Urban interview

Anyone who read Urban recently might have encountered a piece on moms and post pregnancy figures. I'd say I'm a seasoned interviewee yet I always find remarkable how subjects remain "Quoted" by the press. You would imagine a quote to be verbatim. If not, then for the transcript to suggest when parts are removed with the use of ellipses perhaps. In reality however, what is printed is more often a passage of the press' devise inspired by, rather than derived from, what you actually said.

Well here's the article for your perusal. I was asked via email and over the phone (through manager) how I got back in shape post births and on both counts specifically said 'Through resistance training' suggesting the premise that fitness is easily incorporated into my life using my Loopz® exercise bands and the exercises I've come up with. While the rest of the article remains more or less true to what I said, I'm dismayed to note that a qualitative reference to a specific method and tool was dismissively bundled as 'a rubber band'. In fact, I have to say I don't actually recognise the last sentence as something I uttered.

Mirth :)

Halloween

Tis that sugary time of the year again! Daughter and Li'l Man wore crepe paper gowns that mommy put together, dressed as the devlish imps they sometimes are! I borrowed my Makeup artist's color palette for the occasion of painting our faces. Da Man is an inspired Joker-meets-Crow while I'm a witch wannabe with my crepe paper mane.

We trawled the streets of Woodlands, home of many American expat families. I've never been to this part of Singapore before and was thrilled to see some architecture reminiscent of Nantucket or Cape Cod. Pretty! The homes were decked in full Halloween splendor. And everyone dressed the part - my favorites were a man with a blonde wig, wisps of chest hair showing at the top of his tank top that said "K-Hud", a teenage boy in a french maid's get up and a kid as SpongeBob. There were a few punk rockers with platform shoes the height of my hand! We were invited to a friend's for dinner, a convenient stop as we were starving and the rain was beginning to free fall. It might be an idea to set up a stand selling drinks and eat next year! I'm sure there were many non-residents suffering thirst and hunger that hallow's eve! Which brought back the memory of my setting up a cookie stand eons back at Wimbledon in the summer, to catch the snaking crowds making their way to watch the tennis greats!

The Last Patriarch

We're in the second week of shoot. This is a German movie with a hefty budget to match the superstar cast. We spent an exhausting and near debilitating week at Geylang last week, in a tiny airless apartment on Lor 17, mingling with working girls and men wearing empty masks of stern-ness that were supposed to suggest I think, a sense of 'Don't Mess With Me"... or my broad! Thankfully this week we have been upgraded to plusher surroundings. A proud remnant of our colonial past - The Fullerton Hotel.

I was SO grateful to be mostly indoors on this stiflingly hot day! OMG. I mean, how hot can this country get? Mario Adorf - for whom this script has been respectfully and dutifully written for - all eighty-something glorious years of his - stood wordless but dripping, with sweat. You've got to hand it to him for being such a trooper. Nary a complaint. He is the superstar of superstars in Europe apparently. Every European at the hotel bowed respectfully in his direction and those who dared, quivered meaningless words of adoration. Something he seems most accustomed to.

Here we are emerging out of the only limo in Singapore...
I am lucky to have an assistant hover around with an umbrella anytime I'm outdoors. The poor extras playing the bell hops were left simmering in their own pools of sweat. Their highly flammable polyester-rayon blend uniform didn't help either I bet!

I play an interpretor with a past - or rather my mother played by the lovely Tan Kheng Hua is the past. The Last Patriarch is a dramatic movie with twists and turns around a family and their marzipan empire, how a past folly catches up and the present dealings in this dynasty unfold, sometimes with tragic results. Histrionics as usual :) Incidentally, the settings is supposed to be Shanghai! We'll be travelling there in November to shoot.

Here's Mario and I having a chin wag.
And finally, a picture of director and some of the cast: from L to R - Michael Stienke, Tan Kheng Hua, Mois, Mario Adorf and Max Urlacher!

October

2-4 OctOur Total Wellness Weekend at Bintan Lagoon Resort was a blast! 14 participants along with a winner (and her friend) from an 8 days contest got together for a memorable weekend filled with lessons, inspiration and laughter. One of the coordinators herself is an inspirational story having lost 30kg through activity and better eating. And everyone loved Loopz®!!

Oct 7-10Fly Entertainment celebrated its' 10th birthday in style at the Klapson Hotel and we were a part of the festivities. Da Man and I had to be 'models' for the evening. Here I am dressed in a Frederick Lee high couture number. Very feathery and you don't see it here but the back was daringly low. Great!

9 Oct on...
And just started on Autumn of the Patriarch, a German blockbuster we're shooting with some of the heavyweights from Europe. More on that next blog!

SingTel Mio ad

The entire family shot for a SingTel Mio ad recently. Some might remember how adamant I was in the past about keeping the kids 'under wraps'. I've always felt that their being on tv should be a decision that came from them. Anyhow, Daughter was the first to make the leap when I asked if she wanted to be a part of NEA's Dengue campaign earlier this year. Li'l Man just joined us naturally. This time they were both psyched about being a part of SingTel's ad -

The SingTel team had a surprise for Da Man and I...
These sweet staffers actually made tributes to our respective shows - Da Man's Amazing Race Asia series and for me, it "appears" my trademark Triple Nine series (or Nipple Nine) and recent Dengue ad. Then turned up another..
My very own Loopz® exercise band walking ad!

Da Man and I were touched beyond words. How lovely are they to make such an effort for us? Really, I was just amazed. Thank you guys. Really. Thank YOU.

Unexpected non Access

Bad news fans of Unexpected Access. And I want you to hear if from me first - I will not be hosting Season 2. Let me tell you, it's been a painful few weeks of negotiations. I want to do it because for the first time in my media career, I have a show that is authentic to my own inclinations, that I find interesting and that the public loves! A winning combo wouldn't you say? This overrides the aversion I have to shooting local productions. I will be glad to tackle the 'pain' of working with the sort of limitations and restrictions in the media industry here (read 'Exploitation', 'No welfare' and 'Professionally challenged') because I like the show. But I really cannot find the time to do it this time.

As you are aware I will be commencing on a german movie soon. That takes all of 2 weeks. I remain a full time mom, have started my own business (Loopz® exercise bands are in the selected Guardian stores now folks!) and continue to fulfill the odd obligations as a part-time actor (shoots, interviews etc). Oh and I blog for the Business Times on my journey as an SME:

http://www.straitstimes.com:80/SME%2BSpotlight/SME%2BBlogs/Setting%2Bup%2Ban%2BSME/STIStory_436322.html

Busy busy busy. I have tried repeatedly but don't know how I can possibly fit in a 5-month commitment that Unexpected Access requires. I was on the phone yesterday with a rep from the tv station. It was great in that we all realised how much we want to work together for this project but there might really be obstacles we can't cross this time. The taxi driver who was listening in on my conversation said immediately after I hung up "You're not shooting Unexpected Access??" "Very good show you know?? Aiyo what a waste!?? he lamented. "How come cannot shoot? You make it very good to watch!" he continued. Thanks buddy. But something's gotta give right?

Lewis Hamilton in Singapore

Friends of mine who are F1 fans are beside themselves with glee when they heard I was hosting an event for Tag Heuer with Lewis Hamilton at the ION last week. Here he is!

The same friends of mine also realise that I'm not much of an F1 fanatic. I think my first experience at the Sepang race 5 years back contributed to my, I think mild phobia, of this sport! Pregnant and supremely hot, I was dying in the heat in Malaysia. I wanted to lie down but had to contend with the plastic fuel-injected seats. My pathetic pregnant bladder hauled me the 400m to the nearest bathroom every 15 min. And I just felt sick the entire time. The hot petroleum filled air didn't help very much either. Anyhow.. having met Mr Hamilton in the flesh, I can understand what the fuss is about. He is very charming. Born for the spotlight as much as he is for fast cars. The crowds were breathless with anticipation and screaming with relief when he finally showed up!

Da Man, Mediacorp actress Jade Seah and Co-ambassador of Tag Heuer Tay Ping Hui were at the star studded event..And group pic with CEO Jean Christophe as well as local LVMH Group Director Marcus..

And all this brought to you proudly by Tag Heuer :)