SINGAPORE – It takes about two to three months to shoot the average drama series at MediaCorp TV’s Channel 8.

But the cast and crew of upcoming 190-episode drama series 118 will have to be prepared to work together for the next nine months.

The show, penned by noted scriptwriter Ang Eng Tee (Holland V, The Little Nyonya), is about heartland Tiong Bahru dwellers, featuring an ensemble cast that also includes Chew Chor Meng, Pan Ling Ling, Dennis Chew, Xu Bin, Zhang Zhen Huan, Ya Hui, Liu Ling Ling and Priscelia Chan. In a first for the channel, each episode may be filmed as close as two weeks from its telecast, so current issues can be incorporated into the storyline.

However, a nine-month shoot is a prospect that even veteran actor Chen Han Wei, who plays a stylish French-speaking glutinous rice dumpling seller (we kid you not) finds daunting.

“Our greatest challenge is making sure all of the members of the cast and crew get along in the next nine months,” Chen told us in an interview at the lensing ceremony for the drama. “Everyone will have his or her opinion on how things should be done, so among the actors, we’ve agreed to be direct about how we think or feel. We have to find a balance and compromise, so we can all be happy when we work together.”

Zhang Zhen Huan, for one, is looking forward to working with actress Dawn Yeoh, who plays his love interest.

“She’s easy-going and cheerful, and I believe there are a lot of opportunities for good chemistry between us in our storyline,” said Zhang, who describes his character as an “ang mo pai” (Singlish for “Westernised”) who does not speak English. “The Executive Producer said, ‘You two look quite compatible’. And I think it’s not just our looks - I find we are quite compatible in character, after interacting with her over the last two days.”

Chew Chor Meng and Pan Ling Ling, who play a married couple in the series, also appreciate the opportunity to work together on a long-running series like 118.

“I am very happy – I don’t like leaving a show so early anyway. I now think differently, maybe because of what I’ve been through,” said Pan, whose breast cancer is in remission. “Life is precious, and friends are precious, so I am just very happy to be able to work with these actors. And I hope the show won’t just be 190 episodes!”

Chew added: “Like Ling Ling has said, we’ve been through ups and downs. Ling Ling has conquered her illness, but I am still battling (muscular dystrophy). Every role I take on is a new start, and a new opportunity. Being able to move and walk is a blessing, and I just want to appreciate the joy of working with these actors.”

118 debuts Oct 20, weeknights at 7.30pm on Channel 8.