A Video Tribute To Sinema Old School

Produced by JD Chua and Aaron Ng of Ground Glass Images, with support from Sindie, ‘ Missing Sinema Old School’ is a short clip that looks into the history of Sinema Old School- the pioneer team comprising of only just five members, the fun times and the trials faced in the last 5 wonderful years.

Chua speaks to Nicholas Chee, Founder and Managing Director of Sinema Old School, and discovers more about their journey beyond the illustrious red sofas of the 136-seater theatre, and the infamous never-ending flight of stairs leading up to Old School that anybody who has ever (successfully) climbed will never forget.

“The spirit and charm in Old School cannot be reproduced”, says Chee. Anyone who has ever been to Old School cannot agree further.

Memories Are Abundant

Fellow tenants at Old School are warm and friendly, popping by Sinema to grab a coffee at times or to just say ‘Hi’. Occasional sightings of wedding photo shoots taking place. The friendly security guard waving hello every morning. Echoes of the live band cooing away at Timbre in the evening. The stray cats that call Old School home. Sightings of hot models (cough) going to Milk Photographie for castings. And not forgetting the occasional breath-taking sunset that somehow brings out the haunting nostalgia of the site.

Chua, who has been to Sinema Old School on numerous occasions, recalls his very first memory. “There has always been very interesting workshops for filmmakers by filmmakers. My very first experience was so long ago, I can’t quite remember what I was there for. However, like most of everyone else, the most unforgettable memory is the encounter with the stairs. I dubbed it ‘The Exorcist Stairs’, because it is so high that if you call, you’ll probably kill the demon inside you too.”

‘Like A Kampong Spirit’

With fond memories that accumulated each time at Sinema Old School, such as an image of Chee running around getting things done despite limping around on clutches (that for some reason Chua can recall so vividly), the screening of White Days in which his close friends were involved in, and fellow patrons climbing up the dreadful stairs while encouraging each other with each step which he compares to, ‘like a kampong spirit’, Chua eventually grew attached to the place and felt that it would be a waste to not document a short video.

“I’m one of the people who love Sinema. When it was announced that it was going soon, I hear people saying that this (making of a short clip) should be done but none could commit due to their busy work schedules. So, my colleague, Aaron, and I, thought to ourselves, why not let’s do it? And so we did.”

This Is Not A Permanent Good Bye

While notable memories of the former location resonates, it is not the last of Sinema Old School. In a collaboration with Golden Village, Singapore’s leading cinema exhibitor, fans of indie films can now catch an array of feature films and shorts on every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at GV Grand (Great World City), starting this September 2012.

Check out Golden Village’s website ( www.gv.com.sg) for more details.

Sinema Old School’s Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/sinemaoldschoolSinema TV:

http://www.youtube.com/sinematvsg