Clarifying articles regarding Fann which were published in Singapore Press Holding Chinese presses, MediaCorp said the actress immediately informed Artiste Management her intention to attend the wakes on learning about the unfortunate incident.

“Artiste Management then discussed with Production on the possibility of taking Fann out from the set, for her to attend the wakes in Malacca” said Andrew Cheng, Senior Vice President of MediaCorp’s Artiste Management & Production Resource.

In a statement released Friday evening, Cheng said that despite the very tight schedule, it was agreed that Fann would be released on Wednesday 11 February and filming would be delayed till noon on Thursday 12 February.

“When Christopher and Fann’s mom learnt about this, they were concerned that Fann would be tired after her shoot.

“Also, it would be dangerous for her to drive up alone at night and having to rush back the following morning. Consequently, they managed to persuade Fann not to attend the wakes” said Cheng in the statement.

Fann is currently filming “The Ultimatum”, a Channel 8 drama.

She is set to wed in September fellow MediaCorp actor, Christopher Lee who was her co-star in the movie “The Wedding Game” which is currently enjoying a successful run at local theatres.

- CNA/sf

Channel News Asia

The MediaCorp artiste explained that despite a tight schedule, the production team had agreed to push back filming for a day, so she could attend the wake in Malacca.

But her fiance – actor Christopher Lee – and her mother persuaded her not to go, as they were concerned about her safety.

They felt it would be dangerous for her to drive up alone at night, and to rush back to work early the next morning.

Fann said: “Of course I am very, very upset I cannot make it to Chris’ father’s wake. But I am sure I will go back to Malacca to pay him my respects when I finish all my work. And I am very grateful to all those people… who (have) help(ed) me through this period.” – CNA/ms

Channel News Asia

For those who haven’t yet caught on to the movie, it’s all about a ‘star couple’ who get married, and the sparks fly

Channel News Asia

Filem komedi romantik menampilkan sindiran perkahwinan sesama artis untuk mengekalkan populariti

APAKAH anda percaya artis kesukaan anda berpura-pura bercinta dengan artis lain hanya untuk mendapat publisiti?

Mungkin agak pelik bunyinya, tetapi usah terkejut andainya kes sedemikian pernah berlaku, bukan hanya di negara ini, malah dalam dunia seni antarabangsa.

Kononnya, dengan disokong kisah cinta menarik antara dua artis yang sama popular dan sama menarik, ia dapat membantu menaikkan lagi nama mereka. Paling tidak, mungkin itulah percaturan oleh pihak pengurusannya.

Sebahagian artis pula didakwa menggunakan artis lain sebagai pasangan kekasih ataupun isteri bagi mengekalkan imej bersih, atau bagi menidakkan segala tohmahan terhadapnya.

Kelihatan seperti jauh daripada kebenaran, bagaimanapun ia tidak mustahil berlaku dalam dunia yang penuh dengan permainan serta lakonan ini. Demi gemerlapan yang berpanjangan, ramai yang sanggup berpura-pura.

BABAK kelakar membabitkan Saiful Apek dan Christopher Lee.

Begitulah juga dengan filem The Wedding Game arahan Ekachai Uekrongtham, yang bakal menemui penonton mulai 25 Januari ini sempena sambutan Tahun Baru Cina. Antara lain, filem ini mengangkat tema cinta pura-pura di kalangan selebriti yang sengaja direka bagi menaikkan nama mereka.

Filem terbabit membariskan artis terkenal Singapura, Fann Wong dan pasangannya, Christopher Lee. Tidak ketinggalan membintangi filem komedi romantik ini ialah beberapa pelakon Malaysia seperti Daniel Tan, Lai Ming serta pelawak popular negara kita, Saiful Apek. Manakala Syanie pula muncul dalam beberapa adegan, sebagai isteri Apek.

Filem itu diterbitkan secara kerjasama oleh beberapa syarikat termasuk MediaCorp Raintree Pictures, Scorpio East Pictures, Speedy Productions (Singapura) dan syarikat pengedaran terkemuka Malaysia, Double Vision.

Di sini, filem berkenaan diedarkan RAM Entertainment.

Double Vision begitu berharap, gelak ketawa penonton yang pernah menyaksikan filem mereka sebelum ini, Ah Long Pte Ltd, dapat diteruskan dengan kehadiran filem terbabit. Apatah lagi ia muncul gandingan pertama antara pasangan kekasih, Fann dan Christopher, di filem setelah beraksi bersama dalam siri kesukaan ramai kira-kira sedekad yang lalu menerusi Return of the Condor Heroes.

Ditayangkan secara harian mulai 25 Januari, namun begitu peminat sudah pun dapat menonton filem berkenaan menerusi tayangan awal pada 23 dan 24 Januari.

Penonton juga dapat menonton proses pembikinan filem berkenaan menerusi program di sebalik tabir yang disiarkan menerusi Astro AEC dan 8TV pada 23 dan 27 Januari. Pada jam 10.30 pagi, 23 Januari pula, peminat dapat berbual dengan pelakonnya menerusi radio MyFM.

Pengarah dan pelakon filem terbabit turut terbabit dalam beberapa siri promosi The Wedding Game di ibu kota bermula 22 Januari. Di samping menghadiri majlis tayangan gala pada 22 Januari yang berlangsung di GSC Pavilion, Fann, Christopher, pelakon Hong Kong, Alice Lau serta pelakon Taiwan, Charles Chen juga menemui wakil media pada sidang akhbar filem berkenaan pada sebelah siang.

The Wedding Game bermula dengan lamaran Jack (Christopher) terhadap Vikki (Fann) pada sebuah acara anugerah yang disiarkan secara langsung.

Vikki menerima lamaran berkenaan dan kisah cinta mereka menjadi perhatian peminat setelah mendapat liputan meluas. Apa yang peminat tidak ketahui, kisah cinta itu hanyalah rekaan dan dirancang secara teliti oleh pengurus mereka, May dan Tom. Kononnya, kisah cinta mereka mampu membantu perjalanan karier masing-masing.

Pada hakikatnya, kedua-dua saling tidak menyukai sejak awal perkenalan. Begitupun mereka meneruskan lakonan terbabit. Jack dan Vikki juga tidak kerugian apa-apa kerana sudah pun menandatangani kontrak pra-perkahwinan bagi melindungi diri dan aset. Meskipun begitu, satu kejadian menyebabkan peminat mula meragui kasih sayang antara dua selebriti ini.

Berita Harian

They will first walk down the aisle on screen in Raintree Pictures’ latest romantic comedy “The Wedding Game” which opens in cinemas in Singapore and Malaysia this weekend.

Though they play a celebrity couple on screen, this is not a case of art immitating life. In fact, the couple said the movie is “very different” from real life.

“This movie is not about Fann Wong and Christopher Lee. It’s about these two celebrities who are getting married to get more jobs and sponsors,” Fann said.

In the movie, Fann plays Vikki, a popular actress who wants to earn more money to save her father’s business, while Christopher is playboy Jack who hopes this marriage of convenience will give his sagging acting career a boost.

One of the advantages of being a real life couple was that the pair were at ease when filming intimate scenes.

“It’s much easier to work with Chris because I trust him,” said Fann, adding that it also helped that the crew were very “protective” of them.

“When they want us to do some intimate scenes, or be lovey-dovey, they will ask us in a very nice way ‘Are you comfortable? Are you okay?’”

Though the couple did not pick up any wedding tips while filming, Fann said she was inspired to hold her wedding at the Singapore National Museum after shooting a scene there.

“I’ve asked, but the place is too small,” said Christopher, adding that their upcoming nuptials will be a big affair as they wish to share the joyous occasion with everyone.

While most of you will not make it to the couple’s guest list of their September wedding, you are invited to their on-screen wedding when “The Wedding Game” opens in theatres on January 25.

- CNA/km/il

Channel News Asia

But you will probably get to see them walking down a fictional aisle before they marry for real.

The two will be starring in a film titled “The Wedding of the Year”, where they play a celebrity couple who take their fake romance a step further by getting married, just to boost their careers.

Director of “The Wedding of the Year”, Ekachai Uekrongtham, said, “In the film, they do not like each other, so there are a lot of things they have to bear. It is this whole tension between the public life and the private life.

“The film also tries to use entertainment, media and the world of celebrities as a creative inspiration. Because this is a world where truth is not really a sought-after commodity, whereas in romance, it is important. So that tension is interesting to play.”

Other interesting tensions the film touches on include the foreign talent debate, when the couple tries to decide whether to use a local or foreign designer for the bridal gown.

Also, a video clip leaked on the net features as part of the plot.

Art clearly imitates life and it does not seem to worry the director and his leads.

Ekachai said, “They are confident enough to be tongue-in-cheek about their whole romance and take a mickey out of themselves, so I think that is a great starting point.”

With a production budget of about S$1.3 million to S$1.5 million, the film is funded by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures and Scorpio East Pictures, which are also looking at collaborating with a Malaysian investor.

Production will start in mid-November, and will open in Singapore in January 2009.

- CNA/yt

Channel News Asia

GUESS who has nine cats at home? Hong Kong actress Myolie Wu apparently loves the presence of felines around her after work, calling them “relaxing”.

Will Fann Wong’s (left) wedding with Christopher Lee be as lavish as a certain Hong Kong celebrity couple?

According to one online story, the shy actress lives a quiet life and likes her cats to roam freely around her house. She says she loves cats because they are very independent, “much like her” in real life.

Myolie, who entered the entertainment industry after being placed second runner-up at the 1999 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant, has been in the TVB fold all this while, achieving spurts of success after having acted in more than 30 television series.

She first caught the public eye when she played Gallen Lo’s mentally challenged sister in Golden Faith at the turn of the millennium. The role won her the Most Improved Female Artist Award at the 2002 TVB Anniversary Awards.

She was back in the media spotlight when she opted to put on a whole lot of weight a’la Bridget Jones for her 2006 role in To Grow With Love,
starring opposite Andy Hui.

While the series bombed, her role has won her some acclaim, resulting in a steady stream of plum parts in series such as The Drive of Life, Wars of In-Laws, When a Dog Loves a Cat and the coming Burning Flame III.

Like her cats and their fabled nine lives, it looks like Myolie will be around for some time yet.

῕ SINGAPOREAN actress Fann Wong prefers a “big party”, rather than a “dream wedding”, when she gets hitched next year to fellow actor Christopher Lee who, incidentally, hails from Malacca.

Their wedding planner is apparently hairstylist extraordinaire David Gan and top on the list of his must-dos, for now at least, is a guest list which, according to the grapevine, will be a very long one.

Anyway, there’s also talk that the glamour couple is considering a lavish overseas wedding at some exotic locale a la Tony Leung and Carina Lau’s Bhutan bash.

Well, Fann, who plays the lead in new drama serial The Defining Moment, has indicated that she wants to make it a “big party”.

Hmmm… wonder where her dream wedding will be held? What is certain is that it won’t be at the beach as the svelte actress is not a sun-lover.

For those who are waiting with bated breath for the wedding date, mark Sept 9 next year on the calendar as the most likely day!

῕ KOREAN actress Lee Ji Ah was rushed to hospital recently after collapsing during the filming of a scene for Beethoven Virus.

The scene apparently involved the actress staying submerged in water for hours on end and this might have led to her complaining of breathing difficulties.

῕ LANKY Hong Kong actress Gigi Leung and Berlin Chen have some steamy scenes in I Can Love, director Joe Ma’s new film.

In it, she and newcomer Bing Shao will play husband and wife, with Gigi’s character succumbing to an affair with his uncle, played by Chen.

Judging from her public image in recent memory – she gave a very sexy dance performance at a concert late last year, Gigi is certainly moving away from her sweet and demure persona. For better or for worse, I wonder?

῕ WANG Leehom’s Music-Man World Tour Concert will kick off on Sept 19 and 20 in Taipei, with the Taiwanese singer playing superhero for the night.

Expect macho black leather, metallic sheen and futuristic sets, with the Taiwan American singer-songwriter dyeing his hair metallic blue and silver.

Of course, every superhero has his special weapon and Wang’s is a “clef dragon” electric guitar specially designed by Irish guitar design master U2 at the cost of 20,000 euros (RM102,000).

῕ SAMMI Cheng and Eason Chan will next be seen in a movie reminiscent of Infernal Affairs but with the more playful title of Lady Cop & Papa Crook.

The film marks Sammi’s return to acting in two years and is expected to be released next month.

A short trailer released early this month suggests a lot of suspense, tension and strong performances from the leads.

Meanwhile, Sammi’s former boyfriend Andy Hui has hinted that she is still “someone very important in his life”.

Speaking at a variety show in China recently, he revealed that whenever he sings karaoke, he will pick her songs.

Incidentally, the couple broke up about four years ago. Sadly, when Sammi was asked by a reporter at another function which five men were the most important in her life, she only picked two – her father and her brother.

Poor Andy…

New Straits Times

But that’s the price – on top of a S$50,000 engagement ring – Lee is happy to pay for sweeping Fann Wong, 37, off the shelf and into his arms. Besides, when you’re the Brangelina – or should that be Christofann? Or Fannopher? – of Singapore, there’s no shying away from the limelight. It’s a reality the MediaCorp A-lister has come to terms with.

“I’m happy that so many people are concerned about me. It’s a good thing,” Lee said, sleep-deprived eyes hidden behind a pair of black-rimmed shades. “I stayed up to watch the (Euro 2008) semi-finals,” he explained, gleeful that Spain had beat Russia 3-0.

Still, we felt the need to politely talk shop about his latest TV drama “A Mobile Love Story” and his first hosting stint in a local variety programme called “Life Transformers” for a good 20 minutes before stealthily sliding in the real reason for our chat: The wedding.

The actor, who turns 37 on July 23, let out a hearty “I-knew-it” guffaw. Better yet, there was nary a squeak of protest from his minder/manager.

And so for the next half an hour, we shot the breeze on the concept for his wedding dinner, how he sweet-talks Wong when she sulks, and that four-carat heart-shaped ring from David Gan.

What kind of husband does he think he’ll be? “Er, I don’t know, leh. Nice, I guess,” said Lee, with a shrug. “I can’t say I will be a 100-per-cent good husband, but I will definitely do my best.”

“A Mobile Love Story” is available for a free preview this month on www.mobtv.sg, and is slated for a TV premiere on MediaCorp TV Channel 8 in September. “Life Transformers” will also start in September.

Channel News Asia

In fact, his crush doesn’t even own a set of ovaries.

“I actually got to meet Gurmit Singh and I was so blown away!” said the Eurasian good-looker (his mum’s English). “He’s a big star in the region you know!”

While Gurmit is indeed a bright, shining star on our sunny isle, it was surprising to hear the Hong Kong-based Dominic go on and on about him (“He’s such a funny, warm, great person!”) – especially when the highlight of his career was hosting a programme on the red carpet at last year’s Academy Awards.

“It must have been the biggest thing I’ve done,” said MediaCorp TV Channel 5′s latest hunk and Channel V VJ. “It was my first live telecast ever and I was so nervous. But it was amazing to get to interview big Hollywood A-listers, like Helen Mirren, Eddie Murphy, Greg Kinnear, Clint Eastwood, Steve Carell and Al Gore.”

As he went on about his Oscar adventure, thanks to his additional role as the host of Star Movies’ VIP Access – he has a manner of prattling on as if you were his newfound best friend – one couldn’t help but wonder: Isn’t going from Tinseltown to Caldecott Hill a bit of an anti-climax?

“Of course not. I got to interview some big stars of America. Now, I get to mingle with the big names of this region,” the 26-year-old former model said.

Dominic was in town to promote his newly-minted job as host of The Showdown, the Channel 5 game show that pits local celebrities against each other. The commercial music graduate told TODAY that all it took was one phone call from MediaCorp to get him on a plane to Singapore.

That and our pretty women.

“The girls here … Woah! So pretty and always in shorts and flip-flops!” he said, grinning mischievously.

But isn’t there a special someone in his life to keep him in Hong Kong? For the first time during the interview, Dominic’s cocksure but likable demeanour turned almost wistful.

“When I first started out with Channel V back in 2005, I met a very beautiful girl called Sarah (Tan),” he said. “I was very smitten and I am not usually like that with girls or people.”

Former Channel V VJ Sarah Tan and ESPN Star Sports presenter Soo Kui Jien got married in Bali on Dec 21 last year and are expecting a baby due anytime soon.

“I sincerely hope from the bottom of my heart that she’s doing well. Kui Jien is a really lucky man,” he said.

And that was when the articulate host blessed with pretty-boy looks and who’s on the way to becoming a household name in Singapore fell uncharacteristically quiet.

“Sarah Tan is the one that got away.”

The happily-married couple politely declined to comment.

The Showdown airs every Thursday at 8pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 5. –

Channel News Asia

High-jumping into the spirit of the Olympics, MediaCorp TV Channel 8 will roll out a new sports-themed drama, Beach.Ball.Babes, on July 7, just before the Beijing Games kick off on August 8.

The 20-episode drama about volleyball boasts a “royal” cast that includes former beauty queens Joanne Peh and Jade Seah, two of MediaCorp’s “princesses” Jesseca Liu and Dawn Yeoh, as well as Fann Wong’s groom-to-be, Christopher Lee.

Another volleyball show, you ask?

Well, it has been years since Chen Liping was seen in The Winning Team. Besides, this latest take serves up a lot more eye candy as a lot of the action takes place at the beach which means beach babes Joanne, Jade and Jesseca will be steaming up your TV screens in their bikinis.

But sports has always had a firm place in local Chinese dramas, from 1980′s Flying Fish which starred one-time TV poster boy Wang Yuqing to the more recent The Champions (2004), featuring hot young stars like Fiona Xie and Felicia Chin.

“We try to do one or two sports dramas every year,” Kok Len Shoong, MediaCorp’s Senior Vice-President for Chinese Drama Productions, told Today. “This year, it’s especially significant because of the Olympics.”

So, why volleyball, or beach volleyball, to be precise?

“Beach volleyball is a new item at the Olympics. We think it’ll be of great interest to our viewers,” Kok explained.

Channel News Asia