Title | THE UNDEFEATABLE CREW |
Brand | GREAT EASTERN LIFE ASSURANCE |
Product / Service | EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES / DISABILITY INSURANCE |
Category | A03. Casting |
Entrant | BLKJ Singapore, SINGAPORE |
Idea Creation | BLKJ Singapore, SINGAPORE |
Production | BLKJ Singapore, SINGAPORE |
Name | Company | Position |
---|---|---|
Melvin Ong | Freelance | Co-Director |
Zoe Zora | Freelance | Set Designer |
David Aitabir | Freelance | Visual Artist |
Sophie Soon | Freelance | Lead Talent / Music Consultant |
Joji Jacob | BLKJ | Creative / Co-Founder |
Khalid Osman | BLKJ | Creative / Co-Founder |
Lester Lee | BLKJ | Creative / Co-Founder |
Michael Chin | BLKJ | Associate Creative Director |
Joseph Chan | BLKJ | Associate Creative Director |
Dalton Choo | BLKJ | Art Director |
Seth Han | BLKJ | Copywriter |
Rowena Bhagchandani | BLKJ | Chief Executive Officer / Co-Founder |
Fiona Huang | BLKJ | Business Director |
Wan Ru Sim | BLKJ | Senior Account Manager |
Israel Tan | BLKJ | Account Manager |
Nicole Peng | BLKJ | Account Executive |
K Cheng | BLKJ | BLKJ |
Caleb Huang | Freelance | Co-Director |
Shaun Yeo | Reel Loco Productions | Executive Producer |
Rennie Gomes | Yellow Box Studios | Executive Producer (Music) |
This is the story about how Great Eastern (a leading insurance company from Singapore) brought together 4 creatives with disabilities to form a production crew and produce a music video like no other. Instead of just casting people with disabilities, we hired them and put them in charge of the production – letting them tell their own stories, their way.
A report in 2020 revealed that only 28.6% of Singaporeans with disabilities had any kind of a job – not to mention a job in a field as niche as production. It was difficult, if not impossible, to find ready-made crew members. With that said, the disability arts scene was growing from strength to strength. So, that's where we looked for our crew.
In the end, we identified 4 creatives with disabilities who had skills that could be applied to production, albeit with a bit of guidance and training. Before he lost the use of his limbs in an accident, Melvin, 30, was an experienced videographer and a prominent musician. He was chosen to be our director. Zora, 24, is a fashion influencer and a marketing graduate with design experience. She joined our crew as a set designer. David, 58, is a visual artist who has been featured online. He lost his ability to walk after a spinal issue 6 years ago but regained it after a hard fight. Finally, we have our performer: Sophie, 23. Sophie is a visually impaired violinist who had appeared on charity shows but never before in commercial productions. She is also a para-swimmer and hopes to make her 1st appearance at the Paralympics in 2020 (she qualified).