INRI studio
Encyclopedia
INRI studio is an independent production house from Singapore
, founded by cult director Tzang Merwyn Tong
in 1999. The studio has - to this date - produced two films, A Wicked Tale
and e’tzaintes, both of which premièred to critical acclaim in the international film festival circuit. The studio’s mission is to create a platform for writers, storytellers, musicians and film-makers to come together to present alternative art forms to mainstream audiences. Their Mantra
– To Provoke the Senses and Open the Mind.
and long time friend Armen Rizal Rahman, an aspiring musician, decide that it was time they band together to create a production company they can call their own. They roped in Lee Amizadai and together the unit christened themselves as INRI studio.
The trio went on to make their very first film together. Using their scrap earnings and savings that they have accumulated over the years, the team of film-makers started work on their first film e’tzaintes. The film’s a teenage black comedy about a bunch of social outcasts. It was a project that took them 3 years to complete.
The film was a hit when it premièred at GV Grand at Great World City in Singapore
on January 2003. Tickets to this independent première were completely sold out with people even paying to sit on the aisles.
e’tzaintes went to travel to a couple of film festivals. It premièred in Europe in 2004 as the Opening Night Film of the Berlin
Asia-Pacific Film Festival and was screened as part of the Asian New Force at the Hong Kong
IFVA Festival.
The studio then embarked on their second film, A Wicked tale, starring Evelyn Maria Ng as the Little Red Riding Hood
character in Tzang Merwyn Tong
’s dark re-imagination of the Brothers Grimm
fable. The film made its World Premiere to a full house crowd at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and was later invited to FanTasia Film Festival to be screened as one of the Closing Night films. The movie won the Gold Remi Award at WorldFest
in Houston. On December 2005, INRI studio made history by being the first short film in Singapore to be released commercially on DVD
.
The INRI studio collective now consists of artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers coming together to explore new ways of how they can take things to the next level. An underground music project is currently in the pipeline.
was crucified. INRI is a Latin acronym for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (literally translated as Jesus
of Nazareth King of Jews). The letters can be found inscribed on a stylized plaque (or parchment) hanging just above the corpse of Christ
on many depictions of the Crucifixion
.
Contrary to belief, the use of the name INRI is neither religious nor sacrilegious. Tzang Merwyn is known to be a big fan of mythology and he considers the crucifixion one of the most romantic and inspiring parables in history.
It’s a story about a man (assumed by many as a heretic) who refuses to deny accusations that he was the Saviour even though he was about to be nailed to the cross. The story is symbolical of the kind sacrifice one has to make to stage a revolution, and the letters, INRI, a reminder to Tzang and his team mates that mockery and ridicule awaits those who choose to do things differently.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, founded by cult director Tzang Merwyn Tong
Tzang Merwyn Tong
Tzang Merwyn Tong Rong Jun （唐荣君） is an underground filmmaker and script writer from Singapore. His debut film e’TZAINTES is a dark teenage comedy about a bunch of social misfits who band together to stand up against oppression...
in 1999. The studio has - to this date - produced two films, A Wicked Tale
A Wicked Tale
A Wicked Tale is a 45 minute experimental film by INRI studio. It is written and directed by Singapore filmmaker Tzang Merwyn Tong. The film premiered to critical acclaim at the 34th Rotterdam International Film Festival and was a surprise hit at the 2005 Montreal FanTasia Film Festival.This low...
and e’tzaintes, both of which premièred to critical acclaim in the international film festival circuit. The studio’s mission is to create a platform for writers, storytellers, musicians and film-makers to come together to present alternative art forms to mainstream audiences. Their Mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
– To Provoke the Senses and Open the Mind.
History
INRI studio was a concept that came about in 1999 when Tzang Merwyn TongTzang Merwyn Tong
Tzang Merwyn Tong Rong Jun （唐荣君） is an underground filmmaker and script writer from Singapore. His debut film e’TZAINTES is a dark teenage comedy about a bunch of social misfits who band together to stand up against oppression...
and long time friend Armen Rizal Rahman, an aspiring musician, decide that it was time they band together to create a production company they can call their own. They roped in Lee Amizadai and together the unit christened themselves as INRI studio.
The trio went on to make their very first film together. Using their scrap earnings and savings that they have accumulated over the years, the team of film-makers started work on their first film e’tzaintes. The film’s a teenage black comedy about a bunch of social outcasts. It was a project that took them 3 years to complete.
The film was a hit when it premièred at GV Grand at Great World City in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
on January 2003. Tickets to this independent première were completely sold out with people even paying to sit on the aisles.
e’tzaintes went to travel to a couple of film festivals. It premièred in Europe in 2004 as the Opening Night Film of the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Asia-Pacific Film Festival and was screened as part of the Asian New Force at the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
IFVA Festival.
The studio then embarked on their second film, A Wicked tale, starring Evelyn Maria Ng as the Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
character in Tzang Merwyn Tong
Tzang Merwyn Tong
Tzang Merwyn Tong Rong Jun （唐荣君） is an underground filmmaker and script writer from Singapore. His debut film e’TZAINTES is a dark teenage comedy about a bunch of social misfits who band together to stand up against oppression...
’s dark re-imagination of the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
fable. The film made its World Premiere to a full house crowd at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and was later invited to FanTasia Film Festival to be screened as one of the Closing Night films. The movie won the Gold Remi Award at WorldFest
WorldFest
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival is an annual film festival, dedicated to various types of independent films, held in Houston, Texas.-History:...
in Houston. On December 2005, INRI studio made history by being the first short film in Singapore to be released commercially on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.
The INRI studio collective now consists of artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers coming together to explore new ways of how they can take things to the next level. An underground music project is currently in the pipeline.
Etymology
The word INRI is inspired by the inscription on the cross from which ChristChrist
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
was crucified. INRI is a Latin acronym for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (literally translated as Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
of Nazareth King of Jews). The letters can be found inscribed on a stylized plaque (or parchment) hanging just above the corpse of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
on many depictions of the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
.
Contrary to belief, the use of the name INRI is neither religious nor sacrilegious. Tzang Merwyn is known to be a big fan of mythology and he considers the crucifixion one of the most romantic and inspiring parables in history.
It’s a story about a man (assumed by many as a heretic) who refuses to deny accusations that he was the Saviour even though he was about to be nailed to the cross. The story is symbolical of the kind sacrifice one has to make to stage a revolution, and the letters, INRI, a reminder to Tzang and his team mates that mockery and ridicule awaits those who choose to do things differently.
Official Filmography
- A Wicked tale (2005)
- e’tzaintes giving self deceit a better name (2003)