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Written on October 6, 2009 by The Kent Ridge Common
Upfront with movie director Glen Goei on his latest movie The Blue Mansion
Don't forget to catch The Blue Mansion, premiering October 15th.
(photo credits:photo by: The Blue Mansion Official Site)
Glen Goei (GG) obtained his Bachelors with Honours and Master’s degrees in History from Cambridge University, UK. He subsequently earned his Postgraduate Diploma in Drama from Mountview Theatre School, UK, and studied Filmmaking at New York University, USA. One of Singapore’s leading film and theatre directors, Glen was the Artistic Director of Mu-Lan Arts in London from 1990 to 1998. He is currently the Associate Artistic Director of the Singaporean theatre company, W!ld Rice. His first film, Forever Fever, was the first Singapore film to achieve a worldwide commercial release and was distributed in USA and UK by Miramax. He is the current producer and director of his latest film, The Blue Mansion, which will be released on 22 October 2009. It will be featured in “Window on Asian Cinema” at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival.
KRC:Who is the most interesting character of The Blue Mansion?
GG:The most interesting character is the patriarch Wee Bak Chuan around which all the lives of the other characters revolve.
KRC: In what way is The Blue Mansion relevant to certain aspects of Singapore’s society and how would Singaporean audiences be able to identify with elements within the movie?
GG:Although the film is framed as a murder mystery, it is ultimately about family. Asian families and societies are patriarchal and Confucianist in nature. Singapore has promoted this order as part of the Asian Values that it celebrates in contrast to Western Values. The film explores patriarchy with the family as a metaphor for Asian societies, and it questions that order as well as the high cost to individuals and the constraints on their ability to live the lives they choose.
KRC:The Blue Mansion will be featured in “Window on Asian Cinema” at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival. In what ways can The Blue Mansion appeal to an international audience, especially those from a non-Asian culture?
GG:The film explores themes which revolve around the family, something which is universal and not limited only to Asia.
KRC: How was it like working with your cast comprising Lim Kay Siu, Adrian Pang, Neo Swee Lin, Emma Yong, Claire Wong, Tan Kheng Hua, and Huzir Sulaiman?
GG:It was a breeze! I have worked with most of them for over 15 years and they are consummate professionals at the top of their game.
KRC: What challenges did you encounter during the production stage of The Blue Mansion?
GG:Finding the house which is an integral character in the movie was difficult. I had originally intended to shoot in Singapore but I could not find one with so much character as the one we shot in. Most of the grand old houses in Singapore have been demolished to make way for condos!
KRC: Will there be any sequel to The Blue Mansion, and if there is, care to share any brief insight?
GG:If Forever Fever was about my teenage years growing up in Singapore in the 1970′s, and The Blue Mansion is reflective of the current influences and experience in the Singapore of today, then who knows, the sequel may be the third part of a triptych.
KRC: With The Blue Mansion added to your hugely impressive CV, what further milestones you will be setting for yourself which you can hopefully achieve in future?
GG:I like to experiment with new paints and different canvases in order to be challenged artistically. I am currently working on an original musical, a dance and multimedia project and a new play.
The Kent Ridge Common wishes to thank Glen for his consent to our interview. We will be attending the Gala Premiere of The Blue Mansion on 15 October 2009 at GV Grand 6, Great World City. Remember to book your seats for the Premiere, and see you there! Information for the booking of seats is available at the AWARE website. Alternatively, you may make a trip down to a cinema near you to catch The Blue Mansion after its release.
Disclaimer: This interview was done on our own accord and at no point of time did we receive any gifts or incentives from anyone.
10 Comments on "Upfront with movie director Glen Goei on his latest movie The Blue Mansion"
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The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 7 Oct 2009 on Wed, 7th Oct 2009 11:41 am
[...] Life, the universe and everything – Ong Jiin Joo: Reflections on part-time playing music – LIANAIN FILMS: Happy World Habitat Day – Let’s Visit A Hovel In District 9 – The Kent Ridge Common: Upfront with movie director Glen Goei on his latest movie The Blue Mansion [...]
princessruby on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 3:15 am
"Asian families and societies are patriarchal and Confucianist in nature." i quoted this sentence because>>> personally i really feel its a rather overly generalized statement..=(.. no offense, but from what i observe and my own life experience, it seems like in today's world, the western families are actually more confucianist in nature without themselves realizing i. the simplest illustration i could give is facebook>>> thanks to globalisation and the nature of my job and studies, i have been blessed with friends from all ard the world and facebook has been so far the best way for us to stay connected..>>>from my observation of my friends' profiles: it's that most of my american and european friends would have their family photos uploaded regularly and they do chat w their siblings on facebook=)>>>> however, such scene is certainly an "once in a blue moon" chance when it comes to singaporeans and people in china.
princessruby on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 3:15 am
moreover, maybe due to the fact that i come from a dysfunctional family, none of my mom's friends are "divorce-free"… ( ** im talking about people living in china here..)
in additioh, thanks to the implementation of National Service in Singapore, our countrymen has been pretty well-equipped with basic skills such as cooking, cleaning and others which would usually be needed for an independent living.. however, most of my female friends dont even know how to turn on a stove…and they are contented that they know how to make instant noodles…
lastly, as a foreigner-turned-local here, i have been invited to many local friends' house for christmas and new year celebration ..and i have to say the chances of the husband doing the cooking is quite a common scene…
Glen Goei.. pls dont hate me!!!! ><
princessruby on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 3:51 am
"The film explores themes which revolve around the family, something which is universal and not limited only to Asia" >>>> it would be nice if Glen Goei could give us a clearer explaination of what's his notion/ definition of ' family" >>> only then i could decide whether it is universal…=/////
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 41 on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 10:51 am
[...] FILMS: Happy World Habitat Day – Let’s Visit A Hovel In District 9 – The Kent Ridge Common: Upfront with movie director Glen Goei on his latest movie The Blue Mansion – Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: What’s wrong with Investment Linked Policies? – LIANAIN FILMS: [...]
Rach on Sun, 18th Oct 2009 5:17 pm
If you take a look closer, this film is written based on a particular family in Singapore. One that holds too much power, one that rules the children's lives with an iron hand/ will and certainly one that consists of the musically artistic son having a second wife as the first wife died some time after having a son who is considered to be of 'defective' gene.
Kelvin_Teo on Sun, 18th Oct 2009 5:31 pm
Wow! Rach, you were there at the Gala premiere. The thing is that our friend here things that the entire film is about gays and more gays.
Sincerely yours
Rach on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 3:05 pm
Nay I wasn't at the Gala premiere, too expensive for me to attend. I caught the sneak preview at Golden Village… hahaa actually if one watches the film, some things are just too obvious. The gay part wasn't even the main thing in the story.
Kelvin_Teo on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 4:16 pm
Yeah I agree, apparently one commentator thought it was. I guess the very mention of gay just triggers a strong reaction. Guess people may be more sensitive to certain things.
Sincerely yours
Of Asian values and patriachism: A review of The Blue Mansion by Glen Goei | the kent ridge common on Wed, 16th Dec 2009 10:14 pm
[...] mentioned in our previous interview about the patriarchal and Confucianist nature of our Asian culture that was a recurring theme in [...]