Brief Explanation

We see a little boy in Singapore, growing enchanted by something he keeps seeing in books and on TV: snow. When his family decides to visit Japan, he’s secretly thrilled at the chance of seeing real snow. Throughout the journey, he searches for the elusive snowfall and encounters events that further fuel his imagination. And when reality doesn’t live up to his visions, he is devastated. Realising this, his parents go to OCBC Voyage Concierge for help. The service helps them organise a last minute side trip to the snowfields. It even goes one step further: by preparing a surprise that finally brings our boy’s imagination to life.

Execution

Casting for the innocent spirit of our youthful protagonist was paramount to the success of the film. We needed someone who could communicate the emotional ebbs and flow in a honest performance. For a child, bland everyday elements are transformed into building blocks of inspiration. To feel what he was experiencing, we had to see the world from his point of view. This allowed us to bring attention to often overlooked things and places which become an imaginative playground for a child. This meant observing his excitement grow naturally, focusing on angles and compositions that usher us into his magical, dreamlike finale as seamlessly as possible. The transition from a real world home setting to ultra-urban Tokyo, to the magical snow set landscape is intentionally gradual. As the child observes art installations, falling leaves, and ice carvings, these moments of inspirational pause build up to the story's finale.