Colour Maestro

It was in mid February when I received a phone call from this guy called Shi Xiong. He said his company — GJ Production House is making a programme and they stumble upon my website and blog. They find that the flower paintings and Hua Dan series paintings were what they are looking for in one of the 6 episodes programme. So, they arrange to meet me.

To my pleasant surprise, it turned out that their director is Jack Choo (Zhu Hou Ren). I know he is a veteran actor but I didn’t know he direct too. After understanding my series (Hua Dan and Flowerism) of works and my interests in Cantonese opera and other things like collecting Blythe dolls and trinkets. They started filming in beginning of March. I was 3 months plus pregnant then. My tummy began to show and I was afraid the effect will not be good especially to put on the opera makeup and costume. However, everything turned out fine. The crew were efficient and professional. We went to a few location like SAFRA (for my caricature shoot), Singapore Art Museum where my work — “Tea with Mr. M” was on exhibit, Guangdong Huey Guan (where I learned opera), my house, my friend — Chengying’s house and  Art Seasons (the art gallery).

It was a fun and educational experience working with Jack and his team. Although I was suffering from rather bad morning sickness, I seemed to forget it the moment I was involved in the shoot. Yesterday was the telecast of the programme on Channel U. I received many compliments from friends and relatives. I even had a few email messages of people whom I don’t know but saw the programme and like my works. It was afterall, a very fruitful (and unexpected) experience. I will have to work hard to produce more good works so as not to disappoint all who loved me.

Selamat Hari Raya Eid Al-Adha cum Lucian’s bday celebration

It was raining quite heavily this early Eid Al-Adha morning. I prepared the kids to go to mak metua house for a light brunch as later on, we will be heading to mom’s house for a birthday celebration. Mahsuri had his first attempt of eating by hand. Budiman also got to taste nenek’s famous nasi dagang.It’s a traditional dish from Pahang where the ingredients include unpolished rice and spices.Very healthy yet tasty food. I helped Mak to make some Roti Kirai. I am loving it! Lateron, the kids had fun playing games at popo’s house after a scrumptuous lunch prepared by Gong-gong and Popo. Finally, the birthday celebration ended with a cake-cutting session where it is the favourite part for the kids.

I am wearing a custom-made Malay Baju Kurung. I especially chose this cotton cloth with tiny flowers prints on it 'cos it reminds me of the Cheongsam that women wear during the 1930s-50s era. Also the school-girlish image of the bygone era is what I like about it.

This porcelain brooch was a rare find and a gift from Kamal who bought it in England 11 years ago.

Mahsuri and mommy. This is taken at our house void deck infront of a wall mural done by students from Nanyang Junior College.

Me and my two precious darlings

Mahsuri loves the camera!

My three handsome boys!

Budiman has his first bite of Nasi Dagang.

Mahsuri's first attempt to eat with his right hand.

Wow, it's so difficult to eat Roti kirai with one hand!

Yeah! Finally managed to eat a mouthful of Roti Kirai with my right hand!

Ayah is feeding Budiman.

Mommy is helping nenek to cook Roti Kirai. She is enjoying every bit of the heat, grease, smoke, fragrant and most important, the final product!

Mahsuri and the Taboosh

Games after a scrumptuous lunch at popo's place.

Happy family. All except Budiman are in the picture. Budiman was taking his precious afternoon nap then.

Singing the birthday song for cousin Lucian in four languages (English, Mandarin, Malay and Cantonese).

Mahsuri and birthday boy Lucian are two inseparable peas!

Miss Qi’s Cantonese Opera Performance

Tonight, I have attended my Cantonese opera instructress, Miss Qi Chao Qun’s performance. It was very inspiring for young opera actress like me. Miss Qi has a very remarkable voice in singing the “Hua Dan” role. Her “shui xiu” (literally translated as water sleeves as the sleeves moves like the ripples of water) technique and movements are gentle and demure, like the character she played. I was fascinated by her acting too.
Initially, she wanted me to help in one of the supporting roles. This role has quite a bit of singing and acting involved. However, I had rejected as at the time of the first rehearsal, I discovered that I was pregnant. Anyhow, I am glad that I manage to see the performance instead as I always believe that watching others perform is a very good form of learning as well. You get to see other people’s good and bad performance and you learn from it.

Miss Qi and her husband, Mr Lau.

My teacher Qi Chao Qun and myself.

Miss Qi and her students.

Mid-Autumn 2006 Performance

Although I am now into my 3rd month of pregnancy, I still carry on with some opera performances. The Mid-Autumn 2006 performance at Albert Court is a success. Some of my former opera classmates commented that I have shown great improvements in my singing. Thanks to my current teacher Miss Qi Chao Qun from Shenzhen, China. She is very dedicated in her teaching. Miss Qi has corrected some of my bad habits in singing and pronunciation. As a Mandarin speaker, I don’t speak enough Cantonese like the HongKongers. So, in order to train my Cantonese language, I often recite the lyrics just so as to ensure that I speak more perfect Cantonese. However, to speak and sing Cantonese in an Opera format, well that is another challenge as you not only have to sing but also to make sure people understood what you are singing. There’s still lots to learn from this age-old art form.
Here, I would like to take this opportunity to thank one person. She came to see my performance. I did not even manage to take a snapshot with her. She is my opera movement teacher, Miss Huang Ping from Beijing, China. Miss Huang is currently teaching at Potong Pasir C.C. She is a very dedicated teacher. Very good with all the movements especially involving weapons like the spears and the swords. So, if you want to be a “dao ma dan” (which is a wushu huadan), then you should learn from her.

Waiting leisurely for my show…

An enthusiastic performer.

Mildred Kan (taking the male role) and myself (the female role). Our song titled: Luo Shui Meng Hu

Miss Qi Chao Qun (lady in white) among the audience.

With Janny Leung, who is an excellent Canto-opera female actress and also my good pal who gives real good advices.

Justin Lee, who also appreciates Canto-opera, came to see my performance. Look at the lovely presents I got from him. So sweet!

Justin, Kelvin Tan and his girlfriend also came for the show. Young potential audience?

Despite her busy schedule, Sui Lan (lady in black t-shirt) came with her friends for my performance. I hope they had a wonderful time. Sui Lan is also another good advisor on singing technique. One should listen to her singing. So “Man” (she sings the male role)!

Miss Qi Chao Qun and her students (the boy is her son and the little girl is someone’s grand-daughter).

Charity Show on 22nd July 2006

A friend from my opera movement class asked me to help in a supporting role for her opera association’s charity performance. I don’t mind at all as I think that each performance I take is a form of practise, whether or not you are playing a supporting role or being the lead actress. I am eager to put my makeup technique to use as this is the time to test my skills and level of professionalism. And the results? I got a few compliments from the senior actors. I am very motivated. Looking forward to doing my next stage makeup very soon.

A chambermaid’s charm.

Have a snapshot taken for reference before heading to the basin.

My two ardent fans…

Cantonese Opera Make-up Class

One of the things a good opera actor/actress has to know is how to apply opera makeup for their roles. Whether you are a Hua Dan (lead actress), Xiao Sheng (lead actor), Lao Dan (elderly actress) or Chou Sheng (comedian actor), you have your own unique type of makeup. For me, I am a Hua Dan. So, I have to learn how to makeup a face of a Hua Dan. Each of us is unique as our facial features and shape of the face is different. In opera makeup, you have to know your face structure well in order to enhance the assets of your features and play down those less blessed areas. The class is held at Kolam Ayer Community Club every friday evening. Our teacher Miss Qi Chao Qun is very dedicated in teaching us the techniques of opera makeup. Being a professional opera actress herself for almost 30 years, she is very knowledgeable in this field. Most of us in class are opera enthusiasts. Some of my classmates are what I called “part-time professional” which means they are as good as the professionals but they do opera as a hobby basis and don’t rely on it as a job. All of us enjoy the makeup class. Especially some of them who are executives in corporate firms. After a day of hard work and at the end of the week, they come here to dabble with paints and colours, applying leisurely on their face… Janny, my friend even finds it therapeutic! Although it is quite a hassle to remove it lateron (sometimes we would find it a waste, especially if the makeup is beautiful that day), but we all enjoy it very much.

I look very different in opera makeup, don’t I? That itself is an art. Hmm…personally, I think it could be even better. I took 2hrs to do this makeup. For this class, we learn just the makeup. The hairstyling technique will come later as that area is another different art form we have yet to learn.

Another day of practise. This time, I prefer the look of my left eye and my lips.