Internalized Structures

In his works, young filmmaker Jerome Ng demonstrates how landmarks are as much in the hearts and minds of people in actual spaces.

- Tallulah Lu

Jerome Ng believes in the power of storytelling, which he employs in his films, along with architectural design, to communicate meaning. “It is amazing to see the buildings I designed come to life in film as I explain my design intent through the interaction between the protagonist and the space he inhabits,” the National Youth Film Award 2020 nominee says.

The turning points in his works usually materialize after multiple trials take. “A sense of joy that arises when you manage to compose a sequence that weaves the whole narration together logically and creatively.”

Pushing Boundaries

Jerome does not restrict himself to any particular style. “I constantly try to push the boundaries beyond what has already been done and employ different narrative techniques. This attitude of openness to stylistic language is critical today.”

Despite this, one finds consistency in Jerome’s works; for one, they deal with social issues which he thinks must be the goal of every creative. “(We must) give the minority and the disenfranchised a voice, and contribute to the wider community with designs that make a real, tangible difference in their lives.”

Jerome aspires to be regarded as “a documentary filmmaker who injects the narrative with a filmic quality”. “I feel that the narrative structure in documentaries is as important as any other fictional work; the rules of storytelling are essential in all great documentaries. They provide a fundamental framework for the film, without which it would be difficult to maintain the interest of the audience.”