JON LISTER

CEO and Co-Founder, CreatorsLab

We were about to shoot a pilot episode with Chef LG Han for a series we were working on when the pandemic struck. But what started as a roadblock became a benefit; it gave us more time to talk to Chef Han and get to know his family. When we came to shoot, the interviews were more relaxed and more honest. It was an important lesson — to tell real stories and prioritize human connection. I feel that there is a slow cultural shift happening here in Singapore and people are realizing the importance that creativity has on society and the economy as a whole. It’s up to art institutions to leap on this and to push the message that creativity IS an essential industry and that not only does it employ people, but it also benefits the entire country, and that means economically as well.