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little nyonya roadshow

the little nyonya's roadshow was held today, at compass point. the response was overwhelming and it was extremely good to see so many people fill up the whole entire mall. we were all very touched by every single one of you who turned up to support this roadshow. thank you all =)

i heard that the tiles near the stage cracked. i hope no one was hurt in the event.

guess who i spotted? my little girl.. haha.. she was there too.

we managed to get her up on stage. i think she thoroughly enjoyed herself..

softly hums *all i want for christmas is my two front teeth la la la*.. =)

today's a special day for yang yang too.. it's his birthday.. i hope he's had a good time with a roadshow/b-day celebration. happy birthday to him and 加油! =)

there were a few artistes who couldn't make it due to filming, but they really really wished they could. i'm sure all of you would have loved to meet them too.

to wrap it up.. thank you all for your tremendous support. today's roadshow was successful only because you made it so.. =)

photograph

this particular photo of ju xiang was specially taken by a professional photographer. we came into studio about 2 hours earlier (before actual filming started), to set the lights, and to create the effect using smoke machine. finally the colors on the photgraph were "re-painted" onto the black and white canvas.

we actually put this up in malacca's peranakan museum for the entire duration we were filming there. they were so very accommodating.

while outside the museum.. there was a reptile! i was not allowed to touch it. in case you are all wondering.. no NO, we were not abusing it. when we spotted it in the drain, its mouth was tied up, and we just wanted to free it.  

talk about abuse.. remember charlie zhang, the villian who tried to violate me (ju xiang)? anyway, he's one funny man. he'd amuse us with stories and entertain all of us while we were waiting.

lighter moments

my friend asked me "when are you going to have a better life?" he meant yue niang of course.. well.. i can't really reveal that as yet. just so to make things a lot better for everyone, here are some lighter moments in the midst of filming those "agonizing" scenes.. =)

the very same make up artiste (wah kor) who gave me very "beautiful" make up for these scenes that you've seen so far.. =) this particular ghost looking one came with a package of peeling skin and dry lips, and filming for those scenes was done over a period of 3 days.

this is SUPER embarrassing.. while filming the fall into the well, i had to bend over and "fall in".. i suppose i went too far into the well and lost my balance..

soooooo... i went right in!

so now if anyone asks if i have any memorable scenes or funny scenes or interesting scenes.. this could be one on the top of my list! i tend to have a hard time recalling..  but yeah.. this is definitely one unforgettable moment! =)

happiness is...

i was informed a few days back that i was nominated for Best Drama Performance by an Actress in the Asian Television Awards, for my role in Rhythm of Life. i'm overjoyed.. to me, it's just as good as winning. it is a pleasant surprise. i'm currently not in singapore, but i'm trying to change my flight so that i can make it to attend the awards. however, now that it's the peak period, i'm still on the waiting list.

i've received many words of encouragement and i'm touched by it all. thank you all so much. in fact, i'm really glad that many enjoyed ju xiang's character. ju xiang is one of my favourite characters to date.

my little girl messaged me today asking if she performed well in yesterday's episode and that she misses me.. =) she's a really sweet girl. did i even mention before that she was still filming amidst her examinations? she still did well in her exams.. very well in fact.. =)

well i would like to thank you all for all the encouragement you have left for me. i greatly appreciate it. i know i've said it before but i guess it's never enough. having said that, i'll still work on the areas i believe needs to be improved. there's no end to it really.. =)

untitled

i arrived back in singapore late last night.. and was greeted with some news. in fact, i did the phone interview that same afternoon while i was still in perth. i thought i wanted to blog about it.. but i guess you guys beat me to it..

something that bordered on assumptions.. which effectively (indirectly) demolished my two characters and erased all my efforts. an assumption which also questioned the professionalism of a strong production team. a conclusion that was made even before my speaking character and also my second role appeared.

how did it feel?

it stinged.

it hurt so very much.

it somehow hurt so much also because the viewing of the entire drama hadn't even been completed, and yet there was such a comment that was very cruelly made.

however, i am thankful that as i logged on to this blog, i read comments that encouraged me. also in paul chan's blog

http://community.mediacorp.com.sg/TV/CS/blogs/baguatv/archive/2008/11/28/14-the-little-nyonya-uncensored-14-mins-video-clip.aspx

and my own blog

http://blog.sina.com.cn/xuantasy

i just want to thank all of you who believe in me. in fact, before i even started filming and working on this project, i had all your encouragements in mind. i had the production team in mind.. because you all believed in me, i wanted to do this such that i won't let you down. because you all believed in me, your encouragements built a very strong foundation for me to work upon. so i want to thank all of you. for standing by me.

because you all continue to believe in me, it lifted the pain of these remarks. i cried, i let it out, but now i've recovered from it. so thank you all..

amazing news

greetings from australia - kalbarri.. =)

i'm here for a photoshoot and just today i received a call telling me a piece of wonderful news.. the first episode of The Little Nyonya broke the viewership record! i'm extremely grateful to paul chan who contacted me to let me know how the first episode went. it's a shame that i have to be so far from home.. missing the premier of this drama. but no matter what, this news definitely made my day..

i would like to thank all of you who left incredibly encouraging messages.. i've read them and i just want to extend my heartfelt gratitude. thank you all =) i just hope that you will all enjoy the drama.. i really do..

i'm glad The LIttle Nyonya is off to a great start.. it surely is something to be happy about. i should be back in singapore very soon - in another few days.. and you will all be able to see some great scenic photos of the places i've been in australia (perth and kalbarri) later this month ( i won't be posting any photos before the article comes out =))

and as for my previous post.. haha.. yes.. my little girl is saying the baby in my tummy is her.. and i believe she will make her grand appearance real soon.. the baby.. and the little girl.. =)

recovery

it's been a great weekend.. no post production work to do over these two days, completed the filming for a 20-parter spin off series.. so it's a stay home period.. probably also my "recovery period".. =)

i took the time to read through the comments that were posted here in this blog.. and i'm glad to have met you all in malacca or penang as well.. it's always nice to meet someone from home or see a familiar face when i'm away.. =)

it's pretty encouraging that you all enjoy the trailers and are looking forward to the drama. i heard that they had to go through 80-90 tapes just to pick out the precise shots for those trailers. i believe many wouldn't know what goes on behind-the-scenes..

just something else interesting to share.. this set of furniture alone costs S$15000. so can you imagine us filling the whole studio and creating a "home" with a full range of furnishing?

i'm still trying to sort out my photos.. so i'll post some more later.. =)

can you guess what my girl's trying to say? haha =)

trailer

here's one of the latest trailer.. =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9axkSXMJo4

enjoy =)

original posters?

I was informed just today that there are "The Little Nyonya" posters up for sale. However those aren't the original ones - they're merely photos downloaded from Mr Paul Chan's blog. They are not distributed by Mediacorp. I would urge each and everyone not to purchase those posters (from what I heard, it's at a pretty exorbitant price).

There will be news on the posters in i-weekly.. so read on and watch out for it.. =)

scenes and beyond

what goes behind a scene? sometimes it may just be a matter of a few seconds or minutes on screen.. but the very same scene would take hours to film. last week there was a write up in i-weekly on the scene where i fell into the well.. yes, it took approximately 9-10 hrs, all of which i had to be in the water..

how did it feel like? i'm not sure if i can describe it well enough.. but one thing for sure, it was unbearably cold.

this is another such scene which started in the afternoon and lasted close to midnight.. in fact, ah wu and i were there at the location since 8am, filming the other scenes leading up to this.

for scenes like this, i believe the toughest job goes to the crew, setting fire.. putting it out.. setting fire again.. putting it out once again.. this process went on and on.. and on.. on top of that they had to ensure that we were safe..

there are many more scenes i wish i could share with you all.. but at the same time, i can't reveal that much. i have only been able to put up general shots (those that don't show much plot).. or posed photos with my co-actors. and i hope all of you understand..  =)

what happens from here?

we're now into post production.. editing.. music.. adding the final touches. in fact, i think this is the most crucial point for any production as it leads up to the complete product. i don't think it's easy at all, sitting in the editing suite, going through the rushes, and stringing the shots together. it's a long tedious process.

for starters.. here are the links to the trailers.. thanks to my fans for uploading them up on you tube.. (for one, i got to view them while i was away in malacca and penang).. enjoy the short "preview" =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oAgUZYjYBY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHpilnRLVag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HikZrulG-Sg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A69jyG6T9NI

completion..

we completed the filming in malacca, ipoh and penang and returned home on 29th of october. filming continued back in singapore.. and today (6 nov).. it's a final wrap.

after 41/2 months of filming, it feels good to reach the finish line. however, months of filming day after day, this closure still needs time getting used to.

i made a total of 5 trips (to and fro) between penang and singapore, shuttling between both places for filming.. for my last trip to penang, a flight was arranged for me instead of the usual coach ride.. and i had to go for my make up and have my hair done almost immediately after i reached the hotel..

my flight to penang

went for filming after i was done with hair and make up.. and after i had my lunch of course.. =) we were just left with a couple of days more before the entire team wrapped up in penang (which was also our very last destination in malaysia).

our very last dinner in penang.. everyone was in a pretty celebratory mood.. having completed close to two months of filming away from home. our EP even had goodie bags given out to everyone. though it's a very simple gathering, it's really the company that matters..

checking out.. for the very last time.. =)

all our props and filming equipment.. such a lot of things to load and unload..

finally.. the last coach ride back home.. the usual trip would be around 10-12hours. but something cropped up.. and we all reached mediacorp at 2330hrs, 3hrs later than expected.. it scored a record as the longest ride for me. well, filming went on as usual the very next morning..

i'm sure most of you have seen the uploaded videos.. so you've seen joanne in this image.. =)

the guy with the cool pose is terris.. and he is part of a team who has been editing video clips for this site.. watch out for a "making of" clip as well.. =)

while filming with cynthia the other day.. my assistant took some photographs.. and this is one shot that i particularly like.. don't you think she looks good?

it's a wrap.. taken after today's filming.. our last day as well.. =)

last stop..

we're finally at penang. after two stops at malacca and ipoh, this will be our final one before heading back to singapore. thinking about it, it's been a few months since we started filming.. and now we're nearing the end of the entire production. 

now that i look at the number of entries i have made for this blog.. i feel slightly embarrassed. i do wish i had more time to update and to let everyone know how filming has been going. for all that tardiness.. i'm truly sorry..

i've always enjoyed overseas filming.. there's something to it that makes it different. perhaps the time away from home.. the deadline to meet.. the scenes to be completed as scheduled.. meeting the same production people every single day.. there's something nice to it, despite being tired after a day's work.. day after day.. the kind of support we give each other.. it's something that is formed when the team goes through the same thing over a period of time..

here are some scenic locations that we've filmed at over the couse of a few months.. these are the places that we probably won't go to if we're filming a contemporary drama. i like the feel of these places.. there's a certain calm and serenity about it..

there are still scenes to be done in singapore when i return.. but as far as its concerned right now.. we're almost there at the finishing line.. =)

another new month..

we're almost done with the filming in malacca. in another few days time,  we will be heading to ipoh. filming's been pretty smooth-going so far and i hope it'll continue this way. the weather has been quite good (minimal disruptions to our filming schedule). looking on the bright side, i've got a short day tomorrow, so i'm looking forward to walking around malacca to see what it has to offer (going to places other than my filming locations) =)

a night view of malacca from my hotel room..

most of the scenes that i have done here so far are emotionally heavy. at times it can be rather taxing, but we still catch moments in between to relax and enjoy the experience. this photo was taken in between shots while we were waiting for the place to be set up.

well.. i'm looking forward to tomorrow  =)

road trip

i'm in the midst of packing my luggage preparing to leave for malacca tomorrow morning (i decided i should really get down to blogging since i'll be away for more than a month). filming schedule's been just as hectic, i hardly have any time to pack. i'm just feeling slightly paranoid that i'm going to forget something or leave something behind. but i hope not..

as i mentioned in my earlier blog, i'll post more on the people in "my life" in this drama =) so here goes..

chen bangjun is quite a joy to work with.. he's happy-go-lucky and always so cheerful. in fact, this is my second time working with him.. the first time being "The Defining Moment" where he acted as my younger brother. there's a big switch from a playful role to a baddie role.. but he's ever the same sweet brother in real life..

dai yangtian plays juxiang's husband. i'm sure everyone will fall in love with his good looks. plus a role that is so full of unconditional love.. i particularly love the love story between these two characters. to me, it's extremely beautiful..

i've worked with pierre a couple of times before.. once as siblings.. once as a couple.. and in "The Defining Moment", he was after my sister. this time round, we're just friends.. but he's ever the same gentleman..

the women who love me with all their hearts. tao jie and mummy.. =) whenever it's our scenes together, we're in a world of our own.. safe and happy.. because we know, we won't hurt one another and as long as we have each other, we're happy.. as simple as that =)

joanne plays yuzhu, my closest sister in this drama. someone i love with all my heart but still unable to protect her as i wish i could.

the scenes that i've been doing go from emotional highs to emotional lows. all in a day, i can be happy one moment, devastated the next. the emotional range is so wide and that's what gives the character depth. however exhuasting it may be, there is a high level of satisfaction with each scene completed.

tomorrow i'll be setting off to malacca, followed by ipoh then penang. i can only hope that filming goes smoothly as scheduled.. =)

just this morning, i went for a photo shoot for the publicity photos. because of my filming schedule, they could only arrange the shoot for me today. the rest of the casts have done theirs, and because i was the last, i managed to have a sneak peek at the sample print out of the others. i think it's lovely.. they captured each and every character, the mood and the feel. well, i hope everyone will like it too =)