More than a terror story

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. Their goal was to show why community bonds matter, and to remind audiences of the importance of building these relationships before a crisis strikes.

The team built three ‘hooks’ into the drama — a mystery, a love story and a race against time. PHOTO: Justine Ong

The team grappled with keeping the story compelling without losing sight of its purpose. With multiple messages to weave in, including social cohesion, youth radicalisation, misinformation awareness and even a romantic storyline, the risk of producing something that felt like a checklist of PSAs was real, said Justine.

Jing Yu approached this creatively by making the two main characters, Joel and Yu Ting, the victims of the attack, so that the community storyline would always revolve around them and stay relevant.

With so many converging storylines, the microdrama makes sure to stay rooted in reality. Police officers questioning witnesses is just one of the many threads the team wove together convincingly. PHOTO: Luc Yeo

Scenes that hit home

For Justine, the scene that stayed with her most was a quieter one. Without giving away spoilers, a commonly misunderstood character in the series eventually revealed something that changed everyone’s perception of him.

"It challenges how easily fear and assumptions can shape the way we see others, especially in times of crisis," she reflects. It is a message she hopes audiences will take away: "Resilience isn't about bouncing back unscathed. It's about continuing to show up and rebuild, however imperfectly, with the support of the people around you."

Played by Royal Pek, Meng is a young man with a criminal record who is often misunderstood by those around him. PHOTO: Luc Yeo

Sheryl, meanwhile, found herself moved by a mother’s breakdown when that character confronted the consequences of not spending enough time with her family. "It reminds parents to spend more time with their children before it’s too late.”

Li-Oon (centre), played by Yvonne Lim, is a respected grassroots leader in the community. PHOTO: Sheryl Tan

More than a crisis story

At its heart, the microdrama carries a message that extends well beyond any single crisis: that the bonds which carry a community through the worst of times are built long before disaster strikes.

As Justine puts it, "The relationships, trust and everyday goodwill shown throughout the story are what we hope will resonate with audiences, and that audiences embody it before anything happens."

Depicting scenes of community and togetherness was one of the main goals for the scriptwriters. PHOTO: Luc Yeo

Check out more exclusive behind-the-scenes photos below.

Watch ”Be The Light” on TikTok @ (opens in new tab)mediacorp.re (opens in new tab).dian (opens in new tab) from 29 October 2026 and reflect on the bonds you are building in your own community today.

PHOTO: Luc Yeo

PHOTO: Luc Yeo

PHOTO: Luc Yeo

Photo: Tham Yee Lin

SGSecure is Singapore’s community response to the threat of terrorism. It is a national movement that aims to build community resilience and calls upon the public to come together to safeguard Singapore and our way of life. Launched in 2016 in response to the heightened global terror threat, SGSecure equips citizens with the knowledge and skills to prevent, deal with and recover from a terror attack. For more information and training resources, visit www.sgsecure.gov.sg (opens in new tab).