#1 Interviewee: Mdm Judy Lim , 48 ,  Housewife

 

Kids Can Act: Name a few children dramas/shows that you have watched from the late 1970s to the present.

 

Judy Lim:

*Toa Payoh, My Hometown家在大芭窑 (1977)

A Mother's Love 亲心换我心 (1989)

Good Morning, Sir! 早安老师 (1989)

My Teacher, My Friend 小岛醒了 (1999)

The Vagrant 豹子胆 (2002)

*A Child's Hope 孩有明天 (2003)

*Rhapsody In Blue 蓝色仙人掌(2006)

*Reunion Dinner 团圆饭 (2009)

Love Thy Neighbour 四个门牌一个梦 (2011)

*It Takes Two 对对碰 (2012)

 

*Dramas with children acting in prominent roles

 

KCA: In the past, which child actors caught your attention? What about in the present?

 

JL: I cannot remember any names for child actors in the past. The child actors who had caught my attention in the more recent years are Shawn Lee (“I Not Stupid”), Fraser Tiong and Ang Ching Hui (“The Vagrant”), Boon Hui Lu (“Rhapsody in Blue”), Regene Lim (“Reunion Dinner”), Tan Jun Sheng (“Love Thy Neighbour”), and Oh Ling En (“It Takes Two”).

 

KCA: Why did you take note of this/these particular child actor?

 

JL: 

Shawn Lee – He looked cute in “I Not Stupid” and his sorrowful expression when he presented his exam paper to his mother in one of the scenes left a deep impression on me!

 

Fraser Tiong – He acted very well as an autistic boy in “The Vagrant”. His acting was very natural and it is not easy for a child to act as someone who has autism.

 

Ang Ching Hui – Her role was a tough young girl who often needed to defend herself and her brother (played by Fraser Tiong) in “The Vagrant”. She spoke very confidently in the show which brought out the toughness of the character she played as.

 

Boon Hui Lu – She acted very well in “Rhapsody in Blue”.

 

Regene Lim – She is one of the cutest child actors I’ve noticed! Despite having to speak many Chinese idioms while acting in “Reunion Dinner”, she managed to speak really fluently! It is also cute that in the show, she called her mother “母亲” instead of the usual “妈妈”.

 

Tan Jun Sheng – He was very chubby and cute! He also acted well in “Love Thy Neighbour”.

 

Oh Ling En – Her acting was natural in “It Takes Two” and her “bossy sister” role made her stand out!

 

KCA: Do you see a difference in prominence of child actors from the past as compared to the present?

 

JL: Yes. Children are given bigger roles in the present.

 

KCA: Are child actors doing better in the past or the present?

 

JL: I feel that generally there is not much difference. The child actors in the past were just as good as those in the present.

 

KCA: What roles do child actors commonly play in the past? Do you see a difference in the trend as compared to now?

 

JL: In the past, child actors acting as students was more common. Other than that, it was generally the same as the present.

 

KCA: In your opinion, what characteristics or features does a child need in order to be a good child actor?

 

JL: Having good and natural acting skills, confidence, being charismatic and cute.

 

KCA: Do child actors enhance the plot of the show?

 

JL: Yes. The child actors bring out another perspective, different from the adult actors. The way they talk differently from the adults is interesting and they’re also adorable to look at, which is an added bonus.

 

KCA: Are you for or against the idea of child actors gaining prominence in the media industry?

 

JL: I feel that it is actually more of up to the actors' parents to decide.

 

KCA: In your opinion, is it good to introduce the Young Talent Award ? Why or why not?

 

JL: It is good. It encourages them to improve in their acting and provides a sense of achievement and recognition for their hard work.