“Reflect On Your Personal Purpose”—SG:D Scholar Jonathan Choo

By Lim Zeng Hao

Making a clean sweep of some of the film industry’s biggest awards—from the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival to the historic ‘Best Picture’ win at the recent Oscars—Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite is a testament that Asian cinema is coming into its own. During his acceptance speech for ‘Best Director’ at the Oscars, Bong credited renowned American filmmaker Martin Scorsese for inspiring him towards creating films that are deeply personal and creative.

Bong is not the only one to look up to Scorsese. Mr Jonathan Choo, a Singaporean filmmaker and writer, similarly admires the artistry in Scorsese’s films. Seeking to take his own filmmaking skills to the next level, Mr Choo took up the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) Singapore Digital (SG:D) Postgraduate Scholarship to complete his master’s degree in directing and fiction at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Buckinghamshire, England.

In this interview with IMPact News, Mr Choo shares how the scholarship and overseas study experience has helped him to hone his craft and expand his horizons in filmmaking.

Q:  How did you become interested in filmmaking?

A: I was drawn to the arts from a young age, when I was about 14 years old. My interest was in music at first, and that gradually evolved into a curiosity about storytelling.

So it wasn’t an immediate realisation that I wanted to make my own films, but a gradual process of discovery—I just kept digging and digging, and as I became exposed to more films, I began to realise that each filmmaker was doing something a bit differently.

Some films, such as those by Martin Scorsese, really moved me and spoke to me, and I felt an instinctual connection to them. That was what made me want to pursue filmmaking.

Q:  Why did you choose the SG:D Postgraduate Scholarship to pursue your studies in filmmaking?

A:  I had gotten to a point in my career that I felt a visceral need to change my entire outlook on filmmaking. That was when I started to look out for opportunities to further my education in my area of interest, which led me to discover the SG:D Postgraduate Scholarship. Back then, it was known as the Media Education Scholarship.

Having found a scholarship that aligned well with my goals, I applied and learnt that there’s a pretty solid lineage of filmmakers who benefited from the scholarship as well. So I thought it was a very natural fit for me.

Q:  Why did you choose to study at NFTS? Could you share some of your experiences while you were there?

A:  I was drawn to the fact that NTFS was very much in tune with British filmmaking standards. As an institution, NTFS has produced many people who went on to create substantial works in the industry [like Andrzej Sekula and Toby Haynes]. There's also a good history of Singaporean filmmakers pursuing their craft there, which indicated to me that there is quite a good relationship between this British institution and Singapore filmmakers, and I wanted to be part of this academic lineage.

In terms of my experience at NTFS, there were two things that I appreciated most. The first is the knowledge of the teachers—just by their words, they really changed my perspective on things related to filmmaking. The second has to do with being in a different place, immersed in a different culture, and working with different people. There was always more to achieve and overcome, and that was a huge learning point for me.

Q:  What qualities do you think a scholar should possess?

A:  I think being socially responsible is an important trait for a scholar. It is important to feel a sense of mission—whatever you do or learn, you ought to find a way to give back to society. It could be through financial means, or in my case, I feel a responsibility that the art I produce should improve the morale of society.

Q:  What advice do you have for filmmakers who may want to take up the SG:D Postgraduate Scholarship for further studies?

A:  Beyond getting the degree, I think one should focus on the process as well. It helps to reflect on your personal purpose, and as you go along, remember to soak in all those emotions and feelings that accompany the learning.

Also pay attention to the connection you forge with people, the struggles you face and the little joys that you get from solving a problem. Some of those things only happen once in your lifetime, so you might as well turn them into pleasant memories.