Making Meaning

Edward Foo, the director of My Invisible Life - a film about the social issues faced by youths and migrant workers - sheds light on the process that requires both heart and humility.

- Bryan Goh

Hello Edward, what is it about a film script or concept that draws your interest to direct it? Of course, it has to be interesting, but do you think about challenging yourself to do something different or defying what people think your artistry is? Absolutely. I enjoy taking on projects that inspire me to push my creative limits and devise new ways of storytelling. My Invisible Life is unique in that it was formerly a stage play that has now been revised into a movie screenplay. The challenge here was to think about bringing all those theatrical elements onto the big screen while giving the project an extra touch in the process. I’m also really intrigued by projects that open discussions on social causes or meaningful issues, and Gateway Arts is always at the forefront of advocating for positive social change.

In your own opinion, what do you think you are doing with My Invisible Life? What do you think you bring to the table and how does a creative dialogue between creatives work for you? What we really set out to do was to present a difficult and complex social issue with all its layers into a simple, heart-warming story with a key message accessible to younger audiences. I think we found a way to get youths talking about the issues surrounding migrant workers and open their minds to future conversations. When it came to communicating this vision with our team, I shared the direction I hoped to see for the project and gave our talents (production, editing team, graphic design, sound design, cast) lots of room to explore and imagine the possibilities for their roles and characters. It’s truly enjoyable to listen to everyone’s ideas about how we could make the project come to life and put these ideas into action.