A Starry Night 星光依旧灿烂 goes international and multiplatform in Singapore and China

Comi​ng to a train or a train station near you, on cable television, the internet, bus shelter displays, outdoor digital screens and through mobile downloads is the first subway drama – A Starry Night 星光依旧灿烂 – which will broadcast simultaneously across nine cities in Singapore and China (Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tianjin) from 27 July to 2 October 2009. 

Reaching out to audiences across an array of media platforms, the Mandarin 50-parter is a collaboration between the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), Singapore media company Ufinity, and Chinese com​​pany Prime Time Entertainment. The series is supported by media platform owners SMRT Media, StarHub, The Straits Times RazorTV and At-Life Pte Ltd in Singapore; and Digital Media Group (DMG), Youku.com and Sina.com in China; and produced by Singapore's Threesixzero Productions. 

Singapore commuters will be able to enjoy the drama on more than 250 television displays in the train stations along the North-South​​, East-West and Circle lines. Following each daily broadcast of the two-and-a-half minute episodes in the train stations, the drama will be a​vailable on the internet (www.razortv.com.sg); cable TV (E City, StarHub Channel 56), mobile (StarHub Mobile Gee! portal), and 300 At-Life outdoor digital screens (located in QB House, McDonald's, Delifrance Bistros and elevators in prime Central Business District buildings). In addition, My Paper will carry daily episodic synopsis for audiences to keep abreast of the drama's developments. ​

In China, the drama will be screened on television screens within the trains, train stations and bus shelter displays managed by DMG Media Group. As with Singapore, the daily episodes will be availa​ble on Youku.com, China's top, fastest growing website; and Sina.com, the largest Chinese-language infotainment web portal. 

Together, the series will reach out to commuters on more than 1.4 million daily passenger trips in Singapore and 15 million commuters in China. The outdoor digital screens will reach out to 13.4 million viewers across Singapore while online portals will also reach out to at least 1.7 million viewers in Singapore and 9.8 million viewers in China. 

The drama tells of a love story between a Singapore singer (Singapore Project Superstar alumna Kelly Poon 潘嘉丽), and a Shanghai youth (Taiwanese actor Robert Fan 范植伟) who pursues his studies and music aspirations in Singapore. Through the former, the Singaporean sees her hometown with a fresh pair of eyes. Filmed mainly in Singapore, the series presents the best of Singapore’s picturesque locations and heritage as well as an international crew including director Lisa Chen 陈秀玉 (Taiwan), and casts Mei Xin 美心 (Singapore), Nathan Lee 李承铉 (Korea), Ivan Huang黄阅 (China), Lawrence Wong王冠逸 (Singapore), Johnny Jiang 姜育恆 (Taiwan) and Sky Wu 伍思凯 (Taiwan). The series’ soundtrack also features Singapore singers and songwriters. Plans are also in place to expand the drama into a feature film for theatrical release in late 2009. 

Said Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer, MDA: "A Starry Night is a significant milestone as Singapore's first subway drama which will also be repurposed for Singapore and Chinese audiences to enjoy on multiple media platforms. Besides increasing the avenues for Singapore-made content to be enjoyed, the series also showcases our many iconic locations and talents from production to music composition. Boosting this multiplatform project is the involvement of regional talents from China, Korea and Taiwan which may herald the way of things to come in the future." 

Added Ms Teo Chew Hoon, Managing Director​, SMRT Investments Pte Ltd: "SMRT Media is proud to launch the subway drama series A Starry Night on our platforms. With more than 1.4 million passenger trips daily, our network of 58 train stations is a good platform to reach out to the masses. We are delighted our commuters will be the first to catch the subway drama in Singapore, as SMRT's daily broadcast is an episode ahead of other channels. Through the wide range of media platforms on our extensive network, we will continue to enhance the travelling experience of commuters on the move." 

Said Mr Felix Soh, Digital Media Editor, Singapore Press Holdings: "Razor is proud to be part of this ground-breaking and innovative project. As the online portal, we provide an additional platform to enjoy the series. It promises to be a very successful endeavour. I myself watched the first few episodes of A Starry Night and I’m already addicted to it!" 

Said Mr Chan Kin Hung, Head of Products and Solutions, StarHub: "We are excited to partner MDA and Ufinity to experiment with the​​​ innovative 'bite-sized' drama serial A Starry Night, that is specially tailored to entertain busy individuals with each episode created to last only two-and-a-half minutes. We know that our customers lead active lifestyles and by offering this drama serial on our mobile and cable TV platforms, we make the content readily accessible to busy individuals. They can view the content at their convenience either on the mobile phone anywhere, anytime or catch several episodes at one go in the comfort of their home via cable TV." 

Said Mr Srikanth Ramachandran, Managing Director, At-Life Pte Ltd: "We are pleased to partner MDA and Ufinity in promoting the drama A Starry Night. As a first-of-its-kind in Singapore, A Starry Nightprovided us an opportunity to showcase our capabilities in Interactive Digital Outdoor Media. Most importantly, it has also provided advertisers unique opportunity to wrap their messages around the content in a meaningful and measurable manner."​​​ 

Please see:
Annex A for broadcast information, synopsis, production details and stills.

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Annex A: Broadcast information, Synopsis, Production Details and Stills 

1. BROADCAS​​​T​​ INFORMATION

Broadcast Cities

Singapore (新加坡), Beijing (北京), Chongqing (重庆), Guangzhou (广州), Hong Kong (香港), Nanjing (南京), Shanghai (上海), Sh​enzhen (深圳) and Tianjin (天津). ​​​​​

Singapore​

China

2. SYNO​PSIS内容大纲​​​

Brian Li, a boy from Shanghai who grew up in poverty, obtained the opportunity to study in Singapore. As the only child in a single-parent household, Brian is torn between his sense of family responsibility and this once-in-a-life-time opportunity to study abroad. His mother makes the decision for him by pawning off a family ancestral jade. As Brian’s flight pulls into Changi Airport, he is awed by the glittering backdrop of Singapore. He has come to a new land. At school, Brian always reminds himself of his mother’s sacrifice. While others are asleep, he is studying. In order to support his mother back home, Brian takes on a job.

Through a chance encounter, he helps a beautiful stranger, Cailing Zhong, and they become friends. Brian has no idea that his new friend is actually Singapore’s superstar. With Brian’s down-to-earth nature, Cailing escapes from the pressures of being a celebrity and through him, she sees Singapore through a set of fresh eyes. As Cailing shows him around Singapore, she discovers that Brian has a great voice as well. Encouraged by Cailing, Brian enters Singapore’s biggest singing competition. He surprisingly advances through the singing competition but falls behind in his schoolwork which puts his scholarship in jeopardy. To make matters worse, he receives news that his mother is terribly sick. With his life crumbling on all fronts, Brian is in despair. Will he be able to channel all his emotions for the competitions decisive final event? Can he focus on the most important performance of his life?

李博文出身并不富裕，父早亡，母是普通工人，把所有心血放在他身上，自小在贫穷的家庭长大，博文对知识的求知欲很强，他比任何人都想念书，所以他的成绩非常好。尤其对音乐非常热衷，在学校里他弹​吉他的手法，令他夺得不少奖状。博文对外面的世界非常向往，可是由于家境的关系，令他几乎打消了这个念头，学校的老师很欣赏博文，主动跟博文的母亲谈，由于关系到儿子的未来，母亲把家里唯一的祖传玉牌拿去典当，并跟学校的老师说不要告诉博文，就当是学校给博文的奖学金。 

初到新加坡，对这个拥有亚洲四小龙之一美誉的漂亮国家，博文早有所闻，只是当他踏足这片土地时，还是令他眼界大开。这里有着新旧交接的文化，历史与新颖的建筑物，所有的人都是这样地热情; 对于一个初到贵境的穷学生来说，没有甚么可以比热情的笑容更能打动他的心。不过由于他一切的生活费还是得自己打工来维持在新加坡的开销,所以白天他在新加坡管理学院上课，晚上在一间名叫「星尘」的餐厅工作。 

某夜，生命中本来是不会相遇的人，却在这里碰上了。趁经理人SKY不注意时偷偷外出的采灵，不料却被狗仔队发现，跟踪着她。采灵边跑边逃，跑入餐厅内这时博文在餐厅内已经开始表演。却在这里，她听到博文的歌声，是那样地有感情，在歌曲的中段，博文更拿出吉他来弹唱，全场掌声不绝。两个人的相遇，可以说是一个传奇，一个红歌星，竟也有自己喜欢的偶像不奇，奇怪是博文还是个未出道的新人，这便是不同的地方。来自中国的博文原本不知道采灵的身分，在没有拘束的畅谈成为采灵难得的好朋友。这片刻的浪漫，是采灵现在最奢求渴望的生活，因为现实生活中的她完全没有私人空间，这次的意外让她充满了美丽回忆。 

某日，采灵把一份表格交给博文，原来是一个电台举办的歌唱比赛，采灵把所有的相关资料准备齐全给博文希望他能够参加比赛，博文犹豫不已。博文知道采灵是天后级的巨星，两个不同世界的人，怎可以连在一起而在经理人公司的压力下，博文能不能再见采灵？同时，博文也收到了老家的来电，得知母亲病重。老师告诉博文，关于他妈妈的事，为了他而把祖传的玉也卖了，更日夜辛苦地工作，希望把玉赎回来，终于捱坏了身体，博文觉得对母亲有份无形的歉疚。最终博文能够全神贯注的参加比赛吗？他会离开采灵回到上海吗？​
​ 

3. Cast ​演员​

​​

潘嘉​麗​— Kelly Po​on

Kelly Poon is a Singapore singer who emerge​d from one of the Chinese singing competition held in Singapore, Proje​​ct Super Star. Her debut album "Love Me Kelly" (2006) broke sales records in Singapore, emerging at the top. She is currently based in Taiwan with "In the Heart of the World" being her 2nd album released in Singapore and her debut album in Taiwan. Her third album is "Smiling Kelly", released on 22 October 2008 in Taiwan.

潘嘉丽，由新加坡<<绝对Superstar>>选秀比赛出身，2006年发行个人首张专辑 “LOVE ME KELLY” 在新加坡国内创下当年销售冠军的好成绩，并且被各界视为新加坡继孙燕姿及林俊杰之后，最有希望在华人地区受到共同认定，大放异彩的新。 

范植偉 Robert Fan ​

​​美心 ​Mei Xin

A Singapore sensation, Mei Xin's exceptional charm has taken her to new heights not only on home ground but even in Taiwan and now China. Fresh-faced, pixie-like eyes and with her signature bright, summery smile, the endearing 22-year-old has become the darling of the media scene. The part-time model was discovered after being crowned a beauty queen at a p​ageant in August 2006. Her X-factor attracted Ms Nelly Poa, a veteran in the Chinese entertainment industry who runs her own creative marketing and promotion services company, and there'​​s has been no looking back since.

Mei Xin starred in "Dear, Dear Son-In-Law", a prime time 20-epsidode drama which aired in October 2007. She also released her debut EP in late 2007.

美心是新加坡著名媒体公司Popstar Media力捧的艺人。美心从小就热爱唱歌，当其他小孩在玩扮家家酒的游戏时，美心却和姐姐玩起“二人歌唱比赛”，由妈妈当评判，结果成绩往往是歌声甜美的美心胜出。 虽然获得妈妈的肯定，但想到要真正站在舞台上唱歌时，美心却变得十分怯场。因 此，她一直提不起勇气参加歌唱比赛，也无法实现在舞台上唱歌给万千歌迷听的梦想。她只能以另一种不开口的方式――模特儿，继续活跃于舞台。 然而，天生丽质的她，在2006年一项选美中发出耀眼光芒，荣获冠军。她的甜美外型和独特气质，也马上被新加坡著名媒体公司Popstar Media相中，成为公司的力捧新星。 

李承铉 Nathan 

A singer and actor from China, Ivan Huang joined the music industry after participating in a well-known Chinese entertainment program "Star Factory" in 2002.

​

黄阅，来自中国的歌手。
2002年参加中国知名娱乐节目《造星工厂》，从此步入歌坛。
2004年6月18日，发行第一张专集，《凡间+魔戒+折子戏》
2005年，发行EP《奥运中国》
2006年6月18日，发行第二张专辑，《我们都是害怕寂寞的人》，并参与词曲创作。同时加入环球唱片。
2007年发行EP《我们的祖国是花园》
2007年底，参加中港台三地合作的电影《纽扣人》拍摄，与两届金马影帝吴镇宇及金马奖最佳男配角台湾著名演员戴立忍、台湾当红女星关颖合作，担任男二号。
2008年参加北京奥运会闭幕式，与孙燕姿、成龙、周华健、刘德华等国际级艺人合唱。
2009年，凭着实力的唱功和健硕俊美的外型，黄阅正式加入华纳唱片，成为全经纪约艺人。

4. DIRE​​​CTOR 导演

​​

陈秀玉Lisa Chen

This 45-year-old director claims to be the most senior Newcomer in the movie industry. Before entering the circle, she had over 10 years of working experience in the advertising industry. In 1999, s​he decided to turn Director and took up study of Directing Film, Video & Broadcasting at New York University, USA. In 2000, she served as Art Director in Lee Khan's Golden Bell drama "Tears of Lover", which was later nominated for the Golden Bell Award Best Art Director in 2001. She directed her first film "Voice of Waves" in 2002 which later was nominated in 2003 for Golden Bell Award, Best Actress, Best Camera and Best Editing .This is the first time in the award history that a short film was nominated for such key awards and with that, hailed Lisa as the steadiest newcomer in the industry. 

现年四十五岁的陈秀玉戏称自己是「电影圈中最老的新人」，在投入电影圈之前任职于广告界十余年，由李岗引领陈秀玉进入电影圈，开始了她和国内电影圈的第一次接触，后来因缘际会担任易智言执导【蓝色大门】一片的副导工作，尋角慧眼在台北西門町發掘的桂綸鎂,也因為這部電影製作让她从头到尾完整的了解电影制作的流程。【那年夏天的浪声】是陈秀玉第一部执导的影片,【那年夏天的浪声】就入围金马奖最佳短片、最佳女主角，这是电影史上第一次有短片获选入围金马奖重要奖项，亮眼的表现让陈秀玉被称为台湾电影圈中最沈稳的新秀。 

1985 年藝專美工科畢業，即進入漢廣製作有限公司，任職製片部一職，學習前期籌備拍攝工作到後期剪接、錄音、電檢… 等 16mm 與 35mm 製作流程。其中開始接觸到香港製作人員，學習並了解到不同層面的專業知識。製作過的商品有佳美香皂─崔苔菁篇， 歐斯麥餅干─張小燕篇等 … 

1987 年在輝格製作有限公司，任職執行美術及監製助理之工作，期間除了香港製作人員之外，作業流程都是與廣告代理接觸。製作的商品都較為國際性商品。 

1989 年在福茂製作有限公司，擔任監製一職，有機會參與廣告公司接案、議價、開立影片對外之估價，充實自己在工作上的領域，並有機會出國拍攝製作。 

1994 年在華威葛瑞廣告公司，擔任製片一職學習了解到整個的流程。從商品定位、行銷策略、發包執行、創意品質與預算的掌握。在客戶、廣告公司、製作公司之間了解廣告較完整性的部份。 

1999 年轉導演，並到紐約 NYU 學校，學習短期導演課程。 

2000 年參與李崗導演之公視金鐘劇“情人的眼淚”美術。 

2001 年參與易智言導演之“藍色大門”副導。 “情人的眼淚”入圍金鐘獎最佳美術指導。 

2002 年編導公視人生劇展“那年夏天的浪聲 ” 16mm 電視電影單元劇。 
“ 那年夏天的浪聲 ” 入圍 2002 年金馬獎最佳短片。 
“ 秋天的藍調 '' 獲選電影短片輔導金。 

2003 年“ 那年夏天的浪聲 ”入圍金鐘獎最佳女配角，最佳攝影，最佳剪接提名。 

2004 年執導人間衛視人間劇場金鐘劇“ 好想跟你說 ” " 秋天的藍調" 入圍 2004 年金馬獎最佳女主角。 " 秋天的藍調" 獲得 2004 年金穗獎最佳劇情片。 

2005 年“ 那年夏天的浪聲 ”獲得日本幕張亞洲海洋祭影展評審團特別獎。 

2006 年執導鄧雨賢 ~ 四月望雨紀錄片。​

5. PRODUCTION STILLS 

For high-resolution files of these photographs, please contact Tessa Monteiro at tel: 9726 3152 or email: tessa_mae_monteiro@imda.gov.sg.
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Robert Fan潘嘉丽​​(right) 

​​​​

Robert Fan范植伟​

 

Nathan Lee 李承铉(left) and Kelly Poon潘嘉丽 (right)​

 

Ivan Huang黄阅 (left) and Mei Xin 美心 (right)​