Singaporean singer-songwriter and actor Benjamin Kheng has revealed that local personality Steven Lim was his first reference when developing his character in the upcoming mockumentary The Sandbox.
Kheng, 36, plays Joash Goh, a self-proclaimed martial arts prodigy whose confidence, inflated ego and complete disregard for other people’s opinions become a major source of comedy in the film. The movie follows a struggling stunt training school that suddenly attracts aspiring performers after rumours spread that a major superhero production is looking for talent in Singapore.
Speaking at a press conference for the film, Kheng said he and director James Thoo considered several references for Joash, but Steven Lim immediately came to mind. He described Lim as an “ultimate performance artist” and said he admired the way Lim had built a distinctive public persona over many years.
Kheng said the character was not particularly difficult to play because he has encountered people with similar personalities in real life. He described Joash as someone who genuinely believes in his own abilities and has no hesitation about showing off, giving Kheng plenty of room to exaggerate the character for comedic effect.
The actor also said much of Joash’s humour came from a combination of the written script and improvisation. Thoo encouraged the cast to experiment with different performances, and Kheng said he was surprised by how many of his improvised moments eventually made it into the finished film.
Kheng described the production as one of the most enjoyable sets he had worked on, saying there was little sense of ego among the cast and crew. The film was shot between May and June 2025 and features an ensemble cast that includes Peps Goh, Nathan Hartono, Fauzi Azzhar, Oon Shu An, Estelle Fly, Jon Cancio, Xuan Ong and Aaron Mossadeg.
The Sandbox is directed by James Thoo and produced by Mocha Chai Laboratories. It first premiered at the 36th Singapore International Film Festival in November 2025 before screening internationally, including at the Malaysia International Film Festival in July 2026. It is scheduled to open in Singapore cinemas on Oct. 8.
The film’s story centres on a fictional stunt school struggling to survive. A rumour that Marvel Studios is scouting for talent in Singapore suddenly brings a wave of superhero hopefuls to the school, creating a chaotic mix of ambitious performers, exaggerated personalities and aspiring stars.
Beyond the comedy, the movie also explores the pressures faced by small creative businesses and people trying to build careers in Singapore’s entertainment industry. The real-life stunt school that inspired the film closed in September 2026 after five years, with high rental costs making it difficult to continue operating from its previous location.
Kheng also reflected on the challenges of working as an artiste in Singapore, saying performers need a strong belief in themselves and in their work while navigating a relatively small market. He noted that artists often have to balance creative ambitions with commercial realities.
The actor has worked across music, acting and other creative projects since first gaining prominence as a member of The Sam Willows. He has also been involved in Sing Song Social Club, a community choir founded by Singaporean musicians Aarika Lee, Kheng, Nathan Hartono and Sandra Riley Tang.
Kheng said the choir has provided a different kind of creative environment for him, describing it as a space where music is less about individual performance and more about bringing people together. Sing Song Social Club was established in 2024 and has since grown into a community-based singing initiative open to people regardless of their level of musical experience.
As The Sandbox prepares for its Singapore theatrical release, Kheng’s portrayal of Joash is expected to be one of the film’s central comic performances, combining scripted humour with the improvisational style that emerged during filming. The movie arrives in cinemas on Oct. 8.
