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More than a terror story
Meet Our Community
More than a terror story
23 October 2026
Home Team
MHA
A community in crisis. A story worth telling right. Go behind the scenes of the microdrama “Be The Light” with the team that spent months shaping every word.
Written by Justine Ong
PHOTO: Luc Yeo. GRAPHIC: Justine Ong
A story built on community
“I hope audiences feel like they are right there in the drama — and truly understand how a terror attack affects the entire community. Not just through physical injuries, but also the fear, suspicion and grief that can ripple through after the incident itself,” said Justine Mok, Manager (Special Projects) at the SGSecure Programme Office. Her words capture exactly what the production team set out to achieve with the upcoming SGSecure microdrama “Be The Light”.
In "Be The Light”, the community experiences the aftermath of a bombing and must find a way to recover and rebuild together. PHOTO: Kimberly Tng
The Mediacorp production, commissioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, draws viewers into the heart of a close-knit community that is reeling from a bombing, where they must choose between fear and solidarity. It features a cast of familiar faces, including Desmond Tan, Tasha Low and Yvonne Lim.
Tasha Low (left) plays Yu Ting, an empathetic online journalist documenting the aftermath of the bombing. PHOTO: Amos Choo
From first draft to final cut
The scriptwriting process involved a team of three. Helming the creative development of the script was Teo Jing Yu, Supervising Scriptwriter at Mediacorp. Working alongside her were Sheryl Tan, Branding and Marketing Manager from MHA's Digital and Marketing Communications Directorate, and Justine, who guided the messaging.
(From left) Sheryl, Jing Yu and Justine on set. PHOTO: Justine Ong
The road to the final script involved months of collaboration and thoughtful review.
Jing Yu recalled that the story looked very different when the project first began in July 2025. Back then, the focus was on the attack and the attacker.
Initially, the story focused on an attacker planning to leave a bomb unattended in a crowded place. PHOTO: Justine Ong
After further discussions, the team pivoted to a story set after the attack, shifting the lens from the perpetrator to the community affected.
Desmond Tan, who plays Joel, in a hospital ward scene where his character grapples with his injuries. PHOTO: Luc Yeo
Three rounds of script feedback followed, with Justine and Sheryl lending their expertise to shape various details. Jing Yu recalled, "I don't know what a radicalised person would say – I could only imagine. So, they gave me suggestions which made the character more realistic."
Balancing entertainment with purpose
What the three have in common is a shared conviction that stories can connect with people in ways that traditional public service announcements (PSA) may not.