Learning To Reign The Film Industry with Reine

Golden Calf Award-winning director Roel Reine discusses his experiences throughout his

Hollywood journey.

By Jilliane Lee

Director Roel Reine led SGNEWWAVEs master class, where he gave students advice on

making good films and taught them to never stop learning.

Instead of their usual movie screenings, SGNEWWAVE, Ngee Ann Polytechnics film club was

packed with a sea of students awaiting to learn from the action film director and cinematographer

on May 11.

Reine, a director from Holland, won The Golden Calf for Best Director for his first film The

Delivery. His latest film, Admiral was selected as the opening film for Singapores 26th

European Union Film Festival.

Since young, Reine knew he was destined for the film industry. I was 7 when I saw Star Wars,

and all my friends wanted to become astronauts and I wanted to come up with these kind of

stories and make them. And then when I was 12, I saw Blade Runner. And then I really knew,

this is what I want to do, said the director on how he started his passion for film.
Reine encouraged students make more than short films. Directors and producers arent

interested in that! What they want to see is a feature film, so go out and make a movie said

Reine. He also encouraged students to think outside the box, and be creative when pitching their

film ideas. I also make a book said Reine on how he pitches his stories I find pictures from

different projects, I find pictures from the Internet, I put text in and make these pictures. I show

them how the movie will look. Out of everything, the piece of advice Reine wanted students to

always remember was to never stop learning. I never stop learning. Everyday Ill watch a

youtube tutorial on filming or read an article about it. said Reine, Thats how I motivate myself

to carry on.

SGNEWWAVE president, Clare Chao Chenxi, a year two-film student, said that bringing Reine

in for the master class was surprisingly easy. SGNEWWAVE had already contacted the embassy

about inviting him, and the embassy contacted us telling us he was interested, and thats how

we got him in.

Film students were not the only ones encouraged by Reines advice. He also touched the hearts

of other students who were not currently pursing film studies.

Syahir Bin Toriman, a final-year Engineering student who was equally inspired by Reine, said,

My passion for filmmaking only started to increase after I entered polytechnic, and after the

masterclass, it has become even stronger. I can relate to Mr Roel's aggressive approach to
filmmaking as this too can be applied to engineering. His just do it mentality really inspires me

to just try something new and to not be afraid of any setbacks.

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Q) How has the masterclass inspired you, in terms of pursuing film?

A) The masterclass has definitely left me a strong impression on the film industry. Mr Reol explains how easy it is for
someone to make a film, and that simple film making does not require much fancy gears but instead more on
creativity and the passion to do it. With just a few more friends, i might just be making a short film in my own free
time.
Q) Has film always been a passion of yours or is it only one that was cultivated when you were older?
A) My passion for film making only started to increase after i entered polytechnic, and after the masterclass, it has
become even stronger. I can relate to Mr Reol's aggressive approach to film making as this too can be applied to
engineering. His "just do it" mentality really inspires me to just try something new and to not be afraid of any
setbacks.
Q) Do you feel that pursing film is a hard decision?
A)I do feel that pursuing film is a hard decision as the entertainment industry is ever-growing. The need to create and
produce something new is what sets the different film makers in the industry. This is very similar to engineering,
which too is a creative-driven industry.
(Above) Roel Reine imparts his industry advice to students through his master class. PHOTO: JILLIANE
LEE

(Above) Organisers felt it was a breeze to bring Reine in for the master class.
PHOTO: JILLIANE LEE