SINGAPORE – PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, has released its second short film this year to coincide with Qing Ming – a festival with deep meaning and tradition for many Singaporeans. Written by Tribal Worldwide Singapore, The Frog Prince (青蛙王子) was inspired by the Chinese saying ‘木有本, 水有源” which translates as ‘Every tree has its roots, every river has its source’. It expresses the virtue of honouring our parents, appreciating what they have sacrificed for us and values they have passed on to us. The film brings this virtue to life and reflects the spirit of remembrance that is the essence of the festival.
The Frog Prince tells the story of a poor family with a kim zua (joss sticks and paper offerings) business in the 1980s. Their son yearns for new toys and clothes so he can be more like his friends – luxuries his parents cannot afford. As he grapples with temptation and jealousy, the boy uncovers the life lessons behind his father’s words and deeds.
“The ‘can-do’ attitudes of our forefathers in building a sustainable water supply for Singapore is something that we can all be proud of. We must cherish what we have built up over the years. We hope that the film serves as a reminder to how far we have come, not just for our Singapore Water Story success, but also for everyone to take a step back from our busy lives to remember the precious life lessons imparted by our forefathers,” said Cindy Keng, Director of 3P Network, PUB.
PUB’s ongoing message of fostering a water-conscious culture across Singapore is woven through the film, touching on how our older generation came up with creative ways to save and reuse water as part of their everyday routine. Pots and vases collect rainwater that is reused around the house. In another scene, the father scoops water from a classic dragon urn instead of a running shower. The gripping film serves as a reminder that the values passed on from our parents are as precious as water.
“While Qing Ming often comes and goes without the usual high-spirited celebrations of other festivals, there is value in remembering and learning from previous generations,” said Benson Toh, Creative Director at Tribal Worldwide Singapore. “We’re thankful for the chance to once again partner with PUB and create another memorable film.”
The short film was launched on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube on 25 March. Since the film’s release last week, many have commented on Facebook that they were reminded of their relationship with their parents, while some wrote that they were moved to tears as it was something close to home.
REACTION VIDEO: The Frog Prince Evokes Emotional Reactions from Famous Fathers and Sons
To further understand the consumption of the film’s content, the team embarked on a special screening. Four pairs of fathers and sons were invited to watch PUB’s first ever Qing Ming film, The Frog Prince (青蛙王子). They came, they watched, they cried; and left the screening with a touching reminder of the importance of family values.
Football legend Fandi Ahmad and his son Ilhan, veteran actor Adrian Pang and his son Zack, actor and producer Andie Chen and his father Tan Jwee Meng, and family counselor Gary Koh and his son Tobias Koh spent an afternoon dissecting and bonding over the short filmlet that reflects themes of filial piety, the importance of values and strong family relationships.
But the fathers and sons weren’t just there for a typical interview. To measure their responses on an unprecedented scale, they were hooked up to non-invasive neuro measuring kits.
MUSIC VIDEO: Theme song of PUB’s new film reflects singer’s childhood memories
Local musician Jim Lim has released a new song entitled, “Every Little Drop”《一点一滴. The song, which cleverly uses the sound of falling water droplets in its introduction, is the theme song for PUB’s new poignant film, “The Frog Prince”《青蛙王子.
When composing it, Jim drew inspiration from his own childhood, sharing how his father was very similar to the father in the film, who caned his child as punishment.
Jim also appears in the music video of the song, which features iconic moments from the film interspersed with behind-the-scenes footage of the song’s production.
The Frog Prince is the latest instalment in PUB’s 2020 water conservation campaign. Titled ‘We have come a long way in our water story’, the initiative launched in early March with a nostalgic brand film about Singapore’s water challenges and shortages mere decades ago. The film was written by Tribal Worldwide Singapore, the creative agency that was behind PUB’s viral Hari Raya short film Kinship last year. With The Frog Prince, the agency has once again touched viewers.
