Mr Daryl Cheong, 25, admitted that he is not financially equipped to sustain a gathering place for film buffs but he is holding on because of his faith in communal support.
Mr Daryl Cheong turned an apartment at Pearl’s Hill Terrace into a gathering place for filmmakers and regularly holds screenings there. Mr Daryl Cheong loves talking about films. Whether it's the often neglected early works of Singaporean director Jack Neo or the intricate world-building of the Marvel movies, no cinematic topic is beyond his enthusiasm.
And through it all, the fourth-year student has kept up a full course of studies at Nanyang Technological University , majoring in English and serving as president of NTU's Film Society, which includes helping to run a Film Criticism Lab. Soon enough, the initial polite nods and nervous laughter among the participants became excitable chatter. A few friendly debates even ensued.
However, he added that overall, the film world here is more collaborative and democratic than it seems, and he backed this up with a touching personal anecdote. "There are very few resources and even fewer grants; we are all competing for the same thing," he said. To top off his love for the silver screen, Mr Cheong rents and manages the shared space in the Chinatown area for film buffs.
"I think even though that sounds selfless, it's a very selfish thing. If I want to make films, I can't do it in an ecosystem that is unfriendly and competitive," he said with a guffaw.Yes, he answers candidly and almost too good-naturedly."The one thing I sacrificed was my health. I wasn't like this before university; I gained 40kg to 50kg ."
Amid the chaos of moving and caring for his mother, the overdue payments for the Pearl's Hill Terrace flat were piling up as well.I joked that I felt a sense of vicarious pressure just from listening to his ordeal last year and he promptly apologised — for my stress. Books on filming and directing at a screening held at an apartment in Pearl’s Hill Terrace run by Mr Daryl Cheong.
"I thought I'd feel out of place with all the art majors, especially since I wasn't sure how to articulate my thoughts about films. But everyone was so friendly and open-minded. They helped me express what I wanted to say more clearly."
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Singapore shares rose on Tuesday’s open—STI edged up 0.1% Singapore News%
Read more »
Singapore ranked fourth richest nation in the world Singapore News%
Read more »
88% of Singapore employers acknowledge talent loss due to work-life boundary issues Singapore News -%
Read more »
IPS survey indicates growing confidence in Singapore's democratic status Singapore News%
Read more »
Ultra-rich investors in a buying frenzy over Singapore's historic shophouses Singapore News%
Read more »
Survey reveals strong support among Singapore students for media literacy education in schools Singapore%
Read more »