[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/reel\/the-power-of-humbleness-and-togetherness-in-this-new-year\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/reel\/the-power-of-humbleness-and-togetherness-in-this-new-year\/","headline":"The power of humbleness and togetherness in this New Year","name":"The power of humbleness and togetherness in this New Year","description":"Chinese New Year is soon upon us and as early as a month before, commercials and films celebrating Chinese culture have made their way into our homes and lives through the TV, the computer and the mobile phone. We see how people are moved by these contents, and in just 60 to 90seconds, there are […]","datePublished":"2022-01-27","dateModified":"2022-08-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/jing_du_chua\/#Person","name":"JD Chua","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/jing_du_chua\/","identifier":633,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/JD-Chua-100x100.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/JD-Chua-100x100.jpg","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/S3-Feature-1920-x-1080-px-V2-2.png","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/S3-Feature-1920-x-1080-px-V2-2.png","height":900,"width":1600},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/reel\/the-power-of-humbleness-and-togetherness-in-this-new-year\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gBh_Tj2UOyo#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gBh_Tj2UOyo","name":"\u4e00\u53cc\u7b77\u5b50 | CHOPSTICKS","description":"Actor Grace Teo is remaining in Singapore alone for the Chinese New Year. Not being in Malaysia to have reunion dinner with her family for the second year in a row, Grace is about to learn that a celebration is still possible. \n\nA Chinese New Year short made by Exposure Asia and Noontalk Media. \n\nGRACE\nGrace Teo                          @gracetjx \nUNCLE NG\nJohnny Ng                         @johnnyng54 \nFATHER\nChang Hon Meng             @hm63cc \nMOTHER\nIrene Chua                         @irenechua03 \nand \nNIKKY LEE\nLena Goh                           @letsgolenagoh\n\n\nPRODUCER\/PM\nJasmine Tay                      @jasmtsy \nASSISTANT DIRECTOR\nWeiqi Chuah                      @intoxqicated \nDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY \nJolinna Ang                       @jolinnasokkun \n1ST CAMERA ASSISTANT   \nJustin Ng                           @justingfaith \n2ND CAMERA ASSISTANT   \nAlvin Hor                            @misterhor \nDATA WRANGLER\nZiyaad Siddique                @ziyaadvfx \nGAFFER\nRyemie                               @_ryeryeriot \nGRIP\nHong Yi Xiang                   @hongyixiang \nNiki Muliade                      @nikimuliade \nJUNIOR GRIP\nMarcus Heng                     @t99th \nINTERN GRIP \nVivienne Chong                 @viviennechonggg \nLOCATION SOUND\nHussein Ismail                  @lanenavachi \nPRODUCTION DESIGNER\nAnthea Ng                          @nemosocool \nART ASSISTANT\nJasmine Wong                  @min.rsx \nCOSTUMER\nWindy Lean                        @windyinjune \nSCRIPT SUPERVISOR\nAng Zheng Xiang              @zhengxiang_7 \nMAKEUP ARTIST\nDiane Chen                        @prettymarshmallows \nPRODUCTION ASSISTANT\nMerissa Ong                      @merisssaaa \n\n\nEDITED & GRADED BY\nAlvin Hor\n\n\nEXECUTIVE PRODUCERS\nKevin Wong\nDasmond Koh\n\nPRODUCED BY\nJasmine Tay   \nJD Chua\n\nSTORY BY\nJD Chua\nJohnny Ng\nGrace Teo\n\n\nWRITTEN & DIRECTED BY\nJD Chua\n\n\nTHE PRODUCERS WISH TO THANK\nDoris Wong\nResidents of Laguna Park\n\n\n\u00a9 mmxxii by Equatre Asia and Noontalk Media\n\nRead up about Chopsticks and the Chinese New Year op-ed articles here: \nhttps:\/\/bit.ly\/34eVp7N\nhttps:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/\n\n\nEQUIPMENT RENTAL & SUPPORT BY\nCinegear       @cinegearsg\n\nContact Cinegear at\nhttp:\/\/www.cinegear.biz\/\n\nVisit Noontalk Media\nhttps:\/\/noontalk.com\/\nhttps:\/\/m.facebook.com\/noontalk\/\n\n#ChineseNewYear #GraceTeo #NoonTalkMedia\n\n\nReach us: \ncontact@thehomeground.asia\n+65 9748 2043","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/gBh_Tj2UOyo\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/gBh_Tj2UOyo\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/gBh_Tj2UOyo\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/gBh_Tj2UOyo\/sddefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2022-01-27T12:45:24+00:00","duration":"PT8M2S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gBh_Tj2UOyo","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCymcdY7G_Wt7S5duyR7Bbig#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCymcdY7G_Wt7S5duyR7Bbig","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","description":"TheHomeGround Asia \u2013 Latest and trending news and events happening around Asia. Delving deeper to better explain stories. Letting readers voice their opinions. 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I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"\u0431\u043d\u0430\u043d\u0441","url":"https:\/\/www.binance.info\/uk-UA\/register?ref=XZNNWTW7"}}],"about":["Community","Local","Race","Reels","Singapore","Top Picks"],"wordCount":889,"keywords":["chinese culture","chinese new year","chopsticks","family","reunion"],"articleBody":"Chinese New Year is soon upon us and as early as a month before, commercials and films celebrating Chinese culture have made their way into our homes and lives through the TV, the computer and the mobile phone. We see how people are moved by these contents, and in just 60 to 90seconds, there are no dry eyes in the place.The importance of chopsticks in the Chinese cultureWhen I was growing up, I was scolded for holding chopsticks incorrectly. I was told, \u201cIt\u2019s traditional, do it right.\u201d\u00a0You see, chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture.\u00a0To understand this and \u201cdo it right\u201d, I had to look deeper myself. I have never truly learnt how to properly use a pair of chopsticks. I have always \u201cimprovised\u201d as long as the food successfully goes into the mouth.\u00a0The wuxia or the kung fu novels would chronicle traditions from generations past \u2013-\u00a0 the way we conduct ourselves at the table shows how we carry ourselves and our characters. So, how you hold your cup of tea, how you hold your bowl of rice, and how you use your chopsticks, indicate your prowess. This notion has been lost and along with it, the correct way of holding the chopsticks right.\u00a0So I took it upon myself to educate others on holding the chopsticks correctly.\u00a0During dinner with a group of filmmakers, Noontalk Media actor Grace Teo who sat next to me was displaying poor \u201cchopstick-manship”, crossing them like a pair of scissors or using them to stab at her food. It conjured up the image of a caveman in my mind. Just when I corrected her, I realised that she wasn\u2019t the only one not using the chopsticks properly.\u00a0https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Video-2022-01-05-at-22.05.28.mp4I\u00a0 conducted a quick poll and I found out that I was the minority at the table.\u00a0Everyone brushed it off, not even considering the importance of using them properly.\u00a0This new year, I decided to make a short film to share my thoughts on holding a pair of chopsticks right. I also cast Grace to, in a way, force her to learn the proper way of using chopsticks.The short film features actors who play themselves, and reflect the real issues they have: Grace, a Malaysian, has not returned home since the pandemic. It has been two years since she last saw her parents. With the uncertainty of the VTL between the borders of Singapore and Malaysia, Grace has opted to stay in Singapore. Her friends have become surrogate family members during her stay here.\u00a0When Johnny Ng, a Singaporean, pays her a visit, he often brings food for her and stays on to make sure she finishes it.; He has become a father figure to her. After observing how poorly she holds the chopsticks, he takes it upon himself to teach her the value of holding them right.\u00a0This is where I need to emphasise that the scene between them was entirely improvised.\u00a0 The only direction I gave was to have Grace hold the chopsticks wrongly and Johnny to show her how to hold them.\u00a0I realise that as the producer, I, too, learnt a deeper lesson that there is a philosophy behind the existence of the chopsticks.\u00a0The front tips of the chopsticks are round; the top ends are squares. This means that you hold the world in your hands – tien yuan di fang (heaven and earth).\u00a0You mainly hold the chopsticks with three fingers: one points to the sky, one towards earth, and one to yourself. This signifies Heaven, Earth and Man.\u00a0When you hold them, one remains still (staying silent), and the other moves (act). It represents Ying and Yang, and that is how the order of the world should be.\u00a0Chopsticks are 7.6 centimetres long. They represent the seven emotions and six pleasures of Man, differentiating Man and Beast.\u00a0I was humbled.\u00a0I learnt that by letting go of a tight grip on directing (act of staying silent), by allowing the actors to improvise (act of action). That day, everybody ended with a new perspective on life, taught by something so simple as two sticks.\u00a0As families reunite for this Chinese New Year, we must remember to share the love with those unable to return home. The pandemic had done a number on us, separating families and taking away jobs. But it is also a good reason for us to learn to look at the bright side.\u00a0Happy New Year. Happy New Year to all.\u00a0\ufeffAn established film producer and director, JD picked up screenwriting at a young age. His interest in the film industry led the Singaporean Thai to officially launch his career directing a 15-episode Singapore-Australia co-production web series, Click. After graduating in Creative Producing from Chapman University, JD wrote for the television crime series Kes 253. He then immersed himself in huge Hollywood genre projects, ranging from horror to action. He has worked with several industry leaders and armed himself with skills in Action Choreography, Visual Effects and Special Effects.\u00a0Before the release of Singapore\u2019s first creature feature Circle Line, he made this short film in collaboration with Noontalk Media and Exposure Asia.\u00a0Join the conversations on TheHomeGround Asia\u2019s Facebook and Instagram, and get the latest updates via Telegram."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Reel","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/reel\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The power of humbleness and togetherness in this New Year","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/reel\/the-power-of-humbleness-and-togetherness-in-this-new-year\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]