In 2001, Notes From An Even Smaller Island was released. At the book launch, Neil met Lionel Chok, a young movie producer who was eager to turn the book into a film. Neil thought it was a joke, wished Lionel all the best, didn’t really take him all that seriously and privately thought there was as much chance of Scorsese popping by Toa Payoh and asking to buy the rights.

- This won’t be the final poster

He thought no more about it and went off to shoot a cameo as Sir Stamford Raffles in the daft, but underrated, low-budget comedy Talking Cock the Movie for Woo Yen Yen and Colin Goh. The husband and wife team used Talking Cock to warm up for their superb second movie Singapore Dreaming.

Neil used Talking Cock to play Stamford Raffles, Singapore’s modern founder, as gay and show why he writes for a living. Meanwhile, Lionel went off and shot a movie in Cambodia called To Speak, which is currently doing the rounds on the international film circuits and shot the acclaimed documentary, Geraldine, which was premiered at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival. His telemovie Dirty Laundry was also released in 2004. It’s fair to say Lionel’s film career has been rather more productive.

In 2007, Neil released Complete Notes From Singapore, his omnibus edition of all three books and Lionel decided to have another stab at getting the books made for the big screen. The two got together under a huge white tent in front of the Victoria Theatre one night (don’t ask) and talked into the early hours about film possibilities.

- Neil Humphreys plays Stamford Raffles

Neil went back to Australia and by the time he had landed, the industrious Lionel had a financier on board in Innoform, the movie’s co-producer, and is busy getting the rest of the budget together as we speak. Neil, meanwhile, has finally realised he’s got to write the damn thing and is working on various drafts of the screenplay for Lionel to reject.

      So if all goes to plan and Lionel either raises the additional funds or robs a bank, Notes From An Expat should hopefully be coming to a Singapore cinema screen soon(ish). There will be regular updates here on the movie’s progress and on the movie’s official website:

http://www.1magine.com/notesfromexpatmovie/.

      In the meantime, get a copy of Talking Cock The Movie to see why Neil won’t be playing himself in the movie.