Latest news with #HeShuming
Vogue Singapore
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Where to eat, drink and go in Singapore according to He Shuming
Filmmaker and screenwriter He Shuming made his debut in 2022 with Ajoomma , a Singapore-South Korea oddball gem that made waves from Busan to the Golden Horse Awards. He is now moving into unexpected territory: directing this year's National Day Parade music video. But don't expect flag-waving cliché—his take is understated, cinematic and a little tender. Trained at the American Film Institute Conservatory and the guest editor for this 'Home' issue, his storytelling lives in quiet gestures and deeply personal vignettes—the same lens through which he views the city we call home. For He, home is a place in one's heart that is familiar and comforting—even if it might not be perfect. When it comes to the creative scene, for instance, he hopes to see a space that is more equitable and sustainable. 'That's not just in terms of funding or access, but in how we hold space for different voices and processes,' he explains. 'I'd like to see the scene grow more introspective, to reflect honestly on where we are and who we're making for. Because only then can we build a fuller, more generous creative landscape, one where more Singaporeans see the arts not as a luxury, but as something vital to civil society.' At the end of the day, he reflects, it is the quiet individuality running through each of us that makes up our local culture. 'The way an auntie dresses to the mall, the underground ballroom scene, or someone opening a home-based pizzeria out of their HDB flat. There's a distinct point of view in all of it. We may not always call it art or culture, but I think it is,' he muses. 'I wish we celebrated that more. Because these choices, these gestures; they're all a reflection of who we are as a society: layered, subtle, and deeply personal.' Here, the filmmaker shares his favourite third spaces in Singapore—from the local restaurants he'd rather gatekeep to under-the-radar stores, bars and neighbourhoods he keeps coming back to. André Wee 1 / 6 The ultimate destination for a good night out: Keong Saik Road has everything. Go to Mami's Tamales for dinner—they make excellent tamales which is hard to find in Singapore—then Tian Wang for Chinese desserts. Continue into the evening at No Sleep Club or Salud for a nightcap (and maybe even more food). I don't drink so I always have the bartender make a mocktail for me, usually something bitter and sour. Courtesy of Summer Hill 2 / 6 The local restaurant you tend to gatekeep: Summer Hill at Claymore Connect. The restaurant is owned by a dear friend of mine, Anthony Yeoh. When he moved here from their first location at Sunset Way, a few friends helped to work on the front sign, the table tops with tiles he sourced and the beautiful copper wall tunnel at the entrance. So, in a small way, it feels like I have a piece of myself there. I always go back to the classics: the duck fat fries and the perfectly brined roast chicken. Simple, honest comfort food. @paraphrase._ 3 / 6 The third space where you feel the most you: Fortune Centre in the Civic District. It's a no-fuss place for a meal or a drink, by yourself or with friends. You can also get your fortune told or see a TCM sinseh . It's a one-stop shop for all your wellness needs. Courtesy of Hock Siong & Co. 4 / 6 A hidden gem shopping address: I love window thrift-shopping, so Hock Siong & Co is a fun place to visit for pre-loved furniture and just about anything. It reminds me of going into a movie props shop. @ 5 / 6 Best date-night spot: Somma at New Bahru. Pasta for a date, yes. Out-of-this-world pasta is a double yes, coupled with impeccable vibes and flattering lighting. Sometimes we forget how important lighting is. @apartmentcoffee 6 / 6 Your favourite coffee haunt: Apartment Coffee along Selegie Road. Lately, with this wretched heat, an iced espresso with tonic water has been my order of choice. Sometimes a Kopi-O Kosong at any Kopitiam is good too. Photography Zantz Han Illustration André Wee Outfit Hermès
Time Out
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Projector to host a month-long celebration of local cinema and filmmakers
Cinephiles are in for a treat, especially those longing for nostalgic cinematic gems that are rarely seen on the big screen today. To mark Singapore's 60th birthday, local indie cinema The Projector has launched Majulah Cinema!, a month-long tribute to homegrown films and filmmakers, running through August and September. In case you missed it, The Projector will return to its original home at Golden Mile Tower this August. But the good news doesn't stop there – the beloved cinema will be screening 10 compelling films, both created and handpicked by five acclaimed local directors: Calleen Koh, He Shuming, Kirsten Tan, K. Rajagopal and Quen Wong. For the uninitiated, Calleen Koh is a BAFTA-nominated animator and SXSW award-winner, while He Shuming, a rising talent, is known for his emotionally rich short films. Kirsten Tan took home the coveted Screenwriting Award at Sundance, while K. Rajagopal's work has been featured in the Critics' Week lineup at the Cannes Film Festival. Rounding out the list is Quen Wong, who won the Audience Choice Award at the Singapore International Film Festival. They will each screen a double bill of personal favourites and their own work. Expect a line-up of bold, thought-provoking and rarely screened titles, complete with director intros and Q&As. It's a rare chance to see both classic and contemporary cinema through the eyes of the very people shaping Singapore's film scene. Here is the screening schedule: Rajagopal: August 17: Naked (1993) by Mike Leigh (includes an introductory speech by the director) August 24: A Yellow Bird (2016) Who Wong: August 31 and September 6: He's a Woman, She's a Man (1994) by Peter Chan He Shuming: August 29 and September 5: Matinee at Three (2024) and Volver (2006) by Pedro Almodóvar (includes an introductory speech by the director on August 29) Kirsten Tan: Calleen Koh: August 10 and 23: My Wonderful Life (2024) and Perfect Blue (1997) by Satoshi Kon READ MORE
Vogue Singapore
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
He Shuming is the guest editor behind our ‘Home' issue
Heartland Living was the name of my first blog. The header image I chose was a photo of an HDB block painted with a rainbow. The blog became a space where I documented my musings through photos, writing, lyrics, film stills—anything that spoke to me as a 20-year-old film student from the Singapore heartlands, aching to see what lay beyond the rainbow. He Shuming The invitation to be the guest editor for Vogue Singapore's 'Home' issue was certainly a cherished one. It offered me the chance to observe and document the editorial process up close, and watch a team of creatives pull together a cohesive narrative from many distinct voices. It was also an opportunity to collaborate with my friend, the photographer Khoo Guo Jie, as we embarked on a photographic journey across the island, asking ourselves the proverbial question: is Singapore a cinematic city? He Shuming What we do know is that there is depth and history in our cinematic landscape. You see it in the monochromatic romance and humour of pre-independence films by P Ramlee, like Ibu Mertua Ku , Antara Dua Darjat and the timeless Bujang Lapok series; or in Sandi Tan's Shirkers , where a teenage road movie lost to time becomes a documentary about memory, ambition and authorship. You also see it in K Rajagopal's exploration of the gritty underbelly of Little India in A Yellow Bird , which reveals the marginalised corners of our society. Anthony Chen's ongoing heartland trilogy of Ilo Ilo , Wet Season and the upcoming We Are All Strangers traces the emotional undercurrents of family, duty and intimacy in contemporary Singapore. He Shuming He Shuming He Shuming This year marks the nation's diamond jubilee—not just a time for celebration, but for reflection. When we think about home, it is always tied to memory, or the sights and sounds that trigger a certain introspection. Nostalgia becomes a permanent fixture in a city where life often feels fleeting. On a recent location scout, we returned to a strata mall that was still open just months ago, only to find it torn down. The shock was real, but so was the awkward sense of acceptance. There is no denying the strange times we are living in. It can feel frivolous, even difficult, to remain creative while so much is shifting around us. But we try anyway by holding on to empathy, hope, wonder and the act of storytelling. Perhaps, in doing so, we create a little joy around us. Happy birthday, Singapore. And thank you to the Vogue Singapore team for this unforgettable opportunity.
