Things in the past do give us hope and belief in the future.
Recently, a somewhat anxious coworker asked me if I thought a certain TV project would be hard. And I said it didn’t look so hard, really. The most difficult things would be the things we have little control over.
When you’ve come through flood and fire before, certain troubles don’t look all that unmanageable. You have a sense that things will be okay in the end, because they have come good before. It’s not so much a confidence in one’s own abilities, but in the divine providence and amazing grace that has seen you through similar scenarios time and time again. More about that later!
Among many things I’m looking forward to in 2012, I’m looking forward to the live action version The Hobbit! Are you?
But did you know they made an animated version of Tolkien’s tale in 1978? I watched that recently.
Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit"
Interestingly, at the beginning of the story, Bilbo Baggins, a relatively unadventurous Hobbit, signs a contract to go on an adventure with a band of treasure-seeking dwarves. And as the terms are vague, he is pretty much taken advantage of all the way, forced to do daring and adventurous things. But midway through the story, Bilbo begins to pen down the adventures, and is given a bit more responsibility by Gandalf the Wizard. From that point on, The Hobbit who was originally a mere passive voyager, now becomes the author of his own adventure. Growing ever bolder, Bilbo proves himself a clever hero.
The tale, one said to be suitable for young boys 11-14, I think, is a call to adventure – to adventure even if you aren’t entirely sure where it’ll take you. You never quite know what you’re getting into at the beginning of an adventure, but you go and along the way unexpected tests and trials grow you as a person.
Here’s the rather poignant lyrics of the theme song of the 1978 movie.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The chances, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to break.The greatest adventure is there if you’re bold.
Let go of the moment that life makes you hold.
To measure the meaning can make you delay;
It’s time you stop thinkin’ and wasting the day.The man who’s a dreamer and never takes leave
Who thinks of a world that is just make-believe
Will never know passion, will never know pain.
Who sits by the window will one day see rain.The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The chances, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to break.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
While I do think that our lives aren’t entirely our own to mold, I think the words still ring true. Painfully so at parts.
In recent days, I’ve been trying to keep things safe as possible. Once bitten, twice shy and all that. And I found it slightly counterproductive.
I realize sometimes pain makes you wary. You wish to avoid meeting unpleasant situations again. It’s a learned response but it isn’t always good.
We’ve got to proceed with an amount of faith. Not so much in man, but in the God who has kept you safe all the way.
I suppose like the Hobbit we’ve all been “There and Back Again”. Most of us have had a few adventures but few of us have had the good sense to jot them down.
So a few weeks ago, I was delighted to rediscover an article about my involvement in ‘Modern Pilgrims’ a TV documentary, which I did for CNA while at MV in ’09.
I thought it timely to reflect on it, as the new year dawns and as I make my roundabout return to TV production again. Not so much to rest on laurels, but hopefully to remember the hard graft and sweat that went into, and inspire more adventures. More importantly I thought it would be good to remember the hand that saw us through, so we can believe in God and believe in the future.
Here’s a transcript of that article for your reading pleasure.
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(From OnTRAC, a publication of the Trinity Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore. Edition title: “Experential Theologians” Dated: 3rd Quarter 2010.)
“Chatting with the Producer of ‘Modern Pilgrims'”
by Pastor Anthony Lee
Chatting with the Producer of 'Modern Pilgrims'
Have you watched “Modern Pilgrims” on Channel NewsAsia? The four-part series of hour-long television documentaries featured contemporary Singaporeans of different faiths embarking upon pilgrimages to the origins of the world’s great religions. The series was telecast in 2009 and 2010, during the weeks of major religious celebrations like Deepavali, Christmas, Easter, Vesak Day and Hari Raya. OnTRAC caught upo with the TV producer who pioneered the series, Chong Yew Meng, 29, a member of Barker Road Methodist Church.
OnTRAC (OT): Hi Yew Meng, nice to meet you. Could you tell us a little about your background in the media?
Yew Meng (YM): After I graduated from NTU with a degree in Communication Studies in 2006, I joined an independent TV production company called The Moving Visuals Co. (TMVC), where I worked as a producer/director/writer for nearly four years. I had previously interned with TMVC for six months during my third year in University. The company produces TV programmes for all the Mediacorp channels (5, 8, U, Okto, CNA), and regional cable channels (Nat Geo, Star World, Disney, History) too.
OT: What inspired you to produce this documentary series?
YM: Back in December 2008, I went on a Holy Land tour to Israel, Egypt and Jordan. During lunch one day, a few of us discussed how great it might be to do a documentary about religious pilgrimages. I took note of that, and when I went back to Singapore, I was inspired to write up a proposal. The proposed TV series, originally titles “Pilgrim Age”, would feature people from each major religion (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu) going on heartfelt journeys to the lands where their faiths came from. I hoped it could help audiences understand other people’s basic beliefs better and help us appreciate people as people regardless of religion. As I floated the idea a few times to my supervisors, around April 2009, Channel NewsAsia (along with MDA’s Public Service Commission) came looking for ideas and they liked my reworked proposal, and the rest as they say is history.
OT: Tell us more about the shows and how it was like for you as producer / director.
YM: In our first episode, for the week of Deepavali, we followed a really nice Hindu couple to India and its sacred River Ganges. We filmed them performing rites for their late loved ones. The busy journey to India’s sacred cities was eye opening. In the second episode of ‘Modern Pilgrims’, we took a Christian couple to Israel to retrace the earthly life of Jesus. It was a real privilege to film in Israel. I’m sure the crew felt it too. These were historic and scenic places where Jesus may have set foot! However, in the days leading up to the trip, I worried if it would happen at all. The preparations were made in some haste, as production had to fit a dauntingly tight schedule. I was still finishing up the first episode, time was running out and we hadn’t found right candidates so we could not confirm travel bookings. Unusually, there was a shortage of good camera crew too, as many productions were going on simultaneously in Singapore. Trouble upon trouble! Surely this was a trip that could only be made possible by the grace of God! We prayed. Sure enough and just in time, things came together. We found good and appropriate interviewees, a superb cameraman, a really pleasant soundman, and the travel bookings could just fit everyone’s schedules! A day later or earlier would’ve been impossible! Israel is not a place to shoot without official permission, but thanks to our well-connected and hardworking travel agency we found that too! Thanks to all who helped, especially God, everything worked out for good! During the trip, it rained every other day. That was a real bother and a tad discouraging. I never knew it could rain that much in arid Israel! Thankfully, we always seemed to have just enough sunshine for what we needed to accomplish. The others encouraged me to see God’s hand in that. The rainy weather even enhanced some scenes! In the Garden of Gethsemane, the sky was overcast and it drizzled, setting a mood of melancholy. How apt that in a place where Jesus felt intense pain and sorrow, the heavens should be crying. Haha! Small mercies! (P.S. Also when we needed a Pastor to help with communion at the Garden Tomb, lo and behold a Singapore Methodist Pastor availed herself! What providence!) The documentary screened during the weeks of Christmas 2009 and Easter 2010. (P.S. I heard it also screened on Christmas 2010! Value for money? haha). All in all, I feel privileged to have worked on this series. It rated well and I’m pleased whenever I heard that the programme has touched a viewer positively.
OT: What advice would you give to those who are called to the media industry?
YM: I should say a good thing about working in TV production is that you can work in t-shirt and jeans. I will miss that in my next job! Seriously though, and as you might have guessed, Singapore’s media industry is not as glamorous as it seems. While mass media allows you to impact many with positive stories, it’s a passion-driven industry where you work very hard for modest pay. And it’s busy, hard work. Due to tight deadlines and the nature of the work, late-nights and filming on weekends are normal. I remember working Sundays in a row, without a day off. I’m sure burnout rates are quite high. In part, I survived by guarding personal devotional times. Before entering the office in the mornings, I’d find quiet spots to pray and I’d sing to God on my way. Occasionally, I’d hum worship songs at work, possibly annoying and amusing my colleagues. Haha! I wouldn’t advise that! While I did see the hand of God in the care of good colleagues, I think after a busy fortnight rapt in dizzying work, popping into a church service with God’s people is very gladdening! So whenever possible I attended worship services and cell group. The people who last longer in TV remember to take time off. I think (p.s. some) people in TV proudly say it’s quite a harsh or superficial industry. ‘All about image’ some say. Some embrace it, some don’t. I remember a boss once told me half of the job was just acting like you knew a lot. But that never sat well with me. I don’t think you need to act big, smart or important. Admitting your shortcoming can go a long way in working with others. Over time other professionals will appreciate your honesty and authenticity, and if you’ve got any quality it’s bound to surface. I just worked as hard as I could, trying not to bring down the name of Christ in my work place. I know God gave me creative talent, but I found that in the real challenges of life, our strengths mean next to nothing, and you can only depend on God to see you through. ‘Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come’ and God’s amazing grace has brought me safe thus far. For that, I am deeply grateful. So my best advice to anyone in any industry is to hang on to God!
OT: Thanks Yew Meng for that deep and honest sharing. What do you think about the idea of having Christian support groups in the media industry?
YM: That would be great. As far as I know, there aren’t any.
OT: Yes, may God indeed raise up likeminded Christians for this purpose.
Yew Meng is now working a a Web Manager / Multimedia Editor at the Ministry of Home Affairs, helping with its new media efforts.
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End of article.
Backpage of OnTRAC article about me & 'Modern Pilgrims'.
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Notes: I believe I did that interview in June 2010, and of course, if you didn’t already know, I left the government in Sep ’11 and I’m now independent/freelance in the media again so I wont have to to miss wearing t-shirts and jeans to work anymore! It’s like a part of life has come full circle.
It’s funny how much can happen in a couple of years! Some of the things I said above astonish me slightly.
I think the Engineer dad sometimes scoffs at work in the media industry. ‘It’s not a real profession (like engineering/medicine/law/accounting),’ he might imply.
But I say horses for courses. TV, media & comms just happens to be the sphere of influence I’m called to inhabit. What’s yours?
(A friend let me try his iOS programming tutorials, which were okay, but sheesh programming is tedious! Even when I did programming as a kid, I’d try to make games that told stories.)
I still get excited about telling good stories! We should go where we can do the most good, and if you can, do stuff that you love.
With God, The Greatest Adventure Lies Ahead!