Rui En, Jeanette Aw to crank up the drama in The Dream Makers 2

SINGAPORE — The sequel to 2013’s hit drama The Dream Makers, about the lives of people working in a television station, will contain even more drama than the original, said actress Rui En. She reprises her role as producer-turned-actress Fang Tong Lin in The Dream Makers 2.

The actress told Channel NewsAsia during a recent costume fitting session that there will be many surprises in store for the audience in the upcoming blockbuster drama, adding that the production team had even reminded them not to leak any of the show’s important plot points lest they spoil the surprise.

“There will be a lot of dramatic things happening in the show. Unfortunately, we are not able to reveal too much. I look forward to playing Tong Lin again, because my character goes through this whole journey of wanting to get married, wanting to settle down in The Dream Makers 2, but something tragic happens,” Rui En let on.

“Tong Lin remains Tong Lin no matter what. Tong Lin doesn’t change,” Rui En continued. “I think that is the beauty of this character. She maintains this childlike innocence, this childlike mentality. I think that is endearing because people change all the time - for better or for worse,” said Rui En.

“When you see her in the first episode she is a top actress, yet she will still wear her t-shirts and sneakers all over the place. But, I hope to approach the character differently this time. It has been a few years since the first drama, so I hope to bring a new sense of maturity to the character!”

The Dream Makers 2 will bring Rui En back together with Jeanette Aw, who reprises her role as popular actress Zhao Fei Er in the sequel. Aw revealed that she is looking forward to working with both returning members of the cast such as Rui En and Zoe Tay, as well as new additions such as Li Nanxing and Huang Biren.

“I have always wished to work with the veterans. Biren is really nice to work with! It has been many, many years since we worked together. I wish we will have more scenes together in the show,” said Aw. She added that her character will have a lot on her plate in The Dream Makers 2.

Zhao finds out she actually has a sister Dong Zihuai (Julie Tan), has to deal with trouble at work, and has to face up to the reality that the love of her life, Jason (Qi Yuwu), now loves Fang and not her after the events of the first season.

“In The Dream Makers 2, she goes into depression and she doesn’t even realise it until it is too late, and it just snowballs into something bigger. She is battling her inner demons. She has stress from work, stress from relationships, stress from being elevated to top actress status. It is not easy. She is really struggling with a lot of things,” said Aw.

“Her ups and downs are more dramatic this season. It is like she is carrying a ticking emotional time bomb right from the beginning of the show. This time, it will be a whole new challenge, and I think it will be pretty tough. But I am happy to be Fei Er again! She is one of my favourite characters.”

The Dream Makers 2 will air in December on Channel 8. CHANNEL NEWSASIA