Why Qi Yuwu Didn’t Get Wife Joanne Peh To Star As Lead Actress In His Directorial Debut

Mediacorp actor Qi Yuwu, 48, is making his debut as a director and screenwriter with the short film Cendol, which will premiere at the Singapore International Film Festival later this month. 

The film, which stars Sharon Au, 50, and Darren Lim, 53, follows the story of a successful interior designer who returns to Singapore to visit her mother, and her reflections on how both she and the city have changed over the years. 

Speaking to 8world, Yuwu shared about the process of working on the project, while also revealing why his wife, Joanne Peh, 42, was not his pick for leading actress. 

Yuwu said: “I did think about [casting Joanne], but she wasn’t suitable. The character’s age didn’t match hers.”

“Perhaps Joanne herself also felt she wasn’t suitable for it, so she didn’t ask to be in it either,” he continued. But he doesn't rule out casting his wife in the future should he have a role that fits her.

Yuwu, who has been in showbiz for over two decades, said the idea of directing had always been at the back of his mind, but he hesitated for a long time and was afraid to take the leap. 

“I’ve worked with many outstanding directors, so for me, it’s not easy becoming a good director. I hold them as my standard, and that made me even more afraid to try this out,” he explained. 

The opportunity to work on this film came when an investor was willing to fund the project, and he finally took the chance, admitting that he initially “wasn’t confident at all in terms of the technical aspects” of making a film. 

Yuwu spent months working on the script for his project — his team had initially hired a professional screenwriter, but he soon realised that only he could express the emotions he wanted to convey best. 

The process, for him, was challenging, given that he had no prior experience in the role. 

“I had no reference and no experience. If your emotions are not at that depth, it’s hard to write something meaningful. It was so tough, I was literally crying as I wrote,” he confessed, adding that Joanne wasn’t around to see him cry as he believes the process should be experienced alone, without help from anyone else.

After completing the script, the top choice for female lead that immediately came to Yuwu’s mind was Sharon. However, he had to work with a tight budget, and the fact that Sharon is based in Paris made the idea seem all the more unrealistic. 

At first, he dismissed the idea. 

“We weren’t very close before. Two years ago, when I was in Paris, we met for a meal, and that was my first real chance to get to know her better. I also followed her on Instagram, and saw what she went through, and it resonated with the character I wrote,” he revealed. 

Yuwu continued looking for alternatives, but couldn’t find anyone more suitable for the role. That’s when Joanne, sensing his frustration, stepped in to encourage him to reconsider Sharon. 

He eventually sent Sharon the offer for the role after resolving the issue of funding with his producer.

Sharon's fees were at market rate —  not "friendship" rates.

“This is something I insist on, that everyone, actors and production crew, should be paid according to the market. There’s no such thing as a 'friendship fee',” he asserted. 

He also revealed that the film’s budget was in the six-figure range, and everything was funded by investors. He considers himself fortunate, as he would never have tried directing without the opportunity. 

Yuwu is confident about his directorial debut, and hopes his work is one that audiences can feel connected to and resonate with. 

He said: “What matters most is whether I was able to express what I wanted to through this short film, and whether the audience can understand it. This is my first attempt, and if I get another chance, I’ll definitely do even better.”

Photos: 戚玉武/ Facebook, joannepeh/ Instagram

Catch the trailer for Cendol below.