The Projector exiting Cineleisure this month, Golden Village to take over operations on Aug 4
The two companies previously entered a joint collaboration in December 2023 which saw them partnering at Cineleisure for fan events, gala premieres and interactive film screenings.
With The Projector's exit, Golden Village will now fully manage operations at Cineleisure.
The Projector's final screenings at Cineleisure will be on Aug 3, with Golden Village fully taking over on Aug 4.
To celebrate the reopening and upcoming National Day weekend, Golden Village will roll out a series of special promotions from Aug 7 to 20, including movie tickets priced at S$6, as well as free drinks.
In a statement, Karen Tan, the founder of The Projector said: 'We opened The Projector with a dream and a handful of indie films, and over the years, our audiences have made it into something far greater than we ever imagined.
'Now, with the en bloc no longer moving forward, we have the chance to return home. This isn't just a move, it's a return to our roots, a rewilding of sorts.'
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CNA
41 minutes ago
- CNA
Not at NDP 2025? Where to catch fireworks and join in the SG60 fun beyond the Padang
Didn't manage to snag a ticket to the National Day Parade on Aug 9? Fret not, the celebrations don't stop at the Padang. Whether you're looking for a place to watch the fireworks and aerial displays with your loved ones or simply want to get into the Singapore spirit, here's your guide on where else to go and what else to do to celebrate Singapore's 60th birthday this weekend and before that. SG60 EVENTS TO CHECK OUT 1. ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM'S SINGAPOP! Hailing from Cultural Medallion recipient and national icon Dick Lee's creative mind in his first foray into exhibition-making, ArtScience Museum's Singapop! 60 Years of Singapore Pop Culture is an ongoing multimedia exhibition that runs until Dec 28. The exhibition explores key moments in Singapore's pop cultural transformation, from its unique Singlish language and hawker culture to local music, film, fashion and even annual National Day celebrations. Highlights include Rojakland, the heart of the exhibition, which illuminates the elements shaping 60 years of Singaporean pop culture; SingaStyle which features pageant wear from 2013 to 2022 by local designers Frederick Lee and Moe Kasim; as well as Screening Room which spotlights iconic local films and dramas like Under One Roof (1995), Mee Pok Man (1995) and Phua Chu Kang (1997). Tickets to SingaPop! are available now. Sands LifeStyle members can enjoy exclusive perks and discounts when purchasing tickets on the ArtScience Museum website or all Marina Bay Sands box offices, while non-Sands LifeStyle Members can buy their tickets via the Klook platform. 2. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE'S SG60 CELEBRATIONS Celebrate SG60 at the National Museum from now to Aug 9, with a series of SG60 exhibitions and activities, including Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage Brick by Brick which features a large-scale Lego diorama of iconic Singaporean elements. At the exhibition, visitors can contribute to a record-breaking Lego mural, aimed at setting a new Singapore Book of Records title for the largest Lego mural ever made. Admission to the Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick showcase is free. Visitors can also colour and share their hopes for Singapore's future through Digital River Stories, a mobile digital art experience that brings their drawings to life on a vibrant interactive wall. During this period, the Canvas of Light: Our Nation's Journey will be making its return, where the museum's facade will be illuminated by a stunning light art projection. On Aug 9, visitors can enjoy free museum admission to a full day of programmes and activities spanning four levels of the museum from exciting heritage hunts, thematic crafting activities and more. From 5.30pm, visitors can gather on the Front Lawn, sit back, relax and enjoy the live NDP screening and a picnic under the stars. Visit the National Museum's Facebook and Instagram pages for more information. 3. HERITAGESG'S BRAS ACTIVITIES The Singapore Night Festival only kicks off on Aug 22 but ahead of the popular annual event, there are some National Day Activations in Bras These will cast a spotlight on Sungei Beras Bassa – the river that once flowed in the area (and gave the area its name, which means 'wet rice' in Malay). These light activations will be seen at: The National Museum of Singapore, Reflection Pool @ Bras Basah MRT Station; Fortune Centre's digital billboard; Stamford Walkway; St Joseph's Church; Ten Square's digital billboard and The Cathay. They'll be from 7.30pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, all the way till Sep 6. 4. JEWEL FOOD TRAIL It's true when they say food is Singapore's national pastime — so what better way to celebrate the nation's birthday than with a homegrown food hunt at Jewel Changi Airport. Until Oct 26, foodies can embark on the self-guided, immersive Jewel Food Trail to travel through 60 years of Singapore's food heritage by solving eight playful puzzles and following a trail of scattered clues via WhatsApp, all while exploring food-themed stops and surprise redemptions at selected F&B outlets across the iconic lifestyle destination. Whether you're flying solo or rallying a team of hungry explorers, the trail promises plenty of tasty treats from nostalgic flavours to fresh takes. The trail will typically take about one and a half to two hours to complete and will start at Gift by Changi Airport. WHERE TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS 1. NOVA BAR From 6pm to 11pm on National Day, guests can soak in the festivities from Nova at the free-standing or lower deck seating with a general entry pass at S$60 and S$35 per person (includes two drinks) before and after 9pm, respectively. Guests can also purchase the basic package, which includes a spot at the prime upper deck tall table seating with dedicated table service and two complimentary drinks for S$120 per person (minimum two pax). Address: 1 Raffles Pl, L63, Singapore 048616 2. LEVEL33 Another coveted spot is the microbrewery and restaurant LeVeL33 at Marina Bay Sands. Guests can enjoy panoramic views over Marina Bay while enjoying a culinary feast as the restaurant joins forces with chef Janice Wong to present two limited-edition experiences. These include the one-night-only SG60 National Day Cacao Experience on Aug 9, priced at S$328++ per person. Designed as a free-roaming, immersive tasting journey, highlights include a chocolate aged wagyu beef, chocolate and stout char siu served in steamed buns with pickled cucumber salad, chocolate bon bons in cili padi and cendol flavours, and more. Missed the big night? Celebrations also continue from Aug 11 to 31. Address: 8 Marina Blvd, #33-01 Tower 1, Singapore 018981 3. SKYPARK OBSERVATION DECK Another obvious alternative would be the MBS' SkyPark Observation Deck from 5pm to 9pm on Aug 9. Perched on a sweeping vantage point, visitors can also enjoy a bird's eye view of the aerial display and light projections across the city skyline while sipping on refreshing National Day frozen cocktails by Origin + Bloom. General admission tickets are available at S$96. Adjusted ticket rates for entry to SkyPark Observation Deck will also apply from 5pm to 8pm on Jul 26 and Aug 2. 4. KINKI RESTAURANT AND BAR For front-row, on the ground views of the celebrations, grab a table at this spot at Customs House. Diners can take in stunning views overlooking the water and Marina Bay skyline while enjoying an exclusive three-course dinner (S$98++ per person) at 6pm and 8pm, or a two-hour free-flow food and drinks package (S$98++ per person) from 6pm onwards at their rooftop bar featuring reimagined local flavours. After 8pm, diners can also add on an hour of free-flow drinks for just S$24++ including their NDP special +65 cocktail. Address: #02-02 Collyer Quay, Customs House, Singapore 049323 5. SOFRA TURKISH CAFE AND RESTAURANT For a relaxed, family-friendly spot to soak in the festivities, Sofra Turkish Cafe & Restaurant at Marina Square also offers scenic views. Diners can celebrate with a feast of authentic Turkish flavours through two exclusive SG60 sharing bundles available from Aug 1 to 10: The NDP 60 Bundle for 2 (S$88++) which includes lentil soup, whipped feta, a special chef plate, dessert and tea; and the SG60 Bundle for 4 (S$188++) which features a generous spread with a salad platter, kebab platter, kunefe and more. Address: 6 Raffles Blvd, #03-129A Marina Square, Singapore 039594 6. ONE FULLERTON A safe bet to catch the SG60 night skies – park yourself at an eatery along One Fullerton. Take your pick from family-friendly favourites like PS Cafe, Overeasy, Jypsy and Mos Burger, or unwind with a drink at Brewerkz or Starbucks. Whether you're after burgers, Japanese food or a cold pint, the waterfront views and fireworks overhead seal the deal. 7. FUNAN MALL ROOFTOP GARDEN Tucked just minutes from The Padang, Funan's Rooftop Garden offers a surprisingly stellar vantage point for the SG60 fireworks for free, minus the heavy crowds. The spot features open green space, seating areas and skyline views perfect for families, couples, or anyone looking for a more laid-back way to catch the action. Pack a picnic or grab takeaway from one of the mall's many eateries below, then head up for an unblocked view of the night sky lighting up. To get there, take lift FL2 via Level 1, Lift Lobby B. 8. ESPLANADE ROOF TERRACE For another picturesque, unobstructed view of the Marina Bay, make your way up to Esplanade's roof terrace. Landscaped with manicured lawns, shrubs and shady trees, this serene green space provides the perfect vantage point for the night's celebrations. 9. THE LAWN AT MARINA BAY If you're up for a more casual, open-air experience, The Lawn at Marina Bay is a prime spot to lay out a mat, kick back and enjoy the SG60 fireworks in full view of the Bayfront skyline. Located just steps from Marina Bay Financial Centre, this spacious green patch offers a clear line of sight to the night's aerial spectacle. Bring your own snacks, arrive early and you've got yourself a no-frills, crowd-favourite fireworks night. HEARTLAND CELEBRATIONS Can't make it to the city on Aug 9? Celebrate in the heartlands on Aug 10 instead. Head to FutsalArena @ Yishun, One Punggol, Junction 8 (Bishan), Bukit Gombak ActiveSG Stadium or Wisma Geylang Serai for a festive evening filled with aerial flypasts, live performances, exhibits, community activities, fireworks and even a drone show. These sites will be buzzing with activity from 4pm to 9pm, making it the perfect way to wrap up the National Day weekend with family and friends. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CNA (@channelnewsasia)
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Meet the proud 'yo-yo boy' whose childhood hobby is taking him to Europe to represent Singapore
To his classmates at university, Xavier Ng seems like any other first-year student, juggling a business degree with freelance marketing gigs on the side. But when the school holidays came around in May 2025 and other students went on vacation, the 22-year-old headed to Australia and spent eight weeks holed up in a house with his childhood companion: The yo-yo. "We would start at 10am in the morning and end at 6pm or 7pm at night. We just stay in this cold training room, practising and eating lunch in the same spot every day,' said Ng. As Singapore's four-time national yo-yo champion, he trained alongside two other national champions from Down Under. They are all sponsored by Australian company Offset Yoyo to compete at the World Yo-yo Contest, which will be held in Prague from Aug 7 to 10. 'My goal is to win the 2025 World Yo-yo Contest, and bring pride to Singapore through a sport that has never been in the spotlight here.' NOT JUST FUN AND GAMES It all began with a yo-yo he saw on TV. At 12 years old, Ng was living in Shanghai when he became hooked on a Chinese anime series called Blazing Teens. His first yo-yo came from the show's merchandise, and would keep him occupied for hours each day. 'It's just fun because there's an endless number of things you can do with it. When you do a trick and your friends are impressed, you feel cool. When you learn a new one, you feel a sense of achievement.' What began as play soon grew into a full-fledged hobby. Encouraged by his teachers, Ng joined a school talent show in Shanghai and clinched a cash prize of S$200 – money he spent on more advanced yo-yos that would allow him to perform more complex tricks. As Ng entered his teenage years, however, he began to feel conflicted about the nickname 'yo-yo boy'. 'It sort of gave me an edge in terms of 'status' in school, but it was also a bit embarrassing because it's a toy. And sometimes, as a kid, you want to feel mature" Everything changed when Ng returned to Singapore at 17 and discovered the local yo-yo community. After years of practising alone with YouTube tutorials in his bedroom, he suddenly found himself spending weekends at the now-defunct Spinworkx store in 313@Somerset, swapping tricks and techniques with other like-minded players. In 2017, he finally felt confident enough to enter his first contest: The Asia Pacific Yo-yo Championships held in Singapore. He finished near the bottom, but the experience lit a fire in him. By 2019, that spark led him to defeat a former world champion and clinch his very first national title. 'It felt really exhilarating and I was just very proud, because they are people that I've looked up to.' FROM CHILDHOOD BEDROOM TO WORLD STAGE With the World Championships on the horizon, Ng is pushing himself harder than ever to bring his yo-yo game to the global stage. Preparation starts with stringing tricks together. Most players borrow moves from a "trick library" and put their own spin on them, but at the professional level, they begin creating original tricks like Ng's signature X-recapture and Excalibur. Next comes choreography: Matching tricks to music and fine-tuning the track itself so that every spin, whip and bind lands right on the beat. 'I like to use Dubstep and trap music, basically remixes of electronic songs. Because there are many beats I can match my moves to for an impactful performance.' And then there's the most intense phase: Practise. For three straight months before the world championships, Ng trains every day. "It's not that fun," he admits, since he's not working on anything new – just the same moves on repeat – but he knows that's the only way to nail it on competition day. To most people, yo-yoing hardly looks like a sport. In Ng's hands, it even looks easy. But stamina plays a huge role, especially for a player known for his body tricks. 'Once you hit a certain level and you're doing tricks all around your body, you're turning left, right and centre doing 180s and 360s. You sweat a lot, you start to ache, and you might even start to cramp a bit.' Sleep and diet matter, too. A good night's rest is critical to focus, and a little melatonin goes a long way when sleep is elusive. On competition day, Ng eats just enough to avoid gastric pains, but never so much that he risks a food coma. This month, Ng will be competing in the 1A division, the most common but most competitive of them all. 'It's like freestyle swimming: Everyone can do it, but it's really hard to be good at it.' Participants are judged on how complex their routine is, how well they control the yo-yo, and how cleanly they perform their moves. And while everything may go smoothly during practise, nerves on competition day can easily throw things off. 'If you don't control your anxiety, you will encounter mistakes and start to spiral. To recover from that, you rush and end up making even more mistakes.' But this isn't Ng's first rodeo, and he has learned how to keep his nerves in check. In the hours before his turn, Ng avoids watching other performances and stays outside the venue. When he takes the stage, he closes his eyes, takes a long, deep breath, and tells himself: 'You've done this so many times. Let's do it again.' During showtime, the words of wisdom from a former national champion ring in his head: 'When you're doing a routine, tell yourself to go slow in your head. You'll physically slow down as well, which is important because we tend to rush on stage from all the adrenaline.' THE END OF AN ERA The upcoming competition may well be one of his last. While Ng plans to continue helping out at yo-yo events, he expects to step away from playing competitively once he enters the workforce. 'Like every generation of competitive sport, it's hard to catch up to new players. And all these kids will have so much free time compared to me when I enter the workforce.' Looking back, he's grateful for the way yo-yoing has shaped his formative years and believes it has kept him away from the troubles of teenhood. 'Friends have asked if I want to try vaping or smoking, but no, I'm good. I don't need to fit in by doing those things. I just need my yo-yo.' Today, he uses his own experience to reassure parents whose children want to take up yo-yo lessons with him, calling it a hobby that gets kids off their screens and helps them socialise in real life. Some of the friends Ng met through the yo-yo community remain among his closest to this day. From friendships to hand-eye coordination and discipline, yoyo-ing has given Ng many things over the past decade. But its greatest gift has been the conviction to do what he loves, even when it isn't popular. 'It may be perceived as 'childish', but it's something I'm proud of. It's a skill I've worked very hard for. So if people call me yo-yo boy, I'll be like, yeah that's me.'
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Commentary: Have brands taken Coldplay kiss cam memes too far?
SINGAPORE: When a kiss cam clip at a Coldplay concert showed two tech executives in a seemingly compromising moment, it quickly amassed millions of views on TikTok and triggered a meme frenzy online. Brands and organisations were quick to jump in. IKEA Singapore posted cuddly toys with an 'HR approved' caption, while the Ministry of Defence referenced the incident in its National Day promotions. But what some might see as savvy and real-time marketing also had its detractors. Was this clever cultural commentary, or exploiting a personal crisis for clicks? View this post on Instagram A post shared by IKEA SG (@ikeasingapore) THE BUSINESS OF GOING VIRAL Memes have become a marketing tool for brands to tap into humour, relatability and shared cultural moments. It includes using established meme formats, jumping on online trends, or crafting shareable content that rides on viral moments. The appeal is undeniable. According to news reports, ads containing memes saw 30 per cent engagement rates on Facebook and Instagram, as opposed to the 1 to 15 per cent engagement rate of influencer posts or branded content. This trend reflects what media theorist Neil Postman warned about in his book, Amusing Ourselves To Death – where entertainment becomes the filter through which all events are processed. This is especially true in digital spaces where social media algorithms reward engagement above all else, turning serious or private moments into content fodder. The trend is especially pronounced among users aged 13 to 36, with 75 per cent actively sharing memes. WHEN MEME MARKETING WORKS Some brands have managed to strike the right tone. US fast food chain Wendy's 'roast' campaigns, where it playfully calls out competitors, earned strong brand recognition by staying bold yet non-exploitative. In Singapore, the 'We let our Gen Z intern write the marketing script' trend resonated widely. It charmed viewers with older executives awkwardly delivering Gen Z slang – a format that worked because it embraced self-deprecating humour, humanised institutions and playfully acknowledged generational gaps. Duolingo is another example of meme marketing done right. The language learning app has built a massive following on social media by employing self-deprecating humour, often leaning into memes about its 'threatening' owl mascot that guilt-trips users for skipping lessons. This playful and consistent persona has resonated with audiences, generating millions of interactions and growing its follower base to over 16 million users on TikTok. WHY SOME CAMPAIGNS BACKFIRE The success of meme marketing often hinges on brand alignment and the direction of humour. Campaigns that are congruous with a brand's voice and identity tend to resonate more naturally, while forced or opportunistic attempts often fall flat. For instance, Bumble's 2024 'celibacy is not the answer' ad campaign, which included messages like 'Thou shalt not give up on dating and become a nun,' was widely criticised for its judgemental tone when the dating app's mission is to empower women. Similarly, Pepsi's ad in 2017, which depicted Kendall Jenner handing a can of Pepsi to a police officer at a protest, was criticised for trivialising social justice movements. When brands force connections to trending topics that don't align with their identity, the results can be jarring. The direction of humour also plays a critical role. 'Upward' humour, aimed at competitors and 'inward' humour, which is often self-deprecating and reflective, are generally well-received. Wendy's, for instance, uses upward humour to take jabs at rivals like McDonald's, while budget airline Ryanair embraces inward humour by poking fun at its own service limitations. Duolingo's mascot-driven content also succeeds by tapping into shared language learning struggles, using relatable and self-aware humour that stays true to its brand ethos. In contrast, campaigns fail when they rely on 'downward' humour, which target vulnerable individuals. In 2014, DiGiorno's received backlash for using the hashtag #WhyIStayed to promote its frozen pizza, because the hashtag was for victims of domestic abuse to share their stories. THE HUMAN COST BEHIND THE HUMOUR Behind every meme are real people whose lives may be permanently altered. Those who experienced viral fame report lasting psychological trauma, including depression, social isolation, and loss of control over their personal narrative. When brands participate in online trends, they risk legitimising the exploitation of others' suffering. Over time, this contributes to desensitisation, where audiences become numb to the humans behind the jokes. The voyeuristic pleasure audiences derive from witnessing people's shame reflects a deeper societal dysfunction where dignity is sacrificed for entertainment. The Coldplay incident highlights the dilemma of meme marketing: immense engagement potential, weighed against ethical and reputational risks. As digital audiences become more discerning, the brands that endure may be those that choose empathy over expediency. Sometimes, the most powerful message a brand can send is silence – recognising that not every trend is worth joining, and not every moment is a marketing opportunity.
