Friday, March 2, 2012

Project Happy

Now that the music video is out, I can finally blog about an interesting experience doing a project for Action for Aids in conjunction with Health Promotion Board. This is an organization that aims to raise HIV awareness.

This particular project, directed by award-winning Singapore film director, Royston Tan, targets the shadier denizens of Geylang. The final product is a combo of a DVD with the music video, as well as a packet of tissue encased in a typically 'cheena'' paper design that features the two lead singers, 3 of us dancing girls, as well as...tadah....a discreet condom by Okomoto! I heard that the package were freely given out at Geylang.

I was recruited to act as a KTV hostess despite failing miserably at casting. Incidentally, I had to dance and have a good time all by myself in front of the guy doing the casting. I was told to give my most seductive looks and have a wild time as music blared front the small iMac speakers. I was almost as wood, I mean as good, as a coconut tree swaying in the wind.

Hamming it up with Royston during the production.

Here's Royston getting all serious with us.... Filming was done in a very seedy nightclub with thrills and spills all over the sticky cement floor, wallpaper that screams "sleaze" and well-patronized hole-y sofas. As we reached the place at 7am in the morning, some of the bona fide KTV hostesses were just staggering out of the place, half-drunk and maybe drugged out. It was a dismal place to be in, especially in the ladies' washroom with one miserly mirror and couple of unlock-able cubicles with no toilet paper and wet floors.


We were provided with fish net stockings to complete our trashy KTV girl outfit. And I was given the role of entertaining two elderly uncles with apple juice. The actor on my right was in his 70s! The other actor on my left was actually much younger than he was styled to look. The dowdy polo tee and powder on the hair did wonders to age him appropriately. It was hilarious as the actors really got into their characters and nicknaming me xiao bai (Little White) and giving me a number!



I think someone was really enjoying himself as my friend assumed her position on his lap.

Here are the BaoBei sisters, the lead singers of the MV in the center. Now if you look closely at the fans, which were custom made for this MV, you will notice that they look really familiar with the silver packaging and an outline of a circular tube.

Here's a closer view....
Yup, you have got it....all constructed from condoms!



This was taken during a dance scene. Royston wanted us to do a sexy dance of 2 minutes against the florid wall. I was really petrified. Assumpta is a competition level pole-dancer and I could hardly cope with anything harder than line-dancing. It took a lot of courage for me to gyrate against that wall with lights, camera and the rest of the crew watching. So despite the initial difficulties, I rose to the occasion all for a good cause.


The lyrics for the Hokkien song were tweaked to get the "Use Protection" message across to the target audience, tastefully arranged by music arranger, Erik Sandsto.

So without further adieu, here's the end product....