Singapore's The Projector owes over $1.2m to creditors
Creditors include over 2,000 moviegoers who held memberships with The Projector that have yet to expire.
SINGAPORE - Ahead of a meeting with creditors set for Aug 29, the firm behind Singapore indie cinema The Projector has revealed that it owes creditors more than $1.2 million.
In an e-mail sent out to creditors on Aug 19 and seen by The Straits Times, Pocket Cinema listed 33 different creditors comprising individuals and organisations.
The highest amount - $382,888.03 - is owed to Overseas Movie (Private), while others named in the list include the firm's director Karen Tan, as well as other shareholders, including one of The Projector's founders Blaise Camille Trigg-Smith.
Ms Tan is owed more than $120,000, while Ms Trigg-Smith is owed slightly above $100,000.
Other creditors include those who held memberships with The Projector that have yet to expire.
These comprise 2,295 people who are owed a total of more than $89,000.
The majority of them , or 1,566, held memberships with The Projector Fan Club.
Although membership information on the indie cinema's website has been replaced with a notice of suspension as of Aug 20, a version dated July 9 on the Internet Archive showed that it costs $85 to hold a membership through this tier.
All members are entitled to four free tickets, $2 off standard ticket prices, 10 per cent off the total bill at the Intermission bar at Golden Mile Tower and No Spoilers Bar at Cineleisure, special giveaways and prizes, as well as invites to exclusive members-only events & screenings.
Other membership tiers consist of The Projector Student Club, for those with valid student identification, and The Projector Senior Club, for those above the age of 55.
To one 24-year-old patron of The Projector, the $7 he is owed in membership fees is but a petty sum.
The patron, who declined to give his name, said: 'I'm not really bothered about them owing money to me since it is a relatively small amount but more so about losing a space where I can find curated films through their various film festivals and events.'
' It was also a space for many smaller organisations to host events and share stories.'
The cinephile added that he, alongside other friends who are regulars, have decided not to claim their refunds to help the now-shuttered indie cinema with their finances.
Meanwhile, those with unused tickets were also included in the list of creditors, with a total of $14,302 owed to them.
A 28-year-old moviegoer who had bought two tickets to the Aug 20 screening of Punch Drunk Love, a 2002 romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler, told ST that he too was on the list of creditors.
He said: 'Fortunately for me, the refundable amount of $23 was relatively low. I'm just surprised at the speed at which operations were shut down.'
One individual has 16 unused tickets - the most compared with others on the list.
The meeting for creditors is set for 2.30pm on Aug 29 via video conference, according to the email.
The Projector's sudden closure on Aug 19 after over a decade of operations took many by surprise, with its screenings and events scheduled after the date cancelled.
It cited rising operational costs, shifting audience habits, and the global decline in cinema attendance as reasons for its closure.
Separately, a listing on CommercialGuru showed that The Projector's 10,000 sq ft space at Golden Mile Tower wa s listed for rent at $33,000 a month from July 28. It has since been removed as at 11am on Aug 20.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
9 hours ago
- Business Times
The Projector's closure: why government aid is not the answer
[SINGAPORE] The Projector's abrupt closure has shaken the arts scene, even prompting calls for a government bail-out. Yet such support would arguably dilute the cinema's raison d'etre – and may not be justified, given market trends. The indie cinema, a mainstay of the local arts scene for over a decade, announced on Tuesday (Aug 19) that it would wind up due to rising operational costs and falling attendance. The decision came just weeks after it had said it would 'return to (its) roots' at Golden Mile Tower, following the closure of its Cineleisure branch. A petition has been started to urge the government to 'rescue' the cinema. Its core argument is that The Projector is a cultural infrastructure asset worth saving. Indeed, few spaces in Singapore provide a platform for both local and global indie films, or offer a safe venue for eclectic events ranging from spoken word poetry to human rights panels. The Projector's Golden Mile Tower space has become a hive for creative subcultures and marginalised voices. Its closure leaves a void in Singapore's cultural fabric. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The instinct to save The Projector is thus understandable. But it is arguably still a business rather than an arts institution, and should have to live or die by market forces. A decade of cultural significance Founded in 2014, The Projector took over part of the disused Golden Theatre in Golden Mile Tower and transformed it into a retro-style independent cinema. From its inception, it stood out by screening arthouse films that mainstream multiplexes avoided. Its premises also doubled as an arts venue, hosting book launches, talks, and activist events. Yet, despite weathering the Covid-19 pandemic and the potential en bloc sale of Golden Mile Tower, the cinema has been unable to escape the logic of the market. The Projector owes creditors S$1.2 million , including nearly S$90,000 to about 2,300 of its members. In a statement on social media, The Projector said that the realities of the cinema industry have been 'increasingly unforgiving'. 'Rising operational costs, shifting audience habits and the global decline in cinema attendance have made sustaining an independent model in Singapore especially challenging.' The Projector's struggles reflect broader industry challenges. Across the world, cinema attendance is declining as audiences turn to cheaper and more accessible streaming services. Closer to home, even established mainstream chains have been affected. Cathay Cineplexes, which owes landlords more than S$3 million, is exploring the idea of winding up. Double-edged sword The petition's core argument is that The Projector deserves state backing as a cultural institution, similar to arts organisations that already receive funding as they serve the public good. Yet government support almost always comes with strings attached. For The Projector, which has built its identity on independent and sometimes unconventional programming, such backing would be a double-edged sword. Regulatory approvals are already required for screenings and events. But under government patronage, additional key performance indicators, compliance requirements and expectations of programming balance could easily follow. The risk is that The Projector's independence and flexibility as a cultural space would be compromised, undermining what made it unique in the first place. Not worth funding But there is a more fundamental objection: That, as a cinema business, The Projector should indeed be subject to market forces. Government support for the arts is essential because many art forms would not be viable based on market demand alone. In theatre, that support rightly extends to venues, since the performance and the space are inseparable. In contrast, the artform served by cinemas is film itself. This justifies government support for film-making – which is indeed available. However, cinema halls are not an inherent part of film as an art form in the way that theatres are for plays. And even though film buffs will swear by the cinema experience, audiences themselves are increasingly turning to streaming. In addition, The Projector itself is run as a for-profit venture. This puts it in contrast to the Asian Film Archive, for instance, which also holds screenings of non-mainstream films. Founded as a non-profit in 2005, it has since become a subsidiary of the National Library Board. A different kind of rescue Government funding would not address the underlying problem: the declining viability of cinema as a business. To its credit, The Projector found inventive ways such as post-screening discussions and an in-house bar to keep the crowds coming. But innovation can only do so much in the face of a structural decline. Subsidies and bailouts can buy time, but they cannot reverse these market realities. If The Projector is to be sustained, it should be through ground-up efforts. That might mean support not from the government, but from philanthropists, foundations, or arts patrons who recognise the worth of keeping such a space alive. It might also mean the community putting its money where its heart is – through memberships, donations, or simply showing up more often to buy tickets and drinks. The Projector does not need a bailout. It needs our business.
New Paper
9 hours ago
- New Paper
Singapore indie cinema The Projector in debt to the tune of $1.2m
Ahead of a meeting with creditors set for Aug 29, the firm behind Singapore indie cinema The Projector has revealed that it owes them more than $1.2 million. In an e-mail sent out to creditors on Aug 19 and seen by The Straits Times, Pocket Cinema listed 33 different creditors comprising individuals and organisations. The highest amount - $382,888.03 - is owed to Overseas Movie (Private), while others named in the list include the firm's director Karen Tan, as well as other shareholders, including one of The Projector's founders, Ms Blaise Camille Trigg-Smith. Ms Tan, also one of The Projector's founders, is owed more than $120,000, while Ms Trigg-Smith is owed slightly above $100,000. ST has contacted Ms Tan for more information. Other creditors include those who held memberships with The Projector that have yet to expire. These comprise 2,295 people who are owed a total of more than $89,000. The majority of them, or 1,566, held memberships with The Projector Fan Club. Although membership information on the indie cinema's website has been replaced with a notice of suspension as at Aug 20, a version dated July 9 on the Internet Archive showed that it costs $85 to hold a membership through this tier. All members are entitled to four free tickets, $2 off standard ticket prices, 10 per cent off the total bill at the Intermission bar at Golden Mile Tower and No Spoilers Bar at Cineleisure, special giveaways and prizes, as well as invites to exclusive members-only events and screenings. Other membership tiers include The Projector Student Club, for those with valid student identification, and The Projector Senior Club, for those above the age of 55. Both cost $67. To one 24-year-old patron of The Projector, the $7 he is owed in membership fees is but a petty sum. The patron, who declined to give his name, said: "I'm not really bothered about them owing money to me, since it is a relatively small amount, but more so about losing a space where I can find curated films through their various film festivals and events. "It was also a space for many smaller organisations to host events and share stories." The cinephile added that he, alongside other friends who are regulars, have decided not to claim their refunds to help the now-shuttered indie cinema with their finances. Meanwhile, those with unused tickets were also included in the list of creditors, with a total of $14,302 owed to them. A 28-year-old moviegoer who had bought two tickets to the Aug 20 screening of Punch Drunk Love, a 2002 romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler, told ST that he too was on the list of creditors. He said: "Fortunately for me, the refundable amount of $23 was relatively low. I'm just surprised at the speed at which operations were shut down." One person has 16 unused tickets - the most, compared with others on the list. The meeting for creditors is set for 2.30pm on Aug 29 via video conference, according to the e-mail. The Projector's sudden closure on Aug 19 after more than a decade of operations took many by surprise, with its screenings and events scheduled after the date cancelled. It cited rising operational costs, shifting audience habits and the global decline in cinema attendance as reasons for its closure. Ms Diane Chan, the management consultant of KillerMud Films, said The Projector's announcement had taken the company by surprise. The boutique film distribution company, which focuses on Asian, genre and independent films, is owed more than $1,800, according to the list of creditors. Ms Chan said: "The Projector has built up such a loyal audience for art-house and alternative content over the years. We sincerely hope that they can reinvent themselves and surface again. "We need an independent exhibitor like The Projector for our local cinema industry and arts scene to progress." Incorporated on Sept 16, 2014, Pocket Cinema's records with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) showed that it started out as a loss-making venture. In the financial year ending on Dec 31, 2014, it reported a loss of slightly more than $45,000 after taxes. The company's fortunes turned in the financial year ending on Dec 31, 2016, when it made a profit of almost $166,000 after taxes, with its revenue reported to be about $1.16 million. But its profits shrank the following year by more than 2½ times to $64,122 after taxes, despite a revenue of about $1.3 million. Based on Acra records, the latest financial statement was filed in December 2017. Separately, a listing on CommercialGuru showed that The Projector's 10,000 sq ft space at Golden Mile Tower was listed for rent at $33,000 a month from July 28. While the listing was removed as at 11am on Aug 20, it was put up again about four hours later.
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of indie cinema The Projector
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox On Aug 19, The Projector announced it had ceased operations immediately, with all future screenings and events cancelled. SINGAPORE - Local film-makers have likened the closure of local indie cinema The Projector to the death of a close friend, given its importance in the cultural landscape. For over a decade, The Projector was a haven for alternative cinema, a space where film-makers could test new ideas, and a hub for cinephiles to connect, these film-makers said. On Aug 19, The Projector announced it had ceased operations immediately , with all future screenings and events cancelled. Award-winning filmmaker Boo Junfeng described the closure as a 'huge loss' not only for Singapore's film scene but for its cultural vitality. Boo, whose film Apprentice (2016) won the Netpac award at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards , said: 'The Projector was a space that dared to be different... it was something Singapore sorely needed.' He added that the cinema had an emphasis on showcasing films beyond the blockbuster movies that typically fill other theatres. Its closure leaves a significant gap among cinema-goers in the range of movies available here, with audiences able to access such a broad range of films only during the annual Singapore International Film Festival, Boo added. He said: 'These are not always titles suitable for watching on streaming platforms. They require the big screen and the commitment from the viewer to set aside their schedules and distractions to watch and enjoy.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Singapore Judge finds SBS Transit '100% responsible' in lawsuit filed by woman trapped in train doors Singapore COE premiums up in all categories except motorcycles; Cat A price climbs 2.5% to $104,524 Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch Singapore MyRepublic's policy of not imposing download speed limits to stay after takeover: Starhub Singapore Emergency broadcast system to alert S'pore public to disasters via their mobile phones: Edwin Tong Life S'pore bands mark milestones with gigs: Silver Strings at 60, Mel & Joe at 55 and Lovehunters at 40 Singapore Singapore indie cinema The Projector owes over $1.2m to creditors Director Anthony Chen said he was set to screen his upcoming film We Are All Strangers at The Projector in 2026 before the news broke about the closure. Director Anthony Chen held a screening of Ilo Ilo (2013) followed by a question-and-answer session at The Projector in 2019. SCREENSHOT: INSTAGRAM The Ilo Ilo (2013) director said he would always get 'the most thoughtful responses and exchanges' from screenings and question-and-answer sessions there, and he would leave these events 'feeling inspired and energised'. 'I don't know how we can rebuild and recreate such a space again from scratch... What we have lost is a piece of the city's cultural soul.' A gathering of minds and a place to experiment The Projector was also an incubator for emerging talent, said film-maker He Shuming, whose debut feature film Ajoomma (2022) received four nominations at the 59th Golden Horse Awards in 2022. Film-maker He Shuming held a screening for Ajoomma and question-and-answer session at The Projector's former premises at The Cathay in 2022. PHOTO: HE SHUMING 'It was a space for young emerging filmmakers to screen their works to their first audiences, it was beyond a space for alternative films but also one where dialogues can exist with entertainment,' said He, who held a screening for Ajoomma and question-and-answer session at The Projector's former premises at The Cathay in 2022. The space was also where film cast, crew and fans could mingle, said film-maker Kelvin Tong who is best known for his acclaimed local horror film The Maid (2005) and box-office hit It's A Great Great World (2011). One of his favourite memories was screening a restored digital print of his debut film Eating Air (1999) in 2022, followed by a celebratory party just outside the theatre. 'At an inflection point when so much human activity has migrated online, losing a physical landmark like The Projector, which was akin to a temple to cinema, is simply heartbreaking. It is a loss that is irreplaceable and I really wish something could have been done to preserve its existence,' he said. Eric Khoo, the director behind acclaimed films such as Mee Pok Man (1995), 12 Storeys (1997), and Be With Me (2005), said the Projector helped to expose younger viewers to his movies. 'It's been a wonderful platform for cinephiles and engaging a younger audience to all types of cinema,' he said. '(The Projector) did Mee Pok Man's 20th anniversary (in 2016), and it was wonderful as we had a restored version by Asian Film Archive. 'It captured a wide and young audience who had never seen the film before.' Beyond film, The Projector also hosted book launches, poetry readings, and other arts events. Poet Pooja Nansi shared on Instagram that it had been a vital space for artistic experimentation. She wrote: 'The Projector has been a haven and a safe harbour for so many of us in a city where licences, laws, rules and regulations can scare you away from just trying to be yourself.'
