TIA GONG:
17 AUGUST 2021
PREMIERING AT THE
CANNES SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
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‘Ah Beng’ is a term typically used on Chinese males in Singapore who are loud, tattooed and seen as “hooligans”. Tia Gong, which means ‘hearsay’ in Hokkien, is an intimate yet light-hearted documentary that charts the stories of two young men who have been labelled as Ah Bengs since they were young: restaurant owner and chef Jason Chua from Beng Who Cooks, and student social worker Gary Lau from Happy Children Happy Future. They set out on their own individual journeys to seek deeper connections, question the boundaries set by society and ruminate about what the label means for them today.
The label of ‘Ah Beng’ is constantly evolving, from boisterous Facebook live bidding salesmen to maverick local business owners. Behind the label are stories that are covered in tattoos and rowdy behaviour.
Tia Gong means ‘hearsay’ in Hokkien, a term frequently used by Ah Bengs. It signifies that so much about an Ah Beng is usually hearsay and taken at face value, leaving little to no empathy extended to them. This often ends up in a vicious cycle which impedes opportunities in education and work, even causing some to turn to vices and a criminal life to make a name for themselves.
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This documentary film follows two young men who grew up with these labels placed on them while they were schooling. Going through similar stages of rebellion and rejection, we see how they have reconciled or redeemed the label by their own terms. The two characters although similar in many areas, also see themselves at different places with different realisations.
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Including visual elements that represent their past and current realities, we were careful to not oversimplify their experiences, but challenge our audience to understand the nuances of each emotion expressed.
The hope for this piece is to address the entrenched stigma that lives inconspicuously within each of us—even within Ah Bengs themselves.
- Enkainia Lee, Director of TIA GONG
TEAM
TIMELINE
2020 - present
A brief recount of the event's leading up to TIA GONG's conception.
28 January 2020
FIRST PRE-PRODUCTION MEETING.
The first pre-production meeting convenes at Tiffany's house.
5 July 2020
TIA GONG'S CONCEPTION.
The team first conceives of the idea for Tia Gong.
18 September 2020
FEELING THE GROUND.
Tia Gong's team begins a series of pre-interviews with Ah Bengs (self-declared or labelled as such), as well as various people linked to the conversation about the label of an Ah Beng – gang members, pastors, halfway house supervisors, a business owner and a secondary school teacher.
21 September 2020
MEETING JASON.
The team meets Jason from Beng Who Cooks for the first time.
13 November 2020
THE NEW BENG WHO COOKS.
The team gets a sneak peek at the new Beng Who Cooks at 39 Neil Road, a week before Jason, Zhen Long and the team inaugurates the store.
30 November 2020
MEETING GARY.
Tia Gong's team meets Gary for the first time at FlagWhite.
7 December 2020
A LONG-AWAITED REUNION.
Gary meets his ex-gang peers for the first time in years. Many conversations long overdue are caught up with.
When the shoot wraps, all of us go for a hearty supper.
29 December 2020
GOING ON SET WITH CHRISTOPHER AND NICHOLAS.
After linking up with Architects of Life through Yellow Ribbon SG, the team goes on set for a performative shoot with Christopher and Nicholas, two volunteers with Architects of Life with a story to tell in words and body ink.
5 January 2021
POST-PRODUCTION BEGINS.
TIA GONG begins post-production.
25 March 2021
TIA GONG IS BORN.
TIA GONG wraps up post-production.
16 June 2021
OFFICIAL NOMINATION AT THE NYFA 2021.
TIA GONG is nominated for *SCAPE's 7th National Youth Film Awards for Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Student Documentary.
17 August 2021
PREMIERE AT THE CANNES SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2021.
TIA GONG joins a slate of international short films as part of the official selection for the Cannes Short Film Festival.