GS05 x Shentonista: Wonderwoman

Gillian was one of the lucky ones who found out what they want to do early on in life. A video production class she took in university set her on her path, first leading her to work in an ad agency in San Francisco, starting out as an editing assistant in the broadcast department. Gillian moved back to Singapore after seven years to start her own production company, Munkysuperstar Pictures, which has evolved over the years, from a traditional TV production company into one that specializes in online content and developing their own online channel, clicknetwork TV. We find out more from this driven go-getter, who, contrary to appearance, says she isn’t really fashionable at all.

We don’t have a dress code at work. Being in the production line, we’re actually very casual and incredibly unstylish dressers at work.

2. Do you have any fashion pet-peeves when it comes to workwear? Or do you have any advice for dressing up for work?

Nope. One of my Production Coordinators told me her mom asked her once why she was going to work in her pajamas (she was wearing an old T-shirt, shorts, and slippers). I didn’t have a problem with it, so clearly I’m not the best person to give advice on dressing up for work!

A spy. I’d love to work for a government’s central intelligence, involved in espionage and all that.

Advice to someone just starting work — be patient. You’ll be doing a lot of grunt work that’s boring and tedious, and you’ll be wondering why you’re wasting your time on this nonsense. But it’s all part of the process — your patience and persistence will pay off eventually; it’ll get better. Lesson learned — don’t get emotional when things go wrong because it serves no good purpose, and only clouds your vision. Just focus on the problem at hand and how to solve it, then solve it.

An open office with soft lighting. A very well-stocked pantry. Comfortable chairs and places for groups to meet and brainstorm. A huge TV studio. A good central location with lots of parking and no stairs (we always have to lug equipment around, so anywhere without parking or a lift is a big no-no). Clean. Nice-smelling.

Take naps.

I’d love to make a feature film one day — a commercial, feel-good comedy set in Singapore

I feel our identity is a mashup of many (mainly Eastern) cultures but I’d like to think of ourselves as having the best of both worlds — we’re Asian but also have access to and are able to appreciate other Western cultures. We’re a modern cosmopolitan country, but yet we have many Asian ideals and roots — I think that’s something pretty unique. Anyone from either the East or West wouldn’t have too much trouble fitting in if they came here; I think that’s something we have and can build on being in this region of the world.

Probably Changi Airport because every time I travel and return home, I’m greeted by amazing efficiency, order, and cleanliness that is really unparalleled.