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Alumni
FMS Alumni Given that we are Singapore's most established educators of media (1989) and film (1993) professionals, and we still have the largest intakes in these areas, we think it's reasonable to say that FMS has the Largest Network, Highest Net Worth media and film talents in the country.
Here are some of our best-known alumni:
 Jean Danker, Class 95FM
(MCM Graduate of 1998)
"FMS was a really effective stepping stone for me. It provided a real well-rounded look at the world of media as a whole!
I graduated in 1998 and had a really fun time in NP's Mass Comm. I majored in Radio Production and was Music Director at Radio Heatwave. I remember we'd spend hours in that tiny office of ours, making playlists, arranging CDs for the on-air presenters and planning events! We were very busy and very cramped, but had a lot of fun!
In mass comm, I didn't feel like I was in school, it felt like I was spending the 3 years getting ready for the real world. So in that way, it truly prepared me for what was to come. I think it's very important that you get involved in this course, because the more you do so, the more you'll learn! And keep in contact with your friends you made there! They'll become part of your network later and I guarantee you you'll work with them outside of school!
I'm now hosting Cartunes on Class 95. It's the Number 1 Evening drive time English radio show in Singapore. And I am enjoying every minute of it. I'd like to keep on doing what I do as long as I still love it!"
 Vernetta Lopez, Class 95FM
(Graduate of 1993, MCM)
"FMS is truly a space for fresh creative minds to run wild, feel free to experiment and potentially be miles ahead of what is out there already. My time at Mass Comm was confusing. I was younger than most of my peers, coming straight out of O Levels. Puberty, creativity, pressure to fit in, or stand out, schooling as opposed to treating this like a real job, love life; everything was changing. It was great! I, of course, didn't help matters by missing the entire orientation week ‘cause of a broken leg! But everyone was very sweet to me. The most stressful part of the course was the presentations we had to do! Every time we got up there, there were butterflies and maybe an albatross in my tummy.
Doing TV projects and Radio were fantastic! I once suggested that we use a trolley to sit on and we do a 'track' shot. I was laughed at for my suggestion by peers who thought, that's just not professional enough. Fair enough, but I've seen many professionals do just that! But I admire the fact that Mass Comm always had the latest equipment and they still do. So never think an idea is silly; it can be your best shot!
I am currently on Singapore's No. 1 English Radio Station, Class 95. I've been on Singapore's first and most successful sitcom, Under One Roof. Acted in several dramas as well and won 2 Asian Television Awards; 1 for Comedy and another for Drama. I am the owner of thriving wedding planner business Eternally Yours.
I would like to expand the wedding planner business into a designer house for wedding gowns. And am currently in the process of proposing 2 shows for television in which I will be Executive Producer.
I don't ever want to stop being in the creative business :) "Jason Lai, Co-Founder, Creative Director of Oak 3 Films
(Graduate of 1996, FSV)
"It’s important to learn the rules well when you are young, so that you’ll know when and what to break as you move along. My 3 years in Ngee Ann have equipped me with skills that have carried me a long way in my career."Jason was from the pioneer cohort of Film, Sound & Video. He enjoys telling stories. His professional career began as a producer for an independent local (Singapore) feature film, The Road Less Travelled. With Oak 3 Films, the production company he co-founded with his coursemates , he has moved on to writing and directing a wide variety of works such as the drama series Something Good and the award-winning sitcom School Days, both for MediaCorp TV. Besides narrative films, Jason also has a keen interest in documentaries. Credits include Making of Lear (1999) and The Flying Circus (2000), both for Arts Central.
Jason’s more recent directorial efforts include Sayang: The Musical –his first foray into musical theatre directing and a documentary about food offering rituals in Singapore for the Discovery Channel.
When Jason Lai and his friends set up Oak3 Films in July 1996, they did not have much experience in the business. As fresh graduates, all they had were, in Jason’s own words, “ambition and burning passion for crafting and telling a story”. Since then, Oak3 has produced more than 100 hours of television programmes, numerous corporate videos and 3 films, including The Road Less Travelled. For the past two years, the company has had a turnover of more than $2 million annually.Alaric Tay, Actor (Fly Entertainment)
(Graduate of 2000, FSV) "Ngee Ann's FSV course was extremely useful and the course structure was so full-on to the extent that it could be as good as or even better than a degree programme."
Alaric Tay graduated in the year 2000 with a Film, Sound & Video diploma in Film. Upon graduation, he served his NS with the Singapore Armed Forces Music & Drama Company also known as (SAF MDC) as a full-time performing Artiste until early 2003.
Alaric’s talent and versatility is evident in the myriad of acting roles that he has taken on. This familiar face has graced national television in the hit dramedy, Money, popular sit-coms such as Phua Chu Kang and Living with Lydia, as well as serious dramas like Incredible Tales, Growing Up and Triple 9. He is best remembered for his performance in Glenn Goei’s local film Forever Fever as Adrian Pang’s endearing sidekick. Alaric also played the lead role in the award-winning independent short film, Another Guy and Lunchtime. He has been acting in several television sitcoms and tele-movies. Two of these are Love Matters and Blueprints. While being in films, he has also produced and directed a few short films.
Alaric has completed his studies for a degree in Film at Griffiths University in Brisbane, Australia. His short film, a documentary, premiered in Australia and had a promotional tour around Brisbane and the Gold Coast area for 12 months.
Teo Eng Tiong and Lim Jen Nee, Pilgrim Pictures
(Graduates of 1997, FSV)
"We built our strong foundation in filmmaking at FMS. We had a great time in FMS. Fellow schoolmates are also fellow industry practitioners now. In a way, it feels as if we’ve had never left school!
The lecturers were also our motivators, imparting invaluable practical experiences that serve us well when we started our business. Also, the knowledge the lecturers shared with us gives us a strong foundation in our craft. This proves extremely important when we embark on our filmmaking career."
Eng Tiong and Jen Nee graduated from the Film, Sound & Video course in 1997, emerging as top students in their cohort. They next went on a 10-month internship at Warner Brothers’ Studios in Los Angeles to learn the then new DVD technology.
They have worked in varied areas including teaching, producing DVDs and multimedia projects. Juggling work while furthering their studies, they each graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Design in 2001.
In 2002, the duo set up Pilgrim Pictures, a production house. As a start-up, they first worked on corporate productions, event coverage and wedding videos for a living and to widen their network. They also garnered international awards for their works. But making movies is never far from their minds. In 2004, Eng Tiong and Jen Nee started to actively develop their first movie, Truth Be Told. It went into production in 2006 and was released in local cinemas in October 2007.
Eng Tiong and Jen Nee are developing their second and third feature-length projects.
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