WEBVTT - S2 Episode 5: Michelle Chong 0:00:06.050 --> 0:00:06.189 The 0:00:06.200 --> 0:00:08.210 Mutton Sandwich podcast. 0:00:08.750 --> 0:00:11.540 All right. Welcome to the Mutton Sandwich podcast, of course. 0:00:11.720 --> 0:00:14.720 Here's the show that we put together, and every single 0:00:14.720 --> 0:00:17.390 episode we catch up with our famous friend of ours. 0:00:17.420 --> 0:00:20.329 Yeah, absolutely. You know, we love to name, drop and 0:00:20.480 --> 0:00:23.270 invite famous friends so that people see one month. And 0:00:23.270 --> 0:00:28.120 so you know this and this person. And today, one 0:00:28.130 --> 0:00:30.290 of the most well known people that we know. That's right. 0:00:30.660 --> 0:00:33.940 They finally decided that it's OK to be on, you know, 0:00:33.979 --> 0:00:35.540 with us and have a nice little chat. 0:00:35.600 --> 0:00:37.940 We named Rob her because she really makes us very, 0:00:37.940 --> 0:00:38.400 very cool. 0:00:38.420 --> 0:00:39.140 Absolutely. 0:00:39.409 --> 0:00:42.830 Let's say hello to Michelle Chong image. 0:00:42.979 --> 0:00:45.250 Hi, everybody. 0:00:45.560 --> 0:00:49.040 Oh, I love that. I love that. Michelle, we haven't 0:00:49.040 --> 0:00:51.260 seen you in such a long time. You know, due 0:00:51.260 --> 0:00:54.470 to a pandemic. Regardless, you know, it's it's been a 0:00:54.470 --> 0:00:57.620 while since we caught up last so. Yeah. How you been, man? Like, 0:00:57.620 --> 0:00:58.700 like what you been up to? 0:00:59.410 --> 0:01:01.700 Oh, I've just been very busy. 0:01:02.070 --> 0:01:03.300 Yeah, we know. 0:01:03.300 --> 0:01:06.680 We know we're following you on on social media. You know, 0:01:06.680 --> 0:01:10.430 you've got a series of episodes of your shows that 0:01:10.430 --> 0:01:15.350 come out like, you know, every every Saturday. Everybody's timeline 0:01:15.350 --> 0:01:15.679 is correct. 0:01:15.800 --> 0:01:23.330 Every every Sunday, 10 A. and every Sunday, any the series. Yeah, basically, 0:01:23.330 --> 0:01:28.130 we have an artist management agency. Well, it's not really 0:01:28.130 --> 0:01:30.710 like it's very boutique is just it's just three of 0:01:30.709 --> 0:01:34.250 us that been there from the start for like maybe 0:01:34.250 --> 0:01:36.890 close to 10 years. So it's Ponce up, Lee Tung 0:01:36.890 --> 0:01:39.560 and myself. Yeah. And we don't want to say anyone 0:01:39.560 --> 0:01:41.810 else because we just want to keep it small and 0:01:41.810 --> 0:01:44.210 take care of ourselves and take care of ourselves well. 0:01:44.600 --> 0:01:48.490 And then also, I have a production house, Michelle Chung Productions, 0:01:48.500 --> 0:01:55.820 and basically we do add TV's Brenda Content, digital content, 0:01:56.450 --> 0:02:01.470 original shots. So that's what I'm busy doing every day. 0:02:01.730 --> 0:02:09.860 So concurrently, we have also quite a few projects FMCG brands, cybersecurity, medical, 0:02:09.860 --> 0:02:12.260 so is just ongoing all the time. 0:02:12.350 --> 0:02:13.690 Wow, that's incredible. 0:02:13.880 --> 0:02:16.760 Awesome. And I mean, I watch the videos that you 0:02:16.760 --> 0:02:19.610 put out every weekend and it's a lot of work. 0:02:19.610 --> 0:02:22.399 A lot of you don't know the amount of work 0:02:22.400 --> 0:02:26.220 that goes into release. One six minute video. Right? Yeah, 0:02:26.250 --> 0:02:28.060 I mean, so it's true. 0:02:28.070 --> 0:02:30.080 Yeah, you guys. So no, because you guys are doing 0:02:30.080 --> 0:02:33.610 so much social media these days. Yeah, everyone is. Yeah. 0:02:33.710 --> 0:02:37.550 And social media is such a different animal altogether from 0:02:37.550 --> 0:02:42.150 TV and film. Yeah, absolutely. Because it's so competitive, right? 0:02:42.470 --> 0:02:44.790 But this is from the whole like, well, you know, 0:02:45.169 --> 0:02:50.030 people have like a free content anytime they want anywhere 0:02:50.470 --> 0:02:53.900 and anyhow, whatever they want, anytime and the tip of 0:02:53.900 --> 0:02:55.580 their fingertips. Literally. 0:02:55.590 --> 0:02:58.790 Yeah, and you never know what your your audience on 0:02:58.790 --> 0:03:02.370 social media, you know, will be keen to snap up. Like, like, 0:03:02.389 --> 0:03:04.760 you know, it could be someone just brushes death and 0:03:04.760 --> 0:03:07.370 that could go viral, you know? So so how how 0:03:07.370 --> 0:03:09.770 do you plan content? How do you think about how 0:03:09.770 --> 0:03:12.530 do you create content for social media? It's a tough job. 0:03:12.540 --> 0:03:14.900 So let's ask you, Michelle. I mean, without giving away 0:03:14.900 --> 0:03:17.270 too many tricks of the trade because obviously, you know, 0:03:17.270 --> 0:03:19.700 that is your rice bowl. But but what? What do 0:03:19.700 --> 0:03:24.170 you do? How do you plan to do stuff that 0:03:24.169 --> 0:03:26.930 will stand out above all of the other choices and 0:03:26.930 --> 0:03:27.890 free stuff that people get? 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:30.650 Yeah. You know, and and like I will say, is 0:03:30.650 --> 0:03:34.010 so coveted competitive and it's so difficult because within the 0:03:34.010 --> 0:03:35.870 three seconds, if they don't like it, they can just 0:03:35.870 --> 0:03:40.030 scroll past around here because there's so much free content available, right? 0:03:40.490 --> 0:03:45.920 So so I guess in the first five seconds, you 0:03:45.920 --> 0:03:49.370 have to be very engaging already. And what's more, you know, 0:03:49.370 --> 0:03:53.420 we don't just do like organic content. We we put 0:03:54.110 --> 0:03:55.190 products in there. 0:03:55.460 --> 0:03:56.370 Yeah, exactly. 0:03:56.630 --> 0:04:01.280 Yeah. So I mean, I think it's actually quite a 0:04:01.280 --> 0:04:06.620 feat to to to produce something to produce an ad 0:04:06.620 --> 0:04:09.330 that people want to watch. Yeah, yeah. For sure. For sure. 0:04:09.380 --> 0:04:11.750 That's a difficult thing. But I mean, that's what we 0:04:11.750 --> 0:04:15.230 are known for. Yeah. So we produce engaging ads that 0:04:15.230 --> 0:04:17.240 people want to watch, even though they know it's an act. 0:04:17.460 --> 0:04:18.589 Maybe sometimes they don't. 0:04:18.790 --> 0:04:21.470 Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And that's what sets you apart from 0:04:21.529 --> 0:04:23.210 the other people doing the same thing, isn't it? 0:04:23.700 --> 0:04:26.480 Oh, actually, for myself and the team, we try to 0:04:26.510 --> 0:04:29.539 watch a lot of online content as well, you know, 0:04:29.540 --> 0:04:31.520 to see what works, and we have to keep up 0:04:31.520 --> 0:04:35.150 to date with like the latest trends. Yeah, local news 0:04:35.150 --> 0:04:38.330 or you know what's trending worldwide. Yeah, it's just so 0:04:38.330 --> 0:04:41.090 that we know what our audience lights and we have 0:04:41.089 --> 0:04:46.130 to keep current with with with like pop culture and 0:04:46.130 --> 0:04:46.460 all that. 0:04:46.880 --> 0:04:50.360 Right. So, OK, Michelle Chong, as as a business person, 0:04:50.720 --> 0:04:53.390 how has the pandemic affected you? 0:04:54.110 --> 0:04:57.020 It didn't affect us because we we do a lot 0:04:57.020 --> 0:05:00.229 of digital content. Yeah. And because of the pandemic, more 0:05:00.230 --> 0:05:04.760 people are staying at home and turning to online entertainment. 0:05:04.940 --> 0:05:07.970 So actually, we've had. More people come to us to do. 0:05:08.050 --> 0:05:10.170 Wow, that's great news, yeah. 0:05:11.050 --> 0:05:12.940 Yeah, and what do you say? I mean, because obviously 0:05:12.940 --> 0:05:14.860 social media now is all about numbers. So what do 0:05:14.860 --> 0:05:17.799 you say that your your views have increased over the 0:05:17.800 --> 0:05:18.400 last one year? 0:05:19.770 --> 0:05:23.640 No, I wouldn't say that. OK. OK. Because, like I said, 0:05:23.970 --> 0:05:26.000 everyone is going online as well, right? 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:27.680 Right, right, right, right, right, right. 0:05:27.990 --> 0:05:35.070 And also and also, don't forget, our Facebook and Instagram 0:05:35.070 --> 0:05:39.839 are also very sneaky. They are they they are changing 0:05:39.839 --> 0:05:42.299 the algorithm all the time, so you don't know what 0:05:42.300 --> 0:05:45.720 to expect. OK, so sometimes even with the same formula, 0:05:45.720 --> 0:05:48.539 the same people in the same ads, you know, you 0:05:48.540 --> 0:05:50.849 can do very differently in terms of use, right? 0:05:51.000 --> 0:05:51.990 Yeah. So true. 0:05:51.990 --> 0:05:54.330 So true. And that's where it's up to your team 0:05:54.510 --> 0:05:57.480 to keep up with the updates and and how they 0:05:57.480 --> 0:06:00.120 prioritize videos to it, they'll be able to break through. 0:06:00.210 --> 0:06:03.810 Exactly. Yeah. So, so many things to consider. I know 0:06:03.810 --> 0:06:06.169 many things. So so again, for people who go all, 0:06:06.180 --> 0:06:08.520 I want Michel Jong so easy every week, pull out 0:06:08.520 --> 0:06:11.849 one six minute video cartridge. It's so much work that 0:06:11.850 --> 0:06:14.250 goes behind so many different things. How much work 0:06:14.610 --> 0:06:16.800 it really takes. Someone who has done it to like, Wow, 0:06:16.800 --> 0:06:21.120 you appreciate how much effort it goes into just one video, right? 0:06:21.360 --> 0:06:23.520 But hey, I mean, look how we like to reminisce 0:06:23.589 --> 0:06:26.339 on the Mutton Sandwich podcast. Yes. Let's let's turn the 0:06:26.339 --> 0:06:28.679 clock back a little bit. Before Michel, Michel Chung was 0:06:28.680 --> 0:06:33.510 this businesswoman who has entrepreneur, entrepreneur and all these characters 0:06:33.510 --> 0:06:36.930 you love and all that. Tell us, because I don't 0:06:36.930 --> 0:06:41.760 think I know this story. How did you first get 0:06:41.760 --> 0:06:46.380 into showbiz? How did you first become famous, if you would? 0:06:46.800 --> 0:06:52.360 Well, I mean, I've always been very interested in in 0:06:53.460 --> 0:06:57.270 the creative stuff as goes. So I took theater studies 0:06:57.270 --> 0:07:00.960 at Victoria Junior College. Oh, right. S and A-level subjects. 0:07:00.960 --> 0:07:03.120 So my teacher thought I was good enough to pursue 0:07:03.120 --> 0:07:05.219 this as a career. So he told me to go 0:07:05.220 --> 0:07:09.000 to the states to to do this bachelor's in theater study. 0:07:09.960 --> 0:07:12.330 And then at the end of year one, we go 0:07:12.330 --> 0:07:15.930 into the Asian financial crisis, so I had to come back. OK, OK. 0:07:16.470 --> 0:07:21.450 So so I went to us to continue doing theater studies. Okay? 0:07:21.750 --> 0:07:26.100 And then while I was there, it was very hot, right? 0:07:27.090 --> 0:07:29.810 And then physically, it's very hot. Like. Yeah, and you 0:07:29.810 --> 0:07:31.920 were so hot. I think there are not enough trees there. 0:07:33.300 --> 0:07:35.220 And also and also, I just got back from the 0:07:35.220 --> 0:07:37.470 states where it was very cold because I was in Maine, 0:07:37.470 --> 0:07:41.360 which is like, Oh, Ulysses north part of us. 0:07:41.380 --> 0:07:42.870 Yeah, so nice. Wow. 0:07:43.650 --> 0:07:50.370 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so so anyway. So when I when 0:07:50.370 --> 0:07:53.550 I was that and as my father went to take 0:07:53.550 --> 0:07:56.880 the form for fame awards do remember Oh 0:07:56.970 --> 0:08:00.600 wow, film awards. My goodness. Yeah, yeah, that's 0:08:00.600 --> 0:08:04.670 a blow then. So but but I always say to him, like, 0:08:04.680 --> 0:08:08.940 why you never take star search if you think science overnight? Well, 0:08:08.940 --> 0:08:12.840 I think it's where Saima wants now. You seem a 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:13.380 lot like 0:08:14.190 --> 0:08:16.230 what's lasted one two years anyway. 0:08:16.380 --> 0:08:18.690 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And it was like 0:08:18.690 --> 0:08:20.850 once every two years or something. Yeah, yeah, 0:08:21.090 --> 0:08:23.730 it was the Channel five equivalent because he saw star search. 0:08:23.730 --> 0:08:27.420 How the how? Yeah, yeah, yeah, Channel five wanted to 0:08:27.420 --> 0:08:29.910 do that own one thing I don't see that I hold. 0:08:29.910 --> 0:08:31.470 I wanna watch the Chinese. 0:08:33.150 --> 0:08:37.329 Oh my God, I was a Taiwan Taiwan. Yeah, yeah. 0:08:37.559 --> 0:08:41.130 So they also think that the two of you don't 0:08:41.130 --> 0:08:42.330 think that down a few times is. 0:08:42.540 --> 0:08:46.170 No, only Dustin. And it was it was a bad 0:08:46.170 --> 0:08:47.460 decision on their. But I still 0:08:48.220 --> 0:08:51.340 feel too young that I felt that. So, yeah, yeah. 0:08:51.540 --> 0:08:54.119 So Feynman was I honestly didn't remember you in the 0:08:54.120 --> 0:08:54.820 feeble once. 0:08:55.500 --> 0:08:58.069 Well, I mean, I did get into the final. Yeah, OK, OK. 0:08:58.200 --> 0:09:01.560 But then after that, things started happening. I mean, I mean, 0:09:01.559 --> 0:09:05.670 I I did like bits a bit parts in like 0:09:05.670 --> 0:09:08.520 me growing up and the rule and then, you know, 0:09:09.420 --> 0:09:11.550 and I did a lot of theater as well. And 0:09:11.550 --> 0:09:13.859 I also I was like modelling, you know, doing all 0:09:13.860 --> 0:09:18.780 those things, part time acting stuff. So. And then, yeah, 0:09:18.780 --> 0:09:22.500 like I said, I did like bit parts in going 0:09:22.500 --> 0:09:26.070 on and under one roof. And then you'll notice to me, 0:09:26.070 --> 0:09:29.420 I suppose, Oh, this girl is quite good like can, right? 0:09:29.880 --> 0:09:33.090 So then when she went to when she went to 0:09:33.090 --> 0:09:35.220 MediaWorks channel, I 0:09:35.370 --> 0:09:37.890 told her, Yeah, that's right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 0:09:37.890 --> 0:09:39.960 yeah, yeah, they got me to do this. Do you 0:09:39.960 --> 0:09:47.970 remember this bikini drama paradise called Paradise with Nadia, who tagalong? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, 0:09:48.540 --> 0:09:53.219 I was the Charlie's Angels. Wow. Oh, so yeah. But 0:09:53.400 --> 0:09:56.370 I mean, obviously there was candlelight after like four episodes 0:09:56.370 --> 0:10:00.350 or something. So that that that didn't go well. So 0:10:00.360 --> 0:10:02.970 but then, okay, so after that, Mr. Munn, because I 0:10:02.970 --> 0:10:07.110 was bilingual, right? I thought I was also very good, right? Like, 0:10:07.200 --> 0:10:10.140 I mean, bilingual can can host whatever. So then they 0:10:10.140 --> 0:10:14.640 also got me to do like hosting four for one. 0:10:14.640 --> 0:10:20.050 It was like the channel you equivalent of like. You know, 0:10:20.440 --> 0:10:22.069 I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 0:10:22.230 --> 0:10:24.840 Yeah, but it wasn't the TV that was channel. Sure, 0:10:24.970 --> 0:10:28.150 they'll call MediaWorks. Right, so then. But but because a 0:10:28.150 --> 0:10:32.160 lot of the Chinese creatives went over the speech. Yeah, yeah. 0:10:32.410 --> 0:10:35.920 The variety people. So then they they produced a lot 0:10:35.920 --> 0:10:38.330 of these like city beat kind of shows. So then 0:10:38.350 --> 0:10:43.960 I started hosting in Chinese. Yeah. And then after that 0:10:44.770 --> 0:10:47.829 they gave me a full time contract. And then but 0:10:47.830 --> 0:10:52.690 then before it closed, before I was immersed in media, 0:10:52.690 --> 0:10:58.210 called Melvin, who was actually mediocre at the time, who 0:10:58.210 --> 0:11:02.580 is now, of course, you know the big wigs of my. Right, right? 0:11:03.270 --> 0:11:07.120 So before they merged, he also does like quite good potential. 0:11:07.120 --> 0:11:10.390 So he actually got me over like he signed me 0:11:10.870 --> 0:11:13.900 to two media calls. Yeah. So I mean, anyway, well, 0:11:13.900 --> 0:11:15.670 it's just one thing. I mean, I had a lot 0:11:15.670 --> 0:11:18.050 of Quirin that we call a clean slate like a 0:11:18.070 --> 0:11:21.880 lot of people been affected. I had the potential, but 0:11:21.880 --> 0:11:24.050 you know, I hope I didn't disappoint them, so they 0:11:24.120 --> 0:11:24.250 told 0:11:24.840 --> 0:11:26.200 me they thought correctly. Yeah. 0:11:26.830 --> 0:11:28.390 Well, a lot of things, a lot of the things 0:11:28.390 --> 0:11:30.430 that I did also, you know, like shut down media 0:11:30.429 --> 0:11:35.020 will shut down paradise can then be your fault. 0:11:35.320 --> 0:11:37.080 I love you. 0:11:37.720 --> 0:11:40.750 No, no. Of course you don't God. But that drama, 0:11:40.790 --> 0:11:44.980 you know? Yeah. And so, yeah, so yeah. So then yeah. 0:11:44.980 --> 0:11:47.660 So one thing led to another. And then I I 0:11:47.710 --> 0:11:51.099 signed on with with media. And then right after that 0:11:51.100 --> 0:11:55.540 late Melvin left. Right. So I was that media cop. 0:11:56.620 --> 0:11:59.559 And then when I was mean, I was actually I 0:11:59.559 --> 0:12:02.439 was not there for long, like maybe five, six years. 0:12:03.429 --> 0:12:08.170 But then I was actually actually actually, I don't really 0:12:08.320 --> 0:12:10.240 like being in front of the camera at all. 0:12:10.600 --> 0:12:12.370 Are you seriously kidding me? 0:12:12.390 --> 0:12:15.400 Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So that was very, very depressed because 0:12:15.400 --> 0:12:17.050 I was just in front of the camera all the time. 0:12:18.990 --> 0:12:20.880 Oh yeah, that's shocking to hear. 0:12:20.890 --> 0:12:23.170 At the time when I was at, Mutacao was also 0:12:23.170 --> 0:12:27.070 always pitching ideas to, you know, say, young or whoever just. 0:12:27.700 --> 0:12:30.940 But I found it difficult to place me because I 0:12:30.940 --> 0:12:33.339 was an actor as a whole was right. So they say, no. 0:12:33.340 --> 0:12:35.410 So what do you mean like your pictures project means 0:12:35.410 --> 0:12:37.980 you will like, write or you directing you? You would 0:12:37.990 --> 0:12:40.120 do it. Then how are we going to pay you? 0:12:40.330 --> 0:12:41.949 I mean, are we going to put you in Channel 0:12:41.950 --> 0:12:45.830 five team? I mean, I mean, I understand because, you know, 0:12:45.860 --> 0:12:48.290 we do call it is it's a it's a big company, 0:12:48.640 --> 0:12:52.360 so we can. It's not like a small company, you know, 0:12:52.360 --> 0:12:54.280 you can just do whatever you want. So I also 0:12:54.280 --> 0:12:57.340 understand so that it's I felt like I really needed 0:12:57.340 --> 0:13:00.130 to do my own stuff. You know, I'm OK. I 0:13:00.130 --> 0:13:02.410 had stories to tell and I and I love to 0:13:02.410 --> 0:13:07.900 create characters. But so then so then two thousand and 0:13:07.900 --> 0:13:11.040 eleven I took like. But, you know, I was very popular, right? 0:13:11.530 --> 0:13:12.280 Yeah, for sure. 0:13:12.640 --> 0:13:14.980 Which actually the next question I was going to ask 0:13:14.980 --> 0:13:16.960 you before you get to the next part. What do 0:13:16.960 --> 0:13:21.190 you say in all honesty? Michelle Chung explored it as 0:13:21.190 --> 0:13:24.939 a as a household name because of the news and 0:13:24.940 --> 0:13:25.960 the characters you created. 0:13:26.230 --> 0:13:30.700 What would you say? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. OK. Yes. Yes, yes. Yes, yes. OK, yes, 0:13:30.700 --> 0:13:33.040 I would say that. But then also I was also 0:13:33.040 --> 0:13:36.340 doing a lot of Channel eight like hosting at that time. 0:13:36.340 --> 0:13:38.620 So a lot of the older people also know me 0:13:38.679 --> 0:13:42.260 some issue, like most of us about, you know, so. 0:13:42.610 --> 0:13:48.060 And those those older people didn't really watch the news either. True, true. True. 0:13:48.070 --> 0:13:50.380 I mean, I was quite I was quite I was 0:13:50.380 --> 0:13:52.690 very lucky and I was very blessed. I mean, I 0:13:52.690 --> 0:13:54.730 had a lot of jobs, you know, I because I 0:13:54.730 --> 0:13:56.920 was bilingual, so I could do like a lot of 0:13:56.920 --> 0:14:01.810 different things. Yeah, right. So, yeah, so at the time, 0:14:01.809 --> 0:14:05.469 I was like, very popular. But the reason why is 0:14:05.470 --> 0:14:06.880 because I was very busy, you know? 0:14:07.059 --> 0:14:08.460 Yeah, you do lot projects. 0:14:08.490 --> 0:14:12.550 People like, yeah, like me for like like, you know, bonds, 0:14:12.550 --> 0:14:16.929 oil will be like next year, July to September Miller. 0:14:17.080 --> 0:14:20.200 So that was difficult for me to do my own 0:14:20.200 --> 0:14:25.840 thing like musical, right? Absolutely. And also because I came 0:14:25.840 --> 0:14:29.400 from like nothing, right? As in, I came from like, Oh, 0:14:29.650 --> 0:14:31.410 I had no Joss. I struggle, you know, I to 0:14:31.420 --> 0:14:33.850 go for auditions. I started from doing because I had 0:14:33.850 --> 0:14:36.850 to do this. And then, you know, like, so this 0:14:36.850 --> 0:14:40.430 was also obviously very precious to me, like all these jobs, right? 0:14:40.540 --> 0:14:42.430 Like I was, I felt very lucky. But at the 0:14:42.430 --> 0:14:44.860 same time, I was very depressed because I felt like 0:14:44.920 --> 0:14:47.290 this thing. Anyway, one night, you know, I have a 0:14:47.620 --> 0:14:50.590 creative outlet, you know, I want to produce my own stuff. So. 0:14:51.220 --> 0:14:55.359 So then it took me a while to really must 0:14:55.360 --> 0:14:58.120 have the courage to take like a three month low 0:14:58.120 --> 0:15:01.200 pay leave to do my own movie. OK. Right. So 0:15:01.200 --> 0:15:02.800 so I took it three months. No failing to do 0:15:02.800 --> 0:15:05.950 my first movie, right? And then after that, I was 0:15:06.220 --> 0:15:10.090 so happy doing it. It's a seven month old baby. Wow. 0:15:10.130 --> 0:15:14.020 And then and then, yeah. So actually, it paid off 0:15:14.020 --> 0:15:17.470 because my first movie did quite well at the box office. Yeah, 0:15:17.470 --> 0:15:21.560 for sure. For sure. It was also chosen as Singapore's 0:15:21.560 --> 0:15:26.030 representative to the Oscars. Oh, wow. For best foreign film 0:15:26.030 --> 0:15:27.280 in 20 years, it 0:15:27.290 --> 0:15:29.330 would have been I would have done better if we 0:15:29.330 --> 0:15:31.790 were in it. But yeah, you can't win them all. 0:15:31.910 --> 0:15:34.220 I remember we pitched to be in your movie, but 0:15:34.340 --> 0:15:36.160 we were overlooked. So yeah, so did you. 0:15:36.380 --> 0:15:37.400 Right? Yeah. 0:15:38.000 --> 0:15:41.300 Not not to bring it up, but you know, no, no, no. 0:15:41.310 --> 0:15:44.450 I'm always very grateful to you too, because for all 0:15:44.450 --> 0:15:47.720 of my movies, you were there to help me promote. Oh, absolutely. 0:15:47.830 --> 0:15:49.790 I don't know. I mean, we we we really love 0:15:49.790 --> 0:15:51.710 you so much and we we think you're you're just 0:15:51.710 --> 0:15:54.580 super creative and talented. You know, we can't help it. 0:15:54.590 --> 0:15:55.290 Thank you. 0:15:55.720 --> 0:15:59.090 And honestly, we don't see that many people with the 0:15:59.090 --> 0:16:00.090 passion that you have. 0:16:00.180 --> 0:16:01.550 Yeah, it's crazy 0:16:01.670 --> 0:16:04.400 to be creative and to be to always be, you know, 0:16:04.430 --> 0:16:07.750 one step above everyone else, you know, in that process. 0:16:07.890 --> 0:16:11.930 So you've been amazing, all these very inspiration. So let's 0:16:11.930 --> 0:16:15.950 talk about the creative process. OK, so so I don't 0:16:15.950 --> 0:16:18.140 know if you've ever spoken about this before, but those 0:16:18.650 --> 0:16:21.790 awesome characters you created for the new step that have, 0:16:21.890 --> 0:16:24.530 you know, people, people, some people think that you are 0:16:24.530 --> 0:16:28.700 actually that person. You know, Lulu? Yeah, right? Talk about 0:16:28.700 --> 0:16:32.030 the creative process of that. Did someone in Channel five 0:16:32.060 --> 0:16:35.540 write that character is Michelle? Can you play this character? 0:16:35.810 --> 0:16:38.660 Or is it just something you created in your head? 0:16:38.810 --> 0:16:40.640 You brought it to screen and you're like, Oh my God, 0:16:40.640 --> 0:16:41.150 it works. 0:16:42.230 --> 0:16:45.530 OK, so, so as I was telling you before, I 0:16:45.530 --> 0:16:49.010 was always pitching right, like senior management or whoever I can, 0:16:49.460 --> 0:16:52.580 you know, get an appointment with like my the head 0:16:52.580 --> 0:16:55.040 of a movie, you know, like, say, like, you know, 0:16:55.350 --> 0:16:57.710 I'm either cooking show idea with a skill, you know, 0:16:57.710 --> 0:17:00.620 blah blah, you know? So I was like, I have 0:17:00.620 --> 0:17:03.980 this show, I do. And then just one day, I 0:17:03.980 --> 0:17:08.359 was so lucky. Finally, I don't know who it was, 0:17:08.359 --> 0:17:16.400 whether it was, was it Kelvin or, yeah, somebody said like, Oh, oh, actually, 0:17:16.400 --> 0:17:20.520 someone in Channel five also has a skit idea, right? 0:17:21.230 --> 0:17:23.900 Like the fake news, right? So then so then it's 0:17:23.900 --> 0:17:26.000 a great great. Then you two can meet and then, 0:17:26.000 --> 0:17:28.910 you know, finally, we can do something right? Right? So then, yeah, 0:17:28.910 --> 0:17:33.290 so then that was how I got involved. Wow. Yeah. 0:17:33.530 --> 0:17:37.310 But I came up with my own characters. So, you know, 0:17:37.310 --> 0:17:40.070 it's very funny because, like the news was a very 0:17:40.070 --> 0:17:43.190 small team at that time, right? Mm. So I could 0:17:43.190 --> 0:17:47.300 pretty much do whatever I want to write so. So 0:17:47.540 --> 0:17:51.080 I was also watching Channel NewsAsia at the time. I 0:17:51.080 --> 0:17:53.840 don't know whether you remember there was this. There was 0:17:53.840 --> 0:17:56.720 this newscaster that had quite a bit of heavy makeup 0:17:56.720 --> 0:18:01.389 and very sultry big hair. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 0:18:01.720 --> 0:18:03.020 The American accent. 0:18:03.050 --> 0:18:04.280 I know exactly who you're talking about. 0:18:04.290 --> 0:18:06.710 Yeah, like so she was just sitting next to me 0:18:06.710 --> 0:18:08.300 in the makeup on. I was like, Oh my God, 0:18:08.300 --> 0:18:11.360 I could totally be that newscaster. So that was how 0:18:11.359 --> 0:18:15.240 Adriana wow was was born. Yeah, with a big hair 0:18:15.240 --> 0:18:19.490 and you know, the blue eyeshadow and you think, Oh 0:18:19.490 --> 0:18:23.360 my gosh, she's not has been balding as well about, yeah, 0:18:23.570 --> 0:18:27.380 they'll be funnier if she is more important, right? Absolutely. 0:18:27.410 --> 0:18:30.650 And then and then, you know, with with Barbarella is 0:18:30.650 --> 0:18:36.390 so funny because, you know, when I was doing modelling. Yeah, 0:18:36.800 --> 0:18:41.120 the stories you could tell. Yeah, oh yeah. Kind of. Yeah, 0:18:41.180 --> 0:18:45.640 very special, unique characters. So I when I first started, 0:18:45.740 --> 0:18:49.850 I had this and this agency mannequin carries on while 0:18:49.850 --> 0:18:54.020 doing so. So the the instructor they teach you, like, 0:18:54.020 --> 0:18:58.210 how do you know, do make do well? And and 0:18:58.220 --> 0:19:02.050 I always thought, Oh gosh, it's all right. She's like, Oh, 0:19:02.060 --> 0:19:04.700 you're lying to the mere roll. You see your eyebrows. 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:10.100 Oh my goodness, this toga. So I was just always 0:19:10.609 --> 0:19:15.320 I was saying something like that. Yeah, so but then 0:19:15.500 --> 0:19:19.400 the thing is that not everybody believed in me when 0:19:19.400 --> 0:19:23.620 I was when I first, when I first did Leticia, 0:19:23.720 --> 0:19:27.830 I said, I can totally do like a Filipino helper, 0:19:27.830 --> 0:19:30.620 a Filipino accent. Yeah. So when I first did it 0:19:30.619 --> 0:19:35.990 and I still remember and I still remember the the 0:19:35.990 --> 0:19:39.830 soundman or the cameraman say, Are you sure that's Filipino? 0:19:39.830 --> 0:19:44.030 Doesn't sound like that, but solid. It got solid. So, 0:19:44.030 --> 0:19:46.880 you know, because in the beginning, nobody really knew that 0:19:46.910 --> 0:19:49.369 I could do all these things that would go from 0:19:49.369 --> 0:19:51.380 Channel eight, you know, and then come in like, do 0:19:51.380 --> 0:19:53.750 all this. So even when I did my Barbarella, which 0:19:53.750 --> 0:19:56.210 I thought was hilarious, like the first thing I did, 0:19:56.210 --> 0:19:59.119 I myself thought it was very funny. I mean, we 0:19:59.119 --> 0:20:02.240 were sending also or 2000. But I remember the app 0:20:02.240 --> 0:20:04.840 was just like, like, nobody laugh at all right now. 0:20:04.960 --> 0:20:08.580 You know, they were folding their arms. And just like, 0:20:08.580 --> 0:20:10.370 Is this very funny? Like, when I do my takes, 0:20:10.369 --> 0:20:14.270 everybody takes, you know, out of towels or devices stall, 0:20:14.270 --> 0:20:16.850 sending it just like looking around like, OK, I dont like, 0:20:16.850 --> 0:20:22.290 you know, like, just like nobody. Oh, my God. Like, 0:20:22.530 --> 0:20:23.720 I knew it would be a hit. 0:20:24.050 --> 0:20:27.620 Yeah, yeah. You, you knew, right? Because and then those, 0:20:28.130 --> 0:20:30.500 you know, all those characters were created at the infancy 0:20:30.500 --> 0:20:33.560 of social media. Yeah. So when those clips started getting 0:20:33.560 --> 0:20:37.790 shared on it, people loved it, you know, so I guess. OK, well, 0:20:38.390 --> 0:20:41.990 comedy is not for everyone, I suppose, you know. And 0:20:42.109 --> 0:20:44.810 you know, some people find something funny. Some people won't 0:20:44.810 --> 0:20:47.210 find it funny. Right? But the majority found your 0:20:47.210 --> 0:20:48.379 character very funny. 0:20:48.380 --> 0:20:53.120 Very funny, really, really, really awesome. But but then came 0:20:53.119 --> 0:20:56.540 a point where you had left Mediacorp. Right? Mm hmm. Yeah. 0:20:56.710 --> 0:21:00.590 And there was and there was an issue about, will 0:21:00.590 --> 0:21:03.310 you be able to use these characters outside of medical? 0:21:03.740 --> 0:21:06.740 Right, right, right. Right, right? The answer is no, because 0:21:06.950 --> 0:21:11.540 whatever that I did were on medical platforms. And so 0:21:11.540 --> 0:21:15.030 those characters belong to them, which which which I agree 0:21:15.030 --> 0:21:17.900 it's OK. But when? So that's why when I did Lulu, 0:21:17.900 --> 0:21:20.000 the movie, I bought the rights. I bought the rights 0:21:20.320 --> 0:21:21.050 for the movie. 0:21:21.410 --> 0:21:23.780 So that was the process. You actually bought the Lulu 0:21:23.780 --> 0:21:24.830 rights from your call? 0:21:25.580 --> 0:21:29.510 Yes. Yes, yes. So, so so that's why. That's why 0:21:29.510 --> 0:21:33.560 now I do my own platform, my own characters, which 0:21:33.560 --> 0:21:37.100 belong to me like alien. You know, Shelly go the 0:21:37.340 --> 0:21:41.960 office lady Emily Emilia, the Taiwanese. You know, like, yeah, 0:21:41.990 --> 0:21:44.510 like all these characters belong to me. 0:21:44.540 --> 0:21:48.109 Right, right? Yeah. Because I find it in so strange 0:21:48.109 --> 0:21:51.560 to be someone else for something you created, right? It's 0:21:51.560 --> 0:21:54.649 a tough business, but yeah, intellectual property and stuff like that. Yes. 0:21:55.180 --> 0:21:58.580 I mean, times have changed. As in as in now, 0:21:58.580 --> 0:22:04.290 because I mean, people in media have come and gone also, right? Yeah, sure. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. 0:22:04.910 --> 0:22:07.490 Whoever was in charge. So I mean, I mean, things 0:22:07.490 --> 0:22:09.500 are a bit better now. I mean, I mean, there's 0:22:09.500 --> 0:22:12.380 no animosity between us. I mean, I still produce stuff 0:22:12.380 --> 0:22:15.560 for me to write nice stuff. Yeah. Yeah, we do 0:22:15.560 --> 0:22:18.500 like chic and cozy, which was like a home, the 0:22:18.500 --> 0:22:23.060 property hunting show for Channel five and I'll go on 0:22:23.060 --> 0:22:27.060 my case. You know, what was it? Yeah. Oh, right. Yeah. 0:22:27.350 --> 0:22:30.050 So we did that one. So I directed that, and 0:22:30.050 --> 0:22:33.469 it was very well-received, actually. Yeah. Yeah. And then I 0:22:33.470 --> 0:22:38.929 also director like two army dramas, Chinese dramas on Channel 0:22:38.930 --> 0:22:40.790 You and for me, you watch as well, which also 0:22:40.790 --> 0:22:43.940 had like the highest ratings for like the Chinese Chinese 0:22:43.940 --> 0:22:48.050 series on toggles. Very cool. So I mean, we still 0:22:48.050 --> 0:22:51.649 do stuff, but then I personally still do stuff with them. So. 0:22:51.770 --> 0:22:55.910 And and also, I think things have changed now as 0:22:55.910 --> 0:22:58.669 in if it's produced by us now. But but even 0:22:58.670 --> 0:23:01.520 on their platforms, the characters belong to us. So I 0:23:01.520 --> 0:23:05.780 see the Chinese. I do Chinese Gong Dalloway, which is 0:23:05.780 --> 0:23:12.650 like a Chinese. I love that a Chinese journalist, you know, A. journalist. Right. Well, 0:23:12.800 --> 0:23:17.960 it just so a big conservative, a bit grumpy, kind 0:23:17.960 --> 0:23:22.760 of a Chinese anti journalist's character. So I did that 0:23:22.760 --> 0:23:26.720 for them. Mm hmm. And actually, I created this character 0:23:26.720 --> 0:23:29.500 for them. But now this character belongs to me as well. 0:23:29.510 --> 0:23:31.340 So sure, things have changed. That's great. 0:23:31.660 --> 0:23:34.669 That's fantastic. Because, you know, creative people, ideally you want 0:23:34.670 --> 0:23:37.719 to own what you of. I mean, as Taylor Swift, yeah, 0:23:37.790 --> 0:23:39.230 you know, they were. You really want to own. 0:23:39.410 --> 0:23:41.810 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, well, that's 0:23:42.020 --> 0:23:44.690 that's that's that's fantastic. It feels almost like it's come 0:23:44.810 --> 0:23:45.639 full circle. 0:23:45.800 --> 0:23:48.170 That's well, right. Yeah. Yes. No. I think it's good now. Yeah, 0:23:48.170 --> 0:23:48.770 I'm going 0:23:48.770 --> 0:23:50.869 to ask you a difficult question because, you know, you know, 0:23:50.869 --> 0:23:53.480 for parents, it's very it's impossible to choose a favorite child. Yeah. 0:23:53.810 --> 0:23:55.670 So if we were to put you in the spot 0:23:55.670 --> 0:23:58.760 and ask you, who's the favorite character you ever created? 0:23:58.790 --> 0:23:59.480 Can you name one? 0:24:00.440 --> 0:24:01.960 No, I can't. You could, right? 0:24:02.800 --> 0:24:04.879 They're all special, too difficult. 0:24:04.940 --> 0:24:06.500 And they're also unique as well. 0:24:08.150 --> 0:24:10.550 You know, you know, better. I don't know how they 0:24:10.550 --> 0:24:13.790 explain this to you without sounding very cold, but actually, 0:24:13.790 --> 0:24:17.210 it's just walk to me. Right, right, right. So I mean, 0:24:17.220 --> 0:24:22.730 they're not my children. I, I, I, I don't care 0:24:22.730 --> 0:24:27.560 for them. Yeah. But but I care deeply about my work, 0:24:27.760 --> 0:24:30.680 what I put out. So I'm a perfectionist in that sense. 0:24:30.680 --> 0:24:33.770 So I mean, I go through the edit many times 0:24:33.770 --> 0:24:37.460 because I go through the script many times with a T. 0:24:37.520 --> 0:24:40.190 I go through the edit many times because I want 0:24:40.190 --> 0:24:42.350 it to be very funny. I wanted the client to 0:24:42.350 --> 0:24:45.130 be happy that like, you know, the messaging is one, 0:24:45.260 --> 0:24:48.470 you know, I want people to love the content, you know, 0:24:48.500 --> 0:24:52.670 I want everyone to be happy. So you're a perfectionist. What? Yeah. Yeah. 0:24:52.670 --> 0:24:55.040 So that's what I care about. Like whether the timing 0:24:55.040 --> 0:24:57.350 is right. Like, Oh no, you should have so personal here. 0:24:57.350 --> 0:24:59.750 You can add da, you know, like here you might 0:24:59.750 --> 0:25:02.030 do a digital zoom. Otherwise, who's going to notice what 0:25:02.240 --> 0:25:05.449 you know, the deadline or, you know? So, so I mean, 0:25:05.570 --> 0:25:08.930 these are very specific things, right? Yes. So so that's 0:25:08.930 --> 0:25:11.060 what I care about. But if you ask me like 0:25:11.090 --> 0:25:15.140 a paparazzo like, who cares? Right, right? I mean, I mean, 0:25:15.650 --> 0:25:17.300 I mean, when we think about it, it's not like, Oh, 0:25:17.300 --> 0:25:19.280 my favorite character is this, let's do this. But more 0:25:19.550 --> 0:25:23.350 like whether it fits this product or whether it's this video, 0:25:23.359 --> 0:25:27.250 whether it is this, was it the right character? Yeah, yeah. Yeah. 0:25:27.260 --> 0:25:28.850 So that's what I care about. 0:25:29.119 --> 0:25:31.970 You know, I wish there were more people in this 0:25:31.970 --> 0:25:36.040 industry that that that that that commitment to the art. Yeah, 0:25:36.109 --> 0:25:38.149 but you do. You know, I really wish there was. 0:25:38.420 --> 0:25:40.850 Because I mean, you call it, call it DA. What 0:25:40.850 --> 0:25:44.030 do you call that? I call it jaded or, you know, 0:25:44.119 --> 0:25:47.960 like or whatever it might be, complacency or whatever. But, 0:25:47.960 --> 0:25:50.990 you know, I wish more people would really love what 0:25:50.990 --> 0:25:53.030 they do. So much do spend so much time to 0:25:53.030 --> 0:25:53.720 make it perfect 0:25:54.060 --> 0:25:58.040 and not put put out something for the sake of putting. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. 0:25:58.040 --> 0:26:01.790 So. But you know, I I am jaded. Well, I 0:26:01.790 --> 0:26:04.910 am just really, you know, you just want it. Yes. No, 0:26:04.910 --> 0:26:07.400 I'm done and I'm very tired. And actually, it's not 0:26:07.400 --> 0:26:09.170 that I love it so much. It's just that I 0:26:09.170 --> 0:26:13.120 cannot help it. You're right. Yeah. So I guess I mean, 0:26:13.160 --> 0:26:14.780 a lot of the times I just think, yeah, just 0:26:14.780 --> 0:26:17.600 like all of my friends, you know, the team should 0:26:17.600 --> 0:26:19.820 know that anyway, but I can't let go. So then 0:26:19.820 --> 0:26:21.890 that's just that's bad, actually. 0:26:23.390 --> 0:26:24.260 No. Well, we 0:26:24.260 --> 0:26:26.660 will. We see your content, people see your content and 0:26:26.900 --> 0:26:29.540 people love it. So you know it all pays off 0:26:29.540 --> 0:26:31.570 at the end of the day. Absolutely. That's a good thing. 0:26:31.580 --> 0:26:32.990 I hope Solo Hope Solo 0:26:33.109 --> 0:26:35.960 does like, OK, let's let's let's play H.R. department for 0:26:35.960 --> 0:26:36.290 a moment. 0:26:36.440 --> 0:26:37.460 H.R. Department. 0:26:37.460 --> 0:26:41.030 OK, OK, so what's next for Michelle Chong? Is there 0:26:41.030 --> 0:26:44.420 something that you haven't achieved? Is there something that you 0:26:44.630 --> 0:26:47.750 want to do? But what Demi or whatever you haven't 0:26:47.750 --> 0:26:50.330 done it yet, like in the next three, four, five years? 0:26:50.330 --> 0:26:53.629 Like what? Is there something in the pipeline that you 0:26:53.630 --> 0:26:54.110 can tell us? 0:26:54.770 --> 0:27:00.949 Actually, contrary to popular belief on, I mean, like despite 0:27:00.950 --> 0:27:04.640 what people might think, like what I am, you know, 0:27:04.700 --> 0:27:08.240 I actually don't plan anything, you know, OK, I don't play, OK. 0:27:08.270 --> 0:27:13.790 I don't plan anything in advance. All right. I have nothing. 0:27:13.790 --> 0:27:15.919 But currently I hope to lose weight. 0:27:16.910 --> 0:27:18.230 Are you? Are you kidding? 0:27:20.660 --> 0:27:25.130 Yeah. Yeah, because I'm also doing a flip me endorsement now. 0:27:25.160 --> 0:27:29.010 Oh yeah, because because I don't know all these productions 0:27:29.040 --> 0:27:31.970 that I'm doing. I'm also the ambassador for quite a 0:27:31.970 --> 0:27:36.650 lot things that I Johnson protein, sorry, homestead. Yeah. And 0:27:36.650 --> 0:27:41.390 another one coming out and and la da da, you know? Yeah. Yeah. 0:27:42.050 --> 0:27:47.550 Have a lot of things to do like to optimize mug. 0:27:48.290 --> 0:27:53.000 And yeah. So to me, that's also quite stressful because 0:27:54.680 --> 0:27:56.420 like I said before, I really do like to be 0:27:56.420 --> 0:27:58.399 in front of the camera. But I guess if it's 0:27:58.400 --> 0:28:01.250 still pays my bills, I should be grateful for it. Yeah, 0:28:02.190 --> 0:28:04.550 and I am, and I am very grateful for it. 0:28:04.550 --> 0:28:06.950 So I cannot just like, give that all up now. 0:28:06.950 --> 0:28:08.690 But I look forward to the day where I don't 0:28:08.690 --> 0:28:10.860 have to care about doing my makeup and I don't 0:28:10.880 --> 0:28:14.030 have to keep my hair long for this. I think 0:28:14.030 --> 0:28:19.340 that's what I am. And no, but but I can 0:28:19.340 --> 0:28:22.530 still do my behind the scenes. Yeah, sure. Sure. Yeah, yeah. 0:28:22.640 --> 0:28:26.990 And I'm very busy doing that, right? So then I just, yeah, yeah. 0:28:26.990 --> 0:28:32.600 So so actually my my wish is that I can really, 0:28:32.600 --> 0:28:34.220 really don't have to be in front of a camera 0:28:34.220 --> 0:28:37.399 anymore and just doing behind the scenes. Wow. So that's 0:28:37.400 --> 0:28:39.480 just like, yeah, my ultimate wish. 0:28:39.770 --> 0:28:43.070 Wow. You never think you hear that from from someone 0:28:43.070 --> 0:28:45.720 who's doing so well in front of the camera? Exactly that. 0:28:45.750 --> 0:28:48.280 That doesn't sound very ungrateful. It does. 0:28:48.410 --> 0:28:50.930 Oh, no, no, no. That's not what I meant at all. 0:28:51.320 --> 0:28:55.130 Because no, it really isn't what I meant at all. Because, 0:28:55.130 --> 0:28:57.830 you know, we we sometimes we feel the way you do, 0:28:57.830 --> 0:29:00.210 sometimes when we feel jaded, when we see. We feel 0:29:00.210 --> 0:29:01.800 that we have been doing the same thing every day. 0:29:02.040 --> 0:29:04.850 You know, sometimes we wish that, you know, we wish 0:29:04.860 --> 0:29:07.680 we could just sit back, write content or come up, 0:29:07.680 --> 0:29:10.200 create content and give someone else to do so that 0:29:10.200 --> 0:29:12.930 you know, we yeah. Yeah. But yeah, I totally know 0:29:12.930 --> 0:29:15.120 how you feel. It doesn't sound a great maybe. 0:29:15.510 --> 0:29:17.400 Maybe it takes someone in the industry to know exactly 0:29:17.400 --> 0:29:18.840 what you mean, but I know, I know completely 0:29:18.940 --> 0:29:19.960 what you mean. Yeah, yeah. 0:29:20.200 --> 0:29:23.560 So the idea is you just you just feel that way, right? Well, yeah, 0:29:23.580 --> 0:29:24.480 it's so eye opening. 0:29:24.900 --> 0:29:27.060 Chatting with you, young man, is such a great guy. 0:29:27.210 --> 0:29:29.970 One more thing to do before we go, Michel, because 0:29:29.970 --> 0:29:31.790 we know you're very busy. You know things to do. 0:29:31.800 --> 0:29:33.210 So we want to hold you for too much longer. 0:29:33.450 --> 0:29:36.840 But it is tradition for all our guests and a 0:29:36.840 --> 0:29:39.950 mother and sandwich podcast to forward the tables to turn. 0:29:39.960 --> 0:29:42.330 So now you will get to ask us the question 0:29:42.330 --> 0:29:44.700 Is there anything you've ever wanted to ask the mountains about? 0:29:44.700 --> 0:29:48.060 Never had a chance to. So it's now and now 0:29:48.060 --> 0:29:50.190 it's on record. So go ahead. Michelle Chong, what do 0:29:50.190 --> 0:29:50.730 you want to ask? 0:29:50.970 --> 0:29:53.250 Yeah, so you are really asking for this. So you 0:29:53.250 --> 0:29:54.200 better answer the question. 0:29:54.210 --> 0:29:57.990 Yeah, yeah. We we promise to answer any question wasn't scary. 0:29:58.020 --> 0:30:01.290 No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 0:30:01.290 --> 0:30:03.570 Honestly. Straight shooting, straight shooting. 0:30:03.820 --> 0:30:08.520 OK. So who is your least favorite guest ever and 0:30:08.520 --> 0:30:13.140 who's your most favorite guest ever on your show? 0:30:13.710 --> 0:30:15.630 On the gas, on the in the show? 0:30:15.660 --> 0:30:17.719 No, no, no podcast. No polka. 0:30:17.980 --> 0:30:20.880 Oh yeah, oh great. Because I have a great answer 0:30:20.880 --> 0:30:21.060 for that. 0:30:21.180 --> 0:30:23.030 OK. Who's who's your least favorite? You go ahead. 0:30:23.790 --> 0:30:26.070 No. So I'll tell you my least favorite guest I 0:30:26.070 --> 0:30:31.170 ever interview. You'll be shocked that his name was Kylie Minogue, right? 0:30:31.290 --> 0:30:33.690 Oh yeah. I think this was. I'll have to admit, 0:30:33.690 --> 0:30:37.110 this was very early, early on in my career and 0:30:37.110 --> 0:30:41.220 this was pre pre social media. So like, like MTV 0:30:41.220 --> 0:30:43.800 and all that were the biggest things. So she came 0:30:43.800 --> 0:30:46.190 to Singapore for a concert or promo. I came in 0:30:46.200 --> 0:30:49.080 while she was here. And so we were there to 0:30:49.080 --> 0:30:53.850 do an interview. So, you know, everybody's rostered to go 0:30:53.850 --> 0:30:56.460 in five minutes with Kylie and all that. So you 0:30:56.460 --> 0:30:59.580 could tell straight away that when there was a camera 0:30:59.820 --> 0:31:02.610 like an MTV was interviewing her, what she was like, 0:31:02.610 --> 0:31:05.040 all glammed up and like, Whoa, she should put it on, 0:31:05.040 --> 0:31:07.320 you know? And the moment she found out that the 0:31:07.320 --> 0:31:10.470 next interview was with radio, there was no camera. There 0:31:10.470 --> 0:31:14.310 was no glamour shot. All I'm doing is just recording 0:31:14.310 --> 0:31:17.940 her and her voice. She became the most uninteresting person 0:31:17.940 --> 0:31:18.420 in the world. 0:31:18.450 --> 0:31:18.780 Wow. 0:31:19.050 --> 0:31:21.750 Yeah, I was. I was shocked because it was Kylie 0:31:21.750 --> 0:31:23.670 Minogue going to get shot. I've been shot because, you know, 0:31:23.670 --> 0:31:26.610 she she was the queen night. So it was it 0:31:26.610 --> 0:31:28.830 was so bad. I could barely use the interview because 0:31:28.830 --> 0:31:32.760 she sounded so bored and so uninterested. Everything she said 0:31:32.760 --> 0:31:36.150 was like one one, two words, you know? So I 0:31:36.150 --> 0:31:40.080 was so disappointed when that happened. All those years ago, 0:31:40.080 --> 0:31:42.150 it was two thousand and one I think it was 0:31:42.420 --> 0:31:45.630 20 years ago. Hmm. So, yeah, that was actually the 0:31:46.050 --> 0:31:48.720 till today the worst interview I've ever done personally. Yeah. 0:31:48.810 --> 0:31:52.740 And oh, did I say. It was quite bad because 0:31:52.740 --> 0:31:55.170 she was such a big name. I'll tell you a story, 0:31:55.170 --> 0:31:57.030 something very similar. 0:31:57.030 --> 0:31:59.460 And in fact, this was in the 90s when social 0:31:59.460 --> 0:32:04.830 media really didn't exist. And I had to interview Jon 0:32:04.830 --> 0:32:08.070 Bon Jovi called the biggest robin in the world. You're right, 0:32:08.700 --> 0:32:12.840 and exactly the same scenario. Like, like when I went in, 0:32:12.840 --> 0:32:16.620 I'm a guy from a radio station. So the boys 0:32:16.620 --> 0:32:18.930 literally has sat there and read magazines. While I ask 0:32:18.930 --> 0:32:21.420 them questions, they couldn't even be bothered to look at 0:32:21.420 --> 0:32:25.110 me while answering questions, right? So by the third question, 0:32:25.110 --> 0:32:27.780 I realized they really weren't interested. So I just stopped 0:32:27.780 --> 0:32:29.700 the interview and I say, OK, thanks guys. And I 0:32:29.700 --> 0:32:33.030 walked out. The next person to interview the guys were 0:32:33.030 --> 0:32:35.820 What was this hot MTV veejay shall not name her name, 0:32:35.820 --> 0:32:39.200 but she was a hot MTV veejay with the camera crew. Wow, 0:32:39.220 --> 0:32:42.960 you see these guys so talkative they lit up there. 0:32:42.960 --> 0:32:45.450 They were like, Why are you smiling and laughing? And 0:32:45.870 --> 0:32:48.600 so I was like, Oh, OK. I never, ever put 0:32:48.600 --> 0:32:50.430 on the interview because I didn't want to use it. 0:32:51.360 --> 0:32:53.250 Even though they were the biggest rock band in the world, 0:32:53.250 --> 0:32:54.610 John Boehner, yeah, yeah, 0:32:54.680 --> 0:32:56.520 so no, horrible. 0:32:56.580 --> 0:32:59.970 Yeah, unfortunately, you know, it was a time that we 0:32:59.970 --> 0:33:02.310 were quite used to it because a lot of these stars, 0:33:02.310 --> 0:33:03.870 they they kind of knew when to turn it on 0:33:03.870 --> 0:33:06.270 and went to the air radio or Neil, I don't care. Yeah. 0:33:06.300 --> 0:33:07.420 So we 0:33:07.910 --> 0:33:09.270 knew we were the ones 0:33:09.270 --> 0:33:12.150 who carry your songs 50 times a day to make 0:33:12.150 --> 0:33:15.320 you famous. You ungrateful piece of itself, anyway. 0:33:15.870 --> 0:33:20.010 No radio people are always so discriminating. Yeah, well, we 0:33:20.020 --> 0:33:21.150 read about them all. 0:33:21.980 --> 0:33:24.810 But to be fair, doesn't happen that often. More often 0:33:24.810 --> 0:33:26.790 than not, people are very grateful of that. We played 0:33:26.790 --> 0:33:29.040 our songs. Yeah, have you? Sorry. Did you ask about 0:33:29.040 --> 0:33:30.540 best as well? Do you just ask about worst, 0:33:31.020 --> 0:33:33.810 best as well? But, but but let me what I 0:33:33.810 --> 0:33:35.700 want to say is that it doesn't just happen to 0:33:35.700 --> 0:33:38.190 radio people because you know, when we when we go 0:33:38.190 --> 0:33:40.950 in for like movie junkets and all. Yeah, yeah. I 0:33:40.960 --> 0:33:45.510 know that. Yeah, I also can now get utterly gone 0:33:45.510 --> 0:33:47.670 to answer your question. Who was it? Who was it? 0:33:47.940 --> 0:33:49.200 Jada Pinkett Smith? 0:33:49.290 --> 0:33:53.790 Oh, wow. Yeah. Oh no. We we've we've had very 0:33:53.790 --> 0:33:58.380 mixed feelings about that family. We've we've never interviewed Jada Pinkett, 0:33:58.380 --> 0:34:01.870 but we've interviewed Will Smith. And he loved this so much. 0:34:01.870 --> 0:34:05.700 She wanted to adopt us. Yeah, he's amazing. Oh, super nice, guy. 0:34:05.910 --> 0:34:08.730 I love him. Yeah. And then we interview his son, Jaden, 0:34:08.730 --> 0:34:11.730 who was a teenager then. And, you know, talking to teenagers. 0:34:11.730 --> 0:34:13.770 Very difficult lesson. Yeah, we didn't have a very good 0:34:13.770 --> 0:34:16.980 time doing that interview. But yeah. Wow. What a what 0:34:16.980 --> 0:34:18.960 a mixed bag. No family member. Yeah. 0:34:19.230 --> 0:34:24.100 But I'm so happy to hear that. Will Smith is nine. Oh, 0:34:24.120 --> 0:34:24.270 it's 0:34:24.270 --> 0:34:27.180 one of the nicest guys on the planet, and I 0:34:27.180 --> 0:34:27.630 don't think he 0:34:27.900 --> 0:34:29.970 takes anyone for granted, which is, we say it's a 0:34:29.969 --> 0:34:33.359 lot of very professional about him. I'll tell you about 0:34:33.360 --> 0:34:35.490 my best very quickly. Before we we we would go 0:34:35.489 --> 0:34:38.100 too long. I've told this story many times. So you've 0:34:38.100 --> 0:34:39.780 heard this story a thousand times what that yeah, my 0:34:39.780 --> 0:34:42.359 best was and maybe you is almost predictable. 0:34:42.360 --> 0:34:43.500 Why put all your stories at 0:34:45.719 --> 0:34:49.440 my best was the rock. So I interviewed him when 0:34:49.590 --> 0:34:51.420 this was his first movie, The Scorpion King. They came 0:34:51.420 --> 0:34:54.390 to Singapore to do a promo. He was just just 0:34:54.390 --> 0:34:55.980 making it in the industry, but he was a very 0:34:55.980 --> 0:34:59.610 big WWE wrestler. So anyway, I interview him and you know, Michel, 0:34:59.610 --> 0:35:02.730 most interviews when when Time's Up, the Time's Up, bye bye. 0:35:02.760 --> 0:35:05.460 They'll chase you off, right? Yeah. Because the star has 0:35:05.460 --> 0:35:08.100 many more people to interview that person. So same thing. 0:35:08.100 --> 0:35:11.970 I interview the rock again. Only audio, no cameras interview him. 0:35:12.210 --> 0:35:16.500 His minder came in and says, Ah, rock, sorry, time's up. 0:35:16.680 --> 0:35:19.140 With with Justin, are we going to move on? He 0:35:19.140 --> 0:35:22.500 turned is the only movie star to ever do this. 0:35:22.710 --> 0:35:25.700 He turned to his mind and said, I am finished 0:35:25.710 --> 0:35:30.239 when Justin finishes his questions. Well, it was like, Oh 0:35:30.239 --> 0:35:31.189 my God, 0:35:31.200 --> 0:35:33.279 it's so nice. I bet he regrets it. Do this 0:35:33.280 --> 0:35:36.150 this morning. I waste time with that guy, man. 0:35:36.300 --> 0:35:39.960 Which huge movie star? Have you ever heard behaves like that? 0:35:40.260 --> 0:35:40.650 You know, 0:35:41.310 --> 0:35:42.090 and 0:35:42.090 --> 0:35:44.130 I've interviewed him like two or three times since, and 0:35:44.130 --> 0:35:47.430 he's always nice, like the persona he puts forward on 0:35:47.430 --> 0:35:50.370 his Instagram and all that. That's the real deal. That's 0:35:50.370 --> 0:35:53.219 the real Dwayne Johnson. So a lot of people say 0:35:53.219 --> 0:35:54.959 he will be the next president of the United States. 0:35:55.230 --> 0:35:57.840 I believe that. I believe that he really and awesome 0:35:57.840 --> 0:35:58.680 and awesome guy. 0:35:58.760 --> 0:35:59.910 Oh yeah. Nice. 0:35:59.910 --> 0:36:00.710 Nice, awesome. 0:36:00.719 --> 0:36:02.910 Yeah. Oh, did you have one yo yo best Madden 0:36:02.910 --> 0:36:03.299 or 0:36:04.320 --> 0:36:06.660 no idea what people usually say. I'm their best when 0:36:06.660 --> 0:36:10.590 they interviewed me. So yeah, it's again. I know my 0:36:10.590 --> 0:36:14.340 best was is and will forever be Michelle Chong. 0:36:14.510 --> 0:36:18.270 Oh no, she said no. B.S. answer 0:36:18.739 --> 0:36:22.049 yes. And I'm not even being PC because Michelle is always, 0:36:22.110 --> 0:36:26.250 you know, so accommodating, so nice, always wants to talk 0:36:26.250 --> 0:36:29.400 to us. And it's all real with answers. She's never been. 0:36:29.670 --> 0:36:31.920 She's never like, Oh, I cannot tell you this again. 0:36:32.190 --> 0:36:35.200 You know you. You you've you've always been very straightforward 0:36:35.210 --> 0:36:38.340 this and I appreciate you and I really appreciate it. 0:36:38.620 --> 0:36:40.680 The best, Michelle. Hey, thanks for spending 0:36:40.680 --> 0:36:45.450 the time with always supported me. Truly, like all my interviews, 0:36:45.630 --> 0:36:49.359 I mean, all my movie promos and yeah, and supportive, 0:36:49.380 --> 0:36:49.680 and we 0:36:49.680 --> 0:36:51.330 will continue to do so the next time you've got 0:36:51.330 --> 0:36:53.730 a big project. Yeah, man. Drop us a line. We 0:36:53.730 --> 0:36:54.359 will be very 0:36:54.989 --> 0:37:02.910 happy to support, even though we're lowly radio people. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. 0:37:03.750 --> 0:37:06.600 Michelle, thanks for spending the time. We really appreciate it. 0:37:06.870 --> 0:37:09.330 See you soon. Take care and we we hope to 0:37:09.330 --> 0:37:10.560 catch up in the near future. 0:37:10.890 --> 0:37:12.030 Thank you so much. 0:37:12.090 --> 0:37:14.280 Thanks, Michel. You, too. Stay safe.