Ryan Tan (Singapore Entrepreneur)

Ryan Tan is the co-founder of Night Owl Cinematics (NOC) alongside his wife Sylvia Chan. Ryan is the Video Director of the company while Sylvia handles the company's corporate matters and public relations. The duo occasionally appear in some YouTube videos.[1] As of November 2019, their YouTube channel has over 956,000 subscribers.

Ryan Tan
Ryan Chan NOC.png
Born1 August 1988
Alma materKent Ridge Secondary School, Institute of Technical Education (ITE)
Known forFounder of Night Owl Cinematics
Spouse(s)Sylvia Chan (m. 2010)

Background

Aside from being the lead videographer, Ryan Tan's role in Night Owl Cinematics ranges from being in charge of video edits and executing NOC's social media campaigns.[2]

Early life

Ryan Tan was born in Singapore on 1 August 1988. During his teenage years in Kent Ridge Secondary School, Ryan was having trouble in school due to the souring relationship between his parents. He was involved in a gang and had been arrested on one occasion. During this period, Ryan sought comfort in his teacher, Mrs Tang, who encouraged him through those tough times.[3]


After his secondary education, Ryan enrolled in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) but left after 6 months.[4] Subsequently, Ryan worked as a model and dabbled in model management.[5]

Failed F&B business ventures

After completing his National Service, Ryan ran the food and beverage (F&B) franchise ‘New York New York’.[6] He also set up Shi Wei Tian at Joo Chiat Place[7] which eventually closed down due to high rental costs and manpower issues.[8] In a 2013 interview, Ryan shared that following the failure of his two businesses, he was at "rock bottom" before Sylvia suggested for him to pursue videography.[9] Additionally, the failed business ventures had left him in debt.[10]

Personal life

 
Ryan and Sylvia at work. Photo from Asian Entrepreneur.

Marriage to Sylvia Chan

Ryan first met Sylvia when they were both modelling part-time at 16 years old.[11] They were friends before they started officially dating. Feelings developed between the two when Ryan helped Sylvia track down her ex-boyfriend that owed her money at the time.[12]


In another interview with Cheryl Fox for On The Red Dot, the couple shared that they got together the very next time they met. According to Ryan, Sylvia had left a perfume bottle at his house on purpose as a set up for their next meeting. He only came to know of the plan on their wedding day through a mutual friend.[13] The couple got married in 2010 when they were both 22 years old.[14]

Professional partnership

Following the falling through of their first business, the two decided to explore making videos professionally.[15] The duo's first paid video assignment was a funeral montage. They had then gone on to produce videos for weddings and corporate events. During this time, Malaysian YouTuber Dan Khoo was their main supporter as he had taught them the ropes of the YouTube industry.[16]

Night Owl Cinematics (2013 - present)

Founding

While trying to hone their skills for scripted videos, Ryan and Sylvia posted videos on YouTube. Unexpectedly, one of their first few videos titled ‘Shit Singaporean Girlfriends Say’ (YouTube video) went viral. Following their rise in popularity, they became full-time YouTubers with their own production company called Night Owl Cinematics in 2013.[17]

Content

 
Ryan occasionally appears in NOC's videos as the character Xi Guay Ong (pictured first from left). Thumbnail from YouTube.

Night Owl Cinematics (NOC) is a Singapore-based production company that focuses on YouTube videos, offline activation videos for corporate clients and talent management.[18] Their first ever client was a local consulting firm RecruitPlus.[19] As of 2019, their clientele includes notable companies including Daniel Wellington, Media Development Authority Singapore, ASUS and Airbnb.[20] The company has also expanded to a total headcount of 30 people.[21]


NOC has developed signature series like ‘Food King’ (YouTube playlist), ‘Do It For The Money’ (YouTube playlist) and ‘Shit Singaporeans Say’ (YouTube playlist). On top of YouTube, NOC publishes articles on their website (official website) which commonly feature their travels, local events and posts that accompany the videos they had produced.

Mentorship & collaborations

Apart from being popular for their videos, both Ryan and Sylvia are known for being mentors to newer Singaporean YouTubers such as JianHao Tan who has spoken favourably for the couple.[22] NOC has collaborated with many local and international content creators on YouTube. This includes local YouTubers like Dee Kosh (Darryl Koshy) and JianHao Tan and international YouTubers like Ryan Higa, Dan Khoo Productions, The Ming Thing and Steven Lim from Buzzfeed.

Awards & accolades

Year Award/Title Awarding organisation Refs.
2016 Influencer of the Year 2016 Gushcloud [23]
2016 Forbes’ 30 Under 30: Media, Marketing & Advertising Forbes Asia [24][25]
2015 Best YouTube Channel (Singapore)

Influencer's Choice Award

Gushcloud [26]
2015 Best Comedy Video of the Year

Best YouTube Channel

Singapore Social Media Awards (SMA) [27]
2013 Best Marketing Campaign The Global Recruiter Asia Pacific Recruitment Industry Awards [28]

References / Citations

  1. “About Night Owl Cinematics”. Night Owl Cinematics. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://noc.com.sg/about-us/
  2. Chow, Pamela. "Who’s The Boss Of Night Owl Cinematics? Hint: It’s Gotta Do With Xi Guay Ong". Weekender. April 5, 2016. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  3. Ryan Sylvia. "Draw My Life - Ryan Sylvia". YouTube. April 9, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0AK4gJ7GM
  4. Ryan Sylvia. "Draw My Life - Ryan Sylvia". YouTube. April 9, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0AK4gJ7GM
  5. Ryan Sylvia. "Draw My Life - Ryan Sylvia". YouTube. April 9, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0AK4gJ7GM
  6. "Singaporean YouTube stars make their mark online and offline". The Straits Times. April 13, 2014. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  7. "Singaporean YouTube stars make their mark online and offline". The Straits Times. April 13, 2014. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  8. Ryan Sylvia. "Draw My Life - Ryan Sylvia". YouTube. April 9, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0AK4gJ7GM
  9. Tan, Adrian. "Interview With Media Entrepreneur Ryan Tan". Adian Tan. May 24, 2016. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  10. Chow, Pamela. "Who’s The Boss Of Night Owl Cinematics? Hint: It’s Gotta Do With Xi Guay Ong". Weekender. April 5, 2016. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  11. Tham, Raymond. “Q&A with Night Owl Cinematics’ Ryan and Sylvia”. TodayOnline. December 15, 2015. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/celebrity/qa-night-owl-cinematics-ryan-and-sylvia
  12. Tan, Felicia. "5 RELATIONSHIP TIPS FROM NIGHT OWL CINEMATICS' SYLVIA CHAN". Her World Brides. September 23, 2015. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  13. Yap, Jacky. "Night Owl Cinematics' Ryan & Sylvia Reveal Juicy Story Of How They Met!". Vulcan Post. 18 June 2015. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  14. Tham, Raymond. “Q&A with Night Owl Cinematics’ Ryan and Sylvia”. TodayOnline. December 15, 2015. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/celebrity/qa-night-owl-cinematics-ryan-and-sylvia
  15. Tan, Felicia. "5 RELATIONSHIP TIPS FROM NIGHT OWL CINEMATICS' SYLVIA CHAN". Her World Brides. September 23, 2015. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  16. Tham, Raymond. “Q&A with Night Owl Cinematics’ Ryan and Sylvia”. TodayOnline. December 15, 2015. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/celebrity/qa-night-owl-cinematics-ryan-and-sylvia
  17. Tham, Raymond. “Q&A with Night Owl Cinematics’ Ryan and Sylvia”. TodayOnline. December 15, 2015. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/celebrity/qa-night-owl-cinematics-ryan-and-sylvia
  18. Studio AC. “#09 Sylvia Chan (Content Creator) - Become A YouTuber”. YouTube. October 30, 2017. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0XiJmI5W5E
  19. Tan, Adrian. "Interview With Media Entrepreneur Ryan Tan". Adian Tan. May 24, 2019. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  20. “Our Clients”. Night Owl Cinematics. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://noc.com.sg/client/
  21. "About Night Owl Cinematics". Night Owl Cinematics. Accessed on 28 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://noc.com.sg/about-us/
  22. Ibid. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/celebrity/how-night-owl-cinematics-ryan-and-sylvia-became-youtubes-power-couple
  23. “Ryan Tan”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tan-aa9532149  
  24. “Ryan Tan”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tan-aa9532149  
  25. "2016 30 Under 30". Forbes. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  26. “Ryan Tan”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tan-aa9532149  
  27. “Ryan Tan”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tan-aa9532149  
  28. “Ryan Tan”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 29 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tan-aa9532149