When I joined Position Five as an intern, I did not expect myself to even venture into making a short film but I did. Looking back, the production journey was both rewarding and enriching, as it gave me invaluable experience in teamwork, collaboration, and managing a more structured workflow. The story felt very personal to me, hence I felt that by taking on multiple roles (or some would call it multiple “hats”), it would have given me more creative control over the film which was important to me to maintain the integrity of the film.
Hat 1: Scriptwriter – Where ideas came together
“Reverse” was originally created two years ago as my final project in Year 1 of my polytechnic journey, but the final outcome didn’t meet my expectations. At that time, I ended up managing almost every aspect of the production — from pre-production to post-production — due to minimal support from my groupmates. It required me to put on multiple hats and hence I was unable to focus on my one priority which was directing. After all, film production is a collaborative effort, where combining diverse ideas and skill sets can elevate the project beyond my original vision. The final outcome was not up to my standard, even though I scored relatively well, getting top in the cohort for this film.
When I was given the chance to revisit the film that I felt could have been better, I opted to retain the original concept but chose not to reuse the old script. Rewriting the story with the antagonist’s and protagonist’s clearer motivations and conflicts to make their actions more relatable. With clearer motivations, it heightened the tensions between the characters and I was able to build the narrative around that. This approach helped to address the loopholes of the first version. After the new script was completed, there was an obvious contrast between the two: the characters in the old script were rather predictable, whereas the new one had more complex characters that the audience could slowly relate to and pick up on their traits as the film progresses.
Hat 2: Producer – Turning Vision Into Reality
Once the script was finalised, it was time to tackle the logistics of producing the film. That meant grounding the creative vision: scheduling shoots, securing locations, and making sure all resources were in order. Working with a limited budget made securing talents and locations one of the biggest challenges. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to tap into my personal network — friends and family who not only helped with the shoot but also perfectly embodied the characters that I had envisioned.
To manage costs, I chose to use my own residence as the main filming location, which allowed us to save significant resources while keeping the environment close to the story’s needs. For additional scenes, we booked a condo function room, which came with a minimal rental fee. To further reduce expenses, we shared the space with another production that was happening concurrently. While this arrangement helped save both time and money, it also introduced challenges — particularly for night scenes — as we had to work within a limited amount of time, which made parts of the shoot feel rushed.
Although it would have been ideal to secure another shoot day for that location, the limitation pushed me to learn an important lesson in time management and planning. Instead of dwelling on what I didn’t have, I focused on maximising the time by prioritising key shots and sticking closely to the call sheet. This discipline not only kept the shoot efficient but also reinforced the importance of preparation, flexibility, and making decisive choices under pressure. In hindsight, what seemed like a constraint ultimately sharpened my ability to stay focused and resourceful, qualities that I know will carry forward into future projects.
I’m also deeply grateful to Position Five for providing both in-house equipment and manpower. The team’s familiarity with the gear allowed us to focus on creativity and execution instead of troubleshooting — a stark contrast to my school experience, where unfamiliar equipment often led to wasted time and production overruns which was not ideal for a production set. With everyone on set knowing their roles and responsibilities, we were able to tackle the challenges that we faced.
Hat 3: Director – Leading with Vision and Collaboration
What surprised me the most was how much the role of director is about communication. I had to articulate my vision clearly to actors, crew members and department heads while also being open to their perspectives. For example, there were moments on set when an actor brought a new interpretation to a line of dialogue that made the character feel more authentic, or when the cinematographer suggested a framing choice that elevated the mood of a scene, which was crucial to the final outcome. If not for them, there would have been too many things for me to handle and the experience would feel like standing at the center of a creative whirlwind.
This allowed me to focus on one task at a time, rather than running around the set juggling multiple responsibilities. In the past, trying to do everything at once meant I couldn’t give my full attention or perform each task to the best of my ability. By narrowing my focus, I was able to work more effectively and bring out the best in my role. As the director, I wasn’t just responsible for telling the story but also for guiding a team towards a shared goal which was to produce a film that we are all satisfied with and proud of.
This director’s hat felt far more fitting compared to my earlier attempt back in school, but it still came with its fair share of challenges. One thing I realised in hindsight was the importance of holding a physical script read with my actors prior to production. Such a session would have given them a clearer understanding of their characters, the tone of the story, and what I was envisioning for each scene. More importantly, it would have saved valuable time during the shoot. Without this step, much of the interpretation and adjustments had to happen on set itself, which slowed down the process. This taught me that preparation off set is just as critical as execution on set, and that investing time in rehearsals can make the production flow a lot more efficiently.
Another significant challenge I encountered was my lack of attention to detail, which unfortunately led to several imperfections in the final product. For example, I neglected to remind the sound recordist to capture key ambient effects such as footsteps, rustling leaves, and other subtle sounds that would have elevated the realism and atmosphere of the film. On top of that, there were moments where the mic pack was unintentionally visible in frame, something I failed to notice during shooting. Continuity errors also slipped through in certain scenes, further complicating the consistency of the story. These oversights became more apparent in post-production, where we had to spend extra time compensating for what was missed on set.
While none of these mistakes ruined the project, they highlighted the critical importance of being detail-oriented throughout production. This experience reinforced for me that even the smallest details — whether it’s a misplaced prop, a visible mic, or a missing sound cue — can significantly affect the audience’s immersion. Moving forward, I’ve learned the necessity of sharpening my eye for detail and implementing better on-set practices, such as checklists and regular reviews, to catch issues before they escalate into larger challenges in post production.
Hat 4: Editing – Shaping the Final Story
Every choice — whether it was a cut here, a pause there, or the decision to let a moment breathe — shaped the rhythm, tone, and emotional weight of the film. As the saying goes, “We’ll fix it in post,” and indeed, there were imperfections from the shoot that surfaced during editing. But that’s the beauty of post-production — it’s the stage where raw footage is transformed into a cohesive narrative, and where flaws can often be reshaped into strengths. For example, continuity errors can be cleverly hidden with cutaways, turning potential mistakes into seamless transitions. More importantly, post-production is where the heart of the story truly emerges, refined and pieced together into its final form.
As mentioned earlier, my lack of attention to detail led to continuity errors and an insufficient number of cutaway shots, such as establishing shots. During the editing stage, I quickly realised how crucial these shots were for maintaining a smooth and natural flow between scenes. Without them, transitions felt abrupt and jarring, making it difficult for the audience to remain immersed in the story. Since I hadn’t captured these during the main shoot, I had to borrow equipment and go out for reshoots to gather the missing footage, ensuring the film flowed more cohesively.
At the same time, I was working against a tight deadline, with the SYFF(Singapore Youth Film Festival) submission just a week away. This meant I had to prioritize completing the edit over scheduling an additional day to capture ambient sounds on location, such as footsteps, rustling leaves, or environmental tones. To compensate, I relied on sound effects in post-production, which, while effective, didn’t always achieve the same authenticity as natural recordings. This experience taught me the importance of planning thoroughly during production — not just for visuals, but also for sound. I realized how easily these overlooked details can snowball into larger challenges in post-production, and how much smoother the process becomes when both picture and sound are captured with foresight during the shoot.
Throughout the process, I collaborated with others and actively sought advice to achieve outcomes I couldn’t create on my own. For instance, when I wanted to design a more menacing and echoey voice effect, I reached out for guidance from my seniors and colleagues who had more technical expertise in sound design. Their input not only solved the immediate problem but also expanded my knowledge for future projects. Similarly, in the area of colour grading, I’m especially grateful to have the support of a trained colourist. Her expertise helped elevate the film’s visuals, shaping the mood and atmosphere in a way that aligned with the story’s emotional tone. Colour is such a vital storytelling tool, and their contribution made a significant difference in how the final piece resonated with viewers.
Reflecting back
Reshooting Reverse wasn’t about simply redoing a project; it was about reimagining it with better character motivations and streamlined narrative. The experience was deeply enriching and has fueled my passion for future projects in film and media. After creating this film, I have gained a lot of insights, both technical and non technical concepts that I was unfamiliar with previously which will be useful for my future projects. Other than learning how to design cinematic shots and having interesting ideas, what I really enjoyed from this film production was to see cast and crew come together, growing together while making a piece that we could be proud of.
Ultimately, directing Reverse was more than just making a film — it was a milestone that has shaped my growth and will continue to inspire and guide me in my creative journey.
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