Today I went to a movie premiere 'kidnapped' with my parents. My dad was the director of photography of that particular movie, so he kinda got us some free tickets to watch the movie premiere at vivo city along with the actors and crew. Among the standard of all locally produced films, this is considered one of the best I've watched I must admit.
The tricky story plot of kidnap isn't easy as it usually turns out dull and boring. The most important part of a kidnap is facial expression and I thought most of them, especially chris lee, did well. The focal points of various scenes were correct and appropriate. The addition of what I call 'arty (not artillery lol) scenes' weren't over dosed. Generally the plot feels like there were alot of chilli spices, but they come in little doses across the entire film so as to not let the audience get an over dose of chilli powder thus pushing it too far.
There were bad points too, alot of people mentioned the last part being too rushed, too eager to finish off the movie. I didn't like the expression of some smaller characters, I didn't like the singapore flyer part at all as it was lame, like totally. I didn't understand the kidnapper at all, whether is he money minded, or is he sadistic, or is he just confused. The kids were somewhat a grey area, they lack the acting skills, but they still give out singaporean flavour. Then again, I was thinking if singaporean flavour is more important than acting skills, to me making a movie = actors must be chosen for acting skills and the ability for the actors to give off post movie effects, with that criteria, I wouldn't have chosen that kid. Maybe its the budget.
But all these was what went through my mind during the movie. What was overwhelming was what went through my mind after it. Before the movie the director (i.e. the main top guy) thanked my dad personally infront of the entire cinema. Reminds me of Oscar Awards lol. This left quite a weird taste after the movie especially with all the "hey! congrats its a good movie!" or "hey not bad good job!" with all the actors and bla. The feeling of living in someone else's shadow.
Everyone will come by and congrat my dad for being such a talented man and will then ask if my mum is his wife and whether I'm his son and people just conveniently assume the naturally inherited talent in me just because my dad is good. I remember telling myself the reason why I stick with photography is because I didn't want to be with my father, doing the same thing, and always being compared to in the working world, especially in singapore. Yet photography still gives me a that little bit of art like videography. I just can't imagine my life, continuously being compared to. Like how darren ferguson will never be as great as his dad alex, kasper schmeichel will never be as outstanding as peter schmeichel. Both of them chose to be coach and goal keepers, both aren't doing well and both are constantly being compared not to someone irrelevant, but someone as close as their dads.
Maybe both kasper and darren went through what I went through today, probably x1million in magnitude and importance. But I really don't want to fill that big shoes which my dad will be leaving behind. I really, really dislike living in someone's shadow.
