Action speaks louder than words. Happy Taxi follows an elderly cab driver being reminded of the importance of family love through a taxi journey. We interviewed the Scene One Studios crew to learn more about their creative approach behind this sentimental short film and their experience working with our gear.  

A background of the film 

Happy Taxi takes place on the birthday of a cab driver named Uncle Hua, who begins the day glumly until a girl with a present in her hand approaches him and begs him to drive her to her destination.  

As the girl and Uncle Hua embark on a journey driving around the city, their time together makes him reminisce about the close bond he shared with his granddaughter and reminds him of the rift between him and his son some time back.   

At the end of the film, Uncle Hua receives birthday wishes from his granddaughter and son, which put a smile on his face signifying that he has finally set his emotions aside and is ready to reconnect with the family.   

The idea behind his story came from Gary Wong, founder of Scene One Studios, who took inspiration from taking a taxi. The cab was filled with plush toys, which contrasted sharply with a solemn elderly man. The second concept originated from his friend's experience, in which he had to leave his parents behind and emigrate to provide a better life for his child. Gary was intrigued by these stories and combined them to form a narrative.   

Gary’s journey to filmmaking 

Having graduated from film school and won multiple awards in local and international short film competitions, Gary’s passion for filmmaking stemmed from learning about the world and the many events happening worldwide through movies and shows. “I firmly believe that stories can travel through time and space and appeal to people’s emotions which is why I enjoy filmmaking,” Gary mentioned.  

Currently, Gary and his team at Scene Studios are focusing on producing commercials, short videos and films.  

Breathing life into the narrative 

Creating a story from scratch is often the most challenging part of the production process. It takes a lot of time and effort– from collecting the necessary information to executing ideas. But, in Gary’s opinion, it is all worth it in the end because “...seeing my story come to life and its narrative resonates with everyone brings me tremendous satisfaction, which fuels my desire to continue creating films,” he said.   

Scene One Studios encountered multiple hurdles during the production of Happy Taxi. Because the main character is a child, directing her was arduous and time-consuming. The crew also had to record numerous driving scenes, which required a high level of coordination in planning routes, shooting angles, adhering to tight schedules and guiding the actors. Hence, much of their time was spent on rehearsals, test shootings, and on-site inspections to ensure a seamless filming procedure.  

Filming with Sony’s gear 

Scene One Studios utilised the Cinema Line FX3 and Alpha 7S III to film Happy Taxi. We spoke with Lawrence Wong, one of the cinematographers for the film, to get insights into his experience with the two cameras.  

Lawrence conveyed that the FX3 and Alpha 7S III are very similar in terms of specifications, image quality and performance. The cameras made filming in tight spaces possible due to their lightweight and compact design; they also share similar colour science and dynamic range, thus eliminating the need for post-production colour matching.  

The FX3 was assigned as the primary camera since most of the filming was shot on a car mount, and its active cooling fan helped dissipate heat from the car's hood. “The additional shortcut buttons on top of the camera body and record button in front added a nice touch to the ergonomics of the FX3”, Lawrence stated. The camera also features three tally lights on its body that light up during recording, allowing the crew to monitor the recording status easily.  

Due to its relatively lightweight design, the Alpha 7S III was employed as a run-and-gun camera to achieve high-speed moving car shots. It is also dust and moisture-resistant, so Lawrence and his team could use it confidently under extreme conditions. “The Alpha 7S III also features an electronic viewfinder so we could frame our shots better”, Lawrence added. 

Overall, Lawrence was really pleased with the FX3 and Alpha 7S III, which worked in tandem to streamline their creative process and reduce human resources. 

Meanwhile, cinematographer Bosco Wong expressed his delight with the SEL2470GM2 lens while comparing it with its predecessor behind the scenes. Being 22% lighter and with a 16mm reduction in length, the SEL2470GM2 offers unparalleled versatility and freedom to the film crew when filming.  

The new aperture control ring enabled him to adjust the lens’ exposure conveniently while recording, and the second-generation Nano AR Coating effectively decreased flare and ghosting, boosting the overall video quality. “The autofocus performance is first-class. It is so fast and precise that I can rely on it to focus on my subjects while I work on my shot composition”, Bosco noted.  

Gary’s advice 

Gary hopes that in an increasingly convoluted world, regardless of a film's subject matter, genre, or location, its uniqueness will be unfettered by any viewpoint, politics, or dogma. “Being fearless is crucial since you will encounter many obstacles during production. There will never be a breakthrough and your work will not be distinctive unless you are eager to pursue fresh ideas, angles, and shooting approaches," Gary remarked. 

His advice for filmmakers who wish to pursue their dreams fearlessly is to go back to fundamentals and start from a story they hold close to their heart while focusing on uncovering unique and significant ideas. 

Turn your wildest filmmaking dreams into reality 

Do you have a creative idea that you wish to bring to life? No matter your level of expertise, we want your stories heard. Share your most daring film ideas with us in this year’s World of Film filmmaking audition and stand a chance to showcase your creative flair!  

To learn more about the Sony Asia Pacific World of Film filmmaking challenge, visit https://www.sony-asia.com/microsite/world-of-film/.  

Find out more about Scene One Studios’ creative process with these behind-the-scenes videos: