Thursday, September 18, 2014

N.E.mation! 9 - One Week Selection

N.E.mation! has glorious moved into its 9th year, organized by Nexus to youths to express their thoughts on Total Defence. With more than 11,500 students already participated in this digital animation competition, I was totally thrilled to be part of the One-Week Selection event, held at Nanyang Polytechnic during the September school holidays. This One-Week Selection is basically a period where the Top 100 teams who participated in N.E.mation! 9, who were selected based on their submitted entries in the prior Call for Entry Phase, would be coached by the trainers and pitched to a panel of judges to land one of the coveted spots on N.E.mation! 9 Top 10 Teams. This means 90 teams will be eliminated during this One-Week Selection while the Top 10 Teams would get the chance to turn their stories into a 1-minute animation during the November school holidays.

Since 1994, this was the first time I set foot in a Polytechnic again. NYP is really a huge place and the students are really blessed to be studying there.

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Found my way to Block M to hear 7 teams of Secondary students pitch their entries to the judges.

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Jurong Secondary School

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Look at the amount of work/words put into the pitching. I am sincerely touched by the effort given by these students. Whether they win or not, no one can take it away from them, the effort and heart that was poured in.

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The advice from the judges are invaluable as the students took in every single word attentively. Seriously some of the ideas presented were superb, delivery can be improved on, but the creativity was impressive.

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CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School

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I realized that if the judges like the idea, they will generally spend a bit more time trying to understand from the students about the presentation.

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Kent Ridge Secondary School

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The passion of the students trying hard to convince the judges that their pitch is worth of Top 10 selection has to be applauded. Reminded me of my own poly days.

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CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School

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The girls from CHIJ St Nicholas immediately made an impact with the idea of doing a mash-up of a few NDP songs for their pitch. Kudos to the girl who took the responsibility of playing the guitar. She was even asked to replay for the judges so that they can link the pictures to the songs. Stress!

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Raffles Institution

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Who says RI boys are just good in studies. These guys were hilarious when presenting their ideas. They even danced, omg!

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Commonwealth Secondary School

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Totally loved the “theme” of “SAF Never Sleeps”, using the idea of a clock face to portray the importance of SAF to provide protection and stability to the nation and people.

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Jurong Secondary School

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To all the students who made it to Top 10 or not, just continue to “Believe”. The future is bright for all of you!

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Who caught the judges’ eyes? Who made it to be the Top 10 Teams?

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After close to 2 hours of deliberation and discussion, probably some arguments as well, it is time to reveal the Top 10 Teams.

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The students were joined by their school teachers, friends and families who were all there to show their support.

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Some words of encouragement from the organizer representative, SLTC George Goh (Nexus).

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One final cheer from the Top 22 Teams before the results were released. Through the one week of hardwork and learning, these students from various schools have all became closer and no longer just competitors but also friends who have shared the same learning space and vision.

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The time everyone have been waiting for. Several teams were called out at times, and only 1 or 2 teams will stay on to be the Top 10 Teams. The atmosphere was just electrifying with anticipation and nervousness.

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It was just a bunch of nerves waiting for the announcement.

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And the winners were announced. One of my personal favorites, Commonwealth Secondary School (wasd) was selected!

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Usually the winners were just shocked that they were selected. Must have been a very close fight.

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With some happy, some will be sad. But this year, the organizers produced a memorial badge to encourage the remaining 12 teams that did not make it further. A nice touch when the leaving teams were presented their participation badges by their team instructors.

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Winners crying because of joy and also to see some of their friends’ path on N.E.mation! 9 coming to an end.

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So here are the Top 10 Teams.

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1. Acrylics from Raffles Instituition
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AlphaCrescent from Crescent Girls’ School
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Believed Beliefs from CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
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Chunky Monkeys from Singapore Chinese Girls’ School
5.
Elemonators from CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
6.
HigherThanYou from Cedar Girls’ Secondary School
7.
IDK from Raffles Girls School (Secondary)
8.
JJKN59 from Kent Ridge Secondary School
9.
Millennium Dragons from CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
10.
wasd from Commonwealth Secondary School

Congrats to all 10 teams! We look forward to your work in November!

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