Whether you realise it or not, you’re already familiar with Martin Hong’s work.
Whether you realise it or not, you’re already familiar with Martin Hong’s work. The 27-year-old genre-hopper is perhaps Singapore’s answer to Spike Jonze, equally adept at directing shorts (Come Fly Away With Me, 2015 – nominated for Best Direction at the National Youth Film Awards), music videos (For Love, The Sam Willows) and commercials (McDelivery’s new spot with Female Collective member Aarika Lee). Of late, he’s added nominated actor (Outstanding Lead Actor in Comedy, 2017 LAWebFest) for his role in his web series Geeks Vs Bloggers, which looked at the machinations of #influencer culture.
Hong’s do-it-all approach is one he’s honed from the start. A self-professed David Fincher fan, who also admits to influences from Disney and Pixar films, he describes his work as “one with a strong Western-Asian fusion of aesthetics”. “All my films have traits of insecurity or pain,” he says.
The work he’s most proud of
“Despite all its flaws, the For Love music video was still very true to the original version, and it had a lot of heart from everyone who worked on it.”
On the current film scene in Singapore
“It’s growing really fast and becoming such a democratic medium. It also makes people more willing to break rules and challenge what film is. I’m looking forward to Singaporeans making crazier and edgier stuff.”
Upcoming projects
“More commercial work, but also a music video and a collaboration with 3-D design duo Machineast.”
