By Tammi Cherise Tan & Joanna Goh
#8 Charity work: Start the New Year with a good deed
Instead of splashing out cash on visits to your nearest cinema or SISTIC outlet, take it from us and start the year on a good note with a charitable deed.
At the invitation of Rui En’s fanclub, RBKD, we took part in their annual charity drive two weekends ago – done in-lieu to celebrate their idol’s birthday and Chinese New Year. We had a hand in the entire process from packing the New Year goods and gift hampers to knocking on doors of old folks staying in single-room flats in Ang Mo Kio to distribute the packed goods and spread some festive cheer. Although we walked away from the experience with aching arms and calves, knowing that we’ve brightened a person’s day with our words and presence is in itself, far more fulfilling and rewarding. Sense of satisfaction: irreplaceable.
Source: Xinmsn
Categorised in Birthday 2013, EN, RBKD, xinmsn.
人生如æˆã€æˆå¦‚人生。Life is like a show and a show is like a replay of life.
You’ve seen our BTS clips, you’ve seen our NG bloopers. But have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes the moment the director shouts CUT?
When the curtains are drawn and the lights go out, do you revert to your original self, or do you continue to being in character? Everyone has multiple roles to play, and more so in showbiz. It’s not as simple as playing a loyal spouse or a bossom buddy.
Beneath the glamorous façade, lies a mirage of unspoken tension.
‘The Dream Makers’ 《志在四方》, an (exaggerated) expose of showbiz, drizzled with romance and bucketfuls of eyecandy. Scandalicious~
Starring a whole list of A-listers and fresh faces including your favorite Rui En, Jeanette Aw, Zoe Tay, Chen Li Ping, Qi Yu Wu, Shaun Chen, Chen Han Wei, Rebecca Lim, Desmond Tan, Jayley Woo and Dawn Yeoh!
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Source: BaguaTV
Categorised in BaguaTV / Bagua8, EN, The Dream Makers 志在四方.
By Charlene Chua
Together, at last. But they’re not even friends – at least not yet.
Local television’s “princesses†Rui En and Jeanette Aw are finally starring in their first drama series together (as love rivals, no less), ending their fans’ decade-long wait for their on-screen pairing on The Dream Makers, which will air on Channel 8 in June.
It’s all significant as both actresses belong to the same management company Hype Records, yet haven’t crossed paths professionally till now.
Will there be rivalry? Or perhaps the coupling will lead to a budding friendship?
Whatever the outcome, all eyes will be on Channel 8’s latest blockbuster drama, The Dream Makers, which is currently being filmed and will air in June.
Rui En, 31, told The New Paper recently: “Jeanette and I don’t interact a lot. I can’t say we are close.
“Even though we’re signed to the same company, we rarely see each other.
“I would say we’re just acquaintances. So I’m looking forward to working with her for the first time.”
Said Aw, 33, in a separate interview: “I guess Rui En and I are both known loners in the industry.
“We meet when we have common events and it’s always been a friendly relationship. But we don’t know each other well on a personal level.
“How are she and I similar or different? Perhaps when the filming of our show is over and I get the chance to know her better, I will know just how to answer this.”
Since signing up with Hype Records some 10 years ago, Rui En and Aw have conquered Caldecott Hill and are famed for being two of the seven “MediaCorp princesses”.
Even when former starlets Fiona Xie, Dawn Yeoh, Jesseca Liu and Felicia Chin were still acting full time, Rui En and Aw remained arguably the most popular.
So surely there has been rivalry between the two?
Said Rui En: “I think we’ve outgrown the whole princesses thing; it was a nice marketing tool.
“The three of us (Rui En, Aw and Joanne Peh) are now doing our own thing. I don’t think we need to compete or be compared to each other.
“As for Joanne, I’ve never had the chance to hang out with her.”
Added Aw: “My cloest friend are all from outside of the industry. It has always been this way.”
Rui En echoed the same sentiment, and said she also refrained from making friends at work as she wanted to concentrate fully on her job.
She scrampers off into her own corner during filming breaks to read her script.
“It makes sense to just work when you’re working.
“My only friend in the industry is (veteran actress) Chen Liping. We get along really well, we can talk about anything, and she’s someone I look up to and respect a lot.
“We met while filming (Channel 8 drama) Unriddle (in 2010) and there was just chemistry.”
In The Dream Makers, Rui En plays a variety show director who has to take over hosting duties when someones else messes up.
Her character then becomes an actress when she’s well-received by the audience.
In the show, she’s caught in a love triangle with an actor (Qi Yuwu) and actress (Aw).
Said Rui En: “When my character meets Yuwu’s character, it’s a love at first sight.
“Then halfway, I find out that he’s actually attached to someone else…so it becomes complicated.”
She added: “It’ll be nice to work with Jeanette on this as it’d be a fresh pairing.”
Well, they may have more in common than they think.
New Year resolutions
When asked if they made any New Year resolutions this year, both gave uncannily similar answers.
Both don’t make resolutions.
If you are wondering why they have such similar perspectives on work, these principles were instilled in them by their boss.
Ken Lim, who owns Hype Records, was candid as he spoke of his two biggest assets.
He said: “I believe in the saying that it’s lonely at the top. So I tell all my artistes to just concentrate on their work and not to mix with others when they are filming.
“When you interact with others at work, you will get yourselves involved in politics – what for?
“Rui En and Jeanette appeal to different fans, and this is why they are both at the top of their game.
“Rui En is the one with the attitude, while Jeanette is relatable.”
He added that both are finally starring in a drama together only because they have established themselves in showbiz over the years.
They are so “vastly different†in terms of their market appeal that they cannot be compared to each other any more, he said.
In the past, Lim believed that comparisons made between them would have harmed their status in the early years of their careers.
Said Lim: “The on-screen pairing has to be right. If not, it’ll never work.
“This was a matter of timing, and since their fans have wanted it for the longest time, we decided to make it happen/
“I’m sure there’s rivalry between the all actresses, so I always tell Jeanette and Rui En to let their work speak for itself.”
But even keeping themselves hasn’t protected Aw and Rui En from workplace politics, as they’ve encountered instances of back-stabbing.
Added Rui En: “There will always be bad things and you’ll get to hear of them. Not much of it is true, but people will say what they want to say.
“I have witnessed unprofessional actors trying to sabotage one other.
“Everyone puts up with back-stabbing and politics in the workplace everyday, but I have consciously chosen not to engage.”
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Source: The New Paper, DivaAsia
Categorised in 50th TV Anniversary, Diva Asia, EN, The Dream Makers 志在四方, The New Paper.
By Charlene Chua
He thinks that the local entertainment scene has been way too stagnant by his standards.
So call it a hero’s complex if you must, but Ken Lim is determined to “revive†it.
The head honcho of Hype Records is convinced that the next big star will rise from the melting pot that is Asia.
So why can’t it be Singapore?
In his mission to put the little red dot on the showbiz map, he has created his own reality TV singing competition, The Final 1, which has the added component of taking viewers through the whole process of packaging a reality show contestant into an artiste.
Local artistes currently signed to Hype Records include actresses Rui En and Jeanette Aw and Singapore Idol winners Hady Mirza and Taufik Batisah.
Source: The New Paper, The Straits Times Communities, Asiaone
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, The New Paper, The Straits Times Communities.
In her Element
This may not be Rui En’s first cover for us, but it’s a particularly momentous one as it marks her crowning ELLE’s Actress of the Year for 2012.
Four years have passed since her last cover shoot with us and she’s come a long way in that time. Her infamous “ice queen” label aside, she’s also acquired a couple of other things – a crop of other awards and along with that, a whole load of acting cred. Ever the professional, the actress strikes each pose with the utmost concentration, then studies the photos on-screen to see what can be improved. Even while holding a pose in front of the camera, she checks herself by getting her assistant to capture and bring her the shot on her iPhone. Does the perfectionist in her ever let up?
Rui En – Actress of the Year
On a winning streak and landing role after plum role, ELLE Awards 2012 Actress of the Year Rui En has officially hit a new high in her career.
By Tan Wei Lin
Rui En’s been extremely busy – not just with filming dramas back to back, but also successively racking up acting awards. After snagging her first Best Actress win at the 2011 Star Awards, she’s nabbed ELLE’s Actress of the Year for 2012, and hot on the heels of that, took yet another Best Actress honour from the Asian Television Awards 2012. Without a doubt, it’s been an exceptional two years for the actress, who’s also been enjoying plenty of screen time on Channel 8. And it looks set to continue through this year and beyond.
While she may not be bubbling with joy, our queen of cool asserts that she’s genuinely happy about the recognition, but is determined to remain grounded amid praise that her wins have generated.
How did you feel when you learnt about your win?
Rui En: I was pleasantly surprised and very happy. I don’t let myself have any expectations when I’m nominated, because I don’t like to base my sense of achievement on awards. But because of that, when I do get something, it’s a very nice surprise.
How do you assess your own acting?
Rui En: I watch myself [on screen] a lot. When I’m filming, I make it a point to watch and review the rushes after each day’s work. I’m actually my harshest critic and I set very high standards for myself. It’s never good enough for me but all I can do is try to keep getting better.
Let’s be honest — the local drama scene and its pool of actors are small. Do you ever feel limited by it?
Rui En: I try not to let my performance be affected by the people I’m acting with. Yes, the right person can give you the right chemistry, but it doesn’t always happen and you cannot expect it to. Your performance, in a way, has to stand on its own. I would love to have more opportunities to work with new people but unfortunately the circle is how it is. I guess it’s up to us to challenge ourselves.
Any plans to advance your acting career overseas?
Rui En: No, I don’t make plans like that. I’d rather let things happen when they’re supposed to. I don’t go thinking “Well, now I’ve made it here, I’m going to China.†If the opportunity comes, that’s great; if it doesn’t, that’s fine. The markets out there are a lot more complicated than a lot of us realise.
Source: Xinmsn
Categorised in Asian Television Awards, Asian Television Awards 2012, ELLE, ELLE Awards 2012, EN, Star Awards, Star Awards 2011, xinmsn.
Text: Joanna Goh
Photos: Dang Hui Ling & Channel 8
Video: Ling Pak Wei & Fiona Lin
Picture this: In one corner of the studio, Rui En preens and poses for the cameras as the crew make mental notes of her characters’ 101 outfit coordination to prevent slip-ups at filming. At the other end of the tiny room, Zoe Tay perches herself on the sofa, taking tiny sips from a flask of hot water to battle the strong blast of cold wind from the air-conditioning unit above. In the midst of the fuss and mess, a bespectacled and preppy-looking Chen Hanwei steps in the studio in a hot fiery red suit…
The photography studio teems with excitement and chatter at the imaging session for the newest Ch8 drama production on the hill, The Dream Makers, and the vibe is infectious and understandable. After all, how often does one get to catch or work on a drama headlined by a mix of the station’s top veterans and actresses?
Playing a celebrity host with a caustic sense of humour, Hanwei made clear that his Dream Maker role is unlike his previous ‘aunty or uncle-type of characters’ in his interview with xinmsn outside the studio.
The Dream Makers debuts June 24, on Ch8 at 9pm.
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Source: Xinmsn
Categorised in 50th TV Anniversary, EN, The Dream Makers 志在四方, xinmsn.
During C.L.I.F 2’s filming process, we had our casts gathered for a publicity poster photo shoot in the studio at Thomson Road…
Definitely, it wasn’t an easy task to bring the entire cast together! Despite the busy schedule, we managed to do the photo shoot on the Hari Raya Puasa. How discouraging it was to work on a public holiday. T T
C.L.I.F 2 is a drama based on real life criminal cases. Throughout the entire filming process, we work closely with the Singapore Police Force to portray realistic scenes for every single case.
The keyword is ‘realistic’! Therefore these are not casual pistol props !
These are definitely genuine pistols and we have policemen at the location with us to make sure everything is safe and sound.
Let’s take a look at the shooting process!
It’s make up and changing time! The actors are getting red eyes from the sleepless nights and hasty schedule.
The artistes and photographer will have to discuss on the poster concept and shooting… Coming up with best proposal!
Andie Chen, making a comeback with C.L.I.F 2 will play the role of Rui En’s henchman, named Zhao Guo Huang. Treating Zhi Jie as an eyesore in the beginning, he came to admire her attitude.
Finally, the main cast!
Here Rui En goes discussing her photo shoot theme with the crew…
The slightest facial expression shows the best…
But…wearing slippers? Make a quick guess … Ah Ha! That’s because her lower body was not needed for the shoot!
Not bad! Not Bad! I look good !
Rui En playing the newly added role, Huang Zhi Jie, a remarkable senior investigator who has solved many cases. On the other hand, she will also be involving herself in a complicated love line with Li Nan Xing and Pierre Png.
In the mean while, Li Nan Xing will play Head of Forensic Management Division, Wei Lan Tian, who eventually developed a relationship with Rui En.
Having much drama characters and photos revealed, aren’t you excited for the poster to be release? Do catch what’s the next move of C.L.I.F 2!
C.L.I.F 2 è¦å¾½å¤©èŒ 2 debuts 18 February 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Source: BaguaTV
Categorised in BaguaTV / Bagua8, C.L.I.F. 2 è¦å¾½å¤©èŒ 2, EN.
By Han Wei Chou
Rui En plays a bubbly, talkative variety show director in ‘The Dream Makers’.
She is known for being a woman of few words.
But for the next few months, Singapore actress Rui En will transform herself into a bit of a chatterbox, to play the bubbly director Fang Tong Lin in the upcoming drama “The Dream Makers”, which is set in a fictional television station.
“I play a variety [show] director who … eventually becomes discovered, then becomes an artiste, becomes a host and becomes an actress.
“She is very chatty and talkative! As long as she is like in a normal mood – she doesn’t even need to be in a good mood – she is like talking all the time.”
“Basically, my character is the sort of girl that can be friends with anybody that she meets within five seconds. Not guarded at all. The exact opposite of who I am,” Rui En said with a laugh.
“She is really just like any other girl on the street. Just quirkier.”
The hard part, said the actress, is bringing out Fang’s ‘girl on the street’ quality, and making the talkative director “relatable”.
“It’s a lot harder than most people think.
“When you get the camera in front of you, you clam up, and you get conscious [of the camera],” said Rui En.
“My goal in this show is try to remove all of that, as much as I can, to be as natural as possible.”
Rui En shows off her ’employee pass’.
Speaking at the commencement ceremony for the drama, Rui En went on to reveal that she is looking forward to playing such a “colourful” character and has been preparing for her role by observing the crew in action.
She even went shopping for an assortment of accessories, from colourful bracelets to small stuffed toys, that would help make her look more convincing as the warm, affable Fang.
“The personal touches are important,” said Rui En happily, looking every bit like one of the drama’s production staff members, who were present at the ceremony.
Personal touches: Rui En and the accessories she bought especially for her role in “The Dream Makers”.
“The Dream Makers” also stars Zoe Tay, Chen Hanwei, Chen Liping, Qi Yuwu as well as Jeanette Aw, and marks the first time both Aw and Rui En are appearing together in a local drama.
The 30-parter, which commemorates MediaCorp’s 50th anniversary, will air in June.
Love triangle: Qi Yuwu (left), Rui En (right) and Jeannette Aw’s (right) characters become caught up in a love triangle in “The Dream Makers”, the first drama Aw and Rui En appear in together.
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Source: Channelnewsasia
Categorised in 50th TV Anniversary, channelnewsasia.com, EN, The Dream Makers 志在四方.
To mark the 50th anniversary of broadcast TV in Singapore, Zoe Tay, Chen Liping, Rui En and Jeanette Aw will headline a 2013 Ch 8 mid-year blockbuster that’s set in a TV station, exposing the drama behind the TV drama. Qi Yuwu, Chen Hanwei and Shaun Chen star opposite the ladies in the serial.
Click here to view more pictures at our gallery!
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Categorised in 50th TV Anniversary, EN, The Dream Makers 志在四方.
