My Name Is Tan You Yu – A Final Year thesis film

INTRODUCTION

Hi guys! We are a team of Final Year Film students from NTU School of Art, Design and Media, hoping to fund our Thesis Undergraduate film titled My Name Is Tan You Yu. It would really mean a lot to us if you could join us on this journey and support us by contributing to our crowdfunding campaign! Please help us make this creative vision a reality!

THE STORY

This short film is about modern alienation, a failed dream and a transactional friendship.

We follow Tan You Yu, an aspiring Teochew opera performer, who finds herself in a mid-life crisis. One day, she chances upon an advertisement to rent a “pal”. Maggie, her new pal, is more than what she wishes for. You Yu decides to get a refund.

WHY THIS FILM - DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

With this film we hope to raise questions about the authenticity in forming human relationships in our lives, especially now more than ever where we have thousands of people at our fingertips with social media. Are our friendships and connections merely transactional? Are we okay with that? Why do I feel pressured being seen alone? What am I afraid of?

My Name Is Tan You Yu also hopes to tackle the subject of loneliness in Singapore, where it manifests amongst our ‘orphaned’ elders. In these trying times, elderly suicide rates reached an all-time high in 2020 - due to a great sense of social disconnection and isolation to the society we have become, and as we go forward, we leave behind our pioneers’ generation.

As such with this ‘late-in-life’ transformation tale of a middle-aged woman, we are looking to provide the perspective of hope and a second chance with Tan You Yu. We hope to inspire viewers, seen through making Tan You Yu a flawed heroine, the lonely eccentric as she goes through this final journey and quest of self-discovery.

My Name is Tan You Yu will be a diary-like note for anyone who is tackling their state of being, as they learn to appreciate their self-worth and the people around them.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

We are students and aspiring filmmakers caught in the middle of a global pandemic. This has brought on several challenges for us to overcome as measures and restrictions have been heightened, and financing our film has proven to be difficult.

It would really mean a lot to us if you could contribute to the film regardless of the amount. Your contributions will help in several aspects of the production of this film including:

1. Talent fees
2. Equipment and Location Rental
3. Production Design (Set design, Wardrobe, Props)
4. Meals for Crew and Cast members
5. Transportation costs for Art, Equipment, Cast and Crew

Any amount will greatly reduce our financial burdens and will make the journey a little easier!

You can also help us by sharing this campaign link among your friends, family and even on social media.

For more information about this film and where your donations will go, you can drop us an email at [email protected] and we will be happy to share with you!

If you'd like to donate to us personally or reach out for a collaboration in any way, you can let us know as well!

MEET THE TEAM

Director, Writer: Mayle Kor

1st Assistant Director: Lou Zu Hao

Producer: Jazlyn Song

Director of Photography: Ryan Wong

Production Designer: Lee Jia Rong

Sound Supervisor: Sheryl Lim

Editor: Chan Ying En

Film Supervisor: Chul Heo

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Thank you so much for your support! Do keep a lookout for more updates on our progress on our Instagram page @mynameistanyouyu !