Local Film Industry ( Ling Xuan 4C )

The local film industry is small but growing, and there are a few challenges that local filmmakers face.
Firstly, I feel that they have to deal with the problem of the small domestic market, due to the small population of Singapore. This means that they face more difficulty in earning profits, compared to overseas filmmakers in larger domestic markets. Furthermore, the filmmakers would also have to appeal to as many Singaporeans as possible to ensure that they do not make losses, since they have a smaller audience to work with in our local film industry. Also, most local films are centered around the lives and stories of Singaporeans, so they are more relatable to us locals. For example, Ah Boys to Men which talks about the experience of National Service that all Singaporean boys would have to undergo at the age of 18. The drawback of this is that it would be hard for these local films to venture into overseas markets since the plot and emotions of the film would be less relatable to one who is not a Singaporean. Also, these local films would have to compete against the blockbuster movies that have made it big around the world.
Concerned by the above obstacles that local filmmakers have to face, I personally think that there is a need for local filmmakers to be encouraged, supported and promoted. For example, more monetary support can be given to these local filmmakers in the form of grants. This ensures that they have greater monetary capacity to venture into the local film industry with lesser chances of incurring losses.
I strongly believe that with greater support and appreciation for local productions from our population, our local filmmakers and film industry can definitely achieve greater heights in bringing across the narratives and stories that Singapore has to tell through the film medium.