Forming Relationships
and Building Trust

“Language is not a barrier; it is a bonus.” This perspective, held by Singaporean filmmaker Yusri “Shaggy” Sapari, shaped the making of his 2019 bilingual documentary, “Trailer Boys.”

The film, which provides an intimate glimpse into a community of heavy vehicle drivers in Singapore, highlights the importance of language for storytellers to form relationships and build trust.

During his interview with OKJ on Qrious Culture, Shaggy shared that he initially intended to produce “Trailer Boys” entirely in English to appeal to a wide international audience. However, he recounted how every conversation he had with his interviewees would revert to a natural mix of English, Singlish and their mother tongue, Malay. His producers felt the same, and after much convincing, Shaggy embraced the bilingual nature of his documentary subject.

“Singapore has a lot of diversity, and people come from all walks of life”, said Shaggy as he reflected on why his film had to be approached bilingually. Embracing bilingualism allowed him to capture the cultural nuances of his characters more effectively.

Shaggy shared how his fluent use of Malay not only facilitated deeper connections with his subjects but also underscored the cultural richness inherent in bilingual storytelling. “When you are able to speak to someone in their native language, there is a warmness to it. They are able to give you more nuance in their communication. They are able to articulate themselves better.”

However, Shaggy confessed that it was more of his confidence, rather than his proficiency, in Malay that allowed him to form intimate relationships and build trust with his cast of characters.

“There are some people who know only a little bit about the language, but because they are very confident in trying, they are able to carry full conversations.”

He advised aspiring documentary filmmakers who are contemplating the pursuit of bilingual stories but may not be confident in their mother tongue language to start small with everyday tasks such as ordering food. Having a “thick skin” is also necessary to continue trying and progressing in their learning journey. 

While he expressed his empathy for students on why mother tongue may be difficult to pick up in school due to the load and stress associated with studies, he added that “retaining our mother tongue languages in school is a very farsighted view of the government so that we can still have ties to the region and remain relevant to our neighbours”.

Shaggy’s proficiency proved invaluable in his professional work involving multinational productions and collaborations as he is able to connect Malaysians, Indonesians, and Bruneians more effectively.  After all, people take on different personas when using different languages. 

This was also the case for “Trailer Boys”, as Shaggy was able to successfully document each of his character’s authentic self by adapting to what they are most comfortable in.

“This is not just a film, these are relationships” exclaimed Shaggy during his interview on Qrious Culture. The trust that he earned from his subjects after near two years of research and production has allowed audiences to witness intimate and authentic moments. Through “Trailer Boys”, viewers are invited to appreciate the contributions of every community member, fostering empathy and understanding.

Shaggy’s passion for documentary filmmaking shines through when he discusses the beauty of this genre. According to him, documentaries serve as time capsules, preserving memories and offering audiences a glimpse into various lives and experiences.

Documentaries have inherently captured physical landscapes and structures that may have since changed with the times. They have also preserved intangible practices for future generations to references from. While communal activities like family barbeques are a common tradition these days, this too may not be the case in the future.

In Singapore’s bustling and diverse landscape, stories that capture the essence of community are invaluable. And “Trailer Boys” was formed from this belief. Shaggy’s approach of embracing and participating through language was key to forming the relationships with his documentary subjects. With their trust, “Trailer Boys” was made. It went on to be screened around Southeast Asia and won the Audience Choice Award at the Viddsee Juree Awards in 2019.