Romeo Tan On Breaking A Personal NG Record While Filming How Are You? 2 And How His Condo Renovations Are Going So Far
One of Romeo's co-stars had to take a toilet break because he kept flubbing his lines.
Have you ever tried saying a long sentence full of complicated terms in a language you’re not very familiar with? Add lights, cameras, an entire production crew, and other cast members, and you’ll get what Romeo Tan experienced on the set of dialect drama How Are You? 2 (also known as Ho Seh Bo 2).
Recalling that particularly memorable moment during our phone interview on Monday (Aug 3) afternoon, the 35-year-old explained that he had to deliver a rather lengthy message about Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs, for a scene in a hospital setting.
A side note: How Are You is a collaboration between Mediacorp and the Ministry of Communications and Information, so the show often weaves various PSAs about government initiatives that are directed at senior citizens into the script. And Romeo had difficulties as they had to be spoken in a variety of local dialects — the actor has never shied away from admitting his lack of proficiency in Hokkien, and there he was, having to nail a speech containing words like “Community First Responder”.
Romeo Tan and his How Are You? 2 co-stars
At the end of the day, he racked up a total of 27 NGs ('No Good' takes, or bloopers) before he finally got it right. He reckons it’s a personal record in his 10 years of acting. “The director and I knew it would be tough and we all expected there would be NGs, but not as many as 27! I gave myself maybe around 10? But I don’t think I have ever had 27 NGs in my life before, you know!”
Fortunately, everyone around him was very patient, including his co-stars Zhu Houren, Chen Liping, and Sheila Sim, but of course, Romeo still felt very bad. “Houren da ge was filming with me all throughout my NGs, but when we got to the 26th take, he couldn’t tahan anymore and had to go to the toilet,” he chuckled.
Romeo added that Liping suggested changing the words into something simpler that would be easier for him to say, but he decided to stick to what he was taught by Richard Low, who also stars in How Are You? 2 and was one of Romeo’s Hokkien tutors (the other being veteran actress Lin Ruping).
“Qianyi (Richard) da ge is very traditional and insists on speaking proper Hokkien, so in the end, I didn’t change anything and proceeded with what he taught me, but it took 27 takes lah. (Laughs)” According to Romeo, he has a “totally blank stare” in the final cut, so remember this story and his struggles when you get to that part.
Acting isn’t always full of glitz and glamour
If you’re wondering if Romeo’s Hokkien has improved after filming two dialect dramas (he was also in the first season of How Are You?), he believes it has, but he stops short of claiming he can carry a proper conversation entirely in the language.
“After season one, I thought I would never do another Hokkien show ‘cos they didn’t call me back for dubbing, so I assumed they had given up on me,” he chuckled. “So when I was asked to be in season two, I was a bit shocked but also very happy at the same time 'cos season one received very good feedback from the audience.”
The show is apparently so popular with senior citizens that Romeo gets aunties coming up to him to speak in Hokkien while calling him by his character’s name, Xiao Gandang. “The other day, I was at the supermarket with my mum, and a helper who was pushing an ah ma in a wheelchair saw me and went, ‘Eh, Gandang, Gandang!’ Then the ah ma looked at me and said, ‘Xiao Gandang! Ho bo (how are you)?’ (Laughs)”
With How Are You? 2 already airing on TV, Romeo has been busy focusing on two other major projects: his new Ch 8 drama Jungle Survivor, which also stars Rebecca Lim, Felicia Chin, and Pierre Png, as well as renovations on his new pad at Marina One Residences, which he got the keys to back in May.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by R O M E O T A N (@romeotan) on Jul 10, 2020 at 12:57am PDT
Unlike his pal Elvin Ng, who had an absolutely horrid time dealing with irresponsible contractors while doing up his house, Romeo was happy to report that everything has been very smooth-sailing so far, and that he is on track to finally move in later this month.
“I went to have a look yesterday and I would say it’s about 80 per cent done?” said Romeo, who is still staying with his family at their four-room flat in Simei while he waits for his place to be ready. “There have been no headaches except for when they had to stop for two months during the circuit breaker, but fortunately it isn’t a very huge renovation.”
From his description, though, it still sounds like a pretty major overhaul. “I included a lot more storage space, changed the wallpaper, and tore down the folding doors separating the living room and bedroom to replace them with glass and black metal frames, like the kind at PS.Cafe, so that it feels more open. It’s almost like a hotel room where the bedroom and living room are in one big space, and I like it when the glass doors are opened up and I can see through to the other room. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the result right now.”
When the construction dust settles, Romeo envisions his home having a “resort” feel with a modern touch, complete with indoor greenery to give his surroundings a lush, natural look.
While he declined to reveal how much he splashed on his apartment, Romeo called his purchase “a good investment” and shared that he was drawn to the condo 'cos of its facade and prime location.
As for how his parents feel about him moving out: “They are quite cool with it 'cos they’ve been busy taking care of my niece and nephew so it’s good to have one less person taking up space at home. (Laughs)”
Now he’s got all that space to himself — plus a cool view
How Are You? 2 airs every Friday at 11.30am on Channel 8.
Episodes are also available on meWATCH.
Photos: Mediacorp, Romeo Tan/Instagram
