AsiaOne speaks to Zoe Tay, Sheila Sim and Priscelia Chan at the Iskandar Malaysia Studios where they filmed the upcoming drama Emerald Hill. They talk about the special connection the cast members have while Zoe also recounts filming at the now defunct Tuas TV World, Priscelia on playing a majie and Sheila on juggling motherhood and filming.xx
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00:00So I think this is a very different drama that we are doing.
00:04Oh, do you see that vintage car that just drove by?
00:07Isn't that cool? Oh my god.
00:09Yes, this is Ping Jie talking.
00:11Welcome to 1947.
00:15Hi Asia1, I'm Priscilla Chan and I'm currently acting as Ping Jie in Emerald Hill.
00:34Ping Jie, she's the head of all the ma jies and she's the ma jie of the matriarch.
00:43So that's my job, yay.
00:45Hi Asia1, I'm Zeng Weiyu.
00:49Today, I'm filming at the set of The Little Mermaid's Emerald Hill.
00:56It's a tense scene involving a lot of people and a lot of things.
01:02Hi Asia1, I'm Sheila.
01:05I'm on the set of Emerald Hill right now and my character's name is Zhang Yingyang.
01:10Zhang Yingyang is a very non-traditional nyonya of her time.
01:15She believes in women empowerment.
01:17She's a philanthropist.
01:19She is very strong-willed and a very determined and passionate woman.
01:27So much like me.
01:35Okay, actually the one of the biggest difference between period drama and
01:38modern drama is the pacing.
01:40And the way you deliver your lines and your body language.
01:43So the way you manage those characters and emotion and for people of the modern to view
01:50it in the, to view a period drama, actually that's one of the challenge that I have to
01:55overcome myself.
02:40Wow, I really, really enjoyed my time with the cast.
02:43Not just the cast, actually with the director and the producer as well.
02:47We had so much good time together and because we went out to Malacca to film.
02:53In fact, when the boys, they were going up to Malacca to film, the girls were already
03:00planning like, hey, you know, let's make a trip there and visit and like have fun together.
03:04But because we were in Malacca, we went to Malacca to film.
03:07But because of coordination and that, it didn't happen.
03:12But then when Don and I were in Malacca for filming, then I asked Ah Jie, hey, come la,
03:17you know, like, let's go and have fun.
03:18And then she said, okay.
03:19And so then Alvin and Romeo and Jojo, like the rest of the Li Zhen Jie, you know, they
03:27all also went out to visit us.
03:29And that was such a fun trip.
03:37Actually, every period drama is always memorable because for each drama, the era is different.
04:08So for me, this is another special era, which was my first attempt, I must say.
04:14Yeah, because I've done the 1930s, I've done the 60s, I've done the late 50s.
04:20So I think this era, the 1947 to the 65 is quite unique.
04:27I feel very happy to be away for filming because I am able to fully focus and not have to worry
04:38about them, you know, being upset that I'm not home and things like that.
04:42So I mean, I've learned to trust.
04:44I've learned to trust the rest of my village.
04:46My husband has to step up and my mom has been helping me a lot, taking care of the children,
04:52my helper as well.
04:53So I mean, I have a good team.
04:54I feel like I'm grateful to have that me time.
04:57I'm grateful to have the time fully focusing on my craft.
05:01And it's been pretty amazing.
05:03Yeah, I am happy to do it all over again.
05:11The point about a lot of people may think that Ma Jie, what's the fit with a Peranakan family?
05:16But later on, as I was progressing and completing to the end of the show, I realised that it's
05:21quite magical because they may seem quiet, but actually their presence there plays so
05:26much importance, not only to the family, to the stability of it, or even helping their
05:32mistresses to say certain things that they can't say because it's all out of love and
05:38respect.
05:39So I think there's a lot of subtle moments, which when I was filming, I was quite surprised.
05:45I'm like, oh wow, actually Ma Jie's job is not what you think it is.
05:48There's so much more to, so much depth to it also.
05:51Even though it's so quiet, I must say it's so quiet.
05:54But our challenge is, yes, let me repeat, our challenge is that you can still have to
06:00feel the presence, even though she's so quiet.
06:21Thank you Asia One, and do support Emerald Hill in 2025.
06:51Thank you Asia One.
06:59That was a long interview.
07:00I hope you enjoyed it as I did.
07:01And remember to catch Emerald Hill when it's out.