Pencil’s
Sharp edge lies beneath
August 24, 2001
The underlying sting of the Sharp Pencil
lies not in the media fuss it’s created, but with its director’s
dark depths.
By Junie Ong
(Click on pictures for larger image)
A Sharp Pencil has
already created a fuss even before its release, with its premiere
being pushed back a good month and a half after the censorship board
had a field day snipping and trimming.
 And
just like the sharp pencil the movie is titled after, San Francisco-based
director Gallen Mei does not have an inch of bluntness to him.
He might be known for flouting rules and raising
a few brows with his outrageous film technics, but the gentleman
is every bit savvy enough to dodge the fire-starter questions we
threw his way.
The darkly shaded indie flick finally premieres
tonight, and the story revolves around Simon Choo’s repressed
search for the meaning of life.
 Gallen
again pushes the boundaries of ‘normality’ with his film,
and this initially earned A Sharp Pencil an R(A) rating. The film’s
since been let off with Singapore’s first local NC-16 rating
and Gallen is not at all fazed,” It’s a naughty movie
and I’m fine with the cuts that have been made.”
But you can’t trap Gallen,” I don’t
want to put words into their [censorship board] mouths to say why
the censorship took so long.”
What is certain though, is that the generous
doses of vulgarities and a scene where Irene Ang cameos as a swearing
cop have been axed.
The Tim Burton disease
Like Hollywood’s infamous gothic film director Tim Burton,
Gallen shares the same bleak passion that colours most of his films.
“I don’t like slapstick or happy-go-lucky movies, I prefer
the darker ones.”
 He
must have drawn some of his own blood as inspiration for Simon’s
screen escapades from life, like robbing convenience stores for
a thrill then. He’s even got the normally poker-countenanced
Lim Kay Tong playing a trigger-happy gay madman.
“I won’t comment on whether there’s
a personal involvement, but I think A Sharp Pencil sets a standard
in film bleakness.” Gallen maintains, the veil of secrecy falling
once again.
Screen lovers reunited
 Gallen
works with a familiar cast of Edmund Chen, Mark Richmond and Beatrice
Chia for the movie. The trio last appeared in the controversial
23:59, which saw Mark and Beatrice in a provocative nude stance
that left not too much to the imagination.
 The
pair has appeared in numerous other plays and movies together, the
most recent being a joint-directorial effort in Lovewave
96.6FM.
What’s their off-screen chemistry like
with such a high mutual comfort level?
 “Beatrice
and I have been very good friends since our Triple Nine days and
are very comfortable with each other. It will always be a joy working
with her and it's a working relationship that has respect and lots
of honesty for 2 people with headstrong personalities,” says
Mark.
 Beatrice
obviously shares the coziness,” The best part about working
with Mark is he's my best friend, therefore I can say anything and
do anything and he will never scold me or beat me up. I can get
away with everything plus he pays for all my Starbucks coffee!”
A Sharp Pencil debuts in Singapore on August 30.
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