I never imagined this day would arrive.
Celebrating a decade as a business owner feels surreal. To many, ten years might seem like an eternity. Yet, for me, the time has flown by so swiftly that the anniversary almost slipped my mind.
AMOK has been nothing short of a miracle in my life. It represents a series of firsts: my first job post-college, my initial foray into business, and my debut into the creative visual realm.
Entering the film and video industry, much less owning a business, was never in my plans. Yet, here we are!
The inception of AMOK was borne out of pure curiosity and, admittedly, a heavy touch of naivety. Alongside my co-founders, Caleb Quek, and Sean. we embarked on this journey as clueless, penniless dreamers, fuelled by nothing but a shared vision. We are now further boosted by new partners Jiaxin Zheng and Ted Pang, who are bringing in new energy and ideas to the organisation.
AMOK began with zero external funding, no loans from family or friends, and scant savings in our accounts—a situation that amusingly hasn't changed much.
However, the kindness of individuals like Esmond Wee, who offered us three desks in his studio space rent-free for six months, became our lifeline. This generosity, extended by family, friends, team members, clients, and more, is the bedrock upon which AMOK has stood the test of a decade.
Our team remains deliberately small, a choice we made to preserve the quality of our work and the well-being of our people. We never aspired to be the largest entity in the film & video production market. Instead, we prioritised creating a work environment that is enjoyable and fulfilling for everyone involved. I personally believe this is the way to creating a better final product.
Happiness in our line of work is not a constant, and the path has been anything but smooth. The year 2023 posed significant challenges for creative firms, including ours. Despite the hardships, we've strived to humanize the video production industry, notorious for its demanding conditions. Our commitment remains unwavering: to foster a healthy, non-toxic work environment. Because what value does exceptional work hold if the process is marred by negativity?
The road ahead is uncertain, yet I'm filled with optimism. The coming decade presents an opportunity to build a safer, more sustainable ecosystem for creative entities to develop and thrive.
My heartfelt thanks to each one of you for being an integral part of this incredible adventure. Your support has allowed me and my team the freedom to be bold—to truly run AMOK.
This month marks a significant moment for us.
We are 10 :)
A huge thank you to all who have been so instrumental to our existence. From our families, team members (past and current), partners, clients, vendors, to our staunch supporters—each one of you has played a pivotal role in shaping AMOK into what it is today.
Thank you for being a part of our ever evolving story :)