A: I am one of a new generation of filmmakers in Singapore’s idiosyncratic recently revived film ‘industry’.

          A: By Accident. I got myself involved in a Hong Kong films as the 2nd Assistant Director. The film had no script and was about Transsexuals/Transvestites in Singapore’s infamous Bugis Street. It was an education!

          A: Beyond the "Taxi Driver" homage, I would certainly say that the film has many layers so you can take it at which level you’re comfortable with. It is definitely an introspection piece about Singapore’s paper qualification biased system and how it affects the common individual. Its also of course about the phenomenon of Singaporeans desire to emigrate to Perth which has become a de facto second city.

          But on a more personal level, it deals with one man/s regret and attempt at redemption clouded over by his over inflated ego which hides his lack of self worth.

          We all want to leave some sort of legacy when we’re gone, even when we know we have seriously screwed up our lives.

          A: In a cab in Singapore. It was one Taxi ride too many with overly opinionated taxi drivers who always tell you like it is (a refreshing change when Singapore is known to be opinionless)

          But it also reminded me of my days spent in the army when the ranking NCOs had also mentioned their dissatisfaction of being maligned by the meritocratic system in place which gave a bias toward paper qualifications. They also wanted to move to Perth.

          Finally one of my uncles who was the prototype for Harry also mention moving to Perth when I finished the script...not knowing what the script was about. As they say : “ Art mimics life, life mimics art!”

          A: Singapore is a very, very small place with a lot of people packed in. It’s a bit of a rat race to survive as we have no resources. We don’t have a hinterland, no food or water of our own, not even a population!

          Some call us the little red dot.

          I think because of the claustrophobia, there is always an “Itchy feet” syndrome and Singaporeans travel a lot.

          Perth in Western Australia is 5 hours away and is deemed perfect because of the weather, cheap prices and lack of social control.

          Hence it has become a de facto second city outside of Singapore with the highest number of Singaporeans living there outside of Singapore.

          In fact when I sent the script to the actor Lim Kay Tong, he was enroute from Tuscany and said that he was only stopping over in Singapore for a day before heading to Perth to see his relatives!

          Almost everyone I’ve met has some Perth story.

          So it’s a useful metaphor for the alternative utopia beyond Singapore’s sometimes stifling social engineering.

          A: There was a scene in Bugis Street involving a fight witnessed by Harry in his younger days which took quite a lot of effort recreating scene wise.

          Its now in the deleted scenes.

          I managed to somehow find an African American male in Singapore who could talk jive! However the fight scene seemed flawed and took a while to develop.

          I think it was my very first experience with action so it got a bit of getting use to (especially since the action director could not be afforded for that particular day so I had to wing it)

          It took a while to block punches and all that but it never seemed to work terribly well which was a pity cos that set was half our art department’s budget.

          I learned very quickly the need for more rehearsals even in the simplest fight sequences. I think for my next film, will have more guns than fist. Guns are easier.

          A: The army reservist scene. It’s a direct confrontation between the dispossessed non paper qualified in AB Lee and the paper qualified scholar officer. Somehow, it encapsulates the whole struggle of the lead actor and it came together really well for me.

          Also on our last day of shoot we got rained out. Our art director had placed prop idol of Guan Yew (the God of War) and Apache (the Poet) decided to pray to it thus activating the idol.

          Since film crews are superstitious (not me)I was required to make offerings to the local deity at the location (in this instance a clan association which served as a backdrop to the final gangland show down)

          I obviously passed on the prop idol and consequently, it was the only day we were rained out.

          We shot the next day and the crew found out about Apache (Incidentally he is 1972 all South East Asia Shaolin KungFu champion) and the god of War.

          So I made dueful prayers to it and incredibly, the rain threatened all night long with thunderous warlike rumbling but held out till I shouted wrap at 3am! Immediately after the word wrap, it poured.

          I felt a strange sense that the film will come together somehow thereafter.

          A: Definitely working on something to follow onto Perth (Although a sequel will be hard since Harry kicked the bucket) this time, it’ll be more of an action thriller.

          A: Shu Qi’s probably on my list although my wife will probably get jealous. I would have to devise and appropriate script for both of them, maybe a love story but a slightly violent one…hmm…

          A: It’s a long road. Keep at it and remember your film is not done when you’ve got it in the can.

          A: It would be great to make a film with mixed emotions, you know, funny and sad at the same time, or scary and funny, that sort of thing. I’d like to perfect that emotion in my filmmaking.

          A: Your viewers probably watch more films than I. One thing about shooting films is that you have less time to watch them and enjoy them properly.

          I really like this Japanese film called “Late Bloomer” which is about a retarded serial killer in a wheelchair!

          A: I hope to be able to afford truffles. I don’t know what the fuss is about but I can barely afford them today. Maybe another decent film could help my pocket?

          A: My wife and I run a little Vietnamese Bistro in Venice beach California (the China Beach Bistro). That’s how we’ve been paying the bills!

          She opened it whilst I was shooting. I told her to wait 4 months till I returned as my daughter was then 9 months and she would have to work with her in tow.

          She replied that she was Vietnamese and would take care of everything and that by the time I was back, the restaurant will be up. I guess you could not argue with that.

          When I got back, the restaurant was up and running and I successfully got myself demoted from manager to busboy when I forgot to charge for tax on the register!