Every once in a while, someone will ask me: “So Daisy, why are you still acting in Singapore? There’s no real industry here, right?” To which I smile sweetly and reply: “Well, if there’s no industry, why are we still queuing for popcorn?”
Because let’s face it – Singaporeans love the movies. We love Hollywood blockbusters, Bollywood masala, Korean thrillers, even the odd art-house French film where no one speaks for 45 minutes.
But, when it comes to our own local films, we suddenly get shy.
Which is why I’m asking you – pleading, in fact – to take that leap of faith and go watch We Can Save the World.
Of courese the push is also because I have had the joy of acting in it, and I could be cast because the movie is in English and not in Mandarin!
The film is produced and created by a team so young that I’m convinced some of them still get ID-ed at 7-Eleven when buying Red Bull. That my dear friends is the future of Singapore film making.
Now don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a “student project”. These kids (I call them kids but they are frighteningly talented adults) had to navigate every obstacle that the Singapore film ecosystem can throw at you: funding hiccups, confirmed Projector for a theatrical release!
Projector shuts down at a very crucial time, Confirmed Cathay for the release. Cathay shuts down at an even more critical stage. Will the show ever get released and the eternal question – “But will anyone come and watch?”
And yet, they did it. With grit, humour, and the kind of sleepless nights that only come from passion, they made a feature film. In English. In Singapore.
That in itself is headline-worthy.
The film is our vibrant, confident, directors dream project for which he gave up his full-time job. Crazy right?
The film is bold, funny, a little cheeky, and at its heart asks that universal question: Can we, ordinary human beings, do something extraordinary together?
It’s a timely reminder, especially in our tiny island where “saving the world” often means recycling our bubble tea cups.
Let me say this: being on set with this young creative team was like plugging myself into a charger.
Their energy was infectious. The young producers were the epitome of grace and respect even though they were fighting off challenges with the light sabre!
All around me was glorious chaos – the sort of chaos from which art is born!
I am playing a role, which I should not be talking about as its the surprise element of the film. The sour cherry on the top of the sweet cake.
I loved doing it and when you watch the film you’ll know why. I had so much fun during the filming that I want to act in every film being produced in Singapore if they will have me!
Singapore’s film industry, if we can call it that, has always been like our national durian season: irregular, unpredictable, but oh so satisfying when it arrives.
We have talents like Anthony Chen winning awards abroad, but the truth is – for every celebrated director, there are 10 passionate teams struggling to even get a film into theatres.
The audience, sadly, is often the missing ingredient.
Which brings me back to you. Yes, you, dear reader. You who are reading this with your kopi in hand, tut-tutting about Netflix subscription fees. I’m asking you to put aside just one evening, head to your nearest cinema, and buy a ticket to We Can Save the World.
Bring your family, bring your neighbour, bring that friend who never stops complaining that Singapore has “no culture”. Then watch their face when the credits roll.
Because every ticket matters. Every bum on a seat tells theatre owners and distributors that Singapore stories are worth showing. Every laugh, every gasp, every clap (yes, you’re allowed to clap in a cinema) tells this young team that their sleepless nights were worth it.
We may not be Hollywood, and frankly, thank goodness for that – we don’t need car chases down the CTE or superheroes flying out of Jewel. What we need is exactly what We Can Save the World offers: a heartfelt, homegrown story made with courage and conviction.
So go on. Save the world – or at least save Singapore cinema – one ticket stub at a time.
I’ll see you at the movies.
Out Now, showing in GV, Shaw and Eagle Wing Cinematics.
(Daisy Irani Subaiah is a media and theatre professional with work experience in Singapore and India.)
