A film by Jew Nuas

THE OLD LION

THE OLD LION

THE OLD LION

The campaign

Back The Old Lion.

Help Jew Nuas shoot the live-action short, the proof of concept for a feature film. Watch the pitch, read the story, then choose your pledge.

Help Jew Nuas shoot the live-action short, the proof of concept for a feature film. Watch the pitch, read the story, then choose your pledge.

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01 — The story

A legendary dance battler, forced out of competition due to injury, comes out of retirement to win cash prizes for his son’s medical treatment. Out of the game for 10 years, he faces not only a dance scene dominated by a younger generation, but a fight for the World Champion title he was once close to winning.

Shot in live action in the Lion City, Singapore, as a short film and proof of concept for a feature, The Old Lion marries a classic comeback story in the vein of Cinderella Man with the grand dance set pieces of the Step Up films.

Animated still: a dusty trophy and medals on a wall in a dim room

I. The trophies gather dust.

Animated still: a father dances in a sunlit living room while his son watches

II. A promise to his son.

02 — Where it’s set

The film at a glance.

Five things to know about The Old Lion.

Animated still: a breakdancer frozen on a battle stage
A breaker mid-move at a packed dance battle
Jew Nuas behind the camera monitor on set
Animated still: a dusty trophy and medals on a wall
Animated still: a father dances for his son

Scene 01 / 05

The Old Lion

Animated still: a breakdancer frozen on a battle stage

01 — Genre

A sports drama meets dance flick.

An underdog comeback told through breaking: freezes, footwork and the circle that forms around every battle.

A breaker mid-move at a packed dance battle

02 — Setting

Singapore, the Lion City.

Shot in the real studios and battle venues of Singapore’s street dance scene.

Jew Nuas behind the camera monitor on set

03 — Format

A live-action short film.

The proof of concept for a feature, directed by Jew Nuas.

Animated still: a dusty trophy and medals on a wall

04 — Release

Short 2027. Feature 2027–2028.

The short comes first. The full story follows.

Animated still: a father dances for his son

05 — Themes

Love. Sacrifice. Bravery.

And legends remaking history: an old lion is still a lion.

Animated still: a breakdancer frozen on a battle stage

01 — Genre

A sports drama meets dance flick.

An underdog comeback told through breaking: freezes, footwork and the circle that forms around every battle.

A breaker mid-move at a packed dance battle

02 — Setting

Singapore, the Lion City.

Shot in the real studios and battle venues of Singapore’s street dance scene.

Jew Nuas behind the camera monitor on set

03 — Format

A live-action short film.

The proof of concept for a feature, directed by Jew Nuas.

Animated still: a dusty trophy and medals on a wall

04 — Release

Short 2027. Feature 2027–2028.

The short comes first. The full story follows.

Animated still: a father dances for his son

05 — Themes

Love. Sacrifice. Bravery.

And legends remaking history: an old lion is still a lion.

Animated still: a breakdancer frozen on a battle stage

01 — Genre

A sports drama meets dance flick.

An underdog comeback told through breaking: freezes, footwork and the circle that forms around every battle.

A breaker mid-move at a packed dance battle

02 — Setting

Singapore, the Lion City.

Shot in the real studios and battle venues of Singapore’s street dance scene.

Jew Nuas behind the camera monitor on set

03 — Format

A live-action short film.

The proof of concept for a feature, directed by Jew Nuas.

Animated still: a dusty trophy and medals on a wall

04 — Release

Short 2027. Feature 2027–2028.

The short comes first. The full story follows.

Animated still: a father dances for his son

05 — Themes

Love. Sacrifice. Bravery.

And legends remaking history: an old lion is still a lion.

Three things, in one film.

Everything The Old Lion brings together.

01

Like Step Up 3D

The dance battles

The dance battles

02

Like Cinderella Man

The comeback

The comeback

03

Like Rocky

The underdog heart

The underdog heart

01

Like Step Up 3D

The dance battles

02

Like Cinderella Man

The comeback

03

Like Rocky

The underdog heart

03 — The characters

Khai “The Kebal” Idris, 36

Khai “The Kebal” Idris, 36

The Old Lion

Leader of the Vanda Lions and master of all styles, Khai earned the name “The Kebal”: the Unstoppable. At 25 he went further than any Singaporean in the World Dance Arena, reaching the Top 4, before fracturing his knee mid-battle.

He walked away from competing and gave his life to teaching, hoping the next generation would beat the record he set. Above all he is a devoted father, with a son, Daniel, and a baby daughter on the way. For them he will face his fears, and the limits of his body.

The Pride & the people around them

The Pride & the people around them

His crew, his family, his rival

His crew, his family, his rival

Kimaya “Cobra” Singh, 36

The Pride

Popping pioneer · Khai’s wife

Singapore’s popping pioneer, and the one who taught Khai the style he leans on most. Far along in her pregnancy, she backs his comeback, even as she fears he’ll miss their daughter’s birth.

Dekdi De Souza, 33

The Pride

B-boy · Co-founder, Vanda Lions

Khai’s best friend from Indonesia, who started the Vanda Lions with him and Kimaya. Disciplined and powerful, he still competes, and trains Khai with new ideas and power moves.

Raisa “Xynister” Valencia, 27

The Pride

Krumper · The Buck Queen

Joined the crew at 16 and is now hailed as Singapore’s Buck Queen. A one-trick pony and a terrible teacher, but on the hardest songs she’s Khai’s secret edge.

Simon “Tiny” Teoh, 33

The Pride

Emcee · Locking legend

Half of the duo Tiny Fox and one of the best emcees in Asia. Ten years out of the game, spent making friends across borders, he helps bring the World Dance Arena qualifiers to Singapore.

Iris “Fox Lady” Teoh, 34

The Pride

Waacker · Physiotherapist

Simon’s wife, an adored Malaysian waacker and the planner behind Tiny Fox’s biggest battles. As a physio, she’s the one who can keep Khai’s body in one piece.

Daniel Khai, 10

Supporting

Khai’s son

Talented, creative and desperate to become a professional dancer. He wants to be the best on his own terms, even if that means going against his father’s teachings.

Li Jin “TruBlu” Zhang, 42

Supporting

The rival

A disciplined former child champion from China who dominated Singapore’s scene, except for Khai. Now retired, he means to settle the score by proxy, through his daughter.

Ming Xi “Indygo” Zhang, 15

Supporting

Li Jin’s daughter

Obedient and hardworking, raised to surpass her father on a punishing schedule of school and training. Her one bright spot: seeing Daniel at the battles.

Teddy Hoth, 32

Supporting

Studio owner

Runs Braven Dance Studio, among several other businesses he manages all by himself. What he lacks in social skills, he makes up for in making a whole lotta money.

Kimaya “Cobra” Singh, 36

The Pride

Popping pioneer · Khai’s wife

Singapore’s popping pioneer, and the one who taught Khai the style he leans on most. Far along in her pregnancy, she backs his comeback, even as she fears he’ll miss their daughter’s birth.

Dekdi De Souza, 33

The Pride

B-boy · Co-founder, Vanda Lions

Khai’s best friend from Indonesia, who started the Vanda Lions with him and Kimaya. Disciplined and powerful, he still competes, and trains Khai with new ideas and power moves.

Raisa “Xynister” Valencia, 27

The Pride

Krumper · The Buck Queen

Joined the crew at 16 and is now hailed as Singapore’s Buck Queen. A one-trick pony and a terrible teacher, but on the hardest songs she’s Khai’s secret edge.

Simon “Tiny” Teoh, 33

The Pride

Emcee · Locking legend

Half of the duo Tiny Fox and one of the best emcees in Asia. Ten years out of the game, spent making friends across borders, he helps bring the World Dance Arena qualifiers to Singapore.

Iris “Fox Lady” Teoh, 34

The Pride

Waacker · Physiotherapist

Simon’s wife, an adored Malaysian waacker and the planner behind Tiny Fox’s biggest battles. As a physio, she’s the one who can keep Khai’s body in one piece.

Daniel Khai, 10

Supporting

Khai’s son

Talented, creative and desperate to become a professional dancer. He wants to be the best on his own terms, even if that means going against his father’s teachings.

Li Jin “TruBlu” Zhang, 42

Supporting

The rival

A disciplined former child champion from China who dominated Singapore’s scene, except for Khai. Now retired, he means to settle the score by proxy, through his daughter.

Ming Xi “Indygo” Zhang, 15

Supporting

Li Jin’s daughter

Obedient and hardworking, raised to surpass her father on a punishing schedule of school and training. Her one bright spot: seeing Daniel at the battles.

Teddy Hoth, 32

Supporting

Studio owner

Runs Braven Dance Studio, among several other businesses he manages all by himself. What he lacks in social skills, he makes up for in making a whole lotta money.

Now casting

Audition!

We’re casting dancers who can act for the lead and supporting roles: breakers, poppers, krumpers and lockers. No film experience needed.

Apply to audition

Open call

Featured Extras Audition!

Be part of the crowd, the cypher and the battle circle. Open to dancers and street dance fans of every level.

Apply as an extra

Animated still: a dusty trophy and medals on a wall

Act I

The Fall.

The Fall.

The Fall.

A legend, forced out of the game.

First look

Pitch animatic. The film itself is live action.

A breaker mid-move at a packed dance battle

Act II

The Lion City.

The Lion City.

The Lion City.

Singapore’s battle scene, ten years on.

04 — The scene

Drawn from the real battles.

The film grew out of time spent with Singapore’s street dance community: breakers and battlers, old heads and new blood, who compete overseas and keep putting the scene on the map. Their journeys shape every frame.

Battle night

A dancer battling in a studio cypher as the crowd watches

Studio session

A dancer stepping out at a dance battle under blue stage lights

Old heads & new blood

Battle night

A dancer battling in a studio cypher as the crowd watches

Studio session

A dancer stepping out at a dance battle under blue stage lights

Old heads & new blood

Animated still: a breakdancer frozen on a battle stage

Act III

The Pride.

The Pride.

The Pride.

The crew that carries him back to the stage.

04 — Pledge

Help put the Lion back on stage.

We’re crowdfunding to shoot The Old Lion: a live-action short film that will serve as the proof of concept for a feature. Pledges fund the shoot, the choreography with real battlers, and an original score.

Tier 01

Freestyle

Freestyle

Any amount

Pledge whatever you like. Every dollar gets the Lion closer to the stage.

Pledge at launch

Tier 02

Rookie

Rookie

$10

Your name in the digital thank-you reel, plus production updates straight from set.

Pledge at launch

Tier 03

Battler

Battler

$50

Everything in Rookie, plus behind-the-scenes footage from rehearsals and the shoot.

Pledge at launch

Tier 04

Front Row

Front Row

$100

Your name in the end credits, a digital art book of storyboards and character sheets, and early access to the trailer.

Pledge at launch

Tier 05

Judge

Judge

$250

Everything in Front Row, plus a signed poster and an invitation to a cast & crew screening.

Pledge at launch

Tier 06

Champion

Champion

$500

Everything in Judge, a signed still from the shoot, and an invitation to the premiere screening.

Pledge at launch

Tier 01

Freestyle

Any amount

Pledge whatever you like. Every dollar gets the Lion closer to the stage.

Pledge at launch

Tier 02

Rookie

$10

Your name in the digital thank-you reel, plus production updates straight from set.

Pledge at launch

Tier 03

Battler

$50

Everything in Rookie, plus behind-the-scenes footage from rehearsals and the shoot.

Pledge at launch

Tier 04

Front Row

$100

Your name in the end credits, a digital art book of storyboards and character sheets, and early access to the trailer.

Pledge at launch

Tier 05

Judge

$250

Everything in Front Row, plus a signed poster and an invitation to a cast & crew screening.

Pledge at launch

Tier 06

Champion

$500

Everything in Judge, a signed still from the shoot, and an invitation to the premiere screening.

Pledge at launch

Budget breakdown

Where your pledge goes.

An estimated split of the production budget. Final figures will be shared when the campaign opens.

45%

The shoot

Cast, crew, cameras and locations across the Lion City.

20%

Dance

Choreography and motion reference shot with dancers from the scene.

15%

Sound

An original score and the sound of the battle: the crowd, the DJ, the floor.

12%

Post-production

Editing, colour grading, visual effects and the final sound mix.

8%

Contingency

A safety net for reshoots, weather and the unexpected.

45%

The shoot

Cast, crew, cameras and locations across the Lion City.

20%

Dance

Choreography and motion reference shot with dancers from the scene.

15%

Sound

An original score and the sound of the battle: the crowd, the DJ, the floor.

12%

Post-production

Editing, colour grading, visual effects and the final sound mix.

8%

Contingency

A safety net for reshoots, weather and the unexpected.

The campaign opens soon. Be first in the circle.

One email when pledges open, and the occasional frame from the studio.

A breaker mid-move at a packed dance battle

The wall

Every backer gets their name on the wall.

Pledge at any tier and your name goes up here when the campaign opens.

Your name here

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05 — Director’s note

My hope is that this film comforts others stuck between two dreams, and is a message for the ones who feel they missed their chance:

An old lion is still a lion.

An old lion is still a lion.

An old lion is still a lion.

Jew Nuas, writer–director

06 — Our purpose

Our purpose.

Our mission: to put Singapore’s street dance scene on the big screen, made with the dancers who built it, for everyone who was told their moment had passed. Below are the people making it happen, and the roles we’re still looking to fill. See one you could take on? Join the crew.

Join the crew

Meet the crew.

Director

Name Surname

Leads the creative vision, from script to final cut, and guides the cast through every battle.

Assistant Director

Name Surname

Runs the set: the schedule, the call sheets, and keeping every shooting day on time.

Assistant Producer

Name Surname

Keeps the production moving, from budgets and permits to locations and logistics.

Director of Photography

Name Surname

Shapes the look of the film with light, lenses and camera movement, built to capture dance.

Art Director

Name Surname

Builds the world on screen: the studios, the battle arenas and Khai’s home.

Gaffer

Name Surname

Heads the lighting team and brings the DP’s vision to life on set.

Lead Composer

Name Surname

Writes the original score and shapes the beats the dancers battle to.

Director

Name Surname

Leads the creative vision, from script to final cut, and guides the cast through every battle.

Assistant Director

Name Surname

Runs the set: the schedule, the call sheets, and keeping every shooting day on time.

Assistant Producer

Name Surname

Keeps the production moving, from budgets and permits to locations and logistics.

Director of Photography

Name Surname

Shapes the look of the film with light, lenses and camera movement, built to capture dance.

Art Director

Name Surname

Builds the world on screen: the studios, the battle arenas and Khai’s home.

Gaffer

Name Surname

Heads the lighting team and brings the DP’s vision to life on set.

Lead Composer

Name Surname

Writes the original score and shapes the beats the dancers battle to.

Portrait of director Jew Nuas
Jew Nuas behind the camera monitor on set
Jew Nuas holding a microphone at a dance event

jew nuas

jew nuas

07 — Meet the director

Jew Nuas.

A 23-year-old Filipino-Singaporean filmmaker, creative strategist and street dancer based in Singapore.

Gold & Silver

GONG awards

Bronze

EFFIE award

Youngest

producer at SGAG

Her journey so far. Tap a milestone to read more.

Age 11

Self-taught

Secondary school

First campaign

Age 16

SGAG’s youngest producer

2023

Film school

2024

Into street dance

Today

Director & showrunner

2027

The Old Lion: the short

2027–2028

The Old Lion

08 — FAQ

Questions, answered.

How can I support the cast and crew?

How can I support the cast and crew?

Pledge at any tier, share the campaign with friends, and follow @theoldlionmovie on Instagram. Know a dancer or filmmaker who would fit an open role? Send them our way.

I can’t give money. How else can I help?

I can’t give money. How else can I help?

Plenty of ways. Lend us a location: a studio, a hall, a shop or a void deck. Feed the crew on shoot days with meals, drinks or snacks. Loan equipment or transport, or volunteer your time and skills on set. Email us and tell us what you can offer.

Can I be in the film?

Can I be in the film?

Yes. We’re holding auditions for dancers who can act, plus an open call for featured extras for the crowd and battle scenes. Apply from the Characters section.

Where does my pledge go?

Where does my pledge go?

Into the shoot, the dance, the sound and post-production. The budget breakdown in the Pledge section shows the full split.

When will the film be ready?

When will the film be ready?

We shoot the short in 2027, with the feature to follow in 2027–2028. Backers get updates straight from set.

Can I join the crew?

Can I join the crew?

We’re still looking for crew, from sound and grip to wardrobe and behind-the-scenes. Apply through the crew form in Our purpose.

09 — Contact

Get in touch.

Questions, locations, sponsorships or press: we’d love to hear from you.

The Old Lion

The Old Lion

The Old Lion

A love letter to everyone still chasing a dream.

A love letter to everyone still chasing a dream.

YOUR

LOGO

HERE

Produced by

[Company name]

© 2026 The Old Lion. A live-action short film by Jew Nuas. Music: echoes_of_lumen, The_Mountain and Rockot, via Pixabay.

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