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SINGAPORE: Tay Ping Hui, Zheng Ge Ping, Michelle Chia, Ann Kok and a host of other Singapore artistes got the chance to try their hand at filmmaking for the upcoming "Thye Hua Kwan Charity Show 2010".
Nine MediaCorp artistes, along with Member of Parliament Baey Yam Keng, were asked to conceptualise and direct a 3-minute film clip each about the lives of those who benefited from services provided by the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (THK), the charity presenting the show.
Their work will be shown during the programme, which will air 'live' on MediaCorp's Channel 8 on September 19. The theme of the show is "Love Beyond".
During a media conference for the charity show on Wednesday, Tay said: "We did a lot of dangerous stunts in the past (for other charity shows) but this is a completely different challenge.
"I am used to having a script. When I was told I had to decide when, how and from what angle I should shoot, I didn't know where to start! I was like 'Huh?'"
Even post production was a bit of a nightmare for the actor.
"In the editing room, it was tough squeezing everything into 3 minutes," said Tay.
"I asked the video editor 'How?' He just looked at me blankly and said 'How? You are the director!' Thankfully, a more experienced producer bailed me out."
Veteran actor Zheng, whose clip is about two mentally handicapped brothers, met with some difficulties as well.
Zheng said: "I was tasked with documenting real life, to tell their story. It is very different from doing drama. What's more, it was hard to communicate with them, so I had to speak with a lot of people around them to gain some insight into their lives."
Celebrity Guests
Other highlights of the charity show include performances by the Hong Kong band Big Four (made up of Andy Hui, Edmond Leong, Dicky Cheung and William So), Bossa Nova songbird Olivia Ong as well as comedy duo Kit and Kai.
The show, to be hosted by Guo Liang and Hong Kong actress Carol Cheng, will be the fourth presented by the THK since the first show was staged in 2005. It was not held last year due to the economic downturn.
The 32-year-old charity hopes that the show will bring in S$3.7 million in phone-in donations as well as proceeds from the auction of special items like a furniture set made mostly of fabric from donated clothing made by students from the LaSalle School of Arts.
The funds are earmarked to help defray the costs of running facilities such as a hospital and a home for the disabled, as well as providing services which include counselling for problem gamblers and women coping with unplanned pregnancies.
The facilities and services cost THK about S$42 million annually.
During the media conference, THK chairman Lee Kim Siang pointed out that while the purpose of the charity show is to raise funds, it also serves a more important function.
Mr Lee said: "The most important purpose of the show is to let people watching the show know that there are a lot of social services out there that are available to them.
"In life, if there is anything they need assistance with, they can come see us. There are no conditions ... If we can't help, we will help them find someone who can."
"Thye Hua Kwan Charity Show 2010" will air 'live' on Channel 8 at 7pm on Sunday, September 19. Donors can call 1900-112-2288 to donate S$5, 1900-112-3388 to donate S$15, 1900-112-4488 to donate S$50 and 66910888 to donate sums over S$50. Phone lines are open till October 3.
- CNA/ha/al
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