Clicknetwork.tv founder: Being a female director has its merits

Gillian Tan started her own company with $10,000, a mini video camera and an old Macbook. Today, what was previously a one-woman-show has since evolved to be one of Singapore’s most creative and successful production companies.

She is founder of Munkysuperstar Pictures and manages Singapore-based clicknetwork.tv, an online video network that offers hip, fun, and edgy entertainment programming.

Finding her way into the industry

Gillian is living proof that you just need to start doing what you want to do.

Before moving back to Singapore, she focused on producing television commercials  in the broadcasting department of an agency in San Francisco called TBWAChiatDay.

She explains, “I had applied to some companies when I first moved back to Singapore but didn’t get anything, so being impatient and impulsive, I decided to start my own company.”

Without a response from the companies, Gillian began producing a test pilot for her very first TV show to pitch to MediaCorp. Working out of a room in her mother’s office and equipped with an old Mac she used for editing, it was the start of her production company Munkysuperstar Pictures. The test pilot that she produced later became popular local reality dating show “Eye For A Guy”.

When one door closes, another one opens

While the shows were gaining traction, things did not sail so smoothly.

“Clicknetwork.tv started by chance. Back in 2007, we were supposed to produce season 2 of a Channel 5 show called ‘Girls Out Loud’, but it was cancelled at the last minute due to some complaints from the public,” she said.

Faced with this minor setback, Gillian and Girls Out Loud hosts Rosalyn and Wendy decided to pack up their bags and take a short road trip to Malaysia.

Road Trip EP1 from clicknetwork on Vimeo.