Connexscions Volume V Issue 01 Aug - Dec 2008 - WKWSCI Home

CONNEXSCIONS
Volume
5 Issue 1
August – December 2008
A Nanyang Technological University, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Alumni Newsletter
Wee Kim Wee School
of Communication and Information
31 nanyang link, #04–43, wkwsci building
singapore 637718
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AT OM WITH WATER
WKWSCI students launch
Yoga by the Water with PUB
KEEPING IT REEL
New profs bring Asian
focus to film studies
A PASSAGE TO INDIA
Go-Far takes its journalism
students to Karnakata, India
5-1 cover FPP 2.indd 2-3 11/13/08 10:13:15 AM

CONTENTS
PEOPLE
3 Chair’s Message
4 Fast Forward
Hard-hitting, award-winning journalists Chua Chin Hon, Lee Chee Kong
and Lim Wui Liang open up to ConnexSCIons about what drives them
to run faster, aim higher, push harder.
8 Size Didn’t Matter
A David versus Goliath story livens up the latest Inter-School Games.
8 At Om with Water
20 undergrads organise the inaugural Yoga by the Water with PUB.
9 Flame On!
Journalist and alumnus Patwant Singh keeps the WKWSCI spirit
burning as he runs the memorable ‘Journey of Harmony’ Olympic relay.
9 No Sporks Allowed!
PPC final year students round off their education with a stint at
‘Finishing School’.
10 An Ahmedabad Sabbatical
Professor Ang Peng Hwa reveals the inner workings of academic life in
one of the world’s largest media markets.
11 WKWSCI Grad Lands Inaugural NTU Award
Lin Hui’s compassion and strong bicultural background are recognised.
12 Keeping It Reel
New profs bring Asian focus to Film Studies.
12 Towards World-class Status
Nanyang Professor Ronald Rice sees a stellar future for WKWSCI.
13 Demolishing Divides
Wee Kim Wee Professor Jerome Williams’ favourite quote is “Equal
treatment for equal dollar”; his goal, to have every person treated with
dignity and respect.
SPOTLIGHT ON SINEMA
14 Sinema: A Time Reel of Singapore Cinema
From the tragically star-crossed lovers of 1930s melodrama, to the
getai stars of 881 today, made-in-Singapore movies have travelled
a bumpy, winding journey. ConnexSCIons explores the evolution of
Singapore cinema and looks at what lies ahead.
HIGHLIGHTS
22 A Passage to India
Go-Far takes its journalism students to Karnakata, India.
24 Evolution of Information Sharing
A digital library project garners NTU the ‘Best ICT Enabled
University’ award.
24 Designing the Future
WKWSCI Assistant Professor K.C. Yeoh explores the organic quality of
visual communication.
25 Crisis Management 101
A small class assignment evolves into the thesis that garners a
Best Paper award.
25 URECA!
Undergrad projects grab top places at a poster competition.
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS
26 10 Questions with Faraliza Tan
“Beauty with brains” is a cliché that seems to have been coined
just for Miss Singapore/World 2008, Faraliza Tan, who’s been on the
Dean’s Academic List three times.
27 Where Are They Now
ConnexSCIons reconnects with WKWSCI alumni members.
ConnexSCIons
AUGUST – December 2008
WRITING TEAM
Team Leaders: Kenneth Chew, Cameron Ng
Writers: Joyce Cheo, Andrew Darwitan, Goh Su Xin, Ip Wai Yin,
Carina Koh, Clarice Koh, Jamie Lee, Lim Yi Han, Rasyida bte
Samsudin, Vanessa Too, Vanessa Paul, Yamuna Yeo
DESIGN TEAM
Team Leaders: Stanley Tang, Sara-Jean Yip, Chrystal Yeong,
Siti Hanna Bte Ruslan
Designers: Cheryl Chan, Casie Eng, Sheryl Huang, Irwin Tan,
Teo Qiqian
ADVISORS
Dr Yeoh Kok Cheow (KC Yeoh), Ms Juleen Shaw,
Mr Christopher Yaw
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Dr Benjamin Detenber, Dr May Lwin, Ms Michele Khoo
ConnexSCIons is produced entirely by students.
Send us your news to include in the next issue at
ConnexSCIons@ntu.edu.sg
ON THE COVER
The overriding theme for the cover visual are the twin
ideas of timelessness and progression of films. The classic
Cinema Paradiso poster was recreated to reflect the
main coverline, while a clock without hands conveys
timelessness. An ‘Abbey Road’-adapted photo parallels the
evolution of films. Finally, WKWSCI students and the NTU
backdrop were used to integrate Singapore and WKWSCI
into the cover.
Created by Stanley Tang and Sara-Jean Yip
2 CONNEXSCIONS

CHAIR’S MESSAGE
change and continuity
It is both a distinct and unexpected honour to be writing the preface to this edition of
ConnexSCIons. Earlier this year, I fully expected to step aside as Head of the Communication
Research Division to return to teaching and research full-time. Despite the allure of a more
pastoral existence, the opportunity to serve as Chair of the School proved incredibly compelling.
Shortly after arriving 10 years ago, I realised what a special place the School is, and I have been
proud to serve as a faculty member ever since. As the new Chair I will do my best to represent
the ideals of the Wee Kim Wee legacy, uphold the standards of excellence the former Deans have
established, and strive to live up to the expectations that the students and alumni have of our fine
institution. I know that some may think I wax superlative when talking about the School, but I
truly believe we have one of the very best institutions of its kind in Asia, and that we are on par
with many of the top schools in the world.
For evidence of what a great School we have, you only need to browse the pages of this magazine.
There you will find stories on a wide variety of student, faculty, and alumni activities and
achievements. For example, there’s an interview with Faraliza Tan, who is on the Dean’s List
and competing in the Miss World competition. Readers will be introduced to several new faculty
members and learn about the latest Go-Far programme in India. The magazine also catches up
with three graduates who are now award-winning journalists, and we have notes on several other
alumni. I think the students who worked on this issue have produced articles and features that are
informative, amusing and inspiring, and I hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as I did.
Benjamin H. Detenber
CONNEXSCIONS 3

PEOPLE
Fast FOrward
By Rasyida Samsudin, Lim Yihan, Clarice Koh & Carina Koh
Three hard-hitting, award-winning
journalists tell ConnexSCIons what
drives them to run faster, aim higher,
push harder. …And did we mention
they are WKWSCI alumni
lim wui liang: life through a lens
Lim spent five weeks
immersed in the
African community
here in order to
produce a Straits
Times supplement.
The shocking sight of a behemoth
of a truck, overturned on the PIE,
might have caused traffic to come
to a standstill. But photojournalist Lim
Wui Liang shot into action instead.
Snapping away at the scene of the
accident, Lim’s eye for a newsworthy photo
paid off when one of the pictures won him
a prestigious IFRA award.
The IFRA Asia Media Awards honours
those who have achieved excellence in the
Asian publishing industry. Lim’s photo of
the overturned truck won the Gold Award
for Best in Photojournalism.
An executive photojournalist with
The Straits Times since 2004, Lim is
no stranger to awards. Most recently
his supplement on Africans living in
Singapore won him an SPH award.
Thoroughness and dedication have
become the hallmark of the youthful
photojournalist, who spent five weeks
interacting with the little known African
community in Singapore in order to
produce the award-winning weekend
supplement. One of the most harrowing
experiences occured when a fight nearly
broke out between his interviewee and
another African.
ConnexSCIons finds out what else
happens behind the scenes at some of
Lim’s photo assignments.
Your supplement on Africans living
in Singapore drew a lot of attention.
Did you initiate the story
Yes I did. I got the story idea when I
was photographing a Nigerian pastor
who works in Singapore. After chatting
with him, I realised that there was a lot
about the African community here that
Singaporeans don’t know about. I spent
five weeks following several Africans in
Singapore as I wanted to document their
life here. Their visitor’s pass only allows
them to stay a month and I thought it
would be interesting to show what they go
through during this period. I admit that
I also spent an unusual amount of time
writing the story because I was slow.
Can you relate to us some of the
more memorable experiences from
this assignment
For five weeks I visited a coffee shop in
Little India, their favourite hang-out. I
photographed them, and played hide-andseek
with three African girls and their
neighbours along an HDB corridor. That
doesn’t happen often during an assignment!
Another thing I recall is that when I was
talking to a Nigerian at an African restaurant
in Little India, another African walked over
and wanted to beat him up. This doesn’t
happen often too.
Africans form part of the diverse people-scape in Singapore.
What other assignments have been
pivotal to you
A travel feature on North Korea and the
drowning of the Singaporean dragonboat
rowers in Cambodia. North Korea was
quite a mind-blowing trip for me as the
4 CONNEXSCIONS

people live by their own set of rules and
culture. We shouldn’t judge them because
they’re different from us or the rest of the
world. As for the Phnom Penh drownings,
I wasn’t aware of how emotionally
involved I was until my superior alerted
me to it when I lost my temper over the
phone with him. Looking back, it was a
very draining experience but I should
have learnt to control my feelings better
as a journalist.
Where do you draw inspiration for
your work
I look at other photographers’ work, as
well as visuals from movies, pop culture
or even my environment. I like studying
people and their mannerisms, which
comes in handy when you’re anticipating
a moment.
What has been the highlight of your
career so far
It has to be the Saturday Special on
Africans in Singapore. I’ve always wanted
to do documentary work. Though it
wasn’t easy to shoot and write, the end
result was satisfying. For the first time,
I was receiving public response to my
work – both positive and negative – and I
learned to accept them.
Has your time at WKWSCI been
helpful to you in your career
I feel that my stint in the Nanyang Chronicle
was the most fulfilling period in WKWSCI.
It made me decide to be a photojournalist
even though I was majoring in EBM
(Electronic Broadcast Media)! I was shooting
for the paper and later, took on the position
of Photo Editor. Even though a majority
People
of the stories were campus-related, I
remember shooting some interesting ones
of construction workers and car crashes.
Other than developing technical skills, you
also learn how to approach a newsmaker
or a story, and how to edit your work. The
experience gave me insight into the work of
a photojournalist and I believe it eased my
transition into the newsroom.
Any tips to share with aspiring
photojournalists
Observe and empathise. Be calm and decisive.
Make mistakes and learn from them.
Complete this sentence: “When
I look at the world through my
camera lens, I…”
…sometimes see black because I forgot
to remove my lens cap.
chua chin hon: China calling
Chua transmitted stories from the epicentre of
the Sichuan earthquake.
When news on the Sichuan
earthquake broke out on the
afternoon of 12 May this year,
the world was on the edge of their seats,
anticipating updates from the Western
China province. But while others were
rushing to evacuate the region, Chua Chin
Hon was taking the first flight available
into the quake-stricken area.
In the midst of all the chaos, he
captured with his camera the emotions
and devastation in the aftermath of
the quake. Singaporean readers were
transported to the midst of the action as
his reports depicted in stark detail what
was happening in China.
Chua’s coverage of the Sichuan
earthquake helped Singapore readers
appreciate the magnitude of the disaster
as well as the resilience of its victims.
Currently the China Bureau Chief with
The Straits Times, and a WKWSCI alumnus,
Chua was back on campus on 18 September
to talk about the challenges of his job to a
roomful of aspiring journalists.
“To be a foreign correspondent, you have
to want to do it,” he said matter-of-factly. As
a foreign correspondent, he is required to be
on his own away from home, and this entails
many different types of challenges.
One of the challenges he had to
overcome was cultural integration.
Although a Chinese, “I am still a
Singaporean Chinese,” he quipped.
“Sometimes the longer I am there, the
more I feel like a foreigner”.
This distance however helps him
maintain his objectivity and fulfil his
responsibilities as a journalist in China.
He has been a China correspondent and
photographer since 2003.
He feels that his role as a foreign
correspondent contributes to the
globalising nature of news. When asked
how he manages to balance photography
and writing, he said that he constantly
pushes his limits to keep improving on
his work.
As a rookie journalist, he took
the initiative to find stories to cover
rather than wait for the editors to give
him an assignment. He also honed his
photojournalism skills by covering a
story in Jakarta before he was posted to
China.
The years of experience he
accumulated from being a foreign
correspondent taught him to be
imaginative when writing with the
readers in mind.
Part of the job requires him to present
difficult issues and stories in a way that is
comprehensible to readers. “It takes a lot
work, definitely, and putting yourself out
there to improve yourself as a journalist,”
he mused.
His stories seldom get censored by the
Chinese press. There were times, however,
when he almost got into trouble with the
local authorities.
“When such things happen, I would
just issue a blank namecard, stating my
name and profession. No mention of
the organisation, no office address, no
contact number,” he said wryly.
Being the Bureau Chief in China, he
ultimately has to ensure his own bases
are covered when trying to cover a story.
This is especially so after the infamous
episode of the detention of Straits Times
journalist Ching Cheong by the Chinese
government.
Despite the challenges he has to face
in his daily work, Chua has still been
able to transmit the news from China to
Singapore readers without fail.
Most recently, he covered the Beijing
Olympics, reporting on China’s preparation
for the big event and reactions from the
ground. For his many achievements,
Chua has received Honourable Mention
at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club Hong
Kong as Photographer of the Year for The
Straits Times.
CONNEXSCIONS 5

People
loh chee kong: unabashed idealist
For a young man, Loh Chee Kong has
a curious amount of respect and
enthusiasm for Singapore’s ‘Old
Guard’ – former cabinet ministers such as
Dr Goh Keng Swee, Dr S. Rajaratnam and,
of course, MM Lee – all of whom have
been credited as architects of modern
Singapore.
But Loh, a senior reporter at TODAY
newspaper and the recipient of this year’s
Young Journalist of the Year award at the
third annual MediaCorp News Award, is
far from partisan.
In fact, his fiercest belief is that a
journalist must “stop himself or herself
from falling into the trap of speaking in
the same tongue as the corporate big boys
or the political powers”. Rather, push the
boundaries of intellectual discourse and
represent the voice of the marginalised.
This is the true calling of local media when
it comes to nation-building, he added.
Having achieved three professional
awards (MediaCorp’s Story of the Year
with Public Participation in 2006,
MediaCorp’s Young Journalist of the Year
award and TODAY’s Commentary of the
Year in 2008), Loh accepts the awards as
a recognition of past efforts – and that
motivates him to work harder in order
not to stagnate.
ConnexSCIons turns the microphone
on this WKWSCI alumnus for a change.
Congrats on your award! What do
you think clinched it for you
I think this award is a recognition of the
cumulative work that I’ve put in over
the past three years – treating every
story, no matter how big or trivial, as
my baby and applying the same tenacity
and doggedness in pursuing the leads.
Still, I’ve found the past year particularly
satisfying. It was like a coming of age for
a novice journalist like me, when I started
to hone my own voice and style, especially
in commentaries and analytical pieces.
In particular, I enjoyed being
extensively involved in TODAY’s revamp
of its Weekend edition, in which we
strive to provoke our readers to think
on, not just unconventional issues, but
age-old topics cast in an unconventional
light. Three of the Weekend Xtra
articles which I enjoyed writing were:
a piece on why former Deputy Prime
Minister Goh Keng Swee gets my vote
as the architect of Singapore instead of
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, in spite
6 CONNEXSCIONS
of the latter’s international prominence,
political acumen and obvious intellect;
another piece questioning why it was
so hard to find Singapore’s next Law
Minister before the appointment of
Mr K. Shanmugam; and lastly, a piece on
how we can make the Singapore Story
a good sell to the younger generation,
by ditching the doomsday scenario that
has been perpetuated by our political
leaders and, instead, evoking the spirit
of our founding fathers in creating a
freak nation against all odds.
To some people, these pieces are a nono
in our political climate but nothing
can be further from the truth. The
worst enemy of Singapore journalism is
journalists ourselves. Once we allow selfcensorship
to creep into our work, it all
goes downhill thereafter. Journalists
must have the wherewithal to push the
boundaries and promote intellectual
discourse, in order to help Singapore
society – which is at a crossroads – to
mature. That to me is the true nationbuilding
role for Singapore newspapers.
On a day-to-day basis, the challenge
for any journalist is to be constantly
aware and stop himself or herself from
falling into the trap of speaking in
the same tongue as the corporate big
boys or the political powers. Sure, life
would be much more comfortable then
and you would not risk stepping on
toes. But journalists are in a privileged
position and they must never forget to
be the voice for the marginalised. It is
easier said than done – all the more why
journalists must work hard everyday
to uphold this. Sometimes we win,
sometimes we lose.
What’s a typical day like as a
TODAY reporter
As a wordsmith, I try to avoid clichés like
the plague.
But I have to say the only thing
typical of a journalist’s job at any news
organisation is that there is no typical
day. Things are happening around the
world at such a rapid pace, you get swept
along before you know it. Generally,
we attend diary events such as press
conferences while working on story
leads at the same time, making cold calls
or visiting places and people we hardly
know – all these while staying abreast of
global happenings and thinking of issues
to explore.
Loh dreams of changing the world for the better.
What’s your beat And are there
other beats you’d like to cover
Since graduation in mid-2005 until July
this year, I had been on the general news
desk covering a variety of beats including
courts, crime, education, defence,
terrorism, politics and legal issues.
I’ve recently switched to the business
desk and I’m covering the property and
macro-economy beats. Apart from the
health beat, I’ve gotten stuck in almost
all the issues concerning Singaporeans –
that is the beauty of working in a smaller
newsroom such as TODAY’s. My first
love would always be political and societal
reporting because to me, that’s what
journalism – stripped down to its bare
bones – is all about. It is about people’s
lives and calling attention to neglected
issues and people. We might not be the
Fourth Estate but that must not deter us
from practising meaningful journalism.
In your journey towards becoming a
journalist, what and who have been
the most pivotal
Journalism to me is all about people. And
meeting people from the cross section of
Singapore society has been the greatest
motivation in my work. From corporate
and political bigwigs to the man-inthe-street,
everyone has a story to tell
and you can learn so much from each

People
individual you write about. I’ve been
extremely blessed to work with some of
the best minds in Singapore journalism
in just three years in the industry. Four
persons have been pivotal in instilling in
me a love for the craft. Two of them are
my mentors in TODAY: my former editor
Teo Hwee Nak and my editorial director
P.N. Balji. Through working with them,
I’ve gleaned so much from them, not least
the hunger and the conviction that while
Singapore journalism is a tough place to be
in – with few laymen understanding the
true workings behind the scenes – there
is enough reason to put our shoulders to
the wheel and keep questioning.
The other is my ex-lecturer Dr Mark
Cenite. I will always remember his words
at our convocation ceremony: “Never be
afraid to be provocative.” It is his constant
prodding and encouragement during our
classes that first planted the seeds of a
critical and questioning mindset.
Last but not least, the fourth
person was an old drain cleaner whom
I interviewed some years back. He does
not know this but my encounter with him
left a deep impression. Nobody ever stops
to appreciate his hard work in scrubbing
the drains and picking up the dead leaves,
one by one. But there he is, on all fours
for more than eight hours a day, carrying
out his work with pride and distinction.
Did WKWSCI prepare you for
your career
I’ve truly enjoyed my time in NTU. I was in
the graduating class of 2005. The calibre of
the students in WKWSCI is well-known, and
to be able to learn from such bright peers –
the fact that they were absolutely so cool to
hang out with and engage in provocative
debates with – makes attending lectures
and working on projects such a joy. But it
was also the time I spent outside classes
as president of my hostel that prepared
me for journalism. I was very active in my
hostel, serving on the hostel committee
and subsequently heading it for two years.
It was then that I had the opportunities
to engage the university authorities and
improve the lives of the hostel residents –
that made me realise how gratifying it was
to make a difference to people’s lives and
inspire others to do the same.
Tell us, is there one thing your NTU
professors would be surprised to
know about you now
I’m still unabashedly idealistic, in spite of
all the knocks and bumps.
Please complete the sentence: “I’ve
always wanted to be a journalist
because… ”
I want to change the world for the better.
Seriously, I’m not that daft and arrogant
to actually believe I can ever do that. But
nothing great was ever achieved without
some form of delusion. And I do think
that’s a nice ambition everyone ought
to have. Whether that becomes a reality
depends on your tenacity and gumption
– but most important of all, luck.
Any tips to share with aspiring
journalists
There are two types of Singapore
journalists: One, those who possess
a flair for writing and feel they might
as well make a living out of it. Two,
those who do not only have ink in their
blood but want to use that rare skill to
influence society for the betterment
of everyone. The former will have no
problems surviving in the industry but
it is the latter that would experience
the heartaches and gratifications in
equal measure. Come into the industry
with your eyes wide open. Come in with
all guns blazing and you will be sorely
disheartened. Yet if you think that
would make you lose your idealism,
then it’s better you do not come in
at all. Singapore journalism needs to
undergo teutonic shifts in order to
reinvent itself and it needs all the good
men and women it can get. But always
stay grounded and never ever think you
are God’s gift to journalism. C
what’s brewing
alumni and staff catch up at brewerkz
Brewerkz provided the perfect ambience for a light-hearted networking session in
September, as faculty and alumni gathered for their monthly pint and trade talk.
ConnexSCIons chatted with WKWSCI grads present for their views on the recent
news that NTU will be playing host to the 2010 Youth Olympics athletes.
Alumnus Kym Yeo, 24, quipped, “I think it’s quite exciting that our school is going
to play host, even though I’m not a student there anymore.”
Fellow alumnus Chitra Kumar, 25, whole-heartedly agreed. “The Youth Olympics
is quite prestigious and it’s going to be held at a school I came from! I’m sure that
NTU, with its rich heritage and culture, will be a good host. If I could participate as
an alumnus, I’d bring the athletes around to explain our local heritage.”
If you’re a WKWSCI alumnus, come and chill out and catch up with old mates at
the monthly Brewerkz evenings! C
CONNEXSCIONS 7

People
size
didn’t
matter
By Goh Su Xin
an exciting david versus
goliath story livens up
the inter-school games
WKWSCI celebrated at last year’s
Inter-School Games (ISG) as
we clinched 6th spot at the
annual sports meet. This was a marked
improvement from the 2006 ISG, when
we finished in the bottom three.
Just as nay sayers scoffed at the
thought that a tiny country like Singapore
could once again achieve another Olympic
medal (it’s been 48 years since our last
win, after all), our tiny WKWSCI faculty
faced similar misgivings.
With a meager cohort of 800 and
a smaller-than-average percentage of
males, it seemed misplaced to have high
sporting expectations.
To top it all off, our dismal performance
at the 2006 ISG seemed to punctuate the
notion that SIZE is power.
However, in 2007, we showed up
our detractors when we finished in a
respectable 6th place, with an impressive
Our sporting heroes.
Silver medal for Touch Rugby, traditionally
not one of our strong sports.
The medal was won after an epic semifinal
battle with the more experienced
Nanyang Business School. This put us
in the finals, where we eventually lost to
the sporting powerhouse of the National
Institute of Education.
This achievement in particular,
coupled with two Bronze medals from
Netball and Female Volleyball, helped
give us the boost into the top six.
As former Sports Secretary Tan
Thiam Peng put it, it all boils down to the
“SCI Spirit”. He believed that the winning
factor was not so much rigorous training,
but rather, team bonding.
“Because of our close-knit community,
everyone knew everyone and people
integrated fast. Other schools looked like
they didn’t know their teammates at all!”
he said proudly.
Perhaps being small does have its
advantages after all.
And as former swim champion
Ian Thorpe recently told pocket-sized
swimming dynamo Tao Li, “Size does not
matter (in sports)”.
So look out, NTU, we’ll be back at this
December’s ISG 2008. Watch this space. C
At OM with Water
20 undergrads organise Yoga by the Water with
PUB, to celebrate World Water Day
Water Wally greets young
participants.
The first-ever mass yoga
workout at a reservoir.
The PPC undergrads with Guest of Honour Dr Amy Khor, Senior
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
8 CONNEXSCIONS

flame on!
By Goh Su Xin
journalist and alumnus
patwant singh keeps the
WKWsci spirit burning as
he runs the ‘journey of
harmony’ olympic relay
WKWSCI Master’s graduate,
sports journalist and now
Olympic Torch Bearer. Patwant
Singh took his passion for sports to a
whole new level, when he represented
Singapore at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Torch Relay.
A journalist with 10 years of
experience in covering the local sports
scene, Singh was a natural choice when
Samsung was casting around for an apt
representative from the Singapore media
to the torch relay.
To prepare for the once-in-a-lifetime
experience, the journalist readied himself
physically and mentally, making sure he
kept fit, as well as trained his endurance
levels.
All the hard work was ultimately worth
it when he received a hero’s welcome in
Nanjing, where he ran his part of the relay.
“Thousands of Chinese
schoolchildren, parents with kids in
arms, and ordinary folks – most donning
‘I love China’ t-shirts – were waving flags
Going the distance with the Olympic torch.
and banners to cheer the Torchbearers
on!” said Singh of the exuberant Olympic
atmosphere.
But thrilling as the fanfare and
support were, there were challenges too.
The great distance between the torchbearers’
accommodation in Shanghai and
the run in Nanjing meant having to wake
up in the wee hours of the morning and
travelling for four hours just to reach the
relay location.
“We travelled in a small bus, half asleep
and reached the meeting point in Nanjing
at about 5am before taking a quick
breakfast on the go,” he recalled.
He compared his Olympic relay
Verbatim:
People
If you could do it
again, which leg of the
Olympic relay would
you choose to run
Definitely Beijing, as
that was where most
of the action was.
What’s your favorite
Olympic moment
Usain Bolt winning
the 100 metres men’s
finals. It was amazing
how he did it with
such style and ease!
Which sports do you
enjoy
I used to play football
and squash, but now I
am more into golf.
experience to his journey towards
achieving a Master’s degree in WKWSCI.
That was no walk in the park either.
Musing, he said, “I thought at first
that I will never be able to complete my
dissertation, but hard work, dedication
and perseverance finally prevailed. “
Similarly, the self-confessed casual
athlete was equally adamant about
putting hard work and training into
running a good ‘race’ and helping create
Olympic history.
With the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay
being the longest on Olympic record, he
certainly did create history. C
no sporks allowed!
By Ng Peiru
Does a parade of silver forks and spoons at a formal dinner
confound the life out of you Well, not anymore for a
group of WKWSCI students who have ‘graduated’ from
‘Finishing School’.
Approximately 50 final year students attended the Finishing
School Seminar dubbed ‘Etiquette for the Workplace’ at the
Copthorne King’s Hotel on 18 March. Conducted by Audrey
Quek, from the Audrey Quek Image Consultancy, the inaugural
WKWSCI seminar was organised for the students majoring in
Public and Promotional Campaign (PPC).
The seminar-cum-dinner was a compulsory requirement for
students in order to complete modules of the PPC concentration,
yet none dreaded attending the six-hour course.
“It is actually very informative, giving us an overview of
being socially and culturally smart,” said student Lee Hui Shi.
The first half was a training session where students were
taken through the theoretical aspects of social etiquette, from
the workplace to the dining
room. The next half was the
dinner session, where students
put what they learnt into
practice – under the eyes of
Quek and her assistant.
“This is the most self-conscious meal that I
have ever eaten!’” quipped student Azlina bte Abdul Aziz.
From the right cutlery to use for a specific course to the
appropriate time to visit the restroom, students had the
etiquette rules ingrained in their minds by the end of the threehour
meal. Quek could not have emphasised more that it is
“how you eat, not what you eat, that determines who you are”.
And what was the most interesting tip the students took
away from the seminar “How to shell prawns with only a
knife and a fork!” exclaimed student Bullelwa Makina without
hesitation. C
CONNEXSCIONS 9

People
An Ahmedabad Sabbatical
By Jamie Lee
Professor Ang Peng Hwa reveals the
inner workings of life in India – one
of the world’s largest media markets
Just one week after Professor Ang’s arrival in Ahmedabad,
India, a series of bombs went off in the city. However, that
did not deter him from continuing his year-long sabbatical
at the Mudra Institute of Communication Research (MICORE),
where he sits as the visiting dean on the governing council.
Until his sabbatical ends in June next year, Professor Ang heads
the communication research team and is in charge of the search
for a new dean for the school. ConnexSCIons caught up with
Professor Ang in Ahmedabad.
Thank you for taking time out to talk to us, Prof Ang.
How did you get involved with the Mudra Institute of
Communication Research
Mudra had started an academy training professionals for
the communication industry called the Mudra Institute of
Communication, Ahmedabad (MICA). It became very successful
and was rated the number one communication school in India.
I am a member of the governing council. Three years ago, they
started this research centre and approached me to help them.
I have been helping them informally since last year. This year,
they asked me to join them again, and since I was on sabbatical,
I agreed and came on board.
Why is it important that you be involved with MICORE
I guess it is how I see myself and my work as an academic. I see
myself as part of the school, and people like what we are doing.
When one is asked to be involved, it becomes a bit like currency
in the academic world. In the business sense, it is like expanding
your franchise, but for the academic environment, it is asserting
skills and influence. So it is a compliment for the school and me,
to start a research programme from the ground up.
How important will the development of MICORE be
to the communication research community in Asia, or
even internationally
I think the initial benefits will be for India, and what we are
doing, in some way is setting the benchmark for research. It will
be published internationally in journals, and will contribute to
the theories for global development. The research that we are
doing in MICORE is not just some narrow applied research that
all academics do, in the sense that we are developing theories
that can be used across the world. I really can see it happening,
given the fact that the team here in MICORE is very serious
about it. So I think the benefits will first be for India, then
secondly globally, in terms of theory development.
According to a report in DNA (Indian online news),
there seems to be a “Bollywood connection” to your
MICORE research! Can you elaborate on this
We are looking at issues in entertainment, for example, how
social messages might be imbedded in entertainment. In India,
60 per cent of all advertisements use celebrities, so we are
10 CONNEXSCIONS

looking at how celebrities are used in advertisements, their
level of effectiveness and what are the factors that make it
effective. So in that sense, there is a “Bollywood connection”
involved.
As a visiting dean from Singapore, what do you bring
to the new school and its research programme
From my perspective, our school has a culture of what
I call robust debates. Whenever my colleagues and I have
robust debates, people who are not from the university will
ask us to stop quarreling, but we are not! So I think that is
something that is important in the research culture because
that’s how you sharpen each other in your thinking. That
is how you know your idea is strong enough to stand up
to scrutiny. I am trying some of that here in India, but the
problem is that I am seen as the boss, and people here are
very cautious about questioning me, so I have to encourage
them. We need to avoid the Singapore syndrome where you
are afraid to question your elders or superiors. It is also a
culture here in India, so I have to tell them that it is okay to
point out mistakes that I made. Also a lot of the people here
are not so familiar with the international law in research.
It will be quite difficult to get a paper published if you do
not understand the quality of the journal. So I am trying
to show them some of these points. There is clearly some
professional firepower in India to handle these issues, but
I think all they need is someone to tell them how and they
can do it from there.
How will your experience in Ahmedabad benefit
WKWSCI
Now we have a link to the best communication school in
India, MICA, and also the research centre that specialises
in communication research. We also have links to the best
academia in India and furthermore India is still a growing
country. The media industry will definitely grow, so on many
counts, we have a good connection to an upcoming institution
and media development team.
Ahmedabad is known as Gandhi’s hometown. Did you
manage to take time off from your work to see his
ashram or any other tourist locations
I have gone to see Gandhi’s ashram and some of the other
tourist places, but since I came this year, I have just been
working. I have done some shopping and joined a gym for
exercise, but other than that, no, I have not been able to do
anything touristy since I arrived here a few months ago.
Finally, any tips for exchange students who are keen
on going to India for their studies
I think they should come to India with a sense of adventure
and be ready to rough things out. As a student, you will
not be pampered so just be prepared. But the reward for
roughing it out is that you will get insights on how to
operate in one of the world’s largest media markets. For
example if you are serious about working in a global
market, you have to head to India or China. India is still
economically behind as compared to China, but if you are
able to handle India, you will have no problems. India will
be easier in respect to language, but in other areas, it will
be more difficult. C
People
WKWsci grad
Lands Inaugural
NTU AwarD By Kenneth Chew
Lin Hui’s compassion and strong
bicultural background recogniseD
Not for reward, not for recognition, but “for the smiles
on people’s faces and the appreciation they show”. That
perhaps sums up Lin Hui’s attitude towards life; an
attitude that has won her the inaugural Annie Tan Award.
Recognising graduating female NTU students with
a strong bicultural and bilingual background, as well as
outstanding academic performance, the award was pledged
last year by an anonymous donor in memory of his late
mother, Madam Annie Tan.
Lin, 23, currently a broadcast journalist with Mediacorp
Radio’s Capital 95.8FM, was honoured with a gold medal and
a cash award of $5,000 at a presentation ceremony at the
College of Humanities and Social Sciences on 1 August.
From her compassionate acts of volunteer tutoring for
students from lower-income families since her JC days, to
a strong interest in biculturalism, Lin was recognised for
embodying the spirit of the award.
She stood out with her background of trips to China
with the NTU Chinese Orchestra, a five-month exchange
programme in Taiwan, as well as visits to Manila working on
her Final Year Project – a film documenting kidney trading.
Everyone can play a part, no matter how small, in making
life better for others, said Lin. And we can do this without
having to neglect school activities, studies or work. The reality
is that only a few actually take the step to make a change.
It is crucial for us to have open minds and put ourselves in
the shoes of others in order to better understand them. Stop
aspiring and actually put thought into action, she urged.
We need to “embrace the differences and believe that all
challenges can be overcome,” said Lin.
Inspiring words from an inspiring alumnus. C
CONNEXSCIONS 11

People
Keeping it REEl
new profs bring asian aspect
to film studies By Yamuna Yeo
stephen teo:
growing singapore cinema
In August, the Electronic and Broadcast Media division
welcomed two new film studies teachers who share a
common interest in Asian cinema.
Associate Professor Adam Knee, had lectured in Ohio
University for five years, while Associate Professor Stephen Teo
was a research fellow at the National University of Singapore.
adam joel knee:
asia meets hollywood
With his keen interest in Asian cinema, Associate Professor Knee
was won over by the strong support and interest WKWSCI has
shown in the area of South-East Asian (SEA) cinema studies.
“One of the reasons I’m happy to move here is that my work
in SEA cinema will be appreciated and fostered. I certainly hope
to do more in-depth research in a range of SEA cinemas and
help continue to popularise what is going on,” he said.
Apart from this, a greater emphasis on Hollywood studies
is also what Associate Professor Knee wishes to introduce.
Keyed up at the prospect of working with the other faculty
members, he commented that, together with the current
faculty, the hiring of two film studies teachers at once presents
“a unique opportunity for (WKWSCI) to develop a really strong
unit within film studies”.
Having visited Singapore, he is no stranger to our culture
and policies. When asked for a comment on the planned
liberalisation of the Films Act, Associate Professor Knee felt that
while this accorded more freedom to filmmakers and politicians
alike, it is just one small step in “a genuine effort to change the
landscape”.
Compared to the United States where freedom of speech
and artistic expression are seen as human rights, he confessed
that the typical American filmmaker or artiste might still find
the Singapore landscape restrictive.
“But it’s good the government is taking that step. At the
same time, it also raises interesting questions for students in
film classes,” he observed. C
Previously a research fellow, Associate Professor Teo’s
interaction with students had been minimal. “One reason
I wanted to come here was to balance my career with more
teaching experience. I certainly look forward to interacting
more with students,” said Associate Professor Teo, whose
focus is on Asian cinema, specifically films from Hong Kong,
Mainland China and Taiwan. He hopes to eventually branch out
into cinema from other South-East Asian regions such as the
up-and-coming Thailand and Singapore.
Singapore cinema has vast potential for growth, observed
Associate Professor Teo, who expects more interesting local
productions in the years to come. He added that the younger
generation here is increasingly media-conscious, showing
greater interest in production rather than plain consumption.
However, faced with the onslaught of home-made videos via
the Internet, he feels that commercial filmmakers would have
to work doubly hard to make more interesting films that are
“more exciting to watch, and which are relevant in terms of the
issues discussed”. On the proposed amendments to the Films Act,
he noted, “It’s a broad kind of liberalisation which I think is good.
People should, and will, take advantage of it.”
When asked for his goals during his time in WKWSCI, he
replied, “To be a good teacher, a good all-round academic, and
to try to do more research and write more books.” C
Towards World-
Baby steps, slowly but steadily. In this manner will
WKWSCI gradually move towards premier status among
communication schools world wide. That was the crux
of Professor Ronald Rice’s assessment after his second short
stint here with the post-graduate students of WKWSCI.
Professor Rice was here to oversee an academic symposium
in August this year, as the faculty strives to improve the
quality of our post-graduate programmes. And he certainly
made a difference in his short time here with us.
Due to our comparatively conservative Asian culture,
certain ideas such as direct peer-to-peer criticism were met
with apprehension by some students, who were afraid of
offending their peers.
12 CONNEXSCIONS

demolishing divides
wee kim wee professor Jerome Williams’
favourite quote is: “Equal treatment
for equal dollar” By Yamuna Yeo
People
Actively involved in African and
African American Studies, Wee
Kim Wee Professor Jerome Denean
Williams is dedicated to seeking equality
in the marketplace for all.
Here for a semester, he is teaching a
Graduate class in Public Communication
Issues and Strategies.
But even during his time in Singapore,
he still continues to offer expert testimony
in court cases regarding marketplace
discrimination, even if it entails flying
back to America to take the stand.
With a background in marketing,
Professor Williams emphasised Corporate
Social Responsibility as he gave a preview
of his upcoming public lecture on Obesity,
Health and Advertising.
On the one hand, Professor Williams
was of the opinion that “in a free market
society, companies in the marketplace
certainly have the right to market their
product”. On the other, he spoke of
concerns over how marketing could affect
young people.
Many companies have a tough time
balancing profit-making with social
responsibility.
Research issues of interest to him
include that of ethnicity, age, gender,
social class, religion, and just about “any
place where there’s a discrepancy in the
way people are treated”.
In a survey he conducted in 1997, 86
per cent of African Americans reported
facing racial discrimination in retail
stores. Latinos and people of Middle East
descent also reported similar results.
He attributed this to the history
of America, where “people of colour,
particularly African Americans and Asians,
were brought to US as cheap labour” and
were often seen as second-rate citizens.
Since the 1960s, legislations and
civil rights laws have been passed in
attempts to call for equality in society.
But such changes take time. “It’s very
difficult for people brought up in the old
system, particularly people in power,
to change and make society a place
of equality for everyone,” observed
Professor Williams.
He hopes that his work will increase
the awareness of racial discrimination,
helping companies develop mechanisms
and programmes to ensure fairness in the
way customers are treated.
While he has seen tremendous
changes and improvement in attitudes
over the past 30 years, he admitted, “It is
a long-term process. There is not going to
be an overnight change.”
“Ultimately, the bottom line is to have
everyone, regardless of background, to be
treated equally with dignity and respect.
I’d like to see the dollar in everyone’s
hand having equal value,” he said.
With his extensive work in the area of
race and ethnicity, ConnexSCIons asked
him about the impact on the African
American community in America now
that Barack Obama has won the fiercelycontested
U.S. Presidential Election.
Professor Williams said, “If some
people are concerned that he’s going to
be very biased toward African Americans,
I don’t see that as happening.”
He sees Obama as one who has crossed
many boundaries, someone “more than
just a Black candidate; he’s a candidate
that has wide appeal and who happens to
be Black. There’s a difference”.
While race and ethnicity are sensitive
issues in many countries, including
Singapore, Professor Williams feels that
Singapore “embraces it and tries to make
it work”, citing the examples of equal
opportunities in education for all races
here and the absence of racial enclaves
through rigid housing policies. C
class Status
nanyang Professor Ronald Rice sees a stellar
future ahead for WKWSCi By Kenneth Chew
“One can’t confuse your own self, your own ‘face’, with the
sharing and exchanging of ideas and knowledge,” was his advice
as he tried to break through the pre-conceived mindsets.
Other ideas however, such as the regular opportunities
offered for the presentation and discussion of research findings,
theories and ideas during weekly meetings, were praised.
For staff and students alike, Professor Rice’s novel methods
of instruction have been eye-opening and stimulating.
Having been thoroughly impressed with the broad-based
education, excellent administration, and the impressive array
of equipment and resources at WKWSI, Professor Rice was of
the opinion that we are well on our way towards establishing
ourselves amongst the world’s premier communication schools.
With WKWSCI due to play host to the
International Communication Association’s
conference in 2010, greater international
recognition is imminent, as both our faculty
and students continue to make waves with
their academic achievements.
Pleased to have been invited back to
NTU, Professor Rice confessed he would
miss much about Singapore. “Definitely
not the rain!” he quipped, but certainly
the immense warmth and openness
extended by everyone in WKWSCI to him
and his wife during their time here. C
CONNEXSCIONS 13

SPOTLIGHT
SiNEMA
BY CAMERON NG, VANESSA TOO, VANESSA PAUL, JOYCE CHEO & IP WAI YIN
A Time Reel of Singapore Cinema
From the tragically star-crossed lovers of 1930s
melodrama, to the getai stars of 881 today, madein-Singapore
movies have travelled a bumpy, winding
journey. ConnexSCIons explores the evolution
of Singapore cinema and takes a peek at what
lies ahead.
14 CONNEXSCIONS

Spotlight
STUDENT FILMS TAKE OFF
Here’s a little known fact: the world’s
first film festival, International
Exhibition of Cinematographic Art,
was started in Venice in 1932 by Benito
Mussolini, who wanted to use films as a tool
for political public relations and propaganda.
After its dubious beginnings, numerous
festivals were developed, but it was le Festival
de Cannes, or the Cannes Film Festival, that
popularised the concept of film festivals when
it was launched in 1946.
Besides Cannes, many international
film festivals have provided a platform for
filmmakers worldwide. Our own WKWSCI
students have had their short films featured
globally. Recent ones include:
• Ethan, Kai Li Tan’s final year project (FYP),
at South Africa’s Golden Lion Film Festival
in 2007.
• Two Dollars, Thank You, an FYP by Ng Tse
Wei, Linda Yip Zhenling, Poh Qiyan, and
Lam Xinying was selected as a competitor
for the Tadgell’s Bluebell Honor Award
in the category of Best Film Made by
Adults for/about Youth at the 10th Auburn
International Film Festival in Sydney,
Australia in 2007.
• HEALTH. PEACE. HAPPINESS, a 2008 FYP by
Cecilia Lee was selected to be in the official
programme of SKENA UP, an International
Students and Film and Theatre Festival held
in Kosovo.
• Man with a Camera by Daphne Tan, and
Singapore Standard Time by Jocelyn Khoo, Lo
Hwei Shan, Loo Pei Yi and Serene Ng, travelled
to the 1st Asian Berlin Film Festival and the
Toronto Singapore Film Festival this year.
• H.O.P.E., a documentary project on organ
sales in the Philippines, led by Chen Weiming,
was selected for the 21st International
Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2008.
Each makes history by putting Singapore on
the international filmmaking map.
CONNEXSCIONS 15

Spotlight
ENTER THE DRAGON
Singapore’s first foray into filmmaking
began in 1933 with B.S. Rajhans’ Laila
Majnun. Rajhans was considered the
first and most prolific director in
Singapore, directing more than
20 films between 1945 and 1955.
Laila Majnun was a tale of
ill-fated lovers – a Persian-
Arabic Romeo and Juliet. Most
of the films at that time were
under the Shaw Brothers’ Malay
Film Productions and featured
storylines taken from Persian-
Arabic folklore. These early
films were full of melodrama
and starstruck lovers.
The 1930s also saw
the emergence of two big
players in the local cinema
scene, namely Loke Wan
Tho’s Cathay Organisation
and Runme/Run Run Shaw’s
Shaw Brothers. These two
corporate giants would eventually
shape the infant Singapore film
industry as well as sister filmmaking
industries in the Malay Peninsula.
During this time, the Shaw
brothers attempted to introduce
stories and themes adapted
from Chinese films into the locally
produced Malay films. In a misguided
quest to improve the standards of
filmmaking in Singapore, they brought
in filmmakers and equipment from
China to produce several Malay films
such as Hancor Hati and Bermadu.
But this served only to confuse
audiences left puzzled by Chinesecentric
stories within Malay films.
As a result, the films did poorly at the
box office.
The fierce rivalry between the
two organisations, however, would
last throughout the 1930s right up till
the Japanese occupation of Singapore,
which effectively put a stop to all
attempts at filmmaking.
After the war, and under the
new British Administration, Cathay
Organisation and Shaw Brothers were
among the first to start producing
local films again.
Shaw Brothers started importing
Indian filmmakers, who introduced
Indian scripts and filmmaking
techniques into the Malay films. This
included the iconic mass Bollywood
dances and over-the-top action and
adventure sequences. Even today, their
influence can be seen in contemporary
Singapore films such as Cheah Chee
Kong’s Chicken Rice Wars.
Among the seminal films of this
period was Rajhans’ 1946 production
Seruan Merdeka. Not only was it an
independent film, it was also the first
Singapore film to feature both Malay
and Chinese elements in a storyline
that highlighted the resistance during
the Japanese occupation. It was a
landmark move.
16 CONNEXSCIONS

FIELD OF DREAMS
The 1950s saw the dawn of the first
Golden Age of Singapore cinema.
The advent of colour films led to a
reinvigoration of the industry. Once
again, B. S. Rajhans led the field, with
Buloh Perindu becoming the first locally
produced colour film in Singapore.
The 1950s also saw the merger
between Cathay Organisation and
Keris Film Productions, set up to
compete with Shaw’s Malay Film
Productions. Competition between
the two companies was fierce
and on some occasions, they even
found themselves producing films
that shared the same themes and
even titles!
However, this competition also gave
rise to more creative and imaginative
filmmaking. The period spanning the
1950s to the early 1960s became
known as the Golden Age of Malay
Singapore cinema.
GONE WITH THE WIND
But, like every good story, the Golden
Age was not meant to last. In 1965,
Singapore broke away from the
Malaysian Federation, plunging the
entire country into crisis.
By 1972, both Cathay-Keris and
Shaw Brothers had closed down their
studios. Other independent studios
struggled to fill the gap left by the
two companies but to no avail. By
1978, Singapore’s filmmaking industry
was no longer active. The turbulent
political and economic climate of
the time meant that no films could
be produced – Singapore, a newborn
city-state, was more concerned with
basic survival skills.
The introduction of television also
diverted audiences’ attention.
This was not to say there were no
attempts to revitalise the film industry
in Singapore. There were several
attempts in the 1970s, with the most
significant effort being made by the
Chong Gay Organisation.
Chong Gay brought in Hongkong
film production personnel and utilised
Singaporean actors. But it was not until
Chong Gay’s third film, Singaporean
Lim Ann’s The Two Sides of the Bridge
(1976) that audiences began to sit up.
The film essentially explored
the Singapore-Malaysia divide by
contrasting the simpler, rural life of
Malaysians in a fishing village, with their
more business-minded, urbanised
neighbours in Singapore.
The Causeway, bane of many
motorists even today, was the
titular bridge in the movie. It was a
storyline that was easily identifiable,
with themes that resonated with the
common Singaporean. The Two Sides
of the Bridge was shown at the sixth
Asean Film Festival and was one of
the first films that featured Chinese-
Singaporean subject matter.
Other films that were produced at
that time included several Hollywood
blockbuster imitations. These B-grade
movies were usually filmed locally but
were in reality Hollywood wannabes
that had little to do with Singapore.
Films in this genre include the
campy They Called Her Cleopatra Wong
(1978) which featured an international
cast, and a storyline that was heavily
borrowed from James Bond movies.
The revival of the Singaporean film
industry would not truly begin for
another 20 years.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES
BACK
The 1990s marked a revival of the
Singapore film industry. Early gems
that were produced in that period
include Medium Rare (1991), Bugis
Street (1995), Mee Pok Man
Spotlight
(1995), and Army Daze (1996).
However, the honour of being the
first commercial success in this era
was Jack Neo’s Money No Enough. It
raked in S$5.8 million and remains
Singapore’s all-time highest-grossing
film. The ‘Jack Neo model’ of film
production worked so well that it
became a template for his later films,
many of which were well received by
local audiences.
Movies such as I Not Stupid (2002)
and Homerun (2003) presented the
audience with relatable storylines as
well as local flavour in the form of
dialects and inside jokes.
Jack Neo was not the only director
to venture forth and find success in
the local film industry. There were a
number of up-and-coming directors
and producers whose films managed
to snag a number of awards
in various international film
festivals.
Despite the fact that it was
not a commercial success,
Eric Khoo’s 12 Storeys
won awards at the 10th
Singapore International
Film Festival and 17th
Hawaii International
Film Festival, and in
1997 became the
first Singapore
movie to be
screened in
Cannes.
CONNEXSCIONS 17

Spotlight
At that time, the movie was
considered risqué as it moved beyond
Singapore’s staid image and instead dug
deep into the recesses of taboo social
aspects. International critics waxed
lyrical over this visionary director’s
work, even as local audiences failed to
grasp its more poignant nuances.
HOMERUn
Naturally, local films of the 1990s
bore similar characteristics. For
the most part, they followed the
‘Jack Neo template’ of films to a
fault. A large majority were actionoriented
comedies and farces, aimed
at reflecting the everyday life of the
average Singaporean.
Royston Tan’s 881 (2007)
revolved around the culture
of the Hungry Ghost Festival
and is generally credited with
giving younger Singaporean
Chinese a deeper
understanding of their own
culture.
But the languages used in the films
evolved from the standard English,
Malay or Mandarin, to the more
colloquial Singlish and various dialects
of Singapore.
The emergence of production
companies such as Raintree Pictures
and organisations like the Singapore
Film Commission meant greater ease
of film production.
Budding filmmakers began to have
an avenue for subsidies. Increasing
technological advances lowered
production costs, which in turn led to
more experimentation with different
film techniques and styles.
The number of local films that
have been produced annually since
then have seen a steady rise. Several
international collaborations such as
The Eye (2002) and Turn Left, Turn Right
(2003) were produced locally but
with directors and cast mainly from
other countries. In fact, many people
are unaware that the films were coproduced
by Singaporeans as the slick
movies looked uncannily like Hong
Kong or Taiwanese productions.
In addition to international
collaborations, the Singaporean film
industry started to produce films
that generated much buzz locally and
overseas.
Singapore Dreaming (2006) became
the first ever Singapore film to win the
Best Asian/Middle Eastern Film Award at
the 20th Tokyo International Film Festival,
the Montblanc New Screenwriters
Award at the San Sebastian International
Film Festival and the Audience Award for
Narrative Feature at the Asian American
Film Festival.
It received numerous positive
comments from the local media and
ran for eight weeks in the theatres.
However it, too, shared the
dubious fate of many local films of
not being able to cover production
costs. The movie grossed only a total
of S$420,000 from the local box
office – about half its production
cost of S$800, 000.
In contrast to Singapore Dreaming,
Jack Neo’s I Not Stupid Too (2006),
managed to garner a modicum of
commercial success, grossing over
S$4 million. It was screened not only
in Singapore, but in Hong Kong and
Malaysia as well.
By now, it became clear that there
was a need for more public support
for local movies. As more and more
movies produced locally became
commercial failures even with critical
acclaim, it was necessary to change
local perceptions of Singapore-made
films.
Those that were considered
more “artsy” or “indie” in nature still
have problems attracting the same
viewership as the more mainstream
offerings.
However, there are films that buck
the trend. One film that was meant for
a more niche audience unexpectedly
appealed to the masses and went on
to become one of the highest grossing
local films of all time. Royston Tan’s
881 (2007) revolved around the
culture of the Hungry Ghost festival
and is generally credited with giving
younger Singaporean Chinese a
deeper understanding of their own
culture. The movie grossed over S$3
million to critical acclaim.
The year 2007 was a boom period
for the local film industry, with a total
of 12 films produced. This is a clear
indicator that Singapore movies are
getting the attention they deserve. 881
has become a guiding light, showing the
detractors of local cinema that Singapore
films can be critically and commercially
successful.
THE MATRIX
The future appears to be bright for
Singapore’s film industry. Since the
18 CONNEXSCIONS

eginning of 2008, there have already
been at least five locally-directed and
locally-produced movies released
in local cinemas, including Ah Long
Pte Ltd, The Leap Years, 12 Lotus and,
most recently, Kallang Roar: The Movie,
directed by young local director
Cheng Ding An.
In August 2008 alone, Royston Tan’s
881, Chen Ding An’s Kallang Roar and
Lian Pek’s Mad About English took on
Hollywood movies in the cinemas.
Others, such as Boi Kwong’s The
Days, are set be released in the next
few months. The constant release
of new local movies is keeping the
industry vibrant.
The increased exposure for local
films and filmmakers has helped.
The Singapore Film Festival, and
regular screenings in places like The
Substation and The Arts House,
serve as platforms for local films. In
September, the 8th Asian Symposium
was held.
International film festivals, such as
the reputed Cannes Film Festival, also
provide a boost in the international
arena.
Eric Khoo’s latest film, My Magic,
was the first Singapore feature to be
selected for the main competition at
the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Finally
it seems possible for local films to gain
international recognition.
Several schemes have also been
put in place to encourage new local
filmmakers to share their creativity
with the rest of the world.
Film diplomas in six different local
educational institutions have been put
in place for the coming year of 2009.
These include the Nanyang Academy
of Fine Arts: Diploma in Design &
Media, and the Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Diploma in Film Sound and Video.
These diplomas, some of which
include government subsidies for
students, aim to groom budding local
filmmakers, allowing them to acquire
world-class skills.
More film competitions are also
dangling incentives. The 8 Minutes
Youth Film Competition and the
YourFilm.SG Film Competition, for
instance, were held this year.
Often joint efforts between the
government and various local media
companies, the competitions create
awareness for and acceptance of
locally produced films. They also offer
a distinct opportunity, especially for
youths, to showcase their talent, and
serve as a platform for the discovery
of new talent.
Recent developments in film
ratings also allow for greater freedom
of expression. It seems we have
come some way since Royston Tan’s
15 (2003) was banned in Singapore
and given a rating of R(A) due to
government controls.
With so much going for the industry,
it is highly probable that Singapore’s
filmmaking is poised to grow. With an
impressive 23 films produced to date
in 2008, this year is already promising
to be much more successful than
previous years in terms of local film
production.
MY WORD
Spotlight
In Singtel’s MyWord! video competition
2007, a group of 4th year students
took home the top prize with their
winning video Youth Apathy – Do They
Care Student Ang Guang Zheng, who
was part of the team that produced
the video, shares the view from behind
the camera lens.
What’s been your proudest
moment as a film student
I think the first short that we did, half-,
is something that I’ll always be proud
of. It was concise and coherent but
indirect, and it challenges the audience
watching it.
The most surprising
I think it was when we were looking
for a location to shoot our final scene
for half-, and we found it right in CS!
From your perspective,
what do you like least about
the local film industry at
present
The long route to receiving actual
funding.
Do you feel supported by
WKWSCI
Yes, at school level, the support is
very forthcoming. The many video
competitions provide opportunities
while the school’s expertise
and equipment give us the tools
required.
In your opinion, how do
Singaporeans react to local
films
I think local audiences are divided into
those who like Jack Neo films vs those
who don’t. But I feel it’s hard to put
a standard to local films as we have a
very young film industry. Given more
time, it could be a different story. I
think we should give all local films a
chance.
As a filmmaker, what are
your inspirations
Good filmmaking, music, people. I think
your own experiences count for a lot
when it comes to the creative side of
things.
CONNEXSCIONS 19

Spotlight
INSIGHT: what makes the
industry tick
aCTING HEAD OF ELECTRONIC BROADCAST MEDIA, assistant
professor FOO TEE TUAN, SHARES HIS INSIGHTS INTO THE LOCAL
FILMMAKING INDUSTRY
Recently, there has been a revival of the local film
industry. Why do you think that’s so
I think there are a couple of reasons. Firstly, society in general
is wealthier. So when people have money, they start to think
about how to spend it. And when they see all the films out
there, they wonder why we don’t have our own films. And
with resources, we can make our own films. In the past we
didn’t have the resources because we could barely build
our roads.
And of course we have people educated overseas who have
learnt it, and are trained in it, and since they can do that, they
want to make their own films.
What do you think can be done to give filmmakers
more support
A lot of it is how different industries work together, the synergy.
The film industry is very closely linked to many other industries.
For instance, the film industry is linked to the television industry
SINGAPORE DREAMING
JUST HOW RECEPTIVE ARE LOCAL
AUDIENCES TO S’PORE FARE
The local film industry has come a long way. What
do you think has contributed to this growth
I think a lot of the growth has come from the local filmmakers
themselves. Singaporeans are taking more chances, coming up
with more ideas for films and getting them out there. They’re
also becoming savvier about filmmaking as a business, and getting
smarter with their marketing/promotional campaigns so they
attract audiences.
Of course, the government has also helped clear the way
for independent filmmakers. The Singapore Film Commission
(SFC) has been giving out grants, organising competitions and
workshops, and basically providing opportunities for the local
film industry to keep expanding. And that’s a very good thing.
They’re providing the soil for all kinds of weird and wonderful
movies to come out of Singapore.
With local filmmakers’ works gaining more
exposure and recognition in the international film
scene, do you think this has changed the average
Singaporean’s perception of local films
More and more, I find the prejudice for local films is disappearing.
People don’t want to watch a boring film – they don’t care if it’s
local, foreign, or from Mars, they just want to be entertained.
And if a local film can do that, audiences will shell out their $9.50
to see it.
Just look at 881 – the local support for that was huge! And
so many of the people who went to see it were aunties and
uncles who rarely step into the cinemas. If they’re supporting
local movies, we’re in pretty good shape.
Of course, you’ll still have your cynical high-and-mighty
citizens who think anything local sucks. But we have a lot of
talented people here who are on a mission to prove them wrong.
Awards are great, but more importantly, films need to resonate
with people – make them feel inspired, make them laugh or cry,
and tell their friends about it.
20 CONNEXSCIONS

Spotlight
and also, fashion, design and music industries. But right now,
you don’t really see the kind of synergy here. In order to make
a successful film, you need art design, you need acting which
is linked to the theatre industry, and even architecture and
electricians. You need all this support. An artist can have a vision,
but they need someone to build the camera, or a computer
engineer to do the effects.
What’s your take on censorship in Singapore
Most industries have censorship, even Hollywood. The most
important thing is to make it clear what is okay to touch and
what is not. But I must say in recent years, the government has
relaxed quite a bit. Even in the recent talks, the PM said even
political films will be okay.
What do you think are the strengths of local films
One thing about local films is that there is room for
experiment. There is no one voice dictating the whole filmmaking
community. We are still at the early stages, so there is
more potential.
Which local film do you think is the best so far
For the time being, I think the best film I’ve seen so far is
probably Singapore Dreaming. It has very good story telling about
Singaporeans; it is a complete story, with good acting. And of
course, it reflects our environment.
In your opinion, how are we to judge the value of
Singapore films
One thing is of course box-office. A lot of filmmakers like
Zhang Yimou say that the best judge is the audience. But there
is another approach, the art film approach. So what is important
is whether I make a contribution to the film language, whether I
say a story in different ways.
In Singapore, currently you can certainly see both. You
can see people celebrating Jack Neo, for example. He
made something like $5 million with Money No Enough 2.
There are also filmmakers that hop between these two
approaches, like Royston Tan. He started out making art
house films like 15, and recently hopped to 881, which was
a huge box office success. Recently his 12 Lotus seems to
be back as art house, but he still tried to get audience’s
attention by having musical scenes and nice Hokkien music
to cater to the mass audience.
The thing is, there is nothing wrong for an industry to have
these three types of filmmakers. C
How do you think we should judge the value of
local films
It’s my belief that films should be judged based on how much
people love them. And falling in love with a film has nothing to
do with how well it did at the box office, or such-and-such a
festival. It should have a message that touches you, characters
that you remember fondly, beautiful images and music. But of
course, all this means nothing if your film never even makes it to
the screen. Making money and clinching awards helps you finance
your creative efforts so you can make ends meet, and get your
film seen by more eyeballs. And the more eyeballs who love your
film, the better!
The government and other related authorities (i.e. MDA,
Singapore Film Commission etc.) have helped make filmmaking
in Singapore easier in the recent years, like allowing submission
of permits for filming, providing funding and an array of support
services for pre and post-production.
What else do you think can be done to encourage
more local and foreign filmmakers to pursue their
passion here
Well, finding funding is always the biggest headache and the
most difficult obstacle in filmmaking. So I think everyone
would agree that getting more dough would be just fantastic!
Having more investments would pump the industry up
considerably. Money aside, I think relaxing censorship policies
would also make things easier for the local film industry –
creative freedom is such a precious, precious thing and I wish
we had more of it.
Which is your favourite local film/filmmaker
This is going to sound clichéd, but I’m still going to go with
Royston Tan. He tells such heartbreaking, funny stories and his
cinematography is always gorgeous. Royston has such a unique
vision of life, and I think his films are like little crystallised
memories of Singapore and the world. I was almost tempted to
ask Royston if I could star in his next movie, since I’m such a big
fan… and I will do it for free too! Since he’s sworn not to make
any more getai movies, I probably won’t have to dance – which is
good news for clumsy old me.
Lisa Twang is a writer for FiRST magazine, a monthly
magazine published by SPHM. It is the first and only
magazine published locally that is entirely about
movies.
CONNEXSCIONS 21

HIGHLIGHTS
a passage to
india
By Lim Yi Han, Clarice Koh &
Carina Koh
go-far takes its journalism students
to karnakata, india
How far would you go in the name of passion Would you dare step out of your
comfort zone, travel to a third world country, and live among strangers Well,
there is no shortage of WKWSCI students who would.
For the Go-Far programme (Going Overseas for Advanced Reporting), scores
of our students – aspiring photojournalists, broadcast journalists and reporters
– have gamely strapped on their backpacks and headed overseas with their equally
wide-eyed and, some would say, masochistic, coursemates to feed their passion for
news gathering.
Conceived by Assistant Professor Cherian George, and fully funded by WKWSCI,
Go-Far was launched in 2005 to provide aspiring journalists with the opportunity to
discover the work of a foreign correspondent. Twelve- to 14-student teams are led
by Assistant Professor Shyam Tekwani, an experienced hand in conflict reporting in
the South Asian region, with guidance from Assistant Professor Cherian George and
lecturer Nicole Draper.
Now in its third year, Go-Far 2008 took its adventure-seeking students to
Karnataka, India. An impoverished state despite India’s booming economy, the setting
provided grounds for varied and poignant photos and reports.
“If you’re in need of some humanity,
visit rural India – because what you see
is what you get. Genuine people, who
are not necessarily rich but will offer you
450g of rice if all they have is 500g of rice
in their homes. It’s all these little things
they do that display their true hospitality
to strangers,” said Adeline, a Go-Far 2008
team member.
Bathing with the traditional bucketand-water
method, bargaining (read:
arguing) with auto-rickshaw drivers,
chasing down interviewees, working
with translators, receiving unexpected
kindness from strangers, catching brilliant
sunsets and hearing villagers’ stories that
wring the heart – all these were part of the
students’ Karnataka experience.
The previous years’ Go-Far teams also
returned from their trips transformed.
The first team in 2005 ventured to the
Ampara and Batticaloa districts in Sri
Lanka and visited Meulaboh, Aceh,
to report on the impact of the 2004
tsunamis.
The following year, the team set off for
Nepal, in a quest for more understanding
of the political revolution taking place in
this small Himalayan Kingdom, and its
social impact on everyday lives.
Student Yanqin, who was part of the
22 CONNEXSCIONS

Highlights
An impoverished state despite India’s booming economy, Karnakata
provided grounds for poignant photos and reports.
Go-Far team in 2006, recalled her Nepal experience fondly in
her Go-Far blog: “I remember flying kites and seeing hundreds
of other kites in the sky and kids hopping on roof tops and
thinking that time could stop right then and it would be
perfect.”
Last year, the team took off to the fragile, landlocked
communist country of Laos, to record everyday lives with
camera and pen.
“To be part of the 2007 Go-Far team – for me, that’s great
stuff in itself,” said student Clarence. And his teammate, Sophia,
concurred. “Go-Far changed my life – I learnt a lot about myself,
about other cultures, about journalism.”
“It is when we can see the unfortunate around us that we can
know how fortunate we are. This is a remarkable thing, I say.
And it helps to open up your mind. And you know what they
say about minds once stretched,” added Raymond Poon, team
member of Go-Far 2005.
“Go-Far is neither just another ‘regular course’, nor a class
excursion,” said Assistant Professor Shyam. “Reporting from
the ground is not the only goal. The story is always there in any
situation. What we are trying to learn through Go-Far is how
to get it. And we don’t get it by just climbing onto a plane and
going to where it is happening.”
To the students and staff involved, there are no limits to
how far they would go to hone their craft and, maybe along the
way, change the direction of their lives forever. C
Photos by the 2008 Go-Far team
CONNEXSCIONS 23

HIGHLIGHTS
evolution of
information
sharing
Digital library project garners NTU
‘Best ICT Enabled University’ award
By Rasyida Samsudin
NTU was awarded the title of ‘Best
ICT Enabled University of the
Year’ in July 2008 following a
collaborative project between WKWSCI
and the NTU Library.
The digital repository project, led by
three staff members, was credited with
the prestigious award at the biggest
ICT (Information & Communication
Technology) event, eIndia 2008.
NTU was recognised for its innovative
use of infocomm technologies to enhance
its learning environment.
The project, initiated in 2005, actually
started out on a small scale. Its aim
was to digitise all of NTU’s publications
in a move to make them conveniently
accessible to the community of students
and faculty.
Branded the Digital Repository @
NTU (DR-NTU) in 2007, the repository
has transferred a staggering 30,000
publications thus far, including student
final year projects, theses, research
project reports, working papers and
exam papers.
“Previously, publications were
not made available online. With the
availability of the online network now,
we decided to utilise this platform to
make the sharing of information even
more widespread,” explained Jayan
Chirayath Kurian, the Project Officer
who represented WKWSCI.
Besides Jayan, the team included
Hazel Loh, Deputy Director and Head
of the Library Technology and Systems,
and Joy Wheeler, an NTU librarian.
The repository signifies the ongoing
commitment of the NTU Library to
enhance information sharing and the
communication of ideas.
The use of a digital repository cuts
the time taken for theses to be shared
with the university community.
In a conventional environment, it
takes about six months for a thesis to be
reviewed before it gets published in the
NTU Publication.
With the DR-NTU, the author is able
to upload his version of the thesis as soon
as possible.
“This is especially significant if the
knowledge to be shared is a breakthrough
discovery,” explained Jayan.
“Our lifesavers are the students’
contributions. In all we have over 2,000
records coming from students. I have
never seen such a major contribution
coming from students themselves
anywhere else.”
The project kicked off in 2005 when
the team launched the first phase,
and tried the system using the AMIC
collections first.
Now they are moving on to the
designing the future By Andrew Darwitan
“By the new century, the term graphic design is no longer relevant,” remarked
Assistant Professor K.C. Yeoh, on the reconstruction of graphic design as
visual communication in recent years.
This provocative statement perhaps
provides a clue to the creative and thoughtful
spark behind a poster Assistant Professor
Yeoh created, which has been selected for
the prestigious New Views 2 exhibition.
Entitled ‘Conversations and Dialogues
in Graphic Design’, the international
exhibition was hosted in the London College
of Communication this July and will be
travelling to the Melbourne Museum from
15 November to 15 February next year.
The New Views 2 symposium was
launched as a polemical platform to define
the shifting paradigms of graphic design.
Assistant Profeesor Yeoh described the
design of his poster – with its bold, contrasting
colours, purposeful words and integration of
different shapes – as portraying the different
layers of communication. As a visual pundit,
he is vividly aware of the layers of meaning in
every piece of visual art. But he strives to put
forth a simple message behind his design.
Flying against the face of popular belief,
he believes that technology is not responsible
for complicating visual arts. It is people who
cause the arts to be organic.
Project Officer Jayan Chirayath Kurian and
his team are now working to make the online
network available to alumni and the public.
third phase, where the production
server is being put up in an attempt
to make the repository available to
the public.
The award has given the team much
encouragement.
“Very soon, the repository might
even include multimedia collections
and be made available to everyone,
including the university’s alumni,”
enthused Jayan. C
Dr Yeoh’s poster, entitled ‘Graphic Design:
A Confusing Nomenclature’, presents
a sense of depth through different
dimensions.
“Graphic design changes because of people. Because of that, the field will
continue to seek newness. Five generations down, we will still be defining visual
arts,” he concluded. C
24 CONNEXSCIONS

crisis management 101
By Rasyida Samsudin
Highlights
a small class project evolves into a thesis
that garners the ‘Best Paper’ Award in
an international conference
When flight SQ006 crashed at
the Chiang-Kai Shek Airport
on 31 October 2000, the then
Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive
of Singapore Airlines Mr Cheong Choong
Kong made a public apology for the error
made by the pilot.
The tragedy killed 83 passengers.
Families of victims were distraught and
confronted the CEO for answers to the
crash.
What is the best way for an organisation
to manage a crisis Who should face the
public when such a tragedy occurs
Those issues were effectively addressed
in a thesis co-authored by WKWSCI faculty
member Assistant Professor Augustine
Pang and two WKWSCI graduate students,
Marela Lucero and Alywin Tan.
Their paper, entitled ‘Effective
Leadership in Crisis: When Should the
CEO Step Up to Be the Organisation’s
ureca!
Undergrad projects grab top
places at poster competition
Two more achievements were garnered for WKWSCI in
August, when the work of students and faculty from
Public & Promotional Communication (PPC) took first and
second place at the DISCOVER URECA @ NTU Poster Exhibition
and Competition.
The URECA (Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus)
platinum award went to the ‘Teens Online – Examining Reward
Seeking Behavior in Cyberspace’ poster by undergrad Tang Shu Xia,
PPC Associate Professor May Oo Lwin and Information Studies
Associate Professor Theng Yin Leng.
Essentially, the research project highlighted the relationship
between different types of rewards in virtual games and its effects
on one’s loyalty, satisfaction and self-esteem.
The project took about 10 months to complete, from
conceptualisation, literature review, and methodology planning,
to execution and final preparation. Despite long hours spent on the
project, the experience was a fruitful one for undergrad Shu Xia.
“I learnt a lot on the workings of academic research and how
it should be conducted,” said Shu Xia. “Working with Dr Lwin
and Dr Theng made me realise how motivating and passionate
they are, which I admire a lot.”
In the second WKWSCI win, the poster ‘Food Defines Us’
won the titanium award for undergrad Adeline Ong and PPC
Assistant Professor Yeoh Kok Cheow.
Spokesperson’, was presented at the
Conference of Corporate Communication
in June and awarded the Best Paper
Award.
“In crisis management, organisations
often need to appoint someone to speak
to the media, and often the person
who is appointed is the public relations
manager,” said Assistant Professor Pang,
who specialises in crisis communication.
“However in some crises the CEO
should step up instead of the PR manager,
and they include the more serious ones
involving deaths and casualties,” he
added, citing the Silkair crash as a case in
point.
The team worked closely on the paper
for approximately six months before it
was being presented at the conference.
Both Miss Lucero and Mr Tan,
Master’s Students under the guidance of
Dr Pang, presented the paper in England
The grad students presented their research to
practitioners in the international corporate
communications arena.
where the conference was held.
As ‘Best Paper’ at the conference, their
thesis will also be published in Corporate
Communications: An International Journal.
The team is looking forward to seeing it
published.
The Conference of Corporate
Communication is an annual event
sponsored by Corporate Communication
International at Baruch College, USA.
This year, it was held in Wroxton,
England, and was attended by public
relations scholars and practitioners and
even CEOs of companies from over 20
countries.
“The four-day conference was paced
very well, and sometimes it did get
intense. You are after all presenting your
research to a group of highly accomplished
researchers and practitioners in the field.
We were really proud we won,” said a
happy Miss Lucero of the team’s feat. C
By Andrew Darwitan
The entry was based on
the hypothesis that food
defines people in three
different ways: It gives us
order, connects us spiritually
through the barriers of time,
and influences the way we
live.
“I decided to turn it into
a URECA project because I
know URECA would recruit
top students,” said Assistant
Professor Yeoh.
That is where Adeline came
in. She took photos at dining
places, complementing them
with pictures of family members to add a
personal flavour. Additionally, some local publishing companies
were approached to help put out a related textbook that is a visual
enquiry on food.
URECA is currently in its fourth year in cultivating a
research culture among the most able undergraduates.
A total of 200 posters were submitted for this year’s
competition, five of which were from WKWSCI. C
CONNEXSCIONS 25

ALUMNI
10 Questions with
Faraliza Tan
the reigning miss s’pore/world, and
fourth year broadcast and
cinema studies major, bares her soul
By Lim Yi Han, Clarice Koh & Carina Koh
Do you think NTU played a part in
helping you win the title
Maybe in terms of speaking and
communication. Beauty pageants are all
about presenting yourself.
Did strutting out in a pageant come
naturally to you
I’m a simple person who likes to doll
up. But I didn’t like doing the catwalk
’cos I cannot walk in four-inch heels! So
I couldn’t walk properly – I literally had
to go back and practise. My mum had to
help me!
“Beauty with brains” is a cliché that could have
been coined just for Faraliza, who’s been on the
Dean’s List three times.
26 CONNEXSCIONS
Who is your role model
Princess Diana. She embodied admirable
qualities of a woman which included
strength, compassion towards others,
independence and determination. Her
sincerity and ability to connect with
people is certainly something I admire
and look up to.
We hear that you play the
trombone. In what way does that
reflect your personality
Oh gosh. It’s not that I’m so musically
inclined but I did play the trombone in
the secondary school band. I didn’t get
the instrument of my choice. A trombone
is long and I have long arms, that’s why I
was chosen to play it! I would have picked
the flute or saxophone. It’s the kind of
music I would listen to. It has a soothing
and jazzy feel to it. The trombone doesn’t
reflect my personality – it’s very rough
whereas I’m more gentle.
What was your MTV internship like
I blush and go red when I look at guys
whom I think are cute. So I was star-struck
when I met Utt – I didn’t know what to
say! The VJs come in every week so I see
him quite often. Attending the MTV Asia
awards was really memorable. I was on
stage to present the awards, so I got to
meet Leona Lewis and One Republic. But
we had to keep a professional image. I
had to keep a distance.
You describe yourself as a
bookworm – what’s your all-time
favorite book
This is gonna sound bimbotic. But I love
Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholics series ‘cos
it’s a form of relaxation. And I love
to shop.
If you could win any prize in the
world, what would it be
The Nobel Prize because it is a prestigious
award which takes a lot of effort to achieve
and besides, it is a world-recognised
award, so I would want to be known
for being smart and for developing and
contributing new knowledge to society!
How would you describe a
perfect day
Sitting in front of the TV with my cats,
doing nothing. My life is so hectic that I
really need time for myself. I have three
cats. I love cats!
What is the one thing you never
leave home without
Right now it would have to be my mobile
phone because many people like the
press, my organiser or family and friends
need to contact me!
Where do you see yourself in
10 years
Hopefully I would have traveled to a lot of
countries. And be married with kids. C

Alumni
where are
they now
ConnexSCIons goes alumni spotting!
Compiled by Lim Yi Han, Clarice Koh & Carina Koh
Joyclene Lau
27, Class of 2004
Majored in Communication
Research
Now: Home Affairs Senior Executive
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… depending on CS friends. They made it bearable.
Whenever we got stuck, we tended to help one another out. There was a time just
before a Year 2 exam paper when I had a mental block and broke down. A classmate
came to the rescue early in the morning to help cram things back into my head again.
Studying together helped to lighten the load and also clarify doubts. I had many an
intellectual debate session with the CS people at the benches in the weeks running up
to the exams, especially for papers which were more rhetorical.
I also had the habit of cleaning my hostel room whenever I got frustrated or
stressed out!
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… hide in my room to study, because it cleared my mind when
there weren’t people chit-chatting around me. Canteen B was also a breezy spot in the
evenings and has an alfresco feeling to it. One favorite spot was the CS benches, which
were hotbeds for constructive argument. But I would advise you to bring mosquito
coils to ward off the uninvited mozzies.
I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT
Student days have their share of embarrassments. Mine was… when I fell down the
stairs exiting the CS LT once on a rainy day, hit my back and blanked out in shock.
A guy classmate literally had to pick me up and make me sit on the kerb at the side,
waiting for me to snap back to reality. Some people crowded around to check if I was
OK. Needless to say, I threw away the pair of sandals that I was wearing.
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
definitely Percussion in NIE. We learnt from an instructor from the SSO and there
were no exams! We just had to do a performance at the Old Changi Hospital. I also had
to snap photos for a slide showcase to go with the orchestral piece we were performing.
That was a lot of fun.
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… Canteen 5, which had the best zi char in town, with prawn paste chicken
to die for. Not sure if it’s still there though.
CONNEXSCIONS 27

Alumni
where are they now
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… getting my ears pierced. Somehow, that was
therapeutic and I ended up with quite a few piercings by the time I graduated! Seriously,
though, sometimes the workload could get rather heavy, especially when deadlines
for various project work coincide. What I feel really helped was to be consistent and
regular with the readings, instead of leaving it all to exam time.
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… do most of my studying at home because that is most
conducive to me. I cannot concentrate with all the incessant chatter going around me
on campus. I needed to be left alone whenever I do serious studying. That applies to
me even now.
Carol Soon
34, Class of1997
Majored in Public and Promotional
Communication
Now: PhD student
I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT
Student days have their share of embarrassments. Mine was… going through one
semester wearing purple lipstick and blue nail polish. Fashion faux pas is the license
of youth!
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
Public Opinion because it exposed me to theoretical and philosophical concepts and
themes, something I found stimulating and refreshingly different from the other
subjects. Writing essays for it was also fun (in a perverse way) because there were
many grey areas and much room to spin arguments. Plus, getting an ‘A’ for the subject
made it even more satisfying.
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… most of the food stalls in Canteen A.
Wu Shangyuan
27, Class of 2004
Majored in Public and Promotional
Communication
Now: Master’s student at
Simon Fraser University, Canada
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… making sure I got my work done first so that I
would have free time after that to hang out with friends. Call me a keener but I always
made sure I got my readings done on time and assignments done in advance so that I
wouldn’t be caught in stressful last-minute situations. I also planned my revision for
the exams a month before they started and had a timetable I would follow faithfully
till the exams were over.
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… always study in my room in Hall 10.
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
Social Organisation class. It taught me a lot of things about how people live
and interact with each other and took me beyond the realm of just media and
communications. I’ve always been interested in sociology and anthropology. I had
the chance to take the latter when I was doing my exchange programme in Cornell
University – LOVED IT.
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… the Japanese food in Canteen 11 – but I think it moved to Canteen 9.
The chicken noodles in Canteen 2 was fantastic too. And the mixed rice vegetable stall
in Canteen 3 was awesome.
28 CONNEXSCIONS

Alumni
June Yeoh
27, Class of 2004
Majored in Electronic Broadcast
Media
Now: Responsible for the branding of
Bloomberg for the Asia-Pacific Region
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… alternating between chat rooms, books and
popping out for a run. Exercising always helps.
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… study in Hall or at Starbucks.
where are they now
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
one titled something like ‘Story Writing’. I’d always wanted to be a columnist. While it
wasn’t entirely related to writing columns, it provided good writing opportunities. I’m
a language person, so anything from NIE was fun and interesting.
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… Canteen 2, probably ’cos it’s air-conditioned, has the best selection and
the cai fan was always delicious. Doesn’t hurt that I stayed in Hall 1 in Year 4 and it’s
just around the corner.
Tan Tin Wee
36, Class of 1997
Majored in Advertising and
Promotions
Now: Senior Officer, Police
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… posting messages on forums. Back then the
Internet and Intranet were not as developed as they are now – they were still text
based and in mono-colour. I used to spend copious amounts of time on the NTUVAX,
which was the Intranet of the time. There was this NOTES feature which allowed us
to post messages – much like the forums of today. A small group of us posted there
frequently on various topics and we got to know each other very well. We still keep in
touch today – but now via Yahoo groups and Friendster!
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… mug in NTU Library 2 nearer exams. The best place to
hang out back then was canteen 1 though – more variety of food, and can
people watch...
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
Advertising Media Planning. I liked it ’cos it was challenging trying to maximise
outcome with limited resources – not to mention I was good at it.
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… the murtabak in Canteen 1, which I loved.
Angela Yeo
27, Class of 2004
Majored in Journalism
Now: Journalist with Lianhe Zao Bao
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… maybe it wasn’t that stressful during my time.
I remember having lots of fun with assignments. Tougher to do the thick readings
though.
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… usually study in Hall and canteen B.
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
a Chinese minor, where I enjoyed the Chinese Literature and Poetry modules.
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… the shui jiao stall in Canteen 2, very authentic.
CONNEXSCIONS 29

Alumni
where are they now
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… hmm, I don’t remember being really stressed in
CS! I’d enjoy the lessons, understand the principals behind what was taught, and then
go to the exam hall and give it my best shot.
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… hang out at (i) friends’ hall rooms since I did not stay in
the hostel, and (ii) the CS building.
Cheryl Tay
33, Class of 1988
Majored in Electronic Broadcast
Media
Now: Civil servant with responsibility
in media policy & regulation at MICA
I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT
Student days have their share of embarrassments. Mine was… None. Or at least my
selective retention ability have obscured any such incidents :P
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
Visual Communication. The lecturer was fantastic; we had the opportunity to critique stuff, as
well as create our own videos and photos. I really enjoyed myself. I remember vividly that I was
introduced to the classic A Clockwork Orange in this class and, boy, was it mindblowing!
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… Canteen A and Hall 3.
Tan Jing Hwee
29, Class of 2002
Majored in Public and Promotional
Communication
Now: Assistant Manager, Marcoms
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… sleeping when the stress level was low, eating
when the stress level was medium, and hanging out with friends when the stress level
was high. If all of the above did not work, I would take a very long stroll.
I found the reading materials given by lecturers very helpful. Most lecturers gave a
lot of reference material which could get daunting at times. But it’s always good to at
least scan through all the materials and pick out the points that resonate with lecture
content.
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… love hanging out at the CS benches in our building. It
was where you could hear the latest gossip while exchanging study pointers with
each other. It’s multi-purpose!
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
to my surprise, CS205 – Visual Communication.
When I did the elective, I found Freud and all the
theories very abstract. But many years later,
I find myself being able to appreciate art,
especially film art, better, as the elective gave
me a lot of background on the theories and
how visuals are used to communicate.
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… the western food at
canteen A, which I loved. Cheap, fast
service and really nice, especially for
dinner after the drilling at French
class.
30 CONNEXSCIONS

Cheng Huiqi
25, Class of 2006
Majored in
Communication
Research
Now: Chinese teacher
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
When I was in CS, I de-stressed by… gossiping with Hall mates.
I stayed in Hall for my four years so one good way to relieve
stress was to go back to Hall and spend time gossiping with
neighbours, or having suppers/mahjong sessions at night.
To prevent your nerves from being wrecked when exams are
round the corner, it’s good to keep up with your readings every
week. At least, you must know what your lecturers are talking
about in class!
Actually I think CS was more fun than stressful compared to
the Engineering faculty. They had, like, eight to nine modules
per semester while we only had five to six at most.
SECRET STUDY NOOKS
To escape the throngs, I’d… go to Nanyang Business School – it
has good seminar rooms that are so comfy to study in at night.
Canteen B was another good place and it’s proven because it
gets so crowded during exam period.
If you stay in Hall and want to study till morning, you can
try “breaking into” the tutorial rooms, at the risk of security
officers chasing you away. (I’m not sure if this can be quoted –
seems like I’m breaking the laws – but it’s very exciting!)
I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT
Student days have their share of embarrassments… I was not
very active in CS so I hardly knew anyone in my first two years. I
remember there was this course that needed us to form groups for
projects. Knowing no-one in my tutorial, I could only put down
my name on the group list. After the list was passed around, I
noticed that I was all alone in the group! At that moment, I felt so
embarrassed, as if I was being “ostracised”. In the end, the tutor
put me in a group with the exchange students.
MY FAVOURITE ELECTIVE was…
Japanese Cha-do (Way of Tea). This course really left a deep
impression on me. The course was conducted by a Japanese
lady with a translator and we learnt all about the Japanese
tea ceremony, hands on! So you can imagine all of us crawling
around the classroom and bowing to one another. I still giggle
to myself whenever I think back! What’s even better, you get to
drink tea and eat Japanese sweets every week! But studying for
the exam was not too fun – too much history!
WHEN THE HUNGER PANGS HIT
I’d head for… Canteen 2 for the Western food and beef ball noodles,
the NIE canteen for the Western food and noodles, and Canteen 3
for the chicken rice (I think it’s named Canteen 16 now). C
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CONNEXSCIONS 31