Loser Asia? Ok… lame!).

I’m the professional and not my subjects when it comes to non-fiction films and the media. So I need to be the one who know best how to tell the story. And I take this very seriously now. I think more now when I make my films instead of just putting in everything that makes me laugh. Everything that appears in a film has to have a purpose and mean something.

I also do realise that making assumptions, judgements and adding your own opinions does have a place. But you must do it properly. You do this to provoke and encourage thinking among the audience and definitely not in a way that is imposing. Don’t push things down people’s throats. Hand it over and let them fiddle around with it. If they like it, they can take it. If they don’t, then so be it.

‘The Black, White & Grey’ was a turning point for me. I wouldn’t say that I regret making the film. Because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have evolved they way I did. Credit is due to the audience who were kind enough to criticise me too (But they didn’t have to make me cry dammit!). I don’t know if the end result pushed me to make better films. What I do know is that making films now gives me much more satisfaction.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.