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| SMIT Students Do Their Bit for Singapore While the rest of us were enjoying the spectacular National Day Parade (NDP) this year, students from SMIT were toiling away behind eight cameras providing live feed for the large screens at Marina Bay and also for the live webcast. In addition to the live feed, SMIT students, guided by their lecturers, also contributed to NDP 2007 by working on a video documentary on the construction of the floating platform and viewing gallery at Marina Bay as well as another documentary on the making of NDP 2007. These were aired on national television. They also created online games, banners, animation and e-greeting cards for the NDP website. Student Mark Song, a member of the live feed team shares his experiences here: Eight years ago in Primary 5, I was offered the chance to attend Singapore's 34th National Day Parade (NDP). As a kid who was more interested in video games than outdoor events, I happily gave it a miss. For the next seven years, I regretted skipping what is an once-in-a-lifetime chance for many. I was thrilled, then, to hear that a group of Singapore Polytechnic (SP) students had videoed the event live last year. Fast forward one year later and I am pleased to say that I have finally witnessed, experienced and participated in my first National Day Parade. And what a spectacle it was! From Sheikh Haikel rapping Chan Mali Chan to the Dynamic Defense Display to the Grand Finale and fireworks, this year's NDP had the most innovative marriage of light and sound, fire and water, music and performance I have ever seen! I guess it all started with a passion that we all shared: to be part of this national event and learn new skills along the way. But through the rehearsals, the effort became much more than just using a camera - it became necessary for us to work together as a team and to support each other when the going got tough. It was especially trying at the start when the stage was bare, the lights static, the costumes non-existent, and the events performed in random order. Then slowly, the events started getting strung together, and the magic started to weave itself seamlessly through the performances to form NDP '07. Running schoolchildren became fish swimming in the ocean while a taichi formation slowly took on the shape of a man. The transition from rehearsal to the real thing was a beautiful thing to behold, and to me it is as unforgettable as the final event itself. But behind it all, beyond the sense of accomplishment and national pride, were the lecturers who helped us pull through to the end: Ms Anna Phang, Ms Jennifer Ang and Mr Quek Chee Siong. Without their support, this year's NDP would not have been the same. Hence, I wish to thank them all for their unwavering belief in us and their commitment to making this National Day Parade a resounding success! It is my belief that every Singaporean, young or old, should attend a National Day Parade at least once in his lifetime - or even better, to participate in one! |
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| SMIT students serve the nation at NDP 2007 Muhammad Hakim Bin Rahim Oops! Writer On behalf of the 27 students from SMIT who served the nation at NDP 2007 Will you come on this brave journey, Will you help to make it real Will you write us grand new stories, Songs that everyone will feel. Lyrics from Will You, by Jimmy Ye Who would be able to memorise the lyrics to "Will You" better than us, the 27 students from School of Media and Info-communication Technology (SMIT) who were stationed at the Marina Bay platform every week sun-tanning under the scorching sun since early May this year. We served the nation, by providing them with visual supplement channelled to the two big screens on the platform. Yes, we were the ones responsible for getting 'LIVE' shots for the spectators. We're the camera crew for NDP 07. Hundreds from our course signed up for it and after battling through rounds and rounds of auditioning and receiving criticisms from the panel of judges, only 27 succeeded to be part of this year's NDP @ Marina Bay. Okay fine, I exaggerated a wee bit about the grueling rounds of audition. We've had our fair share of good food and erm, edible food ranging from KFC to Pizza Hut to yah, edible food packed in containers. And NEWATER became our very best friend. (Honestly, after drinking bottles and bottles of them, one could still not forget the ingredients to the perfect NEWATER.) Rain or shine, we persevered, battling the sun with our sun block lotion, the rain with our suffocating ponchos, our thirst with NEWATER and the fatigue with an ice cream treat. The climax would probably be the fire of passion, which is the fireworks segment. It marked the end of months of hard work and perseverance. It was quite an exhilarating experience for us, being able to put to good use the skills taught at SP to the millions of people watching the parade, both at Marina Bay and at home! Happy Birthday, Singapore! From the 27 live feeders and the lecturers involved in NDP 07! |