Seeing Things

Before I post a mega entry this week, here's a quick post on two new places I discovered in Singapore.

19th February 2008: NUS
Yup, as the name suggests. A museum right at the heart of NUS.

As I was giving my Malaysian Chinese New Zealand friend, Catherine, a tour around NUS, we stumbled upon this 3-storeyed building, sandwiched in between Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and University Cultural Centre.

And NUS Museum looked like...
... a museum!

Gilt-bronze burial mask given to Yelu brides

Disturbingly Colourful.

23rd February 2008: Mount Sophia
Nope, I didn't go mountain climbing. Mount Sophia is just a hill smacked in the middle of Plaza Singapura carpark and The Cathay.

Take a hike up the long flight of steps and you find an...

... an Old School!

Yup. They seriously couldn't be more literal in naming the building.
Signs and directions were quirky. It was dusk by then so I didn't take many photos.
Of course.
The main attraction was not in Old School. But I was there for Sinema.

The official write out:
Independent cinema is getting a new spin. And space.

Sinema Old School is situated atop Mount Sophia at the newest and ultra-hip creative arts community hotspot, Old School. It is the physical space of Sinema.SG, an the remarkable initiative by a photographer and graphic designer, accidental filmmakers, and self-confessed media addicts, Nicholas Chee and Randy Ang.

A salient collaboration between Old School and Originasian Pictures and with digital high-definition projection technology made possible by the partnership with Panasonic and Apple, Sinema Old School is the first and only high-definition cinema solely devoted to Singaporean films. This truly indie 130-seater cinema space also hopes to be a permanent venue for local bands’ breakout gigs, technology workshops and master-classes, film forums and dialogue sessions.

And taking the active step to support local even further, Sinema Old School’s retail store heralds all things Singaporean, counting in its precious stash; DVDs and soundtrack CDs from local films, limited edition movie merchandise, literary works by Singapore writers and local indie magazine publishers and CDs by Singapore bands and musicians.

Swanky yet cosy cinema

The official retail store

Old School Tickets

Does it sound commercially viable?
Well, judging from the 11 people who turned up last Saturday, nope.

How can they survive earning $55 (5bucks per ticket) a weekend?! Considering the comfy seats, great video quality and impressive sound system...

Nonetheless, I swore to tell as many people as I can, so hopefully it won't close down.
It's currently showing Singapore Dreaming now.

So go catch it and do your part of Singapore!
Heh, check out their website at www.sinema.sg .