How can Singaporean TV shows be as compelling as Korean drama series?

Question

Answers staff note: This is the real Maggie from Power 98! To take part in the Y!ureka contest for a chance to win Dopod phones, register at http://yahoo.com.sg/answers

Answer 1

The Top 5 Ways for Local TV Shows to develop the K-Factor

1. More complicated love relationship between the main lead characters. (Think a love affair between two biologically unrelated siblings.) The storyline of Singaporean shows normally revolve around triangle love, extra marital affairs, and the like. However, looking at the typical plot of Korean romance drama, the essence lies in its ability to conjure such complicated love relationships obstructed by their own social identities to create the anxiety and attention among the viewers.
Simple i-will-know-what-is-going-to -happen-without-watching plots are no longer enough to satisfy the ever changing taste and preferences of the dynamic viewers.

2. Make full use of the beautiful tourist attractions in Singapore, or better still develop more places as die-die-must-go tourist attractions with the power of the show. Sentosa, Mount Faber, or Esplanade can be potential filming spots for crucial scenes, or highlights of the show.

3. Match the aesthetically pleasing environment with equally pleasurable eye-candies. Although Singaporeans love to complain about the lack of on-screen hunks and babes as compared to those from Korea. Think carefully. Li Nan Xing, Edmund Chen may be a bore already but do you recall the last time you were drooling over cutie-pie Derrick from Project Superstar? Or the suave and charming Li Wei Lian who has filmed in Taiwanese drama Tian Guo De Jia Yi? They are our very own Singaporeans and we should be proud of them!

4. Complement the heart-wrenching storyline with melodies and songs that will tug at the viewers' heart. Music plays an important part in affecting the emotion of viewers, as such able to 'manipulate' their tears particularly in the tear-jerking scenes.

5. Discover a only-in-Singapore show. Judging at the popularity of Da Chang Jing in Singapore, it is undeniable that part of the reason why SIngaporeans are drawn to the show is the marvellous showcase of various royal delicacies. Singapore being a well-known food paradise, can similarly come out with drama shows displaying an array of our very popular dishes with a rich heritage such as the Chicken Rice, Hokkien Mee, Satay, etc. The producer may be interested to have Zoe Tay or Fann Wong acting as the local version of 'Chang Jing'.

Answer 2

Haven't really watched a complete local drama. But I was compelled to watch Winter Sonata when I stumbled upon it late at night.

The attraction first was the actresses. They were very attractive and pretty. I just watched the entire episode for the actresses. Nothing to do with what the story was about. The way they spoke also had an appeal - soft and luring (compare this with local actresses, their accent in both english and chinese are quite rough, unpolished). What they wore also played a part in their overall appeal - fashionable without being over the top. Don't get me wrong, local actresses are pretty but the overall presentation and demeanour of the Korean actresses are fair more appealing.

Second, the Korean shows seems to take more time in developing the character more than the plot itself. In an episode of Winter Sonata, next-to-nothing may have happened but you know much more about the main characters and you end up feeling for them. Locally, you don't know much of the characters at all, only know whether they good or bad.

The plot or storyline is still important though. I find the local shows a bit far-fetched with overacting or lack of it, that it becomes unbelievable.

Why not try and get Korean writers, directors and producers to make a local drama series? They will have a different perspective and idea so even with a same storyline the drama may take on a different theme altogether.

Answer 3

2 words, good actors or rather believable actors.

No need for fantastic scripts, great directors or exotic settings, just good actors that can believe or rather live out their characters and portray them in the most realistic and believable manner.

Our actors need alot of work, not that they are not working hard but they need to do more if they are to be believable. They act like they are acting when the whole point of acting is to make the audience believe that you are not acting and that it is for real. When you are a hero, be one! When you are a suffering girlfriend, suffer! The older generation ala Huang Wenyong and gang got it right to some extent. It may be due to the fact that they are trained. The newer generations simply can't portray their roles convincingly. Instead many's the time when they act like they are acting and it spoils the show because all realism goes out the window. It is the actor's part to be convincing in their acting roles but sadly nowadays it seems to be their part to be convincing in their idol roles.

Compelling shows are shows that the audience can believe in, want to believe in and maybe hope that they can be like the actors in their characters and show the same qualities should they be in the character's shoes. There are shows that have mediocre plots, direction and settings but they are relished by audiences because the actors in them are so believable that they carry the whole show through.

On another note, though acting is important, a good or compelling show is like a good story. How do you want to tell it? For example Jewel in the Palace. It has a central plot that is sufficently grand to give an epic feel. There are a few subplots woven in to give ample character development and some twists and turns and difficult situations with witty resolutions to keep the audience guessing. There is also suitable settings and filming locales to generate realism and above all, superb acting by the actors. They lived their roles. If one had seen the korean variety show/expose, the actors were so into their roles that they actually shed tears when they were rehersing lines in a room prior to the actual filming! On the other hand, it could have all gone sour had the actors been lacklustre or unbelieving in their delivery. So other elements notwithstanding, good actors are the best way that Singaporean dramas can be as good and compelling as any there is out there.

Cheers!

Answer 4

First let's not be so hard on Singapore TV shows, there were some great hits over the years:

Holland V, Unbeatables, Happiness & Prosperity(Fu Man Ren Jian), Ji Gong, Adaptations of other various JinYong novels, etc.


Singapore TV has enver been centred on romance but rather, more on comedy and family.
So for family programmes or comedies, singapore local sitcoms and such are just as good to watch as korean drams.

Korean dramas trump Singapore shows because:

1. Better Script:
- Less predictable, more twists
- Fully centered on romance without attempting to add comedy or anything else.
- More heartbreaking, korean dramas aren't afraid to let their viewers cry. Singapore shows are far too "happily ever after" from the start.
- More original ideas.

2. Language
- There's something about the korean language that's romantic
- Singlish just kills romance.......

3. Eye candy
- Every girl i know loves to gush over the various korean actors and actresses and compare them and such. Singapore actors are either too "good boy/nice guy" looking or just don't have the enigma that is the korean actors

4. The fact that most of them are only available via cable or DVD/VCD also helps because it piques interest and makes people want to buy and watch.


Bottomline:
Singapore TV can be compelling....just stick to comedy and family values, work on the script, get in a mix of old favourites and new actors/actresses,

Answer 5

plots from Singaporean shows are generally pretty stale if not a copy from either a Hong Kong / Jap or Korean show. Take the Hong Kong dramas as an example. Why are they still able to appeal to so many after all these years? Simply because the plots they come with are so refreshing! We used to see dramas on the lifes of policemen which was pretty exciting. But even too much of that would become stale (though it does still hold a certain kind of appeal!) so what happens next? They come up with a drama on the lifes of lawyers and then doctors and it was an instant sucess! And it did not stop at that either. They came up with dramas on the lifes of firemen, nurses and even rescue teams. Actually it is a very simple theme but it appeals as all of which somehow have some linakge to our daily lifes as these are people whom we do see at one time or other and we can relate to. And it also gives some insight to what the profession is all about. And this is but just one example of the many good plots that the Hong Kongers have came up with. In a nutshell, to make our shows as compelling, TCS just has to come up better and unique plots

Answer 6

akes them compelling is their natural acting skills, their much interesting stories that sometime last for months. As for Singapore TV shows, even before people start enjoying the story, the stories coming to an end. The stories are too short and it always encompasses around love, career and disputes in families. Also, Singaporean TV shows are usually filmed in the comfort of a home or shopping centre or other build up areas while Korean drama series have changing backgrounds that gives variety to the shows.

Answer 7

Seriously, it has got to do with the story and the actors. Just look at it this way, why are people rushing home to watch "Da Chang Jin"? I am not saying that Singaporean TV shows are not up to standard, but probably they have to improve upon the script and the cast. For example, people rush home to watch the last episode of the Holland V show, the one with "Mo Wan Wan". I feel that everything is attributed to the cast and the story line - even if the ending wasn't that good. But at least people rush home to catch it.

I seldom watch Singaporean TV shows as I prefer catching channel 55 on the SCV. This is a habit that I have cultivated since young. Somehow, overseas drama series, even HK/TW idols series are more appealing that what I see on Channel 8 or Channel 5. I realised, somehow, Singaporean TV shows, more often than not, reproduce a show similar to the foreign shows. And when the cast is not up to standard, i.e. the look, the feel of the cast doesn't leave a very deep inpression upon me, I will not bother to watch it unless I really have nothing better to do.

Hence, the 2 things that Singaporean TV shows can look into are:

1. Script (try to be original...!)
2. Cast (try to get a good cast as it will help to enhance your story line. Even if the script is not that fantasic but the cast is able to play their role well, audience will still want to watch it!)

Answer 8

Top 5 ways:

(1) Better acting! All Korean actors can at least cry at will, laugh like they are really happy (thus not looking retarded) and can act confused without looking crazy. (As seen in a recent 9 pm Channel 8 Drama.)

(2) More realistic! Nope, you won't ever see policemen/teachers/doctors/nurses/any gov't jobs looking unrealistically exciting and full of intriguing yet "everyday" events in a Korean drama. That's right, they know how to limit themselves! S'pore TV, hmmm, limitless!

(3) Better Plots! In korean dramas, a romantic drama stays romantic. In S'pore, a "romantic" drama becomes a murder plot filled with eerie scenes only for the main actor to save the main actress and they fall in love. Need I say more?

(4) More yummy actors/actresses. It's not that Singaporean actors/actress are not good looking, it's the "costume" that they wear and the "hairdo" that they have. Maybe they should buy over the Korean Company's' wardrobe and borrow a few of their hair and make-up stylist.

(5) Oh ya and ORIGINAL scripts, did I mention that? Not repeats with different casts. We don't need extra choices on which artistes we like for the SAME plot.

I think I will have to wait till Singapore enters the Quarter Finals in the World Cup before Singapore TV shows can be as compelling as Korean Drama series. That's right, I have an extremely lack of faith in either.

Answer 9

Firstly. The biggest problem lies with the storyline. The stories that we see on Singapore television usually the same few. Dramas like Rhapsody In Blue is a rare sight. Although there are indeed some really fine and unforgettable good dramas produced by local television,but most of them are still disappointments. The reason why Korean dramas are so popular and compelling is mainly because of the "sad,bitter" x-Factor that the Korean actors and actresses have inside them which are cut out to act in Korean typical drama series.Plus the director of each drama captured the trivial matters very detailedly. And. The people,the audience like such dramas. So how can they not be popular and compelling. Singapore television can emulate Korea,making such compelling and tragedy dramas. Just have a good script which portrays the detailed character and details of the whole drama and choose the suitable actors and actresses like Jeanette Ow and Liu Zhi Xun,who touched me with her performance in Rhapsody In Blue,all should go quite well. However,creating a style of our own is still better than emulating. :)

Answer 10

The core of any show is basically the plot. And plots from Singaporean shows are generally pretty stale if not a copy from either a Hong Kong / Jap or Korean show. Take the Hong Kong dramas as an example. Why are they still able to appeal to so many after all these years? Simply because the plots they come with are so refreshing! We used to see dramas on the lifes of policemen which was pretty exciting. But even too much of that would become stale (though it does still hold a certain kind of appeal!) so what happens next? They come up with a drama on the lifes of lawyers and then doctors and it was an instant sucess! And it did not stop at that either. They came up with dramas on the lifes of firemen, nurses and even rescue teams. Actually it is a very simple theme but it appeals as all of which somehow have some linakge to our daily lifes as these are people whom we do see at one time or other and we can relate to. And it also gives some insight to what the profession is all about. And this is but just one example of the many good plots that the Hong Kongers have came up with. In a nutshell, to make our shows as compelling, TCS just has to come up better and unique plots. No copies please! Bascially having a good plot is like having the heart to the show! Give it your best shot TCS!

Answer 11

Firstly, we cannot be compared to Korea due to make up of the country, the cultural differences and so on.
Korea, like Japan is almost a homogeneous country, ie..almost the whole population is Korean.
Singapore, on the other hand, is a multi racial, multi cultural society, with Chinese, Malays and Indians making up majority of the population.

So to only way we can be as compelling as the Korean drama series, if if we add up all the cultural elements of our country and come up with some drama series, that have to take into considerations of all the different races, and their hopes and dreams. Then the problem will be the language , we can make the series in English, but it will turn out too artificial, as English is not our native language.Or we could have a series that have all the languages and dialects thrown in, something similar to what Jack Neo has done in his films. But I do not think the authorities will want this sort of publicity for the country. We want to be known as a organised, clean and well behaved society. We cannot be portrayed as unorganised, messy, or out of sorts.