The Star Online: Entertainment: Music
The Star Online: Entertainment: Music |
- Fuying & Sam: Stepping into the world of film
- Blondie marks 40th anniversary with new album
- Get in shape with Red FM's WTF
| Fuying & Sam: Stepping into the world of film Posted: 14 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT The future looks bright for local heart throbs Fuying & Sam, who have landed their first ever leading roles in a feature film. From making music to making movies, local pop duo Fuying & Sam are on a roll. After topping local Chinese radio charts with their second hit song Detachment (Fen Kai Yi Hou) last year, the fresh-faced duo of Ong Fu Ying, 21 and Sam Chin Neng, 24, then went on to win the Best New Artiste Award last year at the 2013 AIM Chinese Music Award, 2013 Neway Music Awards and MY Astro Music Awards 2013. The charming pop duo released Love & Dream in December last year, a mini-album that comprises of five upbeat melodies that they say are meant to encourage listeners to believe in themselves and pursue their own dreams. Taking their own advice to heart, the duo have also pursued their own showbiz dreams to the next level. Having had their first taste of the movie business through contributing to the Kepong Gangster (2012) soundtrack and whetting their appetite with cameos lunar new year flick Ah Beng: Mission Impossible (2014), the dashing duo are set to star in local Chinese movie The Dream Boyz. The movie commenced principal photography end February and is set to film in Klang Valley and Penang. The young cast includes local artistes such Teddy Chin, Alvin Chong, Rayz Lim, Eric Lin and Joe Chang. The coming-of-age movie revolves around the colourful adventures of a bunch of playful students who are members of the school's drama club. The inspirational story sees how the tight-knit group of 18-year-olds work to keep their friendship afloat amidst the challenges they face as they try to complete their first film together before graduation day. In the movie, Fuying plays the wealthy Liu Mei Zheng while Sam portrays the stammering Lee Da Xiong. The former is an academically-inclined boy who doesn't dare defy his domineering mother, while the latter is a shy fellow whose family operates a curry noodle business. As the tale progresses, Lee takes on the responsibility of preparing the film's script while Liu overcomes his speech impediment and lack of confidence to become a sought-after stage presenter. "The rich boy character Mei Zheng is someone who excels in his studies and is basically a good kid who toes the line," said Subang native Fuying, describing his movie character as a boy who gradually grows into an individual who dares to dream. "Da Xiong is nicknamed Curry due to his family's food business. And he has a speech impediment that affects his social life," shared Sam, who psyched himself into portraying a young man who eventually builds up his self-confidence to achieve something he thought to be beyond himself. "I'm still quite new at acting and needed more time to get the hang of it. Sam, on the other hand, has had more experience in front of the camera, said Fuying, whose first movie role was in comic book-inspired movie Gemeilia in 2013. "Although we learnt a lot in artiste training class, it was nothing like the real experience on the set," continued Ipoh-born Sam, whose acting experience includes local Chinese tv sitcom After Class (2012) and several local short films. When asked whether there were action scenes, the boys revealed that there is one, set on a beach. "The director told us about the beach scene earlier and requested that we prepare for it by working out. So, we are now going to the gym more often now and doing a lot of cardio. We prefer the outdoors, but it is safer and more convenient to workout indoors these days." "We enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new things. We never imagined doing interviews with English and Malay media, because we always thought we would be appealing to the Chinese market only," quipped Fuying, who loves watching Japanese anime. "Like what he mentioned earlier, if we had a nine-to-five job, we would never have had the opportunity to try out so many things. It's a good chance for us to pick up new skills," shared Sam, who had to learn how to make curry noodles for his role. A joint project of SKT Media & Entertainment Group and RAM Entertainment, The Dream Boyz is conceptualised by acclaimed director/screenwriter Ryon Lee who has scripted top-grossing films like Chiu Keng Guan's trilogy (The Journey, Great Day and Woohoo), as well as Namewee's debut film Nasi Lemak 2.0 (2011), for which Lee bagged the Best Screenwriter Award at Malaysia's inaugural Golden Wau Awards. The Dream Boyz is scheduled for a year-end release. |
| Blondie marks 40th anniversary with new album Posted: 13 May 2014 10:45 PM PDT The rock band from the 1970s has just released its 10th album as well as a greatest hits pack to mark its anniversary. Four decades after its debut, the 1970s pioneering New York City new wave and punk group Blondie released its 10th studio album, Ghosts Of Download, on Tuesday to mark the anniversary. Ghosts Of Download, which features 13 new tracks, is part of a two-disc package Blondie 4(0) Ever that also includes an album entitled Deluxe Redux: Greatest Hits. "I can't believe it," said Debbie Harry, 68, the group's blonde singer and punk rock sex symbol, about the longevity of the band behind hits Call Me and the crossover disco chart-topper Heart Of Glass. Harry founded the band with guitarist Chris Stein and drummer Clem Burke in 1975 and went on to score a string of hits such as The Tide Is High and 1981's Rapture, regarded as the first No.1 hit to feature rap. "With most of our stuff there is never a master plan," Stein, 64, said during an interview. "It's always just moving forward bit by bit. This is like that, you know. I think there is a do-it-yourself aspect to Blondie that is what people like." Stein has been working on the project since the group finished its last album Panic Of Girls in 2011. He said the new album is more computer-based than their last record, with electronic and Caribbean sounds. Ghosts Of Download features a mix of dance-floor music and pop tunes. On the first single, A Rose By Any Name, Harry performs a duet with Beth Ditto of indie rock group Gossip. "I think that the biggest thing for me about this collection is that there are so many people that have contributed," Harry said. "And, you know, that's a little bit unusual for a Blondie album." In addition to Ditto, hip hop/R&B group Systema Sola are featured on Sugar On The Side and Oakland-based Panamanian rappers Los Rakas can be heard on I Screwed Up. The stalker-love song One Way Or Another and Hanging On The Telephone are among the songs on the greatest hits album by the group that has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Stein will also be releasing a book of photographs of Blondie in September, and the group will perform concerts around the globe in support of Blondie 4(0) Ever. — Reuters |
| Get in shape with Red FM's WTF Posted: 13 May 2014 09:15 PM PDT Deejay JJ to lead ladies to better understand their lower body area. Pear, apple, hourglass or simply out of ... no matter which shape a woman identifies her body with, there is usually, unfortunately, a body part that she wishes to alter. One of these "troubled" parts is the lower body and this Friday, Red FM's Red Breakfast WTF (weekdays 6am-10am) with JJ, invites Shape magazine editor Puan Sri Merina Hew to help listeners understand and break myths about this part of the torso. "This is a very good opportunity for Red FM listeners to gain a better understanding of the lower body parts. Merina and I will unveil some interesting facts and discuss the common problems faced by most women when it comes to these parts of the body," says JJ. "Do women consider the shape or size of their lower bodies a curse or a blessing? Tune in to find out," adds Hew. Listeners also stand the chance to win five pairs of tickets to the "Shape Up: Butt, Hips & Thighs" event a group workout for women – that will be held at StarStage Kenanga Fashion Mall on May 24. For more information, visit red.fm or like Red FM on www.facebook.com/redfm.my. |
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