Make it or break it: Ian Fang takes on role as mute person in Eat Already 2

Photos: Melinda Woo
Video: Tan Shi Qi

Ian Fang spontaneously introduced himself during his interview with Toggle in a mix of Shanghainese (the actor’s mother tongue), Cantonese and Hokkien. Unfortunately, despite being more fluent than Elvin Ng, who starred in season one of Eat Already, in Hokkien, Ian will not be able to showcase his above-average dialect skills in the second season of said drama because he will be playing a mute Kopi Kia (colloquial term for coffee server), Ah Huat, in a neighbourhood coffee shop.

It seemed like the actor was seizing any chance he had to showcase his capabilities of speaking in dialect before he has none to speak on set when filming commences, as he often burst into strings of Cantonese during the interview.

“People think I have a problem speaking in dialect, but come on, I grew up in Singapore, obviously I picked up some Hokkien profanities in secondary school just like everyone else!” he joked.

Ian continued, “I managed to learn Cantonese when I was eight or nine years old because I was very addicted to watching Louis Koo in TVB productions then.”

“Are you guys O-K?” he said in Cantonese, while pointing to the camera.

When asked if director Royston Tan gave him any advice or ‘homework’, just like he did for Elvin, to do before filming commenced, Ian said, “Royston told me that with this role, it’s either make it or break it, because it’s not easy at all”.

Due to the cultural representation and Singaporeans' familiarity with a Kopi Kia, it might be of difficulty for Ian, a Shanghainese, to fully grasp the actions of a Kopi Kia, much less a mute one.

“I really feel the pressure because it’s my first time taking on such a role, but I will try my best to portray the character as naturally as possible,” the 26-year-old added.

In preparation for this role, Ian also picked up basic sign language online and took the effort to monitor his facial expressions because to his understanding, mute individuals are more expressive with their facial expressions because they are unable to speak.

Despite the impending challenges of the role, Ian was certain that he would gain experience and enjoy the process of filming the drama.

“Royston is a movie director who specialises in films with dialects, I believe that I will do well with his guidance,” Ian mused.

Eat Already 2 will also see a love triangle between Ian, Getai star Bao En and Zhang Yao Dong.

(Continued on next page: Hong Hui Fang’s son joins showbiz?)