The Day I Met a Real-Life Unicorn (a.k.a. an Indie Filmmaker in Singapore)

So guess what happened at my local writers' Zoom group meeting recently? We actually managed to snag an indie filmmaker to come talk to us! Her name is Jasmine Teh, and let me tell you, she's kind of a big deal. (You can check her out at jasmineteh.com/about if you're curious.)

She was wonderfully candid and shared all sorts of juicy tidbits about her artistic journey—starting out as an events photographer and somehow ending up as a much sought-after documentary producer. She's independent now, but she's worked with all sorts of employers and corporate bodies along the way. You know, paying the bills while chasing the dream. We've all been there, right?

What Makes Jasmine Tick

Over the years, Jasmine has tried to make films that showcase our shared humanity and shine a light on everyday heroes. She genuinely believes storytelling is a powerful way to cultivate empathy. Along the way, she's filmed local comedies, serials, and commercials—you know, the stuff that actually pays the rent. She even crowdfunded a fictional film series about a character who writes dating profiles for seven types of men. (I'd watch that, wouldn't you?)

Here's something that really resonated with me: Jasmine was once a self-proclaimed feminist who interviewed three nearly forgotten female ex-Olympians in their elder years. The project wasn't originally funded by the Olympic Committee—it was later sponsored by a non-profit called Honor Singapore. But here's the kicker: because her creative partner believed so deeply in the project, they self-funded it initially.

This has huge implications for those of us doing creative work. Money may or may not come in. It might only arrive after a certain level of recognition. But what sustains us? Passion. That's it. That's the secret sauce.

The Films She Makes

These days, Jasmine's films are a result of what she calls "a confluence of opportunity, interest, and resources." Fancy way of saying the stars sometimes align, I guess.

She's made tons of commissioned films covering heritage (like the story of the evicted neighbourhood of Tanglin Halt), family, Singapore history, mental health, and the environment. One of the heroes she interviewed—she calls them "talents," which I love—is a guy called Kalla (not his real name). He's an unsung hero who rescues animals—birds, reptiles, mammals—and feeds them when ACRES Wildlife Center can't cope. He treats every animal as equal, regardless of appearance or whether their species is threatened with extinction. Just genuinely relentless in his mission.

And get this: they had only eight hours to film with him. A snake showed up, and how it was handled was entirely unscripted. Now that's documentary filmmaking!

How I Discovered Jasmine

Funny story—I actually discovered Jasmine's work through a film she made about a junior doctor, X, who happens to be one of my mentees. X was bullied in school as a kid and came from a poor family. She overcame these odds and decided to give back—delivering breakfast to the infirmed, helping clean up hoarded flats. She later got into medical research and was admitted to the local medical school.

Jasmine is a master storyteller. The way she introduces her main character on film feels so spontaneous and authentic. She evokes empathy, shows the challenges and hardship the character faces, and reveals how they act in the face of those obstacles. There's also something unsaid at the end of each film—the audience can imagine how the story continues. It's that same emotional resonance we fiction writers try to leave our readers with.

She said she talks in depth with her talents so she understands what makes them tick. Sometimes she has a long list of potential talents to choose from. And get this—there was a time she pitched three stories to Honor Singapore, and they decided to fund all three! Can you imagine?

The C-Word: Censorship

Jasmine also discussed censorship. There are many issues censored in Singapore media because of their divisive tendencies—sexuality (LGBT), religion, ethnicity, etc. The spiritual support of people is critical in their journeys, but some funding agencies are so sensitive that films can't be partial to any specific religion—no showing people praying or going to church. Her films, of course, don't feature negative remarks about certain faiths. Some more controversial films may need to be self-funded.

She's appeared at gatherings like the PinkDot LGBT movement but decided she can't fight every battle. It's not the right fit for her. I respect that—knowing which battles to fight is its own kind of wisdom.

Why This Matters

In short, filmmakers are rare, almost mythical beings in Singapore. This session really brought to life for me how someone can be successful in the Arts here, and showed how a real filmmaker actually works. It's not glamorous. It's not always funded. But it's real, and it matters.

So now I want to hear from you:

• What inspires you in your daily life?
• Do you know of uplifting stories about ordinary people?
• And if you live in Singapore, would you encourage your children to pursue filming as a career?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!

P.S. If you're ever feeling discouraged about your creative work, remember Jasmine's story. Passion sustains us when the money doesn't. Keep creating, friends.