Will this LITTLE nyonya make it BIG in movies?
Jeanette Aw’s old boss, Mr Man Shu Sum, is the new chief of MediaCorp’s film wing. How will this affect her movie career?
By Kwok Kar Peng
December 23, 2009
COULD the past come back and bite Jeanette Aw?
NEW ROLE: Jeanette Aw promoting her drama Together.
TNP PICTURE: KELVIN CHNG
Several industry sources told us her career could hit a bump because of her high-profile defection from the now-defunct MediaWorks to rival broadcaster MediaCorp.
But that happened ages ago, you say?
Well, it was seven years ago, but some memories don’t fade so soon.
The mentor Jeanette supposedly let down at that time recently became the new managing director of Raintree Pictures, MediaCorp’s film production arm.
Yep, we’re talking about Mr Man Shu Sum, then chief operating officer of the MediaWorks Chinese channel, Channel U.
And word has it that Jeanette’s defection is still hurting him.
So will the actress’ chances of expanding into movies be met with hiccups?
Jeanette, 30, jumped ship in May 2002, and rose through the ranks to become the most successful of MediaCorp’s much-touted seven princesses.
Next big sister
She is also tipped to become an Ah Jie (Mandarin for big sister) of Caldecott Hill, joining Zoe Tay and Fann Wong after the success of the drama The Little Nyonya last year.
Switching camps was perhaps a smart career move, but it reportedly came with a price.
According to our sources, Jeanette had wept before Mr Man, asking him to allow her to leave MediaWorks, which eventually closed down in 2005.
She had signed a five-year contract with it in December 2000.
Her reason for leaving was reportedly to concentrate on her theatre studies honours programme at the National University of Singapore.
Mr Man agreed to let her leave.
Our sources believe that Mr Man, 56, felt betrayed, especially since he had wanted to groom her for big roles.
Mr Man is renowned as a star-maker for his ability to scout and groom artistes, including celebs like Michelle Chia, Bryan Wong and Guo Liang.
Several of his proteges reportedly left MediaCorp in 2000 to join MediaWorks because of him.
Jeanette was discovered by MediaWorks and participated in the reality TV programme Route To Glamour, where she won the Most Popular Newcomer and Best Performer awards in 2001.
Relations between the two are said to be so sour that Mr Man allegedly sent back boxes of mooncakes that she got him.
Is that true, we asked Jeanette.
She denied all the talk vehemently, her expression veering from amusement to exasperation during the interview.
She insisted that everything is hunky-dory between her and Mr Man.
She told The New Paper: ‘We had a peaceful parting and we are on good terms. There is definitely no bad blood or misunderstanding between us.’
But did she send mooncakes to Mr Man?
Yes, she admitted.
According to her, when MediaWorks was still around, she had sent flowers to Mr Man on the station’s anniversary, and also mooncakes to him every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
And no, he had never returned the mooncakes.
In an interview with The Straits Times in December 2003, she had said she sent mooncakes to Mr Man.
She had also admitted that no one from MediaWorks had called to congratulate her on her winning Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in MediaCorp’s Star Awards that year.
All’s well
She had, however, insisted even then that everything was cordial.
Jeanette said that she and Mr Man are adults, so even if there is anything between them, they will clarify it face to face.
She insisted she had told Mr Man honestly before she left MediaWorks that she had wanted to concentrate on her studies.
She continued: ‘What I told Mr Man remains between him and me. Hype Records (Jeanette’s management company) told me it was willing to accommodate my studies. But basically what I felt happened that time was a peaceful thing. There was no such thing that Mr Man was unhappy with me.’
She claimed both of them chat comfortably when they see each other during events and a few months ago when she filmed near his office for the drama Together.
And since Jeanette is tipped to be the next Ah Jie, it’s logical to assume that after achieving success in dramas, movies would be the next thing for her – provided she can persuade Mr Man to trust her again.
Laughing, Jeanette said: ‘How is that a link? Actually this has never been a concern of mine. Whatever happens is a natural progression and it’ll be a bonus for me if I get movie offers.
‘But frankly speaking, I really don’t understand how this gossip came about. And I’m not sure why someone has been saying this kind of thing, because it’s really not true.’
When The New Paper contacted Mr Man, he too denied he is on bad terms with Jeanette or that he had returned the mooncakes she sent him.
He also added that he had never heard such talk before.
But was he bothered by it?
‘No, I’m not,’ he said.
He said he had been in the industry for such a long time that the talk doesn’t bother him any more.
What matters to him is doing a professional job.
So does he think Jeanette has what it takes to break onto the big screen a la Raintree Pictures’ darling Qi Yuwu?
He replied tactfully that movies are all about the script and that it’s about finding the right content for the right actor.
He also thinks Jeanette is a very talented actress and has improved a lot over the years, and that she has a lot of potential to go a lot further.
On talk that Jeanette is tipped to be the next Ah Jie, Mr Man said: ‘What actresses need to achieve is improvement and to go to a different level. Titles (like Ah Jie) are up to the public to give.’
The NewPaper