Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

‘Make it or break it,’ director Royston Tan says to Ian Fang

SINGAPORE — Ian Fang is said to have above-average dialect skills, but none of that will be showcased in his role as Ah Huat in the second season of Eat Already because the character is a mute kopi kia (colloquial term for coffee server) working in a neighbourhood coffeeshop.

SINGAPORE — Ian Fang is said to have above-average dialect skills, but none of that will be showcased in his role as Ah Huat in the second season of Eat Already because the character is a mute kopi kia (colloquial term for coffee server) working in a neighbourhood coffeeshop.

In an interview with Toggle, Fang introduced himself in a mix of Shanghainese (the actor’s mother tongue), Cantonese and Hokkien. And the actor seized any chance he had to demonstrate his fluency in the dialects.

“People think I have a problem speaking in dialect, but come on, I grew up in Singapore, obviously I picked up some Hokkien profanities in secondary school just like everyone else!” he joked.

Fang continued: “I managed to learn Cantonese when I was eight- or nine-years-old because I was very addicted to watching Louis Koo in TVB productions then.”

“Are you guys O-K?” he said in Cantonese, while pointing to the camera.

When asked if director Royston Tan gave him any advice or “homework” to do before filming commenced, Fang said: “Royston told me that with this role, it’s either make it or break it, because it’s not easy at all.”

Due to the cultural representation and Singaporeans’ familiarity with a kopi kia, it might be of difficulty for Fang, a Shanghainese, to fully grasp the actions of a kopi kia, much less a mute one.

“I really feel the pressure because it’s my first time taking on such a role, but I will try my best to portray the character as naturally as possible,” the 26-year-old added.

In preparation for this role, Fang picked up basic sign language online and monitored his facial expressions because, to his understanding, mute individuals are more expressive with their facial expressions.

Despite the impending challenges of the role, Fang was certain he will gain from the experience and enjoy the process of filming the drama.

“Royston is a movie director who specialises in films with dialects, I believe that I will do well with his guidance,” Fang mused.

Eat Already 2 will also see a love triangle between Fang, Getai star Bao En and Zhang Yao Dong.MELINDA WOO/TOGGLE

A version of this story first appeared in Toggle. Eat Already 2 premieres on Feb 24, 12pm on Channel 8.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.