Meet the Film Guardian
Picture a dusty attic in Singapore, where silent ghosts of old cinema flicker on fragile reels. This is the daily battleground for 34‑year‑old film archivist Chew Tee Pao, a dedicated knight of the silver screen, racing against time to rescue these aging treasures.
Why Film Strips Matter
- Early films were shot on filmstrips, the backbone of storytelling for decades.
- These reels have become historical artifacts—the heartbeat of cinema history.
- But in Southeast Asia’s hot, humid climate, they’re at risk of decay and loss.
The Asian Film Archive (AFA)
Established in 2005, AFA is a non‑profit that champions the art of cinematography by preserving old Singapore and Asian films. They’ve cleaned nearly 1,000 reels and boast a portfolio of almost 2,000 titles—
- Eric Khoo’s Mee Pok Man (1995)
- Chen Kaige’s Yellow Earth (1984)
- Chun Kim’s Moon Over Malaya (1957)
From Intern to Veteran
Tee Pao began as an intern in 2009, fresh from university, diving into the world of film restoration. The moment he saw a fading reel pop back to life, he knew this was his forever gig.
He often says, “Restoring film is like keeping family photo albums safe. It’s preserving our shared memories.”
The You Do…What? Episode
In the latest episode of You Do…What?, host Toh Yan Wei first examines damaged strips, then hands over a mic to Tee Pao. Together, they clean and restore L. Krishnan’s Orang Minyak (1958), a movie that took over six months to bring back to life.
Want to see their hands in action? Watch the full episode—the drama of cleaning, the thrill of revival, and the heartfelt love for cinema you won’t want to miss.
About You Do…What?
- It’s a 7‑part series where each episode explores unconventional jobs through hands‑on experience.
- Produced by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) for their second season of public service content.
- Episodes drop every two weeks on zaobao.sg, and they’re subtitled in Chinese and English.
