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12 Lotus - Movie Review Interview
Sunday, Sep 7, 2008 3:08AM / Members only
Lately, I have been asked many questions regarding 12 Lotus.How do i feel after watching 12 Lotus, What I like best in this movie, What is 12 lotus trying to tell and why .... what ..... how....Why not hear from some of my team players since all of us are part of the lotus in some way or another.I extended some of this frequent asked questions to some of them and decided to share our answers here.
Royston the director of 881 & 12 Lotus, Mabelyn the producer, Music Director - Eric Ng, Makeup artist- Dollei, AMP Band( Jim, Ngak and their manager Leslie)1) How/What do you feel after watching 12 Lotus.Mindee: First its 881 2nd its 12 Lotus, this 2 extremely different movie will received very extreme reviews. That was what I told myself and indeed..... I just had this very strong feelings that it will do very well in festival after watching. (I hope I am right.)Royston: Well to me its a step out of my comfort zone to work on something really intense.Mabelyn: My first impression was always- that is such a different film from 881. Its actually very meaningful, to structure a film around a song. Being an optimistic person, I felt that while the 12 lotus song is very sad, it also shows a woman's strenght, and how she will continue to carry on, despite all the setbacks in life. A lot of real life stories about women like this can be found. How they lost everything, but never give up.Dollei: The beauty of the film is a secret which can be discovered when your emotions start working a little harder getting into the feelings of the casts and story.Eric: I wrote alot of stuff here. http://www.fmmusic.com.sg/blog/?p=510Jim: It was pretty depressing as the movie is kinda dark, even its humour is dark.Ngak: Depressing just like wat jim said. Feel that compare to 881, the music flows more smoothly with the film/scenes n more impactful. One point to be honest, the dialogue does not sync with some acting scenes.Leslie: The movie is very sad & depressing, it is very in dept in human feelings &emotions and I prefered this than 881 because I am a EMO person so this movie suits me. the using of Godness of mercy in the movie let us know that Reglion plays an important role in our daily life ..have believe in it and it will guide you to the right path in your life.2) What is your favorite scene/ music. And why?Mindee: Lian Hua and ah long Tango dance, Mirror scene when Older lian hua still see herself as the younger lian hua. When Lian hua scarifies for the love of her life, I admire her strength and courage. I like the One million dollar song performed by Royston.Royston: The last scene with the close up of liu ling ling, we all been through moments we can't find words to express.Mabelyn: Ah hua and Ah Long scene and music. The song is a very happy song, make me think of innocent times. simple love, that sort of thing. to me, it is the most "musical" song - meaning, its most similar to all those old hollywodd musical,s where the song and dance routine is very sweet and happy.Dollei: It's when old lian hua told 2nd ah long, 'i know you are not him'....she has finally waken up from her shadow of the long waited past and her depression. It's a relief to know when you yourself can walk out of certain stages of your life.Eric: My fav scene is the magic stone part, coz1. I managed to rework my fav hokkien song 'one million' into a hip HOKK song...2. it's the 1st time I ever produced a song of tat genre and Royston, Jiahui(mr One Half) and me had a blast writing it, and quite a few of my media reporter or DJ frens felt that scene stuck outas it provided a nice moment of contrast to the underlying darkness of the movie.My Fav music, goes back to the song One Million again, coz I had the honor to rework that song with my band the AMPs to create a disco rock kinda version of it. And having performed it on TV, getting it up the charts of the radio PLUS having it as a soundtrack while David Gan is washing the Goddess of Mercy's hair was a blast!Jim: My favourite scene, when Ah Long is leaving the house after sending Mindee off to be raped by the gangsta superstar Aaron and his cohorts, haha!! I like the struggle he felt... being a full breed bastard with no heart, against being a struggling man trying to shut away his conscience. My favourite music is Tong Hua Shun, but its not in the move, too bad Jim Lim, you suck!! Hahaha... second to that will be Ah Long and Ah Huei, nice pleasant tune and music arrangement.Ngak: My favourite scene wld be when Ling Ling went back to the stage after so many years of cooping herself at home. The moment she steps onto the stage, it suddenly move to another scene when she was this fairy-like person singin this very impactful song. It throws me back to my chair when it came up. Shiok man! the music arrangement and the direction n bla bla bla.....Leslie: The scene where Xiao Fei Xia knock at the door while Mindee is inside crying ....then next scene is where he grows up and Mindee has transform into LiuLingLing,its touching shows the reflection of human care from him to her after all these years-the music "12LOTUS" is very sad and touching as this song is well-known since my younger age when I was watching Gei Tai3) Which scene creates a memorable impression to you after you watch it? Why is that so.Mindee: When Little Lian Hua managed to steal the statue of Goddess of Mercy successfully. I like her expression. The act of stealing is a sin but stealing the statue brought hope to this innocent soul. Will god punish?...... or no blame....... I like this irony in life.Royston: The scene where lian hua sacrifice for her love, her courage.....Mabelyn: The scene where Old Lian Hua is sending Xiao Fei Xia off, and it changes to little Xiao Fei Xia. It tells a lot about her state of mind, and also, the relationship between her and XFX. He is always the small little boy, in her eyes.Dollei: It should be the scene where the gangster rushed into the house, beating Ah Long up and Lian Hua pleading for mercy. How a girl could love a man so much and how you know he's just cheating her with the plot of his brothers. it's so blinded in love yet hatred by love.Eric: The scene in which we watch a man gamble his life away due to his pride. Pride comes before a fall. And that scene very vividly encompasses it.Jim: This question shares the same answer as the previous question. And other than that, maybe the scene bout 715 selling stones and singing the song Magic Stones, the song's cool, and the short MV there was well done and shiok. The aunties behind are power too, haha!!!Ngak: I wld say when i saw myself on the movie lor. Although we r not the focus for that scene but come on man, i saw myself in a movie watched by millions of people! wooooo hooooo!!!!Leslie: when the movie starts,the cross over scene when young LOTUS met Old LOTUS at the backstage ! its explianed clearly that she has went through one cycle in 12LOTUS already and went through all the sufferings in life4) Anything about or in the movie 12 lotus that moves you).Mindee: There' are always a reason for everything that happen to you. Doesn't matter if precious time has been wasted as long as you are able to come to awakening. Also don't complain about your life........., Lian Hua has never ever complained. This is what moves me the most, she kept all her sorrows to herself and had to move on with life at the end. I felt that life is not about a walk in a park. One has to sit thru its roller coaster ride to figure out and come to realization/ awakening.Royston: The team spiritMabelyn: Lian Hua's strenght and innate goodness. She may be mad, but its not her fault. and how gradually, when she realise that ah Long is not HER ah long, she still show generous spirit towards him.Dollei: How many people has been through a lonely childhood like bao en (Little Lian Hua) without a mother? And constantly living in fear with a father whose a abusive gambler, who then uses the daughter money for all his sins? How many have been in love so hard that she's willing to take what's coming for the love one not knowing it's a plot? How many people can bear the fact that the closest and only one person in their life has betrayed her? How many people out there have been raped and not gone mad like mindee (Lian Hua)? How many has been living in their past shadow and couldn't get out of it for many many years? How many people have the strength to get out of the darkest period of their life and start all over again like liu lingling and yet got all smashed again when the only person again rob her off her only treasure and the emotions that she's finally gotten out of? Aand how many people have lost a very close person in their life that grow up together with through all the darkness? Putting myself in the shoe of all the characters...it's deepEric: The music...hahhahha not just coz I did it with my team. But Ricky Ho, a Lao Da in the Asian music scene, really overwhelmed me in how he managed to compliment whatever we did to make this movie so much more like a true movie musical compared to 881.Jim: This movie brought out how darn ugly people can be... eg... Ah Long, Gangsta Superstar Aaron Tan and his cohorts, the second Ah Long, the second Ah Long's gf Yen Yen, Ah Huei's father etc etc... these are true... in the real world, people can be really ugly... and this moves me.Ngak: Everything moves me. the movie is real as life.Leslie: Despite the fact that it is a sad & dark movie,yet in the movie it focus on family love value & friendshop love value, the movie uses Retro theme as background color which is very eye catching & colorful5) What will entice the audience to watch this movie. ( put urself in the audience position why they should watch)Mindee: Although 12 lotus & 881 is of the same subject matter. I think the audience should watch 12 lotus with an open mind. Only then you will be able to enjoy, relates, understand and appreciates what the movie is trying to say. You should also watch it because its gonna be Royston's last getai movie and this is also probably gonna be the last time you will get to watch the same cast on big screen again.Royston: To see the cast being out in a totally different role.Mabelyn: To watch a story of a woman's life. there is so much drama and nuance. But to be honest, alllll the reviews i have read, for those who dislike the film, its because they compare it to 881. the feeling they get when they leave the theatre is satisfaction - they love the song, the funny things like the getai fight, and most importantly, the dying scene.Apparently, 12 lotus don't offer that kind of shiok-ness. they don;t understand the ending. Cos we never exactly tell them what happen Lian Hua after the struggle.Dollei: It's a movie everybody and the media has been talking about. the title of the movie it's well known being sad. how is this movie relate to the song?HYR: Mindee Ong. hehehhhh...And of coz, I think the audience shld know that royston or me, don't really do things for the sake of commercial success..coz no one seriously expected the success of 881 when we undertook the project. We only do things that we feel passionate about, and have fun in the process. If anyone who has seen our road shows or heard about it. U would know the team sprit is very strong. I hope Royston's artistic achievements, plus me and my team's involvement in the mainstream Cheena pop scene, PLUS that very sprit that binds this whole team together would entice people to support this movie. What U are watching, or buying(in terms of both the movie and the OST) is a piece of all our hearts. PLUS I've said this many times before, in our little teeny tiny local creative industry, if U don't support your own brother/sister, then who the hell will?!Jim: Not sure... the market is ever unpredictable, be it for music or movie. But I would say that this movie is not totally commercial. I respect that.Ngak: I feel that 12 Lotus is a movie where "Commercial" direction and "Staying True to Art" direction comes to a balanced or meeting point. Rather than just sticking to predictable storylines u all can find in chic flicks, action films or drama mama movies, I urge u guys to think OUT OF THE BOX. Let ur imagination run wild alittle, be inspired, learn to be creative. Give the movie a chance and most importantly......Give Yourself A Big Chance.Leslie: Selling message on Family & Friendship LOVE value to catch their attention to go and watchENDI hope you guys enjoyed this review interview and continue to support 12 lotus. -
Singapore Fireworks Celebrations 08
Sunday, Aug 24, 2008 5:15PM / Members only
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12 Lotus - Cast introduction
Friday, Aug 15, 2008 9:32PM / Members only
Following the mainstream box-office success of '881', director Royston Tan returns to his art house roots with an impressionistic take on the getai scene with his new film, 12 Lotus. Inspired by the Hokkien evergreen hard-luck song '12 Lotus', it narrates the story of talented singer Lian Hua (played by Mindee Ong and Liu Ling Ling) and the heartless men in her life who make use of her.
Here's some cast involved.
Li Bao En, who plays Little Lian Hua
Damus Lim, Playing Little Astro Boy.
Myself playing Lian Hua, a talented singer afflicted by tragedy throughout her singing career.
Qi Yiwu plays Ah Long, a popular getai singer.
Qi Yiwu and myself reunite to play getai couple, Lian Hua and Ah Long.
Tango Dance, was a challenge for me. For someone not train in dance, this is a difficult one.
This dance not only involves the whole body but also the soul.
Peppered with colourful costumes and poignant Hokkien tunes, 12 Lotus is hugely reminiscent of director Royston Tan's previous heartland blockbuster, 881.
Liu Ling Ling plays older Lian Hua in the next era.
Taiwanese singer Hao Hao, the grown up Astro boy 20 years later.
Although Royston has repeated some of the cast from 881 and since the story also revolves around getai. Many thinks that 12 lotus is somewhat similar to 881.
12 lotus is entirely a different one. Being a darker film, 12 lotus is shot very artistically.
Cinematographer Alan Yap, did an awesome job. Very experimental and creative, I was blown away by his shots. I have to emphasize, this is his first feature attempt.
Art House goers, I believe you will like this piece. Having said that, the older folks will also enjoy the Hokkien tune. Strong performance by Liu Ling Ling will blow you away too.
Watch it with an open mind. Experience it yourself, go catch 12 lotus soon.
I hope you will like it.
Do share your thoughts with me after you watch it.
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A medal for Singapore.
Friday, Aug 15, 2008 6:20PM / Members only
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12 Lotus Opens Today!
Thursday, Aug 14, 2008 3:05AM / Members only
