Artist Ezra Chan stands in the art studio at Pathlight School, earphones plugged in and shuffling rhythmically as he paints a canvas he holds in his hand.
Next to him, Mr Glenn Phua sits still, head in hand as he ponders where to draw his next line.
The two could not be more different in personality and artistic style - Mr Chan, 18, with his colourful and vivid artworks, is a bundle of energy, while Mr Phua, 21, is methodical and precise with his linework of Singapore's scenery and architecture.
Both are diagnosed with autism and have a lot to be proud of. Mr Phua's drawings were presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his 2015 state visit here, while Mr Chan was named Most Promising Artist of the Year at United Overseas Bank's annual Painting of the Year competition in 2015.
The two artists are featured in the first episode of the second season of Heroes Among Us, an original video series by The Straits Times.
It premieres today on the ST website and social media pages. It also kicks off Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) second year of collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
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UPCOMING PROGRAMMES
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Here is a rundown on The Straits Times' six video programmes:
1. HEROES AMONG US, Premieres today
No. of episodes: 10, every fortnight.
Learn about everyday Singaporeans who are heroes in their chosen field, whether it is in art, robotics or the study of crickets.
2. LIVING CITY, Premieres on May 15
No. of episodes: 8, every fortnight
Discover little-known places and communities in Singapore and explore how they have influenced the lives of Singaporeans, such as the Cyrene Reefs or the Taman Jurong Radiophone Taxi Service at Yung Kuang Road.
3. ST SESSIONS, Premieres on May 17
No. of episodes: 8, every fortnight
Each episode will feature a musical act that is preparing for a live gig, with the audience having a fly-on-the-wall experience.
4. MADE IN SINGAPORE, Premieres on July 31
No. of episodes: 8, every fortnight
A showcase of young and enterprising Singaporeans and their handmade products, such as artist Cherin Sim who paints bespoke artwork on leather bags.
5. A DAY IN THE KITCHEN, Premieres on Aug 30
No. of episodes: 6, every fortnight
Viewers get a look behind the scenes of a working kitchen and a chef's daily routine. Each episode will feature the background and stories of a dish or chef.
6. SINGAPORE WORKS, Premieres on Nov 1
No. of episodes: 6, every fortnight
Viewers learn about an aspect of Singapore's infrastructure in each episode, with an explanation on how it functions and the people who work to keep the country moving.
Alyssa Woo
Said Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez, who is also editor-in-chief of SPH's English/Malay/ Tamil Media Group: "Our aim is to tell compelling stories across platforms. Our video series have won a following and awards, and we are glad to have the support of the IMDA to enable us to do more of these for our viewers."
Mr Shawn Lee Miller, who produced and directed the series, wanted to move away from doing stories that would only tug at viewers' heartstrings. The first seasonfocused on people who overcame personal struggles or championed social causes. For the second, the emphasis is on those who excel in their fields. Said the 39-year-old: "I wanted to show the public that to be a hero, you don't necessarily have to have gone through hardship or challenges."
Similarly, for the producers of two other series, Living City and ST Sessions, there was a desire to refresh things. Mr Basil Edward Teo, who produced and directed the eight-episode Living City, said: "Singapore is not some cold, mechanical society. We have places of cultural value and there are people, communities and stories in these places."
The second season, which starts next week, focuses on Singapore's little-known spaces and communities, whereas the first covered places that were either in danger of being demolished or were in flux.
"The communities are very Singaporean in spirit and character and the people had a lot of stories to share, which I felt people should know about too," said Mr Teo, 29.
In ST Sessions, which is in its fourth season, viewers will see the more vulnerable side of musicians just before a live show. It is a more visceral experience compared with the previous seasons, said producer-director Bryan de Silva, 37, with everything hinging on one take. The previous seasons were filmed either in studios or in a set-up where retakes could always be done."It's live and raw; it's the capturing of that essence that you can't get in a controlled setting," he added.
The first of eight episodes, which follows local singer-songwriter Joie Tan during the launch of her debut album at an intimate gig at the Esplanade, premieres next Thursday.
The three series highlight the strength of the SPH-IMDA tie-up. There will also be three new video series by ST, also made in partnership with IMDA: Made In Singapore, A Day In The Kitchen and Singapore Works.
