Realiti - Episode 2 notes

This episode, I wrote. Or, at least, my name is on the writing credits. To be honest, every episode written goes under Ping's scrutinous eye and he usually ends up re-writing various scenes. Even then, there are changes between the final draft and what goes on screen. On the whole I am fairly happy with the episode, and I think it's pretty okay. Not the best I can do, and not the best in the series, but okay-lah.

Of course, spoilers abound, so take care if you haven't seen the show yet. (This episode on YouTube: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

• You can take a look at the latest version of the script of episode 2 that I happen to have. This is the final draft script, but probably not the shooting script. If you are keen enough to compare, you'll see plenty of changes between this draft and the final version that appears on the screen. Also, the script has a lot of dual-language dialogue. This is partly because the series was going to be bilingual and we weren't always sure which character would speak in which language, and also because we didn't want to lose things in translation.


• One reason that I think this episode could be better is because it gets its themes mixed up. What is the story about? Originally, it was about being yourself versus being what other people want you to be. However, over time, we put in Melody's story and Burn's story changed (I think), and that theme wasn't reinforced with those two stories. If I had to do it all over again, I would tweak the theme slightly to "It's good to be who you are, but only if you recognise your strengths and weaknesses". But say it in a snappier way, of course.


• The original theme is very clear in the storyline about singing the song in your style and in Amir's storyline where he tries to sing in English to impress the judges. To put it all in perspective, the kids learn how important putting a good image is when they talk to Wahida. One story says it's good to broaden your horizons, and the counter-theme is "don't be who you're not". The idea for this came from the fact that budding stars are always encouraged to potray an image, but I don't think everyone really understands what that's all about. Some think it's about looking pretty and palatable, but I think if you don't at least partially portray yourself, it'll bite you in the end. Have a clear, suitable image can also help you find a focus for yourself. In this story, Mac tells the kids that they should explore other styles to improve themselves, and the kids don't get that at first.


• On hindsight, the first singer who tries out on Pop TV should have sung the verse well and only then massacred the chorus. Or been funnier.


• Juliana pretty much ad-libs all her dialogue as the Pop TV host. Buat susah je ku tulis dialogue. Next time, don't want to write any dialogue for her anymore-lah. Okaylah, Reefa adlibs his stuff a lot too, and Ashraf quite a lot too. And, to be fair, they make it better most of the time. Most.


• The theme song in the credits is Scarecrow Adams by Disagree. And a very beautiful-looking credit sequence it is too. Really makes you want to watch the show, I think. You can also buy the song from musiccanteen.com.

Photos courtesy of Popiah Pictures and Chelsia Ng.

• Woohoo! My name (finally) is not obscured by subtitles. If this is the only thing that I liked in this episode, then it's worth it.


• I think I considered expanding the whole Nickson-is-not-manly-enough storyline in this episode, but too many stories as it is, so we ditched the idea early on.


• Lydia really did not like her dialogue between Dayang and Amir where Amir casually says out loud he will marry her next year. "Eh... geli," she said.


• That conversation between four of them at dinner - very casual, very jokey. I had written one or two more scenes like that throughout the series, but they were either cut or I never really just tried to push them. Shame, it would have lightened the mood in the more serious episodes.


• Melody's tells Wahida that she and her father have been preparing for the competition for a year. This line was inspired by one of the contestants in Malaysian Idol who saw Jac win the competition and then vowed to win it for themselves the next year. For a whole year, every decision in his/her life was made in order to win the competition. I don't know if this person has told the world this or not, but it's true. This competition can take over people's lives.


• Mac goes on quite a bit about the styles, right? I could have cut thirty seconds out. Not needed.

• "Whatever, man". I almost always have a character saying "whatever" in my scripts. Don't know why. I have it three or four times in this one. Another one is "belum cuba, belum tahu".


• The judges that see Amir are Fly Guy, Bernie Chan and Carmen Soo, credited with original names such as Judge 1, Judge 2 and Judge 3.


• Amir's audition song is Bob Dylan's classic Knocking on Heaven's Door. It was either going to be that or Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter.


• The Amir audition scene isn't quite what I had thought of. I expected him to be more nervous, compounded with singing in English. The "I can also dance" line was meant to be a bombshell he drops after three or four seconds of silence. Nervous funny, not desperate.


• I love the Amir/Dayang fight scene on the roof. Look at it carefully. It's a hand-held shot, practically no cuts, high-intensity, scene. It doesn't break the tension between the two characters. And it's great acting. I think so, anyway.


• The whole Baby-gets-her-own-room storyline was Ping's idea. I wasn't such a big fan of it, but it's okay-lah.


• The Baby/Wahida conversation was entirely Ping, I think. It's quite good.


• I wanted in this episode to show how strong Amir and Dayang's relationship is. Because later, you know, it all just... erm... watch the series-lah.


• I'm surprised that "screw" is worthy of censorship. "Screw up", "Screw you", "Don't screw with me", all these got silenced out on 8TV.


• One problem with the idea of Baby staying in the rehearsal hall, though. Burn also goes into the rehearsal hall to practice at night, but he doesn't bump into Baby? A scene was cut out because of time, you see. Baby comes back to her room (after spending a night in the rehearsal hall) and finds that the cupboard is full of Melody's clothes. Melody, of course, says "That cupboard's mine. Go find your own."


• Melody's confrontation with her dad. I like it a lot. And it's not very well written, either!


• Amir's song shown on Pop TV: Venusia by OAG. Between that and Akustatik, Amir is clearly an OAG fan.


• So, Melody is on drugs. And I kind of fought that idea for a long time. I was afraid it might turn all Drama Minggu Ini. And which drug? At first, we looked at ketamine, but it doesn't give the high that Melody needs. In the end, Ping went for the generic white powder thing. Looks like cocaine if you ask me.

Realiti. On Sundays on 8TV, starring Azizan Nin, Ashraf Sinclair, Melissa Maureen, Alvin Wong, Chelsia Ng, Radhi Khalid. With Juliana Ibrahim, Maria Farida, Reefa, Lydia Ibtisam, Kee Thuan Chye. Special appearances by Fly Guy, Bernie Chan and Carmen Soo. What would you do to become a star?

Labels: realiti, tv