CNA938 Rewind - Media man Cheong Yip Seng's 'Ink & Influence'
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CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore's Pierre Png, Cynthia Koh and Hong Huifang to star in new Thai co-production thriller
Some of Thailand and Singapore's brightest stars will come together in a new co-production for which filming is currently ongoing in Bangkok and Singapore. Decalcomania is about two women, one a privileged socialite in Singapore and the other a hardened nightclub owner in Bangkok, who discover they are long-lost twins after a car accident causes them to mysteriously switch bodies. Both characters are played by Thai actress Mookda Narinrak. Other stars include Master Of The House's Chai Chatayodom Hiranyatithi and Mad Unicorn's Thaneth Warakulnukroh, while Singapore is represented by Pierre Png, Cynthia Koh, Hong Huifang, Amy Cheng and new talent Gladys Ng. The show is slated to debut on Thai TV channel ONE31 and the OneD app at the end of the year, as well as on mewatch early next year. Png, no stranger to international productions thanks to his role in Crazy Rich Asians, plays a 'very dedicated policeman' who is hardcore at work but deferential to his wife at home, he told us. The character is determined to take down a wealthy businessman with whom his family has a personal vendetta. Although he knows only a few words of Thai, most of which are unprintable – 'as with every new language, you learn the bad things first, right?' – he appreciates Thai productions such as How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, he said. 'It's the twist – how you assume it's going to go down this way, but along the way, there are a few clever detours.' In addition, 'Thai comedy works for me. It's very cleverly plotted out.' Png feels he's quite similar to his character, not only in terms of being respectful to his wife, but also when it comes to feeling for the marginalised, he said, sharing that he recently took up sign language and also started a movement called SPEAK, standing for Suicide Prevention through Empathy, Awareness and Kindness. 'I feel that not enough is being done to educate or bring awareness to youths who are very troubled in this day and age with the influx of information that is so readily available,' he said. 'I don't have children, but I have many nephews and nieces, and many friends who have children. I made it my goal to use whatever mileage I have to bring attention to these things.' On the professional front, Png was the first and only choice to play the Decalcomania role, said executive producer Michelle Chang of Singapore's Mocha Chai Laboratories, who had brought the story to Thai entertainment giant The One Enterprise, resulting in the collaboration. Chang, together with director Chai Yee Wei and writer Chance Wanlass, who co-created the concept, also brought us the award-winning film Wonderland starring Mark Lee and Peter Yu. 'I wanted Pierre from the get-go,' she said. 'I knew, from his days in Phua Chu Kang, that he could do comedy, and I also know he could do serious drama, because of Zero Calling.' And when showrunner Nipon Pewnen (Thicha, Spare Me Your Mercy) saw Png's audition, he knew they had their guy, she said. 'Pierre has this ability to play that dual personality – tough cop at work, sweet husband at home. Everyone loved his audition.' She was also keen to work with Thai collaborators as productions like Master Of The House and Mad Unicorn convinced her they were 'next-level' creators, she said. Scripting the show, with the contributions of a Thai writing team, involved a lot of time and back-and-forth as scripts were translated from English into Thai and back into English. Once filming commenced, though, crew from both countries instantly got along in spite of not speaking the same language, thanks to 'movie magic', she quipped. The story will resonate with audiences, Pewnen said, because 'rich or poor, everyone has their own problems. Why? If you're begging for what you don't have, it will cost you a lot. The world is very chaotic right now, because we can never get enough wealth, power, everything. But, if you can find satisfaction within yourself, you won't have to fight for anything'. Creatively, he said, it's important to make shows that represent Southeast Asia. 'You see Korean series; you see American series. We have to put Southeast Asian series on the map. Let's make Singapore proud. Let's make Thailand proud. Let's make Southeast Asia proud.'
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
K-pop to K-drama: Girls' Generation's Seohyun and 2PM's Taecyeon on working together after 15 years
In 2010, members from two of the biggest K-pop groups, Girls' Generation and 2PM, collaborated on what is possibly one of the catchiest commercial tunes of all time. Now, 15 years later, the former's Seohyun and the latter's Taecyeon are sizzling up the screen with their new drama series The First Night With The Duke, currently streaming on Viu. Based on the web novel of the same name, the series follows a modern-day woman named K (played by Seohyun) who suddenly gets transported into the world of her favourite historical romance novel. K finds herself inhabiting the body of Cha Seon-chaek, a noblewoman who only had one line in the original novel. Following a series of hijinks, Seon-chaek ends up having a drunken encounter with Prince Yi Beon (played by Taecyeon), the male lead of the novel. Now infatuated with Seon-chaek, Yi Beon starts to pursue her relentlessly, derailing the novel's original plot. CNA Lifestyle caught up with the two idols-turned-actors who shared what it was like to finally work together as co-leads. WHAT DREW YOU TO THE SCRIPT OF THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE? Seohyun: Before I received the offer for the drama, I had already read the original webtoon and found it incredibly fun, so much so that it felt like fate. The storyline was captivating and impossible to look away from, and I was especially drawn to the character Cha Seon-chaek. She's bubbly, lovable and even a bit outrageous, which made her so charming that I was quickly pulled into the script. I also liked that it was adapted into a historical setting, which felt fresh and new. Taecyeon: When I received the offer and read the script, it was such a quick and enjoyable read. That's how much the character Yi Beon appealed to me. He came across as incredibly cool and charismatic. Just the fun storyline and the charm of the character alone made me want to take on the challenge. Before joining the project, I wasn't familiar with the original webtoon or web novel, but after reading the script, I got curious and ended up reading the entire original work from start to finish. WHAT INSPIRATION DID YOU DRAW FROM TO PORTRAY YOUR CHARACTERS? Seohyun: My character is flexible enough to turn any situation into something witty and humorous, is honest with her emotions, and shows a wide range of charm – sometimes lovable, sometimes goofy. Honestly, because she's quite similar to my actual personality, I was even more eager to take on the role. I wanted to express her playfulness through facial expressions, gestures, and tone, and I focused on making every part of her performance feel emotionally rich rather than one-dimensional. Taecyeon: Yi Beon is the ideal romantic male lead – excellent in martial arts, handsome, and seemingly lacking in nothing. But deep down, he's someone who has never truly been loved and lives a lonely life. Rather than being inspired by a specific part of the script, I focused more on his silent and action-driven nature. Since he's a man of few words, I paid particular attention to conveying emotion through his eyes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SEOHYUN (@seojuhyun_s) WAS THERE A SCENE THAT WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT OR MEMORABLE TO FILM? Seohyun: The scene where I make a soju bomb really stuck with me. In real life, I can hardly drink, so I had to rely on imagination and memory to portray being drunk. The actual filming was a blast. We shot it like a choreographed dance, having fun with it as if we were learning a routine. Taecyeon: Since Yi Beon is a straightforward and passionate lover, I felt a lot of pressure when it came to acting out his love confessions to Seon-chaek. The lines were things I wouldn't normally say in real life, so I worried about how best to deliver them. But I wanted the audience to feel the sincerity of Yi Beon, who doesn't know how to sugarcoat anything. So on set, I tried to stay completely immersed in his emotional state while acting. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viu Singapore (@viusg) YOU'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING IN A DRAMA FOR THE FIRST TIME? Seohyun: We've been in the same industry for a long time, so there was already a kind of familiarity. Although we didn't have a personal connection before, Taecyeon oppa is such a genuinely nice person that we got close quickly. It was great to be able to openly discuss the project and our characters with each other on set. It made the experience really rewarding. Taecyeon: Our idol activities often overlapped, so we ran into each other frequently, but we didn't have a close personal relationship. That said, having shared similar experiences since we were young, I did feel a sense of inner familiarity. While working on this drama together, we quickly grew close, and it was great to be able to openly discuss the project and our characters. ANY LESSONS FROM YOUR IDOL DAYS THAT YOU APPLIED TO YOUR ACTING ROLES? Seohyun: Being comfortable with the camera and expressing emotions are two big ones. I don't get nervous or overly self-conscious in front of the camera, and I think expressing feelings through either a song or a line of dialogue shares a common thread. It also helped with action scenes. My body picks up movement quickly and I'm quite free with physical expression. Taecyeon: I believe every single experience from my idol days has shaped who I am now. Rather than pointing to one specific thing, I think the entire journey of that life continues to support me in everything I do today. SO WHY SHOULD FANS WATCH THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE? Seohyun: Because while you're watching, it becomes a happy escape from reality. Our drama is full of the kind of fun, comedic, and romantic story that people worn out by everyday life have probably imagined at least once. I hope it brings a lot of laughs and enjoyment to everyone watching. Taecyeon: It's a really lighthearted and entertaining drama. From comedy to romance, it offers a wide range of enjoyment, making it easy to binge without noticing the time pass. I hope viewers will also appreciate the charm and lively energy each character brings to the story. DO YOU HAVE ANY MESSAGE FOR FANS IN SINGAPORE? Seohyun: I'm truly happy that our Singapore fans will also be able to watch the drama. I hope it fills you with positive energy and gives your daily life a little extra boost. Wishing you all happiness and good health always! Taecyeon: To all my fans in Singapore! Thank you so much for your love and support. It's been quite a while since I last visited Singapore, but if you ever invite me, I'll come running. I hope we can meet again very soon, and I'll make sure to show you my best self when we do. Thank you.
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - TalkBack: Will the RTS Link encourage you to take the train instead of driving across?
CNA938 Rewind Play The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link marked a key milestone with the unveiling of its first train. As this long-awaited cross-border rail project edges closer to reality, will it encourage you to take the train instead of driving across? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with transport analyst Terence Fan, Assistant Professor in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Singapore Management University. CNA938 Rewind - Media man Cheong Yip Seng's 'Ink & Influence' In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with Cheong Yip Seng, media veteran and author of "Ink & Influence'. It comes more than a decade after 'OB Markers: My Straits Times Story', which covers the more than four decades he spent as a journalist in Singapore – warts and all. Its sequel, "Ink & Influence', contains more first-hand accounts from his storied career including interactions with some of Singapore's more standout political leaders including the nation's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, travels on the job, and what the future holds for Singapore's traditional media landscape. 36 mins CNA938 Rewind - TalkBack: Will the RTS Link encourage you to take the train instead of driving across? The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link marked a key milestone with the unveiling of its first train. As this long-awaited cross-border rail project edges closer to reality, will it encourage you to take the train instead of driving across? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with transport analyst Terence Fan, Assistant Professor in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Singapore Management University. 25 mins CNA938 Rewind - Will we continue to see record-breaking million-dollar resale flat transactions? HDB flash estimates show public resale flat prices rose 0.9% in Q2 2025 — the slowest increase since Q2 2020. It marks the third straight quarter of moderating growth. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Eugene Lim, Key Executive Officer at ERA Singapore. 14 mins
