Crowd-sourcing started as a trend induced through the internet and has become a norm for knowledge sharing and decision-making. It has since evolved into directing and dictating major decisions satisfying consumer appetites. In Singapore, Mediacorp is partnering with Wattpad to adapt Wattpad’s hit romantic story “Slow Dancing” by Singaporean writer Noelle (@Hepburnettes) as a six-part series. “Slow Dancing” has garnered over 9.5 million reads to date and nearly 400,000 votes from fans.
With crowd-sourcing used for commercial such as content production, join the panel as they discuss how data drives decisions in storytelling if this is a way forward or has this been the norm all along and how writers and filmmakers should navigate in this evolving landscape.
Session 1 – Stories For The People By The People – Q&A
Panellist:
Dexter Ong, Head of Asia, Wattpad Studios
Dexter Ong is Head of Asia for Wattpad Studios. He oversees Wattpad Studio’s expansion in Asian markets, working with local entertainment studios, producers and writers to turn Wattpad stories into film, television, print and digital projects.
Previously, Dexter was the Director of Corporate Development for 21st Century Fox Asia, where he developed corporate strategies for production and digital video products. Prior to 21st Century Fox, Ong was with CA Media, the Asia arm of The Chernin Group, where he advised content development for NET TV, a free-to-air broadcaster in Indonesia.
Based in Hong Kong, Dexter received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge.
Kane Wheatley-Holder, Vice President, Screenwriters Association (Singapore)
Kane Wheatley-Holder is Head Scriptwriter of Big 3 Media and helms the company’s short-form, long-form, corporate and social media content. A scriptwriter for nearly a decade, Kane has cut his teeth in numerous production houses and international networks. In 2012, Kane won Cartoon Network’s SNAPTOONS competition from a pool of 40 animation companies for his project Maxine Starr: Last Vanguard of the Zodiac. Kane then went on to be a staff writer for South-East Asian preschool channel Zoomoo Networks, clocking over 17 hours of content that aired internationally. Thereafter, Kane wrote for spin-off series, Zoomoo’s Got Brains, which was nominated at the Asian Television Award 2015 for Best Preschool Programme. It went on to win the Highly Commended prize.
In 2016, Kane’s unpublished YA novel, Maxine Starr: Last Vanguard of the Zodiac, was an international winner of Tracking Board’s Launchpad Manuscript Competition in the United States. The book is currently being mentored by bestselling author and astronautics teacher, Mike Mongo. With Big 3 Media, Kane is the co-creator and scriptwriter for Sticker’s Together, a children’s animation series, sci-fi drama, Glitch!, and suspense thriller, The Intruder. Kane also enjoys spreading positive ideas about writing and creativity (occasionally with dinosaurs) on his blog.
Kane is the current Vice-President of the Screenwriters’ Association of Singapore.
Kevin Ho, Assistant lead (English Audience), Mediacorp
As Assistant Lead for Mediacorp’s English Audience segment, Kevin oversees the English content strategy as well as the commissioning of popular productions across diverse genres, including Lion Mums, Word Whiz or Slime Pit and Fried Rice Paradise – The Drama Series. Throughout his 15-year career in the media industry, he has also produced an array of local and regional programmes, from reality shows, documentaries to dramas and kids’ infotainment programmes.
William Phuan, Executive Director, Singapore Book Council
William Phuan is the Executive Director of the Singapore Book Council, a nonprofit dedicated to developing and promoting Singapore’s books and writers. Established in 1968, the Book Council organises literary festivals, workshops and talks, and gives out book awards. William was formerly the director of The Arts House, and Programme Director of the New York Asian American International Film Festival. He also lectures part-time on arts management.
