T. Sastharan should know better. Let this be an unforgettable lesson to him and the arts community never to trust "journalists" from our state-controlled media, whether it is SPH or Mediacorp.
http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/2010/06/bigger-gang.html
This message has been floating around the Internet:
Dear Friends, members of the arts community,
My sincere apologies for cross/multiple- posting. But I am hoping for maximal reach with this one.
Two nights ago, on June 8, 7.30 pm, Six Degrees, a fledgling collective for independent, freelance creative workers and practitioners, called for a meeting of people involved in the media, film, video and other related industries. Those that turned up that night met in the old shed at Emily Hill. There were 100 or so filmmakers, directors, editors, producers, camerapeople, soundpeople, actors and various other talents and crew. There were also reps from MICA and AIPRO (Association of Independent Producers (Singapore)) .
The session, which was independently moderated, lasted more than 2 hours and resulted in several people speaking quite candidly and honestly about the problems, obstacles and impediments of working in the film and media industry in Singapore. Several issues emerged and the concerns were, understandably, complex and complicated given the diversity of the people at the meeting. Several issues were real and fundamental and got to the gritty realities of working in what is usually projected as a sexy and glamorous business. In short, it was an open, badly needed dialogue with the potential of making a real difference to the lives of the small people at the bottom of the food chain.
Six Degrees had assured everyone who attended of the confidentiality of the proceedings and the moderator reminded those present to respect this confidentiality of process. Journalists, bloggers and vloggers who were present were told time and again that they were there in their private, individual capacities; that they should refrain from reporting or writing or posting about the issues that emerged and the identities divulged.
Yesterday Six Degrees was told that a journalist from the TODAY newspaper, who may or may not have been present at the meeting, and who identified herself only as "Esther", was doing a story on the meeting. She apparently talked to some who had been present at the meeting and attempted to pull the story together. Naturally this caused distress and unhappiness among the people she'd contacted and it was communicated to Six Degrees.
My colleague Josephine Tan called "Esther" to urge her to respect the confidentiality agreement."Esther" admitted being aware of the confidentiality agreement but said she'd write the story anyway because her editor "Andre" wanted it so. I tried calling "Andre" and soon learnt that there is no such person. I then called "Esther" personally at around 7 pm and was told that her editor, now one Derrick Paulo, would call me back. An hour passed and nothing. I called him on his mobile (twice) and left him an SMS to call me back. No response. I called "Esther" yet again and was told that Derrick would call me tomorrow. At which point I asked "Esther" why she was doing this; effectively, lying to, betraying and letting down an entire community, one to which she belonged. She hung up on me.
I do not know if the story will appear in TODAY. But I do know that the above mentioned persons in TODAY have not a shred of decency, integrity or just common courtesy. For me it was 1994, the Artists General Assembly, Josef Ng and The New Paper all over again. Some things never change. We can always rely on some schmuck in our media to fuck the powerless, again and again and again.
T.SASITHARAN
Director
Theatre Training and Research Programme
http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/2010/06/bigger-gang.html
This message has been floating around the Internet:
Dear Friends, members of the arts community,
My sincere apologies for cross/multiple- posting. But I am hoping for maximal reach with this one.
Two nights ago, on June 8, 7.30 pm, Six Degrees, a fledgling collective for independent, freelance creative workers and practitioners, called for a meeting of people involved in the media, film, video and other related industries. Those that turned up that night met in the old shed at Emily Hill. There were 100 or so filmmakers, directors, editors, producers, camerapeople, soundpeople, actors and various other talents and crew. There were also reps from MICA and AIPRO (Association of Independent Producers (Singapore)) .
The session, which was independently moderated, lasted more than 2 hours and resulted in several people speaking quite candidly and honestly about the problems, obstacles and impediments of working in the film and media industry in Singapore. Several issues emerged and the concerns were, understandably, complex and complicated given the diversity of the people at the meeting. Several issues were real and fundamental and got to the gritty realities of working in what is usually projected as a sexy and glamorous business. In short, it was an open, badly needed dialogue with the potential of making a real difference to the lives of the small people at the bottom of the food chain.
Six Degrees had assured everyone who attended of the confidentiality of the proceedings and the moderator reminded those present to respect this confidentiality of process. Journalists, bloggers and vloggers who were present were told time and again that they were there in their private, individual capacities; that they should refrain from reporting or writing or posting about the issues that emerged and the identities divulged.
Yesterday Six Degrees was told that a journalist from the TODAY newspaper, who may or may not have been present at the meeting, and who identified herself only as "Esther", was doing a story on the meeting. She apparently talked to some who had been present at the meeting and attempted to pull the story together. Naturally this caused distress and unhappiness among the people she'd contacted and it was communicated to Six Degrees.
My colleague Josephine Tan called "Esther" to urge her to respect the confidentiality agreement."Esther" admitted being aware of the confidentiality agreement but said she'd write the story anyway because her editor "Andre" wanted it so. I tried calling "Andre" and soon learnt that there is no such person. I then called "Esther" personally at around 7 pm and was told that her editor, now one Derrick Paulo, would call me back. An hour passed and nothing. I called him on his mobile (twice) and left him an SMS to call me back. No response. I called "Esther" yet again and was told that Derrick would call me tomorrow. At which point I asked "Esther" why she was doing this; effectively, lying to, betraying and letting down an entire community, one to which she belonged. She hung up on me.
I do not know if the story will appear in TODAY. But I do know that the above mentioned persons in TODAY have not a shred of decency, integrity or just common courtesy. For me it was 1994, the Artists General Assembly, Josef Ng and The New Paper all over again. Some things never change. We can always rely on some schmuck in our media to fuck the powerless, again and again and again.
T.SASITHARAN
Director
Theatre Training and Research Programme
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