人生如戏

Wed, 25 May 2011 21:58:43 +0800

人生如戏，戏如人生。不久前阅读一篇关于歌唱家田浩江的文章，看到笔者引用这句话，引发了一些随想。

第一次知道有这样的说法，是中学时阅读莎士比亚舞台剧剧本As You Like It 中的英文版：“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”还是个懵懂少年的我因为人生历练不足，无法认同，所以也没太多感触。现在的我，年龄和历练都有了一定的累积，加上最近工作方面的经验，再次咀嚼此名句，就比较有味道。

艰难险阻的人生，是有看头的戏；平淡乏味的人生，是没人想看的闷戏。无论人生或戏剧，当观众总是比较容易吧？以演员身份参与重头剧《破天网》的拍摄，虽然戏份不算多，还是有一定的难度。我只能说，觉得自己唯一做得好的是：背对白。其他方面，多谢大家多多包含。对我而言，演好戏的挑战在于表情动作要自然，却要照顾到镜头、灯光、角度、美感…那么多顾虑，要自然真的很难。终于明白一些演员被批评“不自然”的原因之一了。

虽然真的不希望自己的人生如《破天网》的悲惨剧情，求好心切的我一度抱怨生活不够苦，无法完全入戏。没怀过胎的我，穿上腹垫就要瞬间成为孕妇；没打过任何人一巴掌的我，在导演一声“Action”喝令下就得狠狠掴阿哥李铭顺；没生过孩子的我，大清早一到拍摄现场就要揣摩流产的悲痛。正如田大师所说：“太简单的人生和太舒适的生活，只会使你在舞台上显得苍白。”很感谢戏剧组高层让我有机会加入大制作的演员行列，但，我想，在拥有一些人生体验之前，没什么演戏天份的我还是不要接演距离自己太远的角色，破坏观众的娱乐享受。（就算观众很善良不介意，我也过不了个人要求这一关。）

人生如戏，戏如人生，也许是高收视率的秘诀。虽然很多时候看电视或任何戏剧表演的目的是暂时脱离现实，但观众潜意识还是希望在外星球／巫师学院／奇幻王国／电玩世界等故事场景里找到真实的元素。真实性是一部戏能否引人入胜、引起共鸣的关键。而真实性除了靠演技，更重要的是剧本。剧本的重点不单是故事情节，也包括人物的刻画。

一部成功的戏，能够让观众在看戏时，放下旁观者的心态，以身历其境的情感对于剧情做出反应。就如我妈在看《爱》时，会突然发出一句：“这个谢明明真的很坏！”或当我在看30 Rock时，因Liz Lemon的一句“CNBC gives me a headache. I get all my money advice from PBS.”而傻笑着猛点头。

模糊现实与虚幻的界限，让观众觉得人生如戏、戏如人生时，戏剧才能发挥最大的影响力量，带给人们有意义的娱乐，同时达到感动、启发或鼓励等正面的效果。

Happy New Year!

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 00:04:21 +0800

Enjoyed the first day of my new year, doing nothing. :P hope u enjoyed yours too! :)

I should probably do something useful. How about sharing with you my lovely shopping experience not too long ago?

Was invited to the media trial for Topshop’s personal shopping service, now available at their flagship Knightsbridge outlet (not London Knightsbridge, but Orchard Rd Knightsbridge, between Heeren and Paragon). As part of the new store’s opening, Topshop brought in their personal shopper from UK to introduce the service. Upon arriving at Grand Park Orchard Hotel, I was led into a beautiful suite and greeted warmly by a bevy of beautiful ladies and two full racks of clothes, carefully chosen for me by my style advisor of the day, Amy. I’d previously filled in a form detailing my measurements, personal style, likes and dislikes, and I must admit almost every single piece of clothing on those racks caught my eye and called out to me. (In case you’re wondering what they were saying, it was, “Choose me! Choose me!” Yeah, remember that shopaholic movie?)

After a little chat about my specific needs (a dress for the grand opening of Topshop Knightsbridge), Amy and I narrowed down my choices to these three pieces.
Really liked the first white one but we both agreed it’s too casual for the event, but I decided to get it anyway. In the end, the little black dress glammed up with sequins was a clear winner, because it made me look good and was so comfy! No tummy bulge worries either since it’s fitting but not body hugging, very important since I was going to a party with good drinks and good food. ;)

If you have come to the conclusion that such a wonderful, personalized service probably comes at a hefty price, you can’t be more wrong. It is FOC. Free Of Charge. And this is what you get to enjoy:Your very own fitting room, meaning no queues, and you can take your time to really try on the clothes you buy.
One-to-one fashion advice (based on your needs and preferences) given to you by the very professional and friendly personal shopper, the only one in Singapore, Anny.

Erm, not sure if this snack tower is part of the service (it was there on opening night), but i believe drinks are available on request. :)

So if you’re clueless about what to wear for your upcoming dinner party/prom night/date/job interview/chinese new year, or just clueless about fashion for yourself in general, Topshop’s personal shopping service is truly a dream come true. And it’s just a phone call away! To book an appointment with Anny either call 67334608 or send an email to ps@topshop.com.sg

Happy shopping! :)

Photo with Amy. Love her style! You can read about her on Topshop UK’s website http://bit.ly/fuo6x0 Say hi for me if you’re going to shop there!

Photo with Ivy at the opening. XOXO to Weibin for lending me her lovely red Chanel clutch to match my shoes!

放开

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:56:24 +0800

我曾经分析“放弃”和“放下”有什么不同。根据个人非正式概括性的解说，放弃是无奈、可惜的。放下则是从容、大方的。

那，放开呢？

大学时的宿舍好友E结婚了，老公是华裔美国人。婚后决定移居三藩市，离开新加坡的凌晨，我和另一位好友C一起去送机。因为还有点时间，我们和她父母一起去快餐店吃东西。边聊边吃，不知不觉，是时候启程了。

我们五人乘搭电动扶梯，再步行往离境厅。一路上，E与C和我继续闲聊，Aunty和Uncle走在前面，背对着我们。来到了关卡入口处，我们放慢脚步，停下，沉默了。E拿出相机，和我们合照后，也想和父母合照。Uncle轻拍Aunty的肩，Aunty没马上回头。她匆忙用双手擦拭脸部，一转身，双眼已哭红，双颊上的泪水在灯光下闪烁。E也忍不住开始流泪。（我认识E近10年，看过她落泪的次数屈指可数。）

拍完照，Aunty仓促地说了一句：“好啦好啦。你走吧。我不要再看下去了。”说完，掉头就走，留下欲言又止的E。

想起五月天《纯真》的歌词：“我想我应该轻轻放开你的手，我却没有力气这么做。”

因为曾经紧紧握住，所以需要更大的力量放开。放开，是无私的、是心酸的。放开，是因为爱。

未接听电话

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 13:17:24 +0800

“3 missed calls.”

都是妈妈打来的。不想回电，因为通话内容应该和昨天没什么两样…

妈：“哎哟，为什么不听电话？”

我：（不耐烦）“我在工作。”

妈：“那你会不会回来吃饭？我煮了晚餐。”

我：“不了。我赶着回去工作，拜拜。”

最近，因为工作时间又长又不固定，父母几乎每天都会打电话问我同样的问题：会不会回家吃饭。我明白，他们其实在找机会和鲜少见面的女儿聊聊天，却总是不知从何聊起。但每天接电话回答同一个问题，我也有点厌烦。特别是忙起来时，更不想浪费时间，好几次就索性不接爸妈的电话，也不回电。

所以，今天忙着工作的我也选择不回电。

下班回家，家人都已经睡了。摊在沙发上不经意地浏览着电视频道，偶然被一部911事件的纪录片吸引。内容主要是911罹难者临死前给家人打的电话，有留言机里的录音，也有对话的实况录音，还有和罹难者亲属的访问。

其中一名受访男子哽咽回述，他在接到哥哥从即将倒塌的世贸中心打来的电话时，因为正在午睡，不想被打扰，所以尽管听见手机铃声，还是拒绝接听。当他终于醒来，知道发生什么事时，哥哥已永远失去联络，只留下最后一段令人肝肠寸断的仓促遗言：“弟，打电话联络不上，这里的情况看来不是很好。只想告诉你和爸妈，我很爱很爱你们。”在亲哥哥最恐慌，最无助，最需要听见亲人一声安慰的时候不接电话，是男子一生最大的悔恨。现在，他把哥哥临走前的那段话储存在手机、MP3播放机、电脑、光碟、硬碟等多个储存器里，以便随时可以播来听，也以防珍贵的录音因仪器损坏而遗失。

我想起下午那三通未接听电话，想起每天、每个星期、每个月很多很多通未接听电话。突然觉得很幸运，因为在这么多这么多未接听电话里，没有一个是真正让我有太大遗憾的。而在电话另一端一直联络不上我的家人，会不会也象那男子的哥哥一样失望、伤心？

今后，我乐意天天和父母在电话上重复同样的对话。因为重点不在于所说的话语，而是字里行间应好好珍惜的爱和关怀。

Celebrating 20 plus years of youth

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:45:55 +0800

Birthdays. If birthdays were human, they would be the most time-conscious, trustworthy, predictable and brutally honest kind of people. They come on time each year without fail (as long as we are alive) on the very same day, and they remind us of how quickly time passes and how fast we are getting less young. But they can also be the sweetest, most fun, and full of love, like mine was this year. :)

The day started out with a surprise party - birthday song, yummy birthday cake, lovely people and gifts - at 12 midnight in the broadcast studio, about which i shall not divulge too many details, because it is supposed to be a shared secret among the fellowship of the surprise. ;)

It then continued on at Changi Village Hotel, an idyllic haven tucked away in the eastern tip of Singapore, and an ideal place to be if you wish to get away from the mad rush of city life. Check out my clean, bright and spacious suite!

The doorway.

The living room.

The big and comfy bedroom!

What is a getaway without the luxuries of life? Presenting: food, glorious food!

Best Asam Laksa in Singapore. Available on request at Changi Village Hotel.

Delicious fried kway tiao, Saltwater Cafe, Changi Village Hotel.

Best baked scallop with mentaiko I’ve ever had so far, Santaro, Amara Hotel.

Divine foie gras wrapped in barracuda, Santaro, Amara Hotel. (Sigh. Don’t quite support consuming foie gras, but guiltily relished this one anyway...)

The last two pictures were part of a many-course dinner and was enjoyed with Moet and Chandon in the best company of wonderful people.

There are many things in life i don’t understand, such as what have i done to deserve a truly happy birthday. I can only be extremely grateful, and try to return the love in every way possible.