Ahead of the Macao Indie film festival, Mark Tjhung talks to budding filmmaker, singer, actor, and eternal optimist Jordan Cheng.

Don’t worry – the Macao Indies isn’t yet another high-adrenalin motor sport event hitting the enclave. It’s a film festival.

Run by the tireless culture devotees at the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM), the ‘Indies’ were created to encourage the nascent Macau movie industry, and to give local independent filmmakers an opportunity to screen their work. Now in its third year, it will form part of the Macau International Film and Video Festival, running from April 3-12. Last year’s entries were varied, from music videos to abstract works, experimental movies to documentaries. With entries for this year’s festival closing on Sunday 8, budding directors had better get in quick.

Last year, Jordan Cheng received a Jury's Commendation Award for his film Fault Me Not, a story of a young man lost in society. The multi-talented Cheng who, as well as film, has a background in acting, singing and music, spoke to us about the festival – and his latest passion, musicals.

What are your thoughts on the Macao Indies?

The Indies are a good introductory platform for local filmmakers to show their work to the audience. We are all very happy to see that the CCM values this art form. At the moment, filmmaking in Macau is only recognised by a small group of people. The Indies help filmmakers reach the wider community.

Are Macau filmmakers excited about the Indies?

Yes, I believe so. Because the CCM has provided this channel for local filmmakers, it’s become a presentation of what local filmmakers have made during the previous 12 months. People think – what will the quality be like this year? Are there any exciting productions? Any potential newcomers? Local filmmakers are so happy that they’ve finally got an annual party to go to.

Did doors open for you after last year’s Jury's Commendation Award?

The Macao Indies give positive encouragement to local filmmakers; motivating artists in the audio-visual field to create more work and productions. While I can’t say that it gives further opportunities to filmmakers, the Indies’ true effect has yet to be seen. After all, this is still a very young festival. Even Cannes started from nothing, right?

Are you entering a film this year?

I would like to! I’ve entered works for the past two years. However, this year I need to focus on the CCM’s Artists-in-Residence (AIR) project. I do actually have a short film script ready to shoot, I wrote it last September, but I’ll have to postpone it until the middle of 2009 or 2010. It’s a pity …

Speaking of the AIR project, we hear it’s gearing up for the big ‘mystery’ musical at the end of the year. What's the reaction been like in Macau?

From what I’ve heard, people are half-excited, half-curious. People are excited to see the outcome of three years effort, but also curious about this new art form, and how we will present it, thinking, ‘What? A musical? In Macau? Can we do it?’

Can you reveal a little about it?

We hope we can tell a story that is interesting, funny, as well as touch the hearts of Macau people. We don’t need another Phantom of the Opera. Our core values and spirit might have been forgotten after the recent tremendous changes in Macau, but they remain in our hearts, simple but eternal.

How did you get into musicals?

During the last summer of university, I wanted to do something I had never tried before. At that time the CCM opened auditions for a new theatre drama Lost in the End of Love by local director Chan Pak-tim. I knew nothing about drama at the time, so it was exactly what I wanted – something new! I went to the casting and was very lucky because, due to my past musical training, Mr Chan chose me to be in the cast. That was two years ago. I have just finished Broadway Express, my fifth production as an actor on stage. And since this production, I’ve found that my ultimate passions and desire lie in doing musicals.

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now we’re in the middle of creative preparation for the musical. I am responsible for some scriptwriting as well as working as a lyricist. This is a very new and big challenge for me. I’ve written short film scripts before but this is the first time I’ve tried to work on a musical libretto. I hope I get a chance to be on stage as well. Performing in a musical in front of a Macau audience – it’s exciting just to talk about it! This project will be an excellent opportunity for me to further expand my artistic views.

What are your dreams for the future?

Like many amateur artists with a regular 9am-6pm job, I hope the AIR project can help turn my passion into a career. We are organising a theatre group for ourselves focusing on producing musicals. I know it’s not going to be easy and that we still have a long way to go, but these motivations keep me going.

For details on entry to the Macao Indies, see www.ccm.gov.mo.