Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1010570
with wealth. No doubt Ah-ma—the grandmother and matriarch—was connected deeply to the region's Peranakan culture, as one of the last generations to hold onto that style. The opulence of pattern, color and European intertwined with Southeast Asian creates a very specific regional vernacular. Tile and ceramics from Germany, Belgium and England; handcrafted ebonized furniture inlaid with mother of pearl and patterned marble, kitchen cooking benches, placement of furniture and art, over-patterned wall coverings and flooring, and of course, food—delicious, colorful, very specific food…each needed to be substantial visual narrative components. Every waking moment was filled with research and sourcing…hitting street stalls and night food markets to find specific details for inclusion. Office walls were covered with samples of fabric, furniture, materials, research, location photos and construction plans. These walls enabled cast and crew to visualize the through-line of the film, keeping the visual narrative on track as it developed. Conservatory Blooms Singapore's historic bungalows include specific louvre panels, raised porches and carved plaster reliefs. Those regionally specific elements were incorporated into Tyersall Park. The estate reveal occurs during a society party celebrating a Tan Hua plant, which blooms once a year, only at night. To make the property appear grander, a separate conservatory across the lawn was designed. The placement of the conservatory provided motivation for wide shots of the main residence, adding a Gatsby-like quality to the soireé. During colonial rule, a British/Chinese shophouse vernacular architecture emerged. The conservatory would emulate that style with the Tan Hua in the center, among exotic birds, peacocks, art and specimen plants. The conservatory was constructed in two weeks. Simultaneously, the exterior Tyersall location was modified with new terraces, front steps, fountain, landscaping and façade sections covering rotting pediments and eves. Tropical filming challenges of intense heat, humidity and torrential rain were magnified by being in a country with the third highest rate of D E F