ARTICLE

'Gone' to Make It!

By InCinemas / 27 Sep 2013 (Friday)

The cast of upcoming Channel 8 drama ‘Gonna Make It’ <小小传奇> not only went through hairstyling classes to perfect their roles, some changed their physical outlooks to get in character.

Remember to catch Gonna Make It <小小传奇> premiering on 30 September, Monday at 9pm on Channel 8!

Bryan Wong - Working the Bald Style

It’s been seven years since we last saw Bryan Wong in a drama series. Best known as a veteran host on Mandarin variety shows, Wong revealed that he still enjoys acting.

In Gonna Make It, Wong shaved his head bald for his cancer-stricken character, went on a no-carbohydrate diet for three months, and had to maintain his clean bald look by constantly shaving any stubble off during the filming period.

“I was off carbs for three months and was constantly at the gym. I went from 79kg to 66.3 kg (12.7kg) to reflect the role as Ah Man. It wasn’t easy and I was always hungry during that three months,” he laughed.

When asked about his cravings right after they wrapped production, without hesitation, Wong replied” “Chicken Rice”!

While many of his friends liked his new bald look, Wong is firm he won’t be keeping it. “There will be a day where I’ll go bald, so for now I shall let it (my hair) grow.”

Julie Tan - Showing her inner 'Ah-lian'

Staying in character after filming schedules may seem like a method these actors used to prepare for their roles.

Lead actress Julie Tan plays Su Xiaoxiao, an aspiring hairstylist who was sentenced to jail for her involvement in vice activities. Thereafter, she meets hair guru Ah Man (Bryan Wong) who took her under his wing after realising her potential in hairstyling.

Besides feeling the pressure to cut her friend’s (in real life too) waist-long hair and looking professional while the cameras roll, Tan said that she even becomes the ‘ah-lian’ (term to describe an uncultivated female thug) off-screen.

“Xiaoxiao has a very different personality from myself in real life, in terms of the way she walks, talks and behaves. It was quite fun portraying her as I didn’t have to care too much about her 'image'.”

“Sometimes I will sit like that (changes into a slouchy position) and my friends will tell me ‘Can you don’t sit with your legs open!’” Tan laughed as she recounts the humourous incident.

Ya Hui - "I didn't know who I've become"

Playing the jealous and vicious love interest of Oscar (Xu Bin), Ya Hui got so engrossed in her role, she confessed to being ‘emo’ during the period of filming, even when cameras weren’t rolling.

To prepare for her as the possessive girlfriend, the bubbly actress watched more Korean dramas to find the inspiration for her character Zhang Wen Ya. “I hope the audience are able to stay on to watch how I portrayed this character as I put in a lot of effort in it that I almost went crazy!” she added.

“For the past few months, I didn’t know who I've become and was very different from my usual self. That period was quite tough for me; I didn’t talk much at home nor went out with my friends,” she recounted with a smile.

“I wanted to maintain the inner feelings and emotions of Zhang Wen Ya that I held myself back, refraining from playing or joking with the cast.”

Experiencing the drastic change for the first time, Ya Hui admitted to being afraid during the three months, but was relived to ‘be herself’ again after filming officially wrapped.

(Head over to our Facebook for more photos of Gonna Make It <小小传奇> press conference!)

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'Gone' to Make It!