35 for EMCC35 | James Tan

Continuing our 35 for EMCC35 series, we speak to EMCC Crew alumnus, James Tan, who has since joined the arts industry as a Lighting Designer. Having secured an MFA in Lighting Design (Department of Theatre & Dance) from UC San Diego, James is grateful for the opportunities given through EMCC that had helped develop his craft and build his portfolio. Check out his story and how he hopes EMCC can continue to foster discovery and exploration of the arts on campus.

What role did you play in the ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) series and how long were you part of EMCC?

During my time as an undergraduate, I assisted as a Lighting Technician, Master Electrician, Lighting Programmer and Lighting Designer with EMCC. I contributed to some events at FASS’ LT-13 but spent most of my time at the University Cultural Centre (UCC) Hall & Theatre. When I had short pockets of time between my lectures and tutorials, I also ran sound cables and set up music stand lights for music gigs during lunch time. For two years, I was part of EMCC while pursuing my Single Major BA in Theatre Studies (NUS FASS Department of English Language & Literature). Upon graduation, I also continued to design lights as an independent Lighting Designer for NUS Dance Synergy, NUS Dance Blast and Kent Ridge Hall.

How did your passion for the arts intersect with EMCC and its purpose?

EMCC fosters discovery and exploration of the Arts. As an Artist, I found my forte in technical theatre and developed the “art” in Lighting Design through my roots at EMCC. Perhaps unknowingly, I was actually developing my craft as I worked on shows, while observing how the more experienced seniors and professional Lighting Designers worked on lights cue-ing, crafting elaborate lighting plots, and their overall Lighting Design process in general.

As part of the EMCC crew, I was exposed to new forms in the Performing Arts and that helped to increase my knowledge on theatre 101. For example, I fondly recall the staging of Theatre des Bouffes du Nord’s Le Costume by Peter Brook at UCC Theatre. As an EMCC crew and Singapore Arts Festival technical crew, I collaborated with the touring Lighting Designer as Master Electrician for the performance. We had to evenly light a minimalist set on a simple square piece of carpet based on the UCC Theatre’s standard lighting rig. Interestingly, there were no special lighting effects nor elaborate cue-ing sequences. Through that experience, I learnt how to simply light a performance space evenly (by the way, visibility is the most basic functionality of stage lighting), and how that – when done correctly – can ultimately support the precision of actors’ movements on stage.

How did your EMCC experience add value to your time in school or professional life?

While the “cool kids” engaged in vibrant hall activities or sports IG, I spent my lunch and after-school hours climbing the catwalks and grid at the various theatres in NUS & UCC, supporting cultural groups in their traditional music or dance performances, focusing, programming and designing the lights. I got to stay in hall, but as a semi legit “#hall-phantom”. As I stayed in the East side of Singapore, I was not able to hop on the last bus home as some of the shows ended really late. Then, Dr KK Seet, who was responsible for establishing the Theatre Studies Programme at NUS, assisted me greatly in appealing to the Hostel Admission Services, to secure a placement for me at various NUS Halls of Residences. I am glad I got to experience some form of “hall life” during my days as an undergraduate, whilst practicing my craft as an EMCC crew, and getting paid to do what I liked. In my professional career, I crossed a pivotal milestone when I pursued an MFA in Lighting Design (Department of Theatre & Dance) at UC San Diego. My admission to grad school was through a series of interviews and more importantly, a submission of a professional portfolio of Lighting Design works. This included the design works I had done across five years. Notably, many of the earlier shows were those documented from my time as an EMCC crew.

What hopes do you have for EMCC in furthering its arts outreach programmes and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression by students?

I encourage EMCC to continue to help connect students to local and international theatre practitioners so that they can collaborate with industry professionals. Technical theatre is an art in itself within Performing Arts that is not commonly featured. We manipulate emotions in the dark (literally). We also support storytelling behind-the-scenes through our artistic eye and design choices. The outcome of this craft is actually very rewarding.

Singapore theatre needs a continuous stream of influx of tech talents and EMCC is a perfect seeding ground for undergraduate students in NUS who want to experience what life as a backstage freelance crew might be like.

In what way did EMCC help to make the arts more accessible for NUS students and the wider arts community?

During my time, there were free lunchtime concerts within the UCC premises and at LT-13. These opportunities not only allowed students from performing groups to showcase their talent and works. It also gave the EMCC crew the chance to be involved in various capacities at different locations across campus. NUS students attend such performances to support their peers performing, and entertains them outside of their mundane lecture theatre hopping routine. The outreach to the larger NUS community potentially draws the crowd into the theatre-setting proper as they enjoy the shared experience of a live performance. The wider arts community has also provided platforms and opportunities to stage experimental works in NUS and connect with the younger generation.

In my opinion, beyond all that can be taught and absorbed academically at NUS, all it takes is one student to make that “pit stop” to appreciate the Arts. That is perhaps what will set this student apart as an all-rounder knowledge sponge and an informed mature individual who is enlightened and appreciative of how the Arts can be transformative.