Word: siff
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...Speaking of festivals, how did last month's Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) leave you feeling about the state of local moviemaking? TAN: Their films are really good. There's a new wave there. UEKRONGTHAM: Suddenly we have a Singapore Panorama section [of local features]. KHOO: If you look at the short-film competition, which started about 12 years ago, there were very few entries then, but now they get over 100. There are all these polytechnics having film courses. I've noticed this whole change in how many young Singaporeans that want to be filmmakers want to direct...
...among those who are genuinely interested in film, is there a greater sense of community now? KHOO: What the SIFF has done is create a sophisticated audience, one that can embrace more than just commercial cinema. When you look at Singapore, one thing I think we can pride ourselves on is the independent distributors that we have, and the amount of films that come through now, whether they be Iranian, French, German, from Hong Kong, or Korean. UEKRONGTHAM: Whenever I'm away, I can come back and get my art-house fix. You are spoiled for choice here...
...company's founder and artistic director, Ira Siff (a.k.a. Mme. Galupe- Borszkh), was introduced to opera in high school in New York City. "In the beginning, " he says, "it was Callas, Callas, Callas. I slept three nights in the streets to get into her 1965 Tosca at the Met. It was at once thrilling and hilarious, riveting and funny, especially because the performance was so devoid of humor. My giggles have always been appreciative, but once at the old Met I laughed so loud a dowager clobbered me with her program...
...Siff studied to become a tenor in the Italian bel canto style, but detoured into a career as a cabaret performer and teacher of theater voice. He launched La Gran Scena in 1981, gradually building a repertory based on 19th century classics and a company of free-lance singers, most of whom have opera careers elsewhere in their natural voices. Indeed, Siff is one of only two non- conservatory-train ed singers in the troupe...
...says Siff, "we're a reminder of what opera used to be. You don't see the grand manner onstage anymore -- no one will embarrass themselves. Which is too bad, because if opera isn't over the top, what...