21 August 2007

TVIEW

FALLING IN LOVE

lianyi@sph.com.sg

HOW many shows do you need about three siblings who end up getting married together?

I don’t know, but this new Singapore-Malaysia collaboration is another one.

Three sisters, still living with their kindly father (in a role reversal, it’s he who washes the panties in the house), remain unmarried.

If all this sounds familiar, that’s because this is a remake of the 2005 MediaCorp drama You Are The One, which starred Nnadia Chan, Rui En and Jacelyn Tay.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in The New Paper.

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24 July 2007

LAST year, we heard hardly a peep from Phyllis Quek.

What has she been up to?

Catching up with life, it seems.

Despite being away for so long, Phyllis said she’s not bothered by younger actresses – namely, the Seven Princesses (Jesseca Liu, Felicia Chin, Fiona Xie, Joanne Peh, Jeanette Aw, Dawn Yeoh, Rui En) – who are being touted as the ones to look out for.

“This industry always has a lot of packaging,” she said.

She declined to name who she would tip as the next “Ah Jie” but said things are much harder to predict these days.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in The New Paper.

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24 July 2007

TView

HONOUR AND PASSION
STARRING: Huang Wenyong, Tay Ping Hui, Bryan Wong, Rui En, Nat Ho, Felicia Chin
SHOWING ON: Channel 8, weekdays, 9pm, starting tonight
RATING: ****

lianyi@sph.com.sg

I DIDN’T quite expect it, but new local series Honour And Passion is a winner.

It’s one of those sponsored shows (by the Singapore Armed Forces this time) and MediaCorp’s record has been pretty hit-and-miss with that.

But it turns out to be a pretty likable drama about National Service.

Plot has never been a strong point with local shows. Plus, it is never easy to judge a story based on the two episodes reviewers get to watch.

So I go with these questions. Is the characterisation good? Is there chemistry between the actors? And do I enjoy the two hours I spend with them?

Yes to all.

Honour And Passion is about a military warrant officer (Huang Wenyong) and his four children (Tay Ping Hui, Bryan Wong, Rui En, Nat Ho).

Ping Hui is a commando officer, Bryan that rare thing, a male with empathy, Rui En a tomboy and Nat an undisciplined runt.

Somehow, for a bunch so good-looking, they are all losers at romance.

There’s also a terrorist subplot in there somewhere.

The most interesting casting choice is Felicia Chin as an artillery instructor. I’ve never seen a female soldier that hot in real life.

Women everywhere should ask what sunblock her character Ouyang Peipei uses, because nobody exposed to that much sun remains that pink-cheeked and snowy white.

A truly ludicrous introduction is when one student whispers to another: “I don’t even know if anybody would want her.”

I know that’s supposed to play on the (unfair) stereotype that military women are butchy, but come on.

Still, I guess her casting works in the sense that the part of the brain that says “that’s unbelievable” is quickly overpowered by the part that says “that’s unbelievably hot”.

It might have something to do with me and uniforms though.

That said, it is the other female lead, Rui En, who steals the show.

Her character – tomboyish yet vulnerable, with a tremendously low tolerance for alcohol – is by far the most interesting.

As an actress, Rui En has always seemed a bit standoffish, but her character gets so much grief in the first two episodes that she is easy to relate to. Even lovable!

I am looking forward to her character’s interactions with Pierre Png’s. They make quite the amusing pair.

CLEVER TWIST

Their meeting is pretty stereotypical (I don’t know how many MediaCorp drama serials has had boy crash into girl, get angry with each other, eventually become lovers) but the twist – she has no idea that Pierre hates her – is clever.

WHAT THOSE TICKS MEAN
***** Excellent
**** Good
*** Average
** Mediocre
* Don’t bother

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in Honour and Passion 宝家卫国, The New Paper.

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02 June 2007

Yes, say more than half of S’poreans in straw poll of 100

tnp@sph.com.sg

HOW much are Singaporeans willing to fork out to kiss a celebrity?

Up to $100,000, it seems – for a smooch with local actor Adrian Pang.

At least, that’s the highest figure quoted by a Singaporean in our random poll of 100 – never mind that she’s a student and doesn’t actually have the money.

She says she would definitely cough up the sum if she could afford it.

The New Paper polled 50men and 50 women, aged between 16 and 35, to find out if Singaporeans would do the same.

While those we spoke to weren’t so generous – the highest figure quoted was $100,000 – more than half (64 per cent) said they would be quite happy to cough up some cash to kiss their favourite celebrity.

The rest, however, said they would rather give the money to a charity instead.

And whose lips scored?

The top five celebrities for women were Adrian Pang, James Lye, Tay Ping Hui, Pierre Png and Elvin Ng.

For the men, it was Fiona Xie, Felicia Chin, Fann Wong, Denise Keller and Rui En.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in The New Paper.

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16 May 2007

honjy@sph.com.sg

WHEN does one plus one not equal to two?

In showbiz, it seems. Hey, we don’t mean that people can’t count. But take this case for instance.

Felicia Chin is Tay Ping Hui’s type. Ping Hui is also Felicia’s cup of tea.

But no, the MediaCorp artistes are not an item – not yet, at least.

But you would not have guessed from the way they gazed lovingly at each other on the set of new local drama Honour And Passion.

The first-time screen couple chatted, teased and made faces at each other even after the director shouted, “Cut!”.

They were filming a wedding scene alongside three other pairs – Bryan Wong and Dawn Yeoh, Rui En and Pierre Png, Huang Wenyong and Hong Huifang – for their new show which debuts in July.

Honour And Passion revolves around the lives of soldier and single father (Wenyong) and his four children (Ping Hui, Bryan, Rui En and newcomer Nat Ho).

Filming the wedding scene also brought out different sentiments about the artistes’ notions of their ideal weddings.

For instance, Rui En proclaimed that she would “elope in a T-shirt, shorts and slippers”.

She cried: “I’m not going to wear a wedding gown. I think acting has taken the surprise away from me.

“Wedding gowns are just itchy and uncomfortable.”

The 25-year-old actress is, however, comfortable with her on-screen husband Pierre Png.

“He’s such a joker. He’s intentionally and unintentionally so.”

“I’ve had to learn how to control my laughter because he keeps making me laugh,” said Rui En.

But those two weren’t the only reel lovebirds having fun.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in Honour and Passion 宝家卫国, The New Paper.

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28 March 2007

WENDY TEO rates the clutch of young TV actresses dubbed the ‘Seven Princesses’

DAZZLING!

RUI EN, 26

DESPITE being effectively bilingual and appearing on both Channel 5 and 8 with shows like Achar, A Promise For Tomorrow and You Are The One, Rui En has yet to hit the big time.

Her only upcoming project is a 20-episode Mindef-commissioned drama later this year.

Apparently, her low-key nature is to blame.

She admitted in a previous interview: “I hardly go out, because I don’t have that many friends. Maybe because I’m an only child, I’m happy with my own company most of the time.”

An experienced TV executive had this to say about Rui En: “She’s a good actress, very natural, but she’s very cold. It’s hard for the audience to relate to (her)…”

But hairstylist to the stars Addy Lee defended Rui En, saying: “She has the airs of a star. Some people say it’s arrogance, but that’s because she doesn’t smile enough. When Rui En opens her mouth, she’s actually very friendly.”

Perhaps Rui En should learn to play the PR game. One powerful figure told this reporter huffily: “I no longer use her in my shows. Why? Rui En herself knows.”

Verdict: Oops, where’s the switch?

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in The New Paper.

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18 March 2007

paikchoo@sph.com.sg

THE Bold, the Beautiful, and the Black.

Just three of five events Glitz Gal’s working heels could stomp last Friday evening.

The beautiful were at Olay, the black at Samsonite and the bold at an agenda-less old Hollywood glamour party.

Par-taying season has sprung – not for nothing is March the mad hatter’s tea party – and if you got five e-mails or SMSs to be in several places at the same time last Friday, wah, you know you count! (Among the bold, the beautiful and the black at least.)

Olay introduced its third face for its trio of products in, naturally, the Fashion Cafe in Clarke Quay.

Celia Teh, ’90s catwalk and cover girl model, joins singer Rui En and VJ Denise Keller to represent three ages – oh, sorry, make that three skin types.

Celia is Regenerist (over-35) while Rui En is White Radiance and Denise, Total Effects, both under-30.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in The New Paper.

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02 February 2007

Joanne cheekily pointed out that Elvin has been lucky to have starred with MediaCorp’s so-called ‘seven princesses’ – herself, Fiona and Jesseca, as well as Jeanette Aw, Dawn Yeoh, Felicia Chin and Rui En.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in The New Paper.

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13 January 2007

tanyhi@sph.com.sg

HOW popular will I be?

That may be a question that many celebrities obsess about.

But when I asked local actress-singer Rui En to rate her own popularity, her eyes widened.

Said the 24-year-old starlet: ‘Is that a trick question? No, I don’t think about things like that.’

‘Can you imagine if I spent all my time at home wondering if I was as popular as Bono?’

That may be the case now, but it wasn’t when she started out.

‘I’ve said it before – I went into show business for all the wrong reasons,’ she said.

‘I wanted to be famous, popular and rich. When I first started out, I was very starry-eyed. All I was concerned about was popularity polls and all that voting stuff.’

Her perspective changed two years ago.

‘When you are focusing on so many things like that and not the things that you should be focused on, you get worn out, jaded and bitter,’ she said.’

Now, I just want to learn more about acting, music and directing – I have an interest in all these things.

‘NO DANCE OF FAKENESS’

The former Raffles JC student is well aware that she has been accused of being aloof by some critics.

She said: ‘I’ve never been very good at PR-ing’ (doing public relations). Sometimes, to do that, you have to say a lot of hollow and empty things to other people who do likewise. It’s a dance of fakeness.

‘People tend to think that I’m cold, but that is because they don’t know how to categorise me.’

But being true to herself doesn’t mean she has abandoned the concept of celebrity entirely.

There is still power in being in the limelight.

Along with 13 other local personalities, Rui En has lent her face and personality to Motorola’s Red project.

In Moto Red, every purchase of a special red edition Motorola phone results in a $26 contribution to the Global Fund, which in turns helps the Aids-afflicted in Africa.

The Aids/HIV situation in the cradle of civilisation is at a critical level.Each day, more than 2,000 children in Africa are infected with the HIV virus, joining the 25 million people already infected.

In addition, 5,500 people die of Aids/HIV every day, adding rapidly to the death toll of 18 million in Africa so far.

Said Rui En: ‘I heard about the Red campaign when I saw some Gap ads in the US. I didn’t really understand what it was about until I saw Oprah Winfrey getting involved. Oprah’s my idol and I started to read up more about the project.’

One idol inspiring another?

How apt, since Moto Red banks on celebrity power and consumerism to drive Aids relief efforts.

IS RETAIL RELIEF RIGHT?

The umbrella Project Red campaign uses brands like Apple, American Express and Converse, as well as celebrities like Bono and Kanye West, to shout the message across retail counters.

But isn’t the public weary of countless celebrity endorsements?

And is it right to promote consumerism in a society already too caught up with material trappings?

Said Rui En: ‘Both celebrity power and consumerism are not going to go away, so you might as well make use of them for a good cause and not for some shallow purpose.

‘I believe using celebrities to endorse a product is the only way if you want to have the media presence you need.’

As for consumerism, she believes that the benefits of Moto Red far outweigh any negative side-effects like the promotion of wanton spending.

‘We are being bombarded by so many things all the time – Internet, YouTube, advertisements… people are numb to the traditional methods of raising funds. This is really a radical new way of helping those afflicted with Aids. And if people want to be caught up in consumerism, it’s their choice.’

What does worry her, though, is the detachment people have towards Aids/HIV in general.

‘We have to realise that Aids isn’t a problem just in Third World countries, but here as well. I do hope our youth don’t grow up thinking that it won’t happen to them, but only to people elsewhere.’

Moto Red phones may be purchased at any StarHub or M1 shop.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in The New Paper.

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