Madame Margaux

Director Nikki Tan enlists the help of Bambby Cheuk & Evangelista Wan to capture the fascinating discovery of the Tboli leaf warbler... through the power of drag! *snaps fan*

Tell us about your connection to nature, why is it important in your life?

Bambby: I am a part of nature. Being connected with the natural environment around me reminds me to slow down, and be aware that I am but a small part of a larger timeline and system and to be intentional in my time here.

Nikki: Strangely enough, I’ve always wondered how it would be like to be a grain of sand. How wild would it be to be such a small little speck with all your little grains of sand around you. And I guess that’s how nature makes me feel! The interconnectedness yet humility of being a part of this seemingly never ending universe. From the plants on the sidewalk to a sea anemone in the sea to the gecko in my bathroom, everything in nature is unbelievably intricate and alive! That’s so cool and so important for me to remember.

Eva: The seas and forests have always been a part of my life - my dad would teach us to tread water continuously for hours or how to navigate a forest from 12 years old. Ive been a birdwatcher for 14 years and a wildlife photographer for 10. Nature is important to me because everything we have today is thanks to nature, if we dont conserve it, life as we know it will change completely, and in the most unjust and imbalanced way possible :(

Tell us about why you landed on this topic. Why should people be aware of the stories or species in the film?

Bambby: We were first connected to an ornithologist in Singapore who was researching a new species of bird, the tboli leaf warbler. While we intended to do a story on just the bird, we realised that the people supporting the scientists were so colourful. Immediately we fell in love with the tboli community. I found the story incredibly moving and important because we see an indigenous community having great success in taking care of their indigenous land. These people understand the needs of their land, fight to protect its tranquility and enjoy life and connection organically with nature.

Nikki: This story essentially is a simple celebration of the success of an indigenous community, with this newly identified species of bird as the testament of their work. We often come across narratives on oppressed indigenous communities and the importance of giving back these communities their land rights. What drew me to this story was how it was a reflection of what it would look like when indigenous communities are left alone to sow seeds into their own land. It is very much a party, a celebration, an explosion of culture in every aspect - nature, heritage, tribe and drag. It is a culmination of characters you never thought you would find together. The Tboli community is a small tribe tucked away in the hills of the Philippines, an uncovered gem whose story should be spotlighted to the rest of the world.

Eva: When my ornithologist friend told me about this newly described species of warbler, I was already very excited, because new species of birds are very rare to come by!! (only 4-6 species a year worldwide) Plus its southeast asian representation - a species endemic to the Philippines, recorded through a Philippine-Singapore university collaboration. Then I learned that the warbler will be named after an indigenous tribe that celebrated drag culture, and the conservation program is spearheaded by the most popular queen in the Municipality, and I WAS FLOORED. The crossover between drag and nature was so unique that i thought it should be shared with the world.

What are you hoping people will take away and feel from watching your film?

Bambby: For all my films, I would like them to be useful to the communities I am making this with. This film spotlights their community and their work in the tourism space - the dynamism, the culture, the sustainability. I hope that the people from Tboli feel good seeing their culture on the big screen and be encouraged to keep the culture going.

Nikki: This film is, in my eyes, a borrowed story kindly entrusted to us by the Tboli community. Through ‘Madame Margaux’, I hope the world will come to know and appreciate the preciousness of the community, the individuals represented and the space that they hold. The message, per se, to take away is that there are many pockets of hope scattered around the world that truly love and nurture nature. And we should likewise nurture them!

Eva: I hope we can normalise the idea of a thriving, developed, and progressive indigenous SE asian tribe. That tribes are not necessarily backwards and conservative, but celebrate differences and lovingly accept each other. I hope the film also inspires people to embrace nature in economic development, instead of seeing nature as something that has to be sacrificed for an economy to grow.

What do you think needs to change to help people reconnect with nature?

Bambby: I feel like people don’t need to be experts in the outdoors or nature in order to connect. I am not very good at identifying birds and wildlife, but I am allowed to enjoy nature just as much. I also think people should have company - company makes all the difference! I learnt so much from my teammates Nikki and Eva who are much more knowledgeable, resilient and fun, and make each visit to nature an adventure.

Nikki: I always believe that we can only protect what we love and can only love what we know. At the core of it, I think just simply being in wonder of nature is sufficient! Even if it’s through a screen, being in awe of something will always spark interest and eventually care for a subject. Nature doesn’t have barriers and the mindset that we need to know, understand or conquer it needs to change!

Eva: Myths need to be busted! A lot of fear/disinterest in nature comes from misinformation, like how sharks and snakes are evil/dangerous because of their portrayal in movies, or that nature is dirty/inaccessible. I think once people understand animal behaviour, how to act around animals, and that certain myths are untrue, they might be more likely to give nature a shot, and therefore give themselves a fair chance to connect (and maybe even successfully coexist?)

Biggest learning from the creative process?

Bambby: This whole journey was a major learning curve as our first wildlife film from the technical difficulties, practical health issues to communicating in a different country. But, learning from one of the profiles, Leoncio, sometimes we just need to dance or sing it out to get through it - and we did it from the mountains to the editing room.

Nikki: Patience!!! And that stories are crafted, not forced. Learning to step back and allow a story/character to speak for itself was incredibly difficult at times, especially in trying to weave multiple narratives together. But I learnt that giving it space to breathe and allowing a story to speak for itself is sometimes the most powerful tool. And thank God we’ve been blessed with such an awesomely charismatic and passionate profile like Madame Margaux!

Eva: I learned that Tboli people live unapologetically and thrive in the process. And this is now a principle i want to live by ☺️

One thing people might not know about you?

Bambby: I love to take cold showers, so living on the mountain and only being accessible to ice cold mountain water was completely fine for me.

Nikki: I’m deathly terrified of heights, and that giggling can get you through many things in life - or I would’ve gotten kicked out of this team if I couldn’t hike (crawl) up the mountain.

Eva: I can clap with one hand!!! which is very useful because i'm always holding way too many things