Discovery Channel celebrates SG50 with Uniquely Singaporean Stories

As part of SG50 celebrations, a team of personalities and local film makers was assembled for a very special project.

Singapore Stories, Discovery Channel's upcoming documentary series, tells stories that have become unique to the nation in its 50 years of independence.

The five-part series taps on the creative talent of up and coming Singaporean directors as well as the familiar voices of both local and international stars to bring these stories to the small screen.

Each episode is distinct and features a different aspect of life in Singapore.

The series premiere Man vs. Birds, narrated by Singapore-based British actor and presenter George Young, examines the cause behind the daily bird movement that has plagued Orchard Road for years.

The episode lets viewers join a businessman and his team consisting of avian researchers, a pest controller, an event designer and an arborist on their quest to restore peace to the tourist hotspot. 

(Man vs. Birds directors Priscilla Goh (left) and Kylie Tan tackle Orchard Road's bird movement problem in the series premiere) PHOTO BY CAPTURED FOR DISCOVERY CHANNEL

Moving away from the busy town area, the second episode of Singapore Stories, Heartland, revolves around one of Singapore's oldest public housing estates.

Heartland, narrated by local actress and DJ Melody Chen, explores the 57-year-old Dakota Crescent and celebrates the Singaporean kampong (village) spirit. 

(Heartland directors Mark Chua (left) and Mark Kwan pose at a playground in Dakota Crescent) PHOTO BY CAPTURED FOR DISCOVERY CHANNEL

The other episodes feature urban farming in Singapore, card flourishing on the local scene and the creation of the nation's first marine park.

They are narrated by VJ and model Nadya Hutagulung, Benjamin Kheng from The Sam Willows and French environmental advocate Phillipe Costeau Jr respectively. 

Singapore Stories premieres on Discovery Channel (Starhub Channel 422 and Singtel Channel 202) at 9pm on Thursday (July 16) and will air every Thursday.