Private Project

Pencil

Have you ever bought a mechanical pencil with a missing eraser?

Wenxin spots her best friend Joanne stealing an eraser from a mechanical pencil at the bookshop. She faces the impossible dilemma of choosing between friendship and her moral principles.

  • Gina Tan
    Director
  • Gina Tan
    Writer
  • Joanna Ying Ng
    Producer
  • Kenneth Hu
    Producer
  • Isabelle
    Key Cast
    "Joanne"
  • Lisa
    Key Cast
    "Wenxin"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    笔芯
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 22, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Singapore
  • Country of Filming:
    Singapore
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Gina Tan

With a keen sense for storytelling, Regina directed the provocative documentary, “Transit,” about a Muslim transvestite's inner struggle both with his identity and with his mother. “Transit” was awarded the Best Documentary at the prestigious Cecil Awards at Chapman University and won the Bronze at the Singapore Crowbar Awards. “Transit” was also nominated for the prestigious David Wolper Award for Student Documentary from the International Documentary Association (IDA).

After graduation, Regina worked her way up as a freelance 1st Assistant Director for features, commercials as well as television series. She also completed directing 4 episodes of "The Munah & Hirzi show,” featuring the comedy team that have fast become two of the top Singaporean YouTube stars. She is now a full time director.

Always eager to keep working, she is concurrently developing several film, television and commercial projects. Her experience with different genres has proven her to be a versatile director with a sharp sensibility.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Our decisions define who we are and sometimes we make bad decisions to take the easy way out.

I grew up in Singapore in the 90s and at a very young age, my mother would always ask me three questions after school: If I completed my homework, if I talk in class, or if I was late for school. I guess all this mattered to her as a parent – that I was a good student.

I thought that these were the attributes of a good student, and even going through years of Civics and Moral Education ／《好公民》did not prepare me for the moral dilemma that I was about to encounter – witnessing my best friend stealing something from the bookshop.

The universal themes of honour, morality and the conundrum of doing the right things versus doing things right is portrayed in this short film. I wish to tell a story of how making the right decisions will render you unpopular and unlikable, which are situations that we as adults face all the time.

“Pencil” is a short film based on my personal experience and I hope sharing it would evoke a thought. Then, I feel like I have accomplished something worthwhile.