Written by Gemma Chen & Germaine Nam
For some of us, free-to-air broadcast channels like Mediacorp Channel 8 are part of our childhood. Today, streaming platforms such as Netflix, Viu and Walt Disney Co’s Disney+ have been gaining popularity worldwide. Would Singaporeans still be as interested in watching films produced by our local scene in the face of such competition?
A 2021 survey conducted by Nanyang Technological University think tank, the Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet, showed that many Singaporeans have paid subscriptions to cable TV (39.2 percent) and video streaming services (44.5 percent).
“I think locally-produced shows are inferior to other platforms such as Netflix. I watch shows on Netflix, and I feel that as compared to locally produced films, Netflix provides a wider range of shows and is so easily accessible nowadays,” said 17-year-old Jona Wong, an avid fan of Netflix.
With this perception, youths may regard locally produced films as dissatisfactory compared to Korean Dramas or Hollywood films, which may contain a more engaging plot catered for youths.
Valerie Boh, 17, prefers watching content on streaming platforms because they “offer a wide selection of overseas film and television programmes”.
She added: “I think a show’s budget also affects the viewership of films. For instance, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ had a budget of USD $170 million, while a local film, ‘Ilo Ilo’ only had a budget of $700,000. When more money is invested in a movie, the quality of production would be improved.”
As every coin has two sides, some appreciate locally produced films and believe they are underrated.
For instance, many local youths have sung high praises about ‘Your World In Mine’ , a Chinese drama by Mediacorp. Some even pointed out that even though many locally filmed shows do not have the budget of blockbuster films, it is remarkable how our local filmmakers can create good quality films with limited resources.
“Movie-goers nowadays mostly only go to the cinema to catch the latest Marvel movie, not giving smaller locally produced films any attention even though they can be equally as good or even better. I think Jack Neo is the only name that attracts locals to the cinema for locally produced films. Which is a shame as there are so many talented filmmakers in Singapore who put in a lot of effort only for their work to go unnoticed.” 17-year-old Josiah Kwek En Rui said.
While these locally produced shows are not garnering as much support from people anymore, these shows still embody the feeling of nostalgia for many youths, particularly in Singapore.
Many youths grew up watching these shows, otherwise have most likely heard of them in some way or another. For many of these youths, these shows were what bonded them and their family. It was a significant chapter in their playbook of life. Youths vividly remember how they would scramble in front of the television at a specific time to catch these shows with their family members. Though simple, these memories have etched a mark on their childhoods and brought a great sense of sentimentality as they remember these fond memories.
“For a significant time, my family would come together every weekday to catch the 9 pm drama on Channel 8. It was a family tradition that lasted many years. At 8.55 pm, we would drop whatever we were doing and get in front of the TV,” reminisced Georgia Tan, 18.
“I remember finishing shows like The Little Nyonya (小娘惹) and Tiger Mum (虎妈来了) with my family. My extended family would also watch the Taiwanese dramas aired on Channel 8 every weekend. The shows on local stations were a large part of my childhood and gave way to a lot of bonding time with my family,” she added.
Before the prominence of social media in the lives of youths today, these shows were one of the youths’ primary forms of entertainment. Many young people stay updated with these shows as they are released weekly, making it a breeze to follow the storyline. However, some individuals think that having a storyline to follow is cumbersome.
“Once you miss an episode, it’s inconvenient to find out or catch up on what happened, so you have to make it part of your routine to watch them. With the Covid-19 pandemic and the dominance of online streaming platforms like Netflix, it’s the norm to binge shows and dramas on our own devices on our own time,”said 19-year-old Vanesa Chua.
The rise in streaming platforms has changed how youths perceive local shows. As Rachel Loh, 19, said, “Films are art, and beauty is subjective. Whenever I watch these shows, it reminds me of the old times which brings me a great sense of comfort. More importantly, it makes me feel like a child again, free of worries.”
