Latest news with #WheretheHeartBelongs
AsiaOne
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'They had a machine to create snow': Denise Camillia Tan recounts filming wintry scene in scorching hot Yishun for new drama, Entertainment News
One morning in Yishun late last year, it began to snow. However, it's not an unusual weather phenomenon that happened in some say Singapore's most notorious neighbourhood, but Mediacorp filming their upcoming drama Where the Heart Belongs. Recounting the unforgettable filming experience, local actress Denise Camillia Tan told AsiaOne recently while promoting the drama: "We had to catch the sunrise [for the scene], so our call-time was a bit earlier and when we reached the filming location, there were no cars around. "Slowly, we started to see the number of cars building up and the traffic getting heavier. When the drivers stopped their vehicle, they would look at us, like, 'What are they doing?'" The 32-year-old added that she was wearing thick winter clothes with gloves for the scene. She added: "I didn't expect [the production team] to do the snow effect in real life, we thought it was just going to be CGI from a green screen, but no, they actually had a machine to create snow, so it was quite interesting." In Where the Heart Belongs, Denise plays Ming Zhen, a strong-willed consultant from the Housing and Senior Affairs Board in the fictional I'Deal City, where an ageing population and declining marriage and birth rates resulted in the government implementing policies allowing the younger population to adopt senior citizens as parents. Singles could also no longer purchase public housing. Ming Zhen adopts senior Ou Shengde (Zhu Houren) so that she can receive subsidies for her ideal two-room apartment. As their opposing personalities and lifestyles result in frequent conflicts, she seeks advice from her colleague Situ Ziyang (Romeo Tan), who has adopted seniors including Liu Zhen Wanyu (Xiang Yun) and Zhong Yilian (Kym Ng). In the process, Ming Zhen and Ziyang develop feelings for each other. However, both harbour their own secrets — Ming Zhen has abandoned her biological father, while Ziyang's motive of adopting seniors could be a calculated facade. Having to look 'glowy and dewy' despite the heat Wearing winter clothes while filming in Singapore's heat posed a challenge for Denise. She shared: "I remember we had to shoot outdoors under the sun, and we were sweating so much. But obviously in winter, we can't sweat. I think it was most challenging for the makeup artist because she had to keep touching us up before every shot. "That took up quite a lot of time also, because we needed it to be perfect on screen, to make sure that we don't sweat and instead look very glowy and dewy. But in real life, it was just very hot." Denise also said they had to film under the sun followed by indoors in air-conditioned rooms frequently, and she was concerned about falling ill because of the temperature changes. "During that period, I had to really make sure that I was as healthy as I could be by taking vitamins and probiotics just to make sure that I was fit for the role," she recounted. She's not the only one, as Xiang Yun and Kym also faced a similiar situation during filming. Xiang Yun told us that while they had the chance to dress nicely in winter wear for the drama, it was actually very hot for them. "Whenever we went out for filming and saw each other wearing layers, we would laugh at each other," she laughed. The 64-year-old actress recounted she had to film a few workout scenes at a reservoir during 'winter season'. "The sunlight was so glaring, and we had to wear thick tracksuits and exercise. Later we 'bargained' [with the production team] that because we are working out, we can't wear too many layers," Xiang Yun shared. To prevent heat stroke, the make-up artists prepared mini fans for them and dabbed away their perspiration frequently between takes. She added: "It was actually quite tough for them also. In some shots, you can see that our hair is wet [with sweat]." Kym, 58, had to cope with the heat too. "It was quite uncomfortable, but somehow everybody was so professional that we just forgot about the temperature and ignored the sweat running down our cleavage and just continued acting," she laughed. Where the Heart Belongs will be available on demand for free on Mewatch from July 28 and premieres on Channel 8 on July 31, airing on weekdays at 9pm. [[nid:720570]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
AsiaOne
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'I want to be an independent senior': Xiang Yun on ageing positively and not relying on children, Entertainment News
In an ideal world, Xiang Yun wishes to live with her children and grandchildren in her twilight years, but she also knows not to force it. Speaking to AsiaOne on Monday (July 21) while promoting her new drama Where the Heart Belongs, the 64-year-old local veteran actress said: "I told myself that when I am older, I want to be an independent senior and not trouble my children. So, I don't mind living alone." Xiang Yun, who has been married to former actor Edmund Chen since 1989, shares two children, Chen Xi, 34, and 25-year-old Chen Yixin, with him. Chen Xi, who graduated with a master's degree in arts and cultural management from King's College London this January, recently tied the knot with his non-celebrity Japanese girlfriend, nicknamed Mimi. She added she understands that while "kinship brings warmth", everyone is ultimately alone in the end. Planning ahead to age healthily and happy For Xiang Yun, she believes in planning ahead and ageing positively. She revealed she had written her will in her 50s when she followed her mother — who died in 2023 — to do so. "Especially after my parents died, I feel that life in your senior years is not just about living one day at a time till the final day. There is a need to plan ahead, so that we can age healthily and happily. There is a need to get everything ready," she said. She also told us that while she has not put afterlife planning into action, she had briefly spoken to her family about her wishes. Xiang Yun shared: "I told them that I don't prefer prayers after my death. They can just scatter my ashes at sea and probably find a song to remember me by. That's my wish. When they hear this song in the future and think about me, they could tell someone that this song is a memory of me. That's already fulfilling enough. "I feel that everyone is busy with their own life, so a ritual to remember ancestors doesn't need to be elaborate. As long as there is remembrance, I think that's enough. So, I told them not to make it complicated, I just want to keep it simple." In Where the Heart Belongs, Xiang Yun plays Liu Zhen Wanyu, a senior citizen who lives in the fictional I'Deal City where an ageing population and declining marriage and birth rates resulted in the government implementing policies where the younger population could adopt senior citizens as parents. Wanyu, who is a hot-tempered and strong masseur, and Zhong Yilian (Kym Ng) are both adopted by Situ Ziyang (Romeo Tan), a consultant in the Housing and Senior Affairs Board. Both urge Ziyang to adopt another senior, so that they can complete their mahjong team, which leads him to adopting Li Xunkai (Yao Wenlong) eventually. Despite having no blood relations, they discover a sense of harmony in their found family. However, Xunkai later reports Ziyang for adopting seniors for insurance payouts, prompting a police investigation to uncover whether Ziyang's actions are acts of compassion or a calculated facade. Slowing down to experience life Xiang Yun also told us that remaining active is part of her plans to age healthily. She shared: "I feel that it's not healthy to live a lifestyle where you stop doing everything, especially in senior years. For me, I would plan my time to work, for leisure, hobbies and exercising. I also wish to fulfil my goals of doing social work in the future. I am constantly on the lookout for suitable things for me to do next." She had faced a few minor health scares in the past few years, including osteoporosis where she broke her teeth and sprained her back frequently as well as issues with her lymph nodes. These made her more conscious about her health, including watching her diet, exercising for bone health and studying about nutrition. She added that filming this drama has also led her to start going to the gym to work out. She has also slowed down her pace of life, finding opportunities to relax and spend time with family. She told us: "Over the years, I was constantly busy and anxious about work from the beginning till end of the year. But for the past two years, I have been slowing down and going on trips with Edmund to spend time with our son more frequently. "In recent years, I have spent more time on longer trips and taken the time to experience it fully. Unlike in the past where I would frequently feel anxious about going on overseas trips and returning to work quickly, which tired me out." Letting go of presumptions about being a senior Xiang Yun also believes in having a positive mindset and letting go of presumptions about being a senior. "I told myself that I wouldn't want to give others too much trouble in the future. Because seniors now are different from the past. We are exposed to different things, so I feel that we should be more cheerful and happier. "Times are different now... The younger generation view things differently and we may even have to learn from them sometimes. We should let go of beliefs about seniority, so that it's easier to get along with the younger generation." She also believed that it is important for senior citizens not to wallow in self-pity, but to remain positive and find friends to spend time with: "Everyone must face life and death, but we have a choice to decide on how we want to live." Where the Heart Belongs will be available on demand for free on Mewatch from July 28 and premieres on Channel 8 on July 31, airing on weekdays at 9pm. [[nid:720527]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
