How We Grow – Page 2

Category: How We Grow

Year in Review 2023: Tuber Progress and Achievements

As we bid farewell to another remarkable year, it’s with immense pride and gratitude that we reflect on the milestones that have shaped Tuber’s journey. The past year has been a testament to our collective dedication and passion, and we’re thrilled to share some highlights of 2023.

Tuber’s new learning and development arm, Offshoots Academy, hosted its inaugural workshop “Writing Better Than a Bot” at ITE College Central. In the following weeks, we took our workshop to Singapore Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic, and booking requests continue to flow in! At these workshops, we successfully created a space where ideas flowed and creativity thrived – in tandem with the rise of artificial intelligence. This milestone marked our desire to foster and be part of a culture of continuous learning and development.

Along with this venture, Tuber dove into the realm of TikTok and YouTube. Here’s to staying current and connecting with new audiences! Shooting our first promotional video for “Writing Better Than a Bot” was a super fun learning experience.

Our dedication to impactful editorial projects continues. We completed projects with the Public Service Division (we’ve contributed to Challenge since 2010), Temasek Foundation and Family Justice Courts. From crafting an engaging children’s activity book for the Courts to doing interviews with movers and shakers from various industries, our team’s commitment to delivering high-quality work shone through.

The Challenge Cuppa interview with Ms Lim Wan Yong, 2nd Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development, was a Content Marketing Awards finalist (Best Interview/Profile).

The Children’s Activity Book we produced for the Family Justice Courts won the Content Marketing Award for Visual Storytelling – Best Use of Illustration.

And we’re grateful to be recognised for our efforts. Tuber scored two Content Marketing Awards for visual storytelling and interview/profile editorial stories.

We also received the Learning Enterprise Award from the Institute for Adult Learning Singapore’s Centre for Workplace Learning and Performance. These accolades validate our pursuit of excellence as we expand into L&D.

Capturing the last team moment in our cherished old Tuber office.

Tubits annual team bonding session at Salt & Light Archery.

We’d like to thank every member of Tuber, past and present, whose passion, dedication, and innovative spirit have been the driving forces behind our success. As we look to a new year ahead, we will continue to offer high-value editorial and design consultancy, and bring Offshoots Academy to more schools and companies.

Here’s to another year of growth, resilience, and continued excellence! 🪴✨

Text by: Maziah | Illustration by: Xinyi Liew | Images by: Tuber

Navigating the Waters of Editorial Feedback

Most professional writing goes through multiple revisions by a team before it is published. Even if you’re a freelancer, your work stands to improve with input from your client or editor. TUBER shares tips on handling feedback, even if it’s what you personally dislike or disagree with.

1. It’s not personal

Many up-and-coming writers are emotionally invested in their work. That’s not a bad thing in itself. Emotional investment is a natural byproduct of passion and talent. It shows that the writer is taking pride in their work and putting a piece of themselves into their writing. However, less open or less experienced writers may feel slighted when receiving negative feedback, as though the feedback is a personal attack.

It’s important to trust that editors have a neutral view of your work, and usually have a bigger picture of the publication’s requirements. When you accept any negative feedback with an open mind and positive intentions, it encourages your editor(s) to be more generous with their thoughts, improving your work relationships and the overall quality of the piece of writing.

2. Adopt Ernest Hemingway’s mindset: “The first draft of anything is 💩”

In the editing process, writers may have to rework large amounts of their writing. Keeping Hemingway’s advice in mind fosters a mindset of humility, continuous learning, and improvement – making writers more receptive to overhauling their work for the better.

It also releases pressure on the writer to produce a perfect work when first starting out. Just let your creative juices flow on the first draft, trusting that refinement can come later.

At Tuber, we sometimes joke about turning S.H.I.T. into H.I.T.S. But we’re serious about polishing writing, whether it’s through our editorial consultancy work or via Offshoots Academy’s workshops on writing.

As another common adage goes, easy reading is damn hard writing. Accept that writing will only improve with several waves of editing.

3. Go over feedback twice (and take a break in between)

Received negative or surprising feedback on an article you’ve worked hard on? Instead of immediately diving into the revisions, if time permits take a breather and focus on other activities – a short walk, a lunch break, or a chat with colleagues about unrelated topics.

When you return to the article, you’ll approach it with a fresh pair of eyes, making it easier to identify any narrative gaps or areas where the feedback can be applied effectively.

Taking a break between feedback and revisions is a strategic approach to maintaining objectivity, managing emotional responses, and ultimately enhancing the quality of your writing through thoughtful and constructive revisions.

Editing is all about collaboration. With a comfortable relationship and awareness of each other’s preferred styles, writers and editors can chart their way to works greater than either could ever navigate on their own.

Text by: Daniel Yee | Illustration by: Angela Mae Macasinag

Lessons from Our Longest Editorial Project: Challenge

Tuber has contributed to Challenge, the publication of the Public Service Division, since 2010. We’ve seen the publication through not one but two major editorial and design revamps – both in print and digital, growing an online presence via the website, building with partners an iPad app (which fizzled out), and even developing an accompanying podcast.

Along the way, we started and closed editorial columns, with some going away as the publication went fully digital (goodbye, our beloved light-hearted Pullout section) and others remaining evergreen (the popular Cuppa interview column and Letters from a Young Public Officer).

In our many years of helming Challenge, here’s what we’ve learnt that no generative AI writer can do or teach you:

1) Research makes a difference

Deep research can throw up surprising findings that offer refreshing insights and story angles. It’s especially vital for interviews such as
A Cuppa With…, a profile series with senior leaders in the Public Service. Being as prepared as possible will sharpen your questions and boost your confidence going into the interview.

Even if you don’t end up using the material in your final written work, showing that you’ve done the research will earn you respect from your interview subject. You will save them time and breath from having to explain basic background information, and you’ll impress them with the lesser-known facts you uncover.

An interview with Mr Pang Kin Keong, then-Permanent Secretary of Transport, delved deeper into his full career experience, including a time when he had to deal with an unprecedented national crisis.

Most people find pleasure and comfort in knowing that their time (and your interview assignment) is being treated with care. By putting in the effort to do thorough research, your conversation is less likely to catch you wrong-footed and opens up opportunities for building greater rapport. You never know what great stories will then be shared with you.

2) Simplify, simplify, simplify

The general rule for snappier writing is short words and short paragraphs. But shorter does not always mean clearer.

Challenge, being a government publication, covered every public agency and their various projects, schemes, initiatives and policies. Naturally, this could lead to articles filled with the alphabet soup of public service jargon and bureaucratese. Our added value was to always reduce the number of abbreviations and unfamiliar terms as much as possible to keep the reading experience smooth.

3) The power of visuals

Working in a print medium allowed us to experiment with visuals across pages. Often, convoluted processes or “dry” stories can be animated with flowcharts, or cold numbers presented with more impact using infographics.

Here’s how we turned a public service “report card” into a chart that shows the connections between public agencies, and how they work together to reach certain outcomes.

When telling stories, think beyond only words such as headings and captions, and visualise how the article might look on the page or website. What photos, illustrations or diagrams can help you better tell the story? ChatGPT and other AI assistants may offer some ideas, but as they are often text-based, you might be more inspired by browsing magazines, newspapers, websites and other editorial publications instead.

One of writer Hidayah’s favourite assignments is this feature of a Sentosa marine conservationist. Hidayah says: “I enjoy photoshoots/on-site interviews because I get to see people in action and paint a picture of this setting in the story. I love it when I can add storytelling to my articles.”

4) Observe the world around you

Creating good stories first starts with an idea. To come up with ideas relevant to your audience, your brain needs input. Read widely, and keep up with current events as much as you can. Your reading diet can go beyond books and newspapers to include comics, videos and podcasts – even the latest memes and the media you consume for fun, like TV series. Generative AI can be useful for prompts and some ideas, but no bot can truly do the thinking for you. It takes a curious and engaged human mind to connect the dots, mix things up, contextualise trends and issues for a specific audience, and create something truly fresh.

Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for story ideas. Writer Maziah combined a personal interest in the Korean super-group BTS and art gallery tours to pitch and write a profile piece on a teacher who did a work stint and a BTS-themed trail at the National Gallery Singapore.

5) Go with the flow, not your ego

Often, writers or editors have a clear idea or vision of how to write an article. Writers might start a draft with examples they really want to include or do an interview with an article flow already in mind.

In the process of writing, however, you might discover that these intended elements don’t gel or flow well with the rest of the article. Writers might even get feedback from the editor or client that these ideas don’t make sense. It’s important to write what works for the article or publication, not what works for you. In other words, you might have to “kill your darlings”.

Writer Hidayah shares: “When I get such feedback, I admit, I sometimes tried to push back by altering the rest of the article to accommodate these portions. But it rarely worked. My ideas, no matter how brilliant they seemed, were not always the best fit for what my articles needed.”

Writing as a team can be challenging, but when done with editorial sensitivity and consideration, it often leads to a better product.

Having a second opinion from a human reader or editor often makes all the difference. After all, despite the presence of search engine crawler bots and algorithms on the Internet, it’s not AI that will truly engage with your writing, but human beings you want to influence and connect with.

Text by: Maziah | Images by: Tuber, Challenge PSD

Why you should use AI to write

When ChatGPT first rolled out, like many creatives, I was sceptical and apprehensive. For weeks, I avoided it. Using ChatGPT felt like a betrayal of the writing ethos — like I was taking shortcuts instead of putting in the hard work of creating.

Then one day, I was stuck while writing an article. I had spent 20 minutes staring at a blank Word document, trying to think of the perfect opening hook. Not wanting to waste more time, I turned to ChatGPT. Within seconds, it churned out a few paragraphs. Just like that, I had bypassed my creative block.

Since then, I’ve come to think of ChatGPT as a tool, rather than a replacement. Like spellcheck or predictive text, it can help me write faster and fix my mistakes. And it won’t replace me as a writer, since human input is still needed to create and refine the piece of work.

Here are some reasons why you should use AI in your writing:

1. Conquer simple but time-consuming tasks

In the writing process, certain important tasks take up a lot of time, for example, proofreading for grammar and standardisation, or editing your writing to be more SEO-friendly. AI tools can make a speedy first attempt at such tasks, especially when we are pressed for time or prefer to focus on more cognitively challenging work. While you’ll still need to do a final read-through to check for errors, the time spent on these simpler tasks will be significantly less.

2. Tackle more complex queries

Sometimes we’ll spend ages trying to think our way out of a language conundrum, like finding the perfect word or a fresh way to describe something. Typing your question into Google might solve the problem for a simple task, such as finding a synonym. But for more complex queries like rephrasing or rewording, AI-assisted software can help to answer these questions almost immediately—and even provide you with several options.

3. Generate ideas and content

One tedious aspect of writing is looking through pages of Google Search results to find the right sources for your work. With the right prompts fed into AI assistants, however, you can generate research content in formats ranging from a list of pointers to structured paragraphs. Follow-up commands can also help the AI tool narrow the scope of the generated content in seconds. Of course, it goes without saying that any research an AI tool pulls up should be fact-checked before it is used in your writing.

You might already have an advantage

If you’ve tried generative AI before, you may have seen that getting useful output is not as simple as just typing in a prompt. For more complex tasks, like essay writing, you will need specific and detailed prompts for the AI tool to generate content that meets your requirements.

If you’re a writer in your profession, or already practise your writing skills frequently, this is where you’ll have an advantage. You are probably adept at summarising content, planning your points and drafting content overviews. These skills can help you write more detailed prompts.

Whether you need to write a piece of long-form content or a few short paragraphs, AI can help you get the job done faster and easier. At Offshoots, we’re developing an AI-assisted writing tool that will make you go whOA! Stay tuned for more updates.

Text by: Daniel Yee | Illustration by: Angela Mae Macasinag

Learning Gaming Lingo

Language is constantly evolving. New terminologies emerge to describe novel patterns of behaviour. We see this phenomenon occur especially in the virtual world, where communities react to events at rapid rates. Some online communities, like those centred around video gaming, have developed a unique lexicon.

Daniel and Maziah delve into the world of gaming and share some lingo that gamers commonly use to express themselves. Some of these terms have made it into popular culture and can be applied to daily contexts. Learn some new terms and connect with your gamer friends!

Balanced

One metric of a successful multiplayer game is its perceived level of fairness. In a fair game, players who demonstrate a higher level of skill ought to win more than players of lower skill. Players use the term “balanced” to describe fair games. “Unbalanced” games, on the other hand, contain strategies which feel unfair, allowing players of lower skill to win more. Some game companies devote full-time positions to maintaining a high standard of game balance, by listening to player feedback and making changes to game rules accordingly. If life was a game, would it be balanced? Depends on who you ask!

Broken (or Busted)

This is a term used to describe introduced elements of the game that upset the balance or fairness of the game. It can be used to describe new characters that are over-powered, or mechanics that break the laws of the game.

Pulls

When we were young, we’ve all seen or played with gambling toy machines: containers filled with various items and a single handle or knob attached. Insert some money, pull, turn or twist the handle/knob, and a random item will drop out. This concept is incorporated virtually into games, and the random item that players acquire is called a “pull”. A whole genre of games, the gacha genre, is centred around your management of resources acquired from these pulls.

F2P: Free to play / P2P: Pay to play

A free-to-play game means that players do need to to spend any money to access content, while pay-to-play requires spending. To gain revenue, most games are a mix of F2P and P2P: the bulk of the game is free with options to pay for in-game extras, such as costumes for characters, more goods and resources, or power up characters. Some believe that payable extras negatively affect game balance, unfairly favouring players’ wallets over skill.

Whales

Whales refer to players who pay huge amounts of money on in-game purchases such as power-ups or boosts to accelerate their game progress. Whales carry a perjorative context in player communities. However, game companies recognise the financial value of whales, and may design exclusive paid content to attract and support the spending behavior of whales.

RNG

Short for random number generator, gamers use this acronym as a synonym for luck. You’ll hear this term in situations of exultation or disappointment. “Just pulled two ultra rare items. The RNG gods are smiling upon us today.” “I’m going to be late for work because of five red lights in a row! What is this RNG?”

Congratulations on learning new lingo! Just remember there’s no guarantee that using these terms makes you an insider gamer for life. After all, who knows what new lingo will appear on the horizon? What matters is an adaptable attitude towards language and a willingness to keep learning.

Text by: Daniel Yee, Maziah | Illustration by: Angela Mae Macasinag

Learning through Our Hobbies

Learning can occur anywhere, not just in formal classrooms or courses. When looking to pick up new skills, a surprising space to explore is hobbies. By definition, the hobbyist is motivated to hone those skills out of self-interest. Offshoots Academy team members share what they’ve learned through their hobbies, and how these skills transfer into their professional work.

DANIEL

Curriculum and Projects Intern

Daniel checks his alocasia plant for pests.

I enjoy gardening indoors! Right now, I care for about thirty-five houseplants. To keep them healthy, it’s vital to prune away weak or diseased leaves or branches. This practice of pruning calls to mind Offshoots Academy’s #1 writing hack: less is more.

Just as how I let my plants grow out and then trim them back, I often write a long first draft and then excise redundant or repetitive bits during the editing process. Furthermore, gardening teaches me patience with long-term project outcomes. New leaves and flowers never sprout overnight — they in fact require consistent watering and cleaning. I trust that the same patient, consistent approach at work will allow my projects to bear fruit.

JAROD

Senior Manager, Marketing and Operations

Jarod going hard in his weekly spin class.

My hobbies are a mix of lower-body exercises like cycling, spinning and running. I particularly enjoy endurance sports — previously I participated in events like the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

Through these activities, I’ve cultivated values like discipline, the ability to follow instructions, and a resilient “just do it” mindset, which pushes me to be task-oriented in my professional role. Furthermore, my exercise regime includes setting clear goals, such as clocking a certain distance or spinning for a set time period. I apply a similar approach to Offshoots Academy’s internal operations, ensuring that our team achieves tangible results. Finally, I cannot overstate the the physical health benefits of exercise, which I credit for helping me achieve better back posture to withstand long hours at the office.

MAZIAH

Senior Content Strategist

I’ll take two Spiked Sweet Potatoes for breakfast, please.

I recently started playing Cookie Run: Kingdom, a delightful and beautifully designed action gacha game with several storylines. The playable characters are named after cookie flavours and have various skills that can be combined in battles against enemies.

While the gameplay is rather easy, it’s a great way to practise assembling teams with complementary skills and managing resources (e.g., coins, gems, goods, even time) to level up the cookie characters or build the kingdom. As a content strategist, I manage projects where I work with freelance and in-house teams of writers and designers. Choosing the right people and resources for each story or project is similar in-game and in real life.

The game is also full of witty puns related to cookies, dough and baking. The use of wordplay in the game is definitely relevant to my work as a writer and editor. I’ve also applied my knowledge of this game to share character design possibilities for some aspects of Offshoots Academy’s branding. Finally, I’ve become more familiar with gaming jargon now!

SHANICE

Social Media Intern

Time to delete all the unglam shots!

My hobby revolves around video editing and curating content for my personal social media accounts. I’ve honed various skills, such as seamlessly stitching together footage, generating creative concepts for filming and editing, ensuring fonts align with the video’s vibe, and controlling the pacing for optimal viewer engagement.

These skills translate well in my work at Offshoots Academy, where I handle social media marketing. I find joy in making people laugh and strive to create videos that are both interesting and short — reflecting my own preference for quick, digestible content. It’s this personal motivation that fuels my commitment to produce high-quality and compelling clips to amplify Offshoots Academy’s social media presence.

There are no demands, expectations, and no boss looking over your shoulder in the hobbyist space. We encourage anyone reading this to explore hobbies, always aware of myriad learning oppotunities on the horizon! ☺︎

Text by: Daniel Yee | Cover design by: Xinyi Liew

Planning Impactful Curricula with Robert Gagné

As Tuber turns to the L&D space via Offshoots Academy, the team has been delving into instructional design theories and applying them to its various workshop offerings. Daniel, OA’s curriculum and projects intern, shares some insights on Robert Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction and its usefulness as a framework for impactful teaching and lesson delivery.

Event 1: Gain Attention

Learners are getting more and more distracted these days. Offshoots Academy suggests that instructors, at the start of every workshop, take time to set ground rules with an emphasis on being present and respectful. You can also start with self-introductory activities. This sets the tone for the rest of the session.

Event 2: Share Learning Objectives

When I was a student, I used to fall asleep when my teachers began listing the syllabus. And when exams loomed, I had to frantically look up the same syllabus. Looking back, I understand why instructors listed the lesson objectives for young learners. Adult and corporate learners also recognise that higher stakes are at play – you’re spending good money on upskilling for personal and career development, so you naturally expect to take away some measure of demonstrable skill. At OA workshops, we inform participants exactly what learning outcomes they can expect.

Event 3: Recall Past Lessons

OA wants aims to help participants apply their learnings within their own professional contexts. Let’s say a group of marketing professionals attends one of our content-writing workshops.

We ask:

What content have you read over the past week?
What content have you put out in the past?
What do you like or find can be improved for that content?

Our emphasis on collaborative work always acknowledges participants’ contributions.

Events 4+5: Present Material and Guide

This is the most traditional part of teaching; in other words the direct transfer of knowledge from instructor to learner. The instructor typically invites participants to critique the material. For example, OA’s writing workshops introduce learners to its Five Writing Hacks and demonstrate how and when to apply them. Participants are invited explain the understanding of these hacks in their own words and share which ones in particular resonate with them.

Events 6+7: Elicit Performance and Provide Feedback

OA promises that participants will leave every workshop with tangible takeaways. If you signed up for a presentations workshop, for instance, you can expect to make and bring home actual presentations.

If you attend a public speaking workshop, you’ll get to hold a microphone (and speak).
If you signed up for a presentation workshop, you will be making and bringing home slide templates and/or scripts.

With constructive feedback from instructors and peer critique, OA’s workshops are a safe space for learners to hone their desired skills or offer insights for others. Participants are encouraged to continue such conversations after the sessions.

Events 8+9: Assess Performance and Enhance Retention

Any good piece of work is the fruit of multiple drafts. That’s why after a workshop activity, participants get to draft and finesse their work under expert guidance. The act of redrafting instils fundamental editorial skills, allowing learners to play on their own strengths, and recognise areas for further improvement. Reflection and revisions are ways to enhance learner retention so that the workshop’s learning objectives are not only met, but also internalised. Happy learning, growing, and branching out! ☺︎

References:

Gagné, R. M., Briggs, L. J., & Wager, W. W. (1992). Principles of instructional design (4th ed.). Forth Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.
Robert M. Gagné was an American educational psychologist who is best known for his book The Conditions of Learning (1968) by Education & Psychology.

Text by: Daniel Yee | Illustration by: Sarah Ng

Tuber Tries: Going On A Food Shoot

Back in March, we set out on a food trail across Singapore to curate a list of food recommendations for Challenge, an online publication for the Public Service Division. After an initial round of food tasting, we narrowed this list to 12 food spots. Our team then embarked on a three-day shoot to review, photograph and shoot these stalls and eateries.

Day 1: Central

With fresh spirits and grumbling tummies, we kicked off our food adventure at Zion Riverside Food Centre.

As it was our first stop, we found ourselves grappling with the task of having to take photos, jotting down notes and filming – all at the same time.

For Erin, the videographer, and Lei, the photographer, it was their first time shooting food as a subject. They had to think on their feet to find the right angles and good lighting. Since we didn’t bring our own props for the shoot, we improvised with what was available.

Thankfully we had Fei, our design director, to direct and advise us during our shoots.

Jarod, our chopstick master, also perfected the art of holding up just the right amount of noodles so we could capture delectable shots of the tom yum noodles.

Lei directing Jarod, our trusty hand model and spicy food eater

After ordering two bowls of tom yum fish soup noodles and having numerous retakes, we slowly got the hang of things.

Once it was time to eat, our food was no longer piping hot… but it was still delicious

With our bellies filled (we would soon regret this), the team pressed on to visit four more food spots dotted around the central area.

The team went green taking public transport

From juicy lechon to aglio olio, we ate to our heart’s content. Suffice to say, none of us had space left in our stomachs for dinner.

Day 2: West + East

With a day of shooting behind us, the team began to find their rhythm. We started off our journey to the West (AKA Taman Jurong).

But upon reaching Taman Jurong Food Centre, our spirits were momentarily dampened when we discovered that the lor mee stall we planned on patronising was closed.

Luckily, we had another delicious recommendation to try out: char siew shao rou rice. This was a popular stall in the food centre, so we were fortunate to place our orders before their signature roasted pork was sold out

The temptation to sneak a bite before the shoot ended was very real

With satisfied bellies, we ventured down south to try curry rice, then east to indulge in delicious tarts, and finally Geylang for Nasi Kandar.

But when the Nasi Kandar was served, we were stunned: It was an extremely generous portion – fit for five hungry people. We were, on the other hand, a team of four very full people.

To complicate matters, the sheer size of the dish was one of the most challenging shoots for Lei, who had to shoot it in a way that looks visually pleasing and not messy.

The generous portion of Nasi Kandar that we were given

Day 3: North

Finally, the last day of our shoot! Now we knew which angles and compositions would get us the best shots.

Our first stop was a stall that sold seafood minced meat noodles.

At the coffee shop, we made a beeline for the table with ample natural light. This strategy promised good lighting – which greatly elevated the quality of the shots we took.

Our design director, Fei, giving art direction for each shot

After digging into the scrumptious bowl of noodles, we proceeded to another nearby location to visit a stall that sold ayam lemak chilli padi. It was simply delicious.

And finally, our last stop was a rosti shop tucked away in a coffee shop.

As usual, we secured a table with natural lighting. But as the sky was cloudy, we had to scramble to get our shots whenever the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.

Mere moments after Lei’s last shutter, a bird decided to mark the end of the photoshoot by leaving a splatter of white on her wrist.

Whether you consider that moment to be lucky or not, we were thankful to have completed three intense days of shooting, travelling and overindulging.

With our shoot finished, we were excited to head back to the office to piece the final story together.

Curious to see what we ate? Check out the article here! (Warning: it might induce serious hunger pangs!)

Happy bellies, happy team

Lessons we digested:

Try this photo hack: Tell the stall owner that you’ll be photographing the food and they’ll help you style the food (and even throw in some extra ingredients at times).
Pick the right table: Find ample natural lighting so you can spend less time editing the shot.
Pace your stomach and space out your shoots: You might think that with the four of us sharing food, we would not overeat. Well, that was far from reality.
Gather a team with diverse taste-buds: On this shoot, only Jarod had a high spice tolerance, while Erin could not eat seafood. But with a diverse palate, you can overcome such limitations.

Text by: Erin Liam | Illustration by: Fei

Behind the lens: 3 lessons from my first shoot with Tuber

On my second day as an editorial intern at Tuber, my supervisor, Maziah, asked, “Would you like to assist at the photo shoot next week?”

For a moment, I hesitated at the request. Could I do it? As a communication studies student, I had some experience with shoots in photojournalism class. Yet, they have always been a daunting prospect: Photo shoots meant meeting strangers, directing them to pose and writing their stories on their behalf. Furthermore, the final product would have a wider readership (rather than just my professor). As a shy introvert, thinking about these interactions set off alarm bells in my head.

Thankfully, my role at the shoot at the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) office was minor this time, and I was able to observe from the sidelines and learn from my colleagues. I was also thrilled to catch a glimpse into the fascinating world of weather forecasting. This made me look forward to the shoot, which turned out great! By the end of the shoot, I learnt that a photo shoot is more than just pointing a camera and taking photos.

Here are my three main takeaways:

#1 Build rapport with the subject

Throughout the shoot, Norman (the photographer) and Lei (the writer) engaged in small talk with the subject. This helped her to feel more comfortable and pose more naturally. I realised that building a connection with the subject can help with achieving more authentic shots. It may be out of my comfort zone to talk freely with strangers, but the shoot allowed me to recognise the value of making an effort to connect.

#2 Be curious

Ask questions, even seemingly unimportant ones. Asking more questions allows you to gain a better understanding of the subject’s personality and job. Even the smallest detail can unlock a wealth of information! Ultimately, you want to ask the right questions so you do justice to your subject’s story.

#3 Get the shot you need

Don’t be economical with the shots you take. Norman took a variety of shots — even similar ones with different compositions and lenses. This strategy gave us a range of photo options to choose from after the shoot. If I were a photographer, I might have felt hesitant to ask the subject to pose again and again. However, to capture the best shot possible, it is essential to go after what you need without feeling embarrassed.

Beyond picking up some important tips on photo shoots, this shoot taught me an important life lesson: don’t be afraid to try new things! New experiences at work might seem scary at first, but they ultimately provide opportunities for growth.

Text by: Erin Liam | Illustration by: Liew Xinyi

What songs can teach us

We’ve listened to our favourite tunes time and again, but have we paid closer attention to the lyrics? Sure, some of the words can range from cryptic to downright confusing. But what if we dug a little deeper? Tuber embarked on a little excavation mission to uncover the hidden (and unexpected) life lessons from famous hits. Read on to find out!

ON TRUSTING THE UNIVERSE

1. “Let it Be” by The Beatles

Back story: On what inspired this iconic tune, Paul McCartney explained in an interview that his late mother had appeared in a dream, reassuring him that “it’s going to be okay. Just let it be.” These words came at a time when the singer was facing an uncertain time with the band. “Let it Be” ended up becoming the title track of the final Beatles album, heralding the end of The Beatles era.

Possible lesson: Trust the universe and let go of the need to be in control. It’s okay to not have all the answers.

ON LIFE’S BREVITY

2. “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles

Back story: Following the band’s split, the former One Direction star captured fans’ hearts with this moody piano ballad as his debut single. But beneath the gentle melody lies a darker story: in an interview with Rolling Stone, Styles shared that the song was about a dying woman who, after having just given birth, had only five minutes to tell her child, “Go forth and conquer.” As the lyrics advise: “We should open up/ Before it’s all too much”.

Possible life lesson: Life is short. Cherish our loved ones while we still can.

ON EMBRACING OUR UNIQUENESS

3. “True Colours” by Cyndi Lauper

Back story: Whether you first heard this classic on the radio or through the movie, Trolls, “True Colours” has been a go-to comfort tune over the years. In an interview, Lauper spoke of the need to quiet down during moments of self-doubt and heed an inner voice, which whispers: “It’s gonna be okay” in order to embrace who we are.

Possible life lesson: Be proud of ourselves and all the traits that make us unique.

ON SELF-LOVE

4. “dear me,” by Gentle Bones

Back story: Performed by Singaporean singer-songwriter, Joel Tan, better known as Gentle Bones, “dear me,” is an introspective song about self-love and validation. “Was it you/ was it?”, sings Tan, in a dialogue with himself. In an interview, the singer described “dear me” as his way of thanking himself for getting through hard times.

Possible life lesson: Acknowledge your efforts and give yourself credit. Be your own cheerleader.

ON WISDOM AND CAUTION

5. “Waterfalls” by TLC

Back story: Many remember the catchy chorus of this 90s hit: “Don’t go chasing waterfalls/ Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to”. At first listen, the song seems to discourage one from dreaming “too big”, but its lyrics also convey the importance of being mindful of consequences, and prioritising one’s health and well-being.

Possible life lesson: We all have big, splashy ambitions, but let’s also keep our feet planted firmly on the ground.

ON BOUNCING BACK

6. “You’re On Your Own, Kid” by Taylor Swift

Back story: Fans of Taylor Swift (or “Swifties”) would be familiar with the ups and downs accompanying the musician’s life and professional journey. The start of this light, boppy number chronicles Swift’s struggles in love, friendship and her career over the years. However, there’s always a turning point, she stresses: “Everything you lose is a step you take/ So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it/ You’ve got no reason to be afraid.”

Possible life lesson: We can bounce back from our setbacks and emerge stronger. Take challenges in our stride and face the future confidently.

ON FRIENDSHIP

7. “Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel

Back story: “Hello darkness, my old friend.” The opening line to this famous number has become a facetious, almost meme-worthy way to express anguish. But the real story is much more inspirational. Garfunkel had a college friend who suddenly lost his sight and sunk into depression. “Sound of Silence” was inspired by Garfunkel’s experience of being there for his friend.

Possible life lesson: We all need people we can lean on during difficult moments. Be that light to a friend in need.

ON PAIN

8. “Believer” by Imagine Dragons

Back story: This empowering anthem springs from a story of struggle. Imagine Dragon’s frontman Dan Reynolds channelled the anguish he endured as a sufferer of Ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis, into the song’s lyrics. “Pain!/ You made me a, you made me a believer, believer”. “Believer”conveys the power of transcending physical suffering and turning pain into art.

Possible life lesson: Don’t shy away from pain. There is meaning in the struggle.

ON ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAST AND MOVING ON

9. “Hello” by Adele

Back story: In this soul-crushing ballad, Adele belts, “Hello from the other side/ I must’ve called a thousand times/ To tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done”. “Hello” can be interpreted as a lover trying to reach out to a past flame. But Adele clarified that the song was really about reconnecting with her younger self. She shared in an interview that she felt like a stranger to herself after becoming a new mother, and the experience spurred her to pen “Hello”.

Possible life lesson: It’s normal to be wistful as we move through our different seasons of life. We will change and grow constantly.

ON SEIZING THE DAY

10. “What Would You Do?” By Honne and Pink Sweat$

Back story: Early in 2020, music duo Honne posed this existential question: “Let’s just say the world ended a week from now/ What would you do?” Little did they know the world would be plunged into uncertainty when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The song’s message is clear: to treasure our loved ones. “And why not?” asked Honne in an interview, “The world is ending.”

Possible life lesson: Doomsday may not be seven days away, but who really knows? Seize everyday like it’s our last.

ON FINDING OUR OWN WAY

11. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John

Back story: Longtime collaborator of Elton John, Bernie Taupin, wrote this song when pining for a simpler life amid John’s booming music career. “I was just hoping that maybe there was a happy medium way to exist successfully in a more tranquil setting,” claimed Taupin. This well-known number is named after the Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz, symbolising the path towards success. However, its lyrics speak of taking another route – one that “lies beyond the Yellow Brick Road”.

Possible life lesson: We can make our own way by redefining what success means to us.

ON BEING ENOUGH

12. “Lose You To Love Me” by Selena Gomez

Back story: While fans have speculated that this break-up ballad is about her tumultuous romance with Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez clarified in her documentary that the song is not just about “lost love”, but also about self-discovery. “This dancing was killing me softly/ I needed to hate you to love me” go the lyrics, which speak of letting go of relationships that no longer serve us.

Possible life lesson: Move on from people who drag us down. We are enough.

ON NOT QUITTING

13. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House

Back story: Without listening to this song, the title, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” seems ambiguous. Does it hold a grim message or a hopeful one? Its uplifting melody hints that it’s the latter. Thankfully Crowded House lead singer Neil Finn confirmed in a podcast that the lyrics (“When the world comes in/ They come, they come/ To build a wall between us/ You know they won’t win”) are about staying the course in the face of challenges.

Possible life lesson: Don’t give up just yet. As long as we’re alive, there’s hope in any situation.

ON GRIEF

14. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day

Back story: Lead singer of Green Day, Billie Armstrong, wrote this soulful number after losing his father to cancer. As a 10-year-old, he had locked himself in his room after the funeral, telling his mother, “Wake me up when September ends”. Later, the song also came to hold significance for people who experienced tragic events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina.

Possible life lesson: Grieve, but also honour the lives of those who’ve gone before us.

ON BEING GENUINE

15. “Sincerity is Scary” by The 1975

Back story: In this feel-good track, rock band The 1975 critiques the façade people put up to hide their true selves, especially on social media. Ingenuity is the undesirable result, the lyrics imply, when people refuse to be sincere: “And why would you believe you could control how you’re perceived”.

Possible life lesson: Everybody sees through a false persona. Stop hiding behind a mask and be genuine.