Singapore – Heckler Singapore has embarked on its first venture into long-form storytelling with the release of ‘Momentum,’ a six-part documentary series commissioned by Bloomberg as part of its Bloomberg Originals lineup.
‘Momentum’ takes viewers on a captivating journey through Asia’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, where technology, sports, entertainment, and culture converge. The series dives deep into the core of markets and narratives that are driving the region’s transformation.
For this documentary, Heckler collaborated closely with the Bloomberg Originals team from research and scripting through production and post-production, bringing the series to life at every stage.
Produced by Jasmine Tay and hosted by Haslinda Amin, Bloomberg’s chief correspondent for Southeast Asia, the documentary explores a diverse range of topics, from India’s emerging role in the international space race and Korea’s architectural renaissance to Japan’s AI-powered robotics revolution and Singapore’s vision as a future-ready city, as well as the forward momentum of Japan’s semiconductor technology.
Tay and Singaporean director June Cheong led an all-female powerhouse team that brought Momentum to life, filming across nine cities over seven months. Together, the duo overcame typhoons, earthquakes, cancelled flights, and crew health challenges to complete the whirlwind series.
With Tay’s background in narrative production and Heckler Singapore’s expertise in CG and VFX, the team elevated the series by crafting a fresh visual language that perfectly aligned with the director’s vision.
Commenting on her experience, Cheong shared, “Jasmine is the Dana Scully to my Fox Mulder, the Abed to my Troy, the Samwise Gamgee to my Frodo Baggins. Like all great producers, she tempered my flights of imagination with her voice of reason. She also believed in my directorial vision and came armed with an open mind, a keen eye for logistics, and a genuine dedication to making this project the best it could be.”
“We encountered many surprises, hiccups, and last-minute changes on the shoot, but Jasmine handled all these production setbacks with equanimity,” she added.
Meanwhile, Tay expressed, “This is my first time working with June, and it was quite the ride! Her passion for the project was like a caffeine boost for the whole team—impossible to ignore. She’s an extremely hard-working writer/director; always diving into the details and pushing for that extra bit of magic in every episode.”
“While she occasionally drove us to the brink with her relentless pursuit of perfection, it was all in the name of making the show shine,” Tay continued.
Tay further emphasised the unique challenges and skillset transfer involved in producing both short- and long-form content, noting that ‘Momentum’ offered an ideal opportunity to apply her expertise across both formats.
“Producing for short form/TVC projects is a sprint, and long form storytelling is a marathon, and whilst both have their challenges and opportunities, each leans into skills that complement the other. Ultimately, it really comes down to managing people, being economical with your shots, and adhering to tight schedules,” she explained.
The first episodes of Momentum are now available for viewing, with additional episodes scheduled to be released over the coming month.
