Hallplay 2012, Come Blow Your Horn – An Interview with the Steering Committee

Interviewed by Zachary Low

As this year’s Hallplay, entitled “Come Blow Your Horn” comes to a successful end, join us as we sit down and have a chat with the members of the steering committee, whose every efforts have gone into making it a hit with the residents of KE7 and more.

Hallplay 2012, Come Blow Your Horn - A full house!

Q: I think we can all agree that Hallplay 2011/2012 was a resounding success. At the risk of blowing your own trumpets, what are your thoughts on this year’s performance? Don’t be shy.

Pin Lang: This year’s performance was quite good. While there remain some minor areas for improvement, I think all Hallplay members really put a lot of effort to create a memorable show for our audience

Linus: Well, I think that the whole performance was just great! The well-dressed cast was great, the sets were apt, and coupled with the right ambience; the result was a wonderful performance. I myself was quietly pleased when I got to sneak some time as an audience member on the second night. And all these couldn’t have been accomplished without my dear department heads and every single one of Hallplay’s members!

Annie: Nah, I’m not afraid to blow this horn. :) I’m very proud of the entire Hallplay cast and crew. Again we’ve lived up to the KEVII reputation for putting up a great show, a show that impresses even other halls and gets critical acclaim. It’s quite an incredible feat to pull more than 80 people together, to create one of KE’s crown jewels: the magnificent beast that is Hallplay.

Greg: Awesome! For me, I would give it a 9/10 rating as there’s always room for improvement. The team put in great effort both in front and behind the stage. Hopefully next year we’ll achieve greater heights!

Ruth: It’s blow our own horn la. And I shy leh.

Jamil: Performance wise, I think the production team did a brilliant job. The cast put up an awesome show on both days. When I read the script for the first time, I thought the story was supposed to be a more serious drama rather than a comedy. Kudos to Annie and her team for turning it into a fun-filled play full of laughter.

Azrin: I really liked the performance this year. There was a brilliant mix of comedy, emotional parts and heartwarming scenes. Plus, being in the steering committee let me see all the things the audience isn’t privy to: I can safely say that everyone performed their jobs to the best of their abilities and this contributed to an awesome performance.

Q: Looking back, what was the most difficult part of pulling the whole thing off?

Pin Lang: Coordination among committees. As everyone knows, Hallplay is a crazily big CCA and it’s difficult to keep everyone updated. But, I think the Steering Committee was cooperative this year, which makes coordination much easier. I could count on my SC to be responsible for their work and to keep me in the loop with what they are doing.

Linus: Personally, it would have been to envision the ‘big picture’ and keeping everything on track towards this ‘big picture’. Many a time, I was too caught up with individual aspects of the production such that I neglected the others. Due to the later CCA recruitment fair, we started work late and also experienced delays in the work schedule. Fortunately, everything worked out in the end. Phew!

Annie: Always trying to improve it. This pressure to keep making it better was immense. It meant effort in trying to inspire everyone into doing a good job, or thinking of fresh ideas every rehearsal, or analysing and dealing with recurring problems, because we always wanted to make the show better. We worried a lot. Sometimes I would cry just thinking about how much more I wanted to do. But there is no room for weakness in Sparta. We just kept going.

Ruth: Hallplay this year coincided with Chingay 2012 and Infusion, which affected quite a bit of our sales, especially for friends and people from other halls who wanted to come, but involved in their respective events.

As for the ticketing department, communicating with everyone involved in Hallplay (which works out to 80 people) through email and SMS was quite challenging and phone battery consuming.

Jamil: I think for my department, the most difficult part was getting the booklet out. Getting people to come for the photoshoot is the hardest of all. And printing them was another pain. But I had a brilliant cooperative team and worked efficiently. So we owe a lot to them.

Azrin: The hardest part is always the beginning. Apart from my experience as a humble minion in Michael Warren Lim’s epic set builder team in last year’s edition of Hallplay, I was a noob. Once the designs for the set were up, all that was left for me was to rally my team and take the plunge and start building. But at the time I felt at a loss of what to do since the task i had ahead of me seemed too vast for me to tackle. Oh and did I mention that this was the first time I was taking charge of something like this? Admittedly, once I finally got around to drawing up my workplan, buying the needed wood and teaching my members how to use the various power tools, things started to flow through despite the many difficulties we faced along the way.

From left: Yan Yi (Assistant Productions Manager) and Linus (Productions Manager); Pin Lang (Producer) and Isaac (Assistant Producer)

Q: What is the thing that gives you the greatest satisfaction in this year’s Hallplay experience?

Pin Lang: The fact that it has concluded.

Linus: Between the wonderful performance staged, or the valuable friendships which I made in the process working and toiling together for one full semester, I can’t decide!

Annie: Seeing everything come to life, piece by set piece, every sound effect and perfect line. I was watching some early videos of the cast auditions – things that should probably never see the light of day – and I’m amazed that the cast, the production as a whole, have come such a long way. It’s hard to describe the surge of pride that comes from seeing people reach new heights and from knowing that you were a part of that process.

Ruth: Getting good feedback from friends outside of Hall.

Jamil: Probably seeing Hallplay being featured (as a major article) in The Ridge!

Azrin: Watching the curtains go up during performance day and hearing the audience’s first reaction upon seeing the set – pure bliss I tell you. That and meeting and making friends with so many new people throughout my journey as the set builder head. I don’t think my hall life would be as fun and memorable had I not taken up the role as set builder head.

 

Director Annie and her cast of six (Wesley, Stacey, Shaam, Ellie, Eunice and Asher)!

PRODUCER and PRODUCTION MANAGER – Pin Lang and Linus

Q: Everyone loves comedy – but why pick an American comedy? Do you think audiences would be willing to watch a production with a more Singaporean slant to it?

Pin Lang: We did British last year and it seemed nice to do American for a change.  A couple of years back, Hallplay did do a local play and though I am not sure of the details, it was relatively well-received. We did consider of doing a local play but Singapore playwrights are pretty limited. Somehow, the plays we read just didn’t feel right, so we decided to forgo the idea.

Linus: Actually, we didn’t pick ‘Come Blow Your Horn’ just because it was American. We stuck to the comedy formula because we wanted people to just relax and get a healthy dose of American humour and felt that the theme of family and relationships was something that everyone can relate to. We actually wanted to showcase the work of a Singaporean playwright but couldn’t find a suitable work and ended up with Neil Simon instead, which turned out to be a good choice!

Annie: We actually wanted to do a Singaporean play, but we were limited by the scripts we found (a lot of the famous Singaporean scripts were either very abstract, or had extreme language or themes that we thought wouldn’t get approved, or simply didn’t have a workable number of cast members). Anyway Neil Simon’s script had a heart to it that we thought Singaporeans would be able to relate to, and it was modern and clever, and most importantly it was feasible.

Q: Hallplay is undoubtedly one of the biggest CCAs in hall. How did you guys make everyone see the bigger picture, even within the framework of their individual sub-committees?

Pin Lang: I think the fact that all comm head were aware of their job scopes and had their own unique ways of dealing with their members helped a lot. Through them, a lot of things that I wanted to convey were efficiently communicated across. In addition, the goal of having a successful performance was probably a major factor why everyone cooperated with everyone else and made things relatively soon.

Linus: We got everyone in the steering committee to regularly share their individual sub-committee’s plans, ideas and progress to have an overall view of the whole production. Members were also welcome and encouraged to come down to watch the many rehearsals held at the comm hall so that they can view their efforts as a part of the ‘complete picture’.

The DIRECTOR – Annie

Q: Compared to last year’s production, you only had 6 cast members on hand this year. How did you overcome this challenge?

Annie: Actually, having six cast members was something I wanted. I looked for a smaller, more intimate cast. I knew it’d be tough to work with the schedules of 10 people from different faculties like last year, and getting every single person to a certain standard of acting – well, the more of them, the bigger the challenge. I was thinking a small cast would bond quicker and so we’d all get comfortable working with each other onstage more quickly, build our chemistry sooner, and so on. (But later the SC realised that a smaller cast meant we couldn’t sell the same volume of tickets as easily because the pool of friends/family was smaller.)

Q: Having acted in Out Of Order, which was a unabashedly slapstick affair, what prompted you to cast a more sombre mood in some of the scenes in Come Blow Your Horn, especially with regard to the scenes which dealt with more serious issues, like family relationships?

Annie: Great question! Unlike last year, the material was a little heavier and it carries its humour more through dialogue than physical slapstick. To me, Come Blow Your Horn had a definite message about family, love, and life choices. It dealt with universal human themes that weren’t always frivolous. And as a director I thought this “sombre mood” was interesting to explore; it adds a bit of substance to the performance. Perhaps I got itchy for more emotional material after acting in a role for pure comic relief last year. Or perhaps I knew I couldn’t live up to Asher’s great directorial capability to consistently bring on the hilarity, and chose to adopt a slightly more serious style as a result.

STAGE – Greg

Q: Tell me about the challenges you faced, having to use the comm hall as a place for rehearsals, especially with Chinese Drama using the space at the same time, and the IHG season in full swing.

Greg: Most of these challenges were actually minimised due to a planned schedule of the comm hall usage before the start of our rehearsal. However, one of the main challenges that my team and I faced was that the stage markings were either gone missing or mixed up with other productions’ marking.

Ticketing and Publicity – Ruth and Jamil

Q: The house was pretty packed on both nights. Do you think we will ever be able to fill the larger theatre in UCC?

Ruth: I think your question can be asked in another way, like whether we can look at having three performance days. I think the UCC hall has a more conducive environment for a play compared to UCC Theatre. The attendance of the audience could still be improved, as I’ve mentioned above, that there were clashes in events resulting in lesser audience. However, with IHG, Chingay, and other hall productions and events during that peak period, I guess our competition with all these events will still be quite strong.

Jamil: There’s a reason why we have 2 shows instead of one. It gives a choice to the audience to choose to watch on either day if they are not free on one of the days. The small UCC theatre seats about 400 people while the big hall has 1000+ seats. Unless we are like Chinese Drama which gives out free tickets, it is going to be very hard for us to ever fill the larger theatre.

Q: Was having a grand total of only 3 people in ticketing a problem?

Ruth: Compared to the department from the past few years, the ticketing committee has always been run by 2 members (and with mostly guys involved, not to say that girls are not capable). 3 people in the department are actually sufficient for ticketing. Even during the production days, we had the help from the publicity team. So, it’s manageable.

Jamil: Lol. Last year it was just Patrick and Ruth who did everything. This year Ruth has June and Melissa plus 6 more people from my Pubs Team if she needs manpower. 3 people is quite a number of people actually. Unless we want to do more chim stuff like online ticketing system, but that will probably require more manpower and technical expertise…

Q: What was your overarching strategy for publicity this year? Did it work?

Jamil: Well, this year’s publicity I aimed to publicise more to the general population of NUS. We got an article in The Ridge which was not achieved last year. We had banners and posters all over school including the other halls. I learned that it is not difficult to reach the NUS population, but admittedly the response was not very encouraging. This is mainly because our main audience are actually the people from our hall (or was from our hall). Future publicity should concentrate more on getting the whole hall to come down and watch Hallplay. Besides the people in hall who come to down, the only other audience members were the friends and family of the people who are part of the production. We really need Hallplay members to sell their tickets in order for us to fill up the seats. It is not just the job of the Ticketing and Publicity department. Selling tickets is everyone’s job.

All in all, I think Pubs and Tix learned a lot this year and have quite a number of things to pass down to the future generations of Hallplay.

SETS (the building half) – Azrin

Q: How did you deal with the situation where it was necessary to rebuild the bar top? Any words of wisdom to provide on hindsight?

Ah, the bar top. The problem with productions is that things always come at you out of the blue. The bartop was one of the first few things we had built for the set, and when the cast began to do rehearsals, we realised the bartop was unnaturally tall with respect to the actors. This was sometime towards the end of the December holidays, when full dress rehearsals were scheduled to start. I had a couple of courses of action available. 1) leave the bar as it is and let the actors look awkward, 2) build a platform for the actors behind the bar so that they wouldn’t look too awkward, and 3) rebuild the entire bar at the cost of more work and possibly not meeting my deadlines. I took up the job in the first place with the aim to build a set that would do justice not only to the actors but to the entire production itself. Such an imperfection could not be allowed to exist on the set and my course of action suddenly became very clear to me, much to the disdain of the set decor head who had spent lots of time doing up the old bar. Besides, it was the perfect chance to use better wood and better construction techniques to fabricate the new bar which in the end turned out to be a whole lot better than the original.

The takeaway? make sure you clarify everything and leave nothing (as much as possible) to uncertainty or guesstimation. but in the event that things do muck up, you shouldn’t be afraid to take a step back and even start from the basics if that’s what it takes – within reasonable limits of course. Don’t decide to rebuild your set a day before the actual performance.
Q: What makes you soldier on late at night, even when your ears are buzzing with the incessant noise of the electric drill, and your fingers bruised from getting inadvertently hit by hammers, nails, and other such potentially destructive items?

Oh, it was difficult believe me. I had to juggle set building, floorball, choir and reservist ICT as well. It was so tiring but the end product kept me going. The motivation of building a set that could add to and complement the atmosphere of the play as well as wow the audience was enough for me. Besides, the consequences of failure were extremely dire. It helps to have a team of builders that are extremely enthusiastic and fun to work with. I swear, I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have a team like the one I did. As an added incentive, working with power tools is really fun and the feeling you get when you see your work slowly take shape from a pile of wood and screws into a functional set is unparalleled. When I watched the play from the audience and I saw the set in its full glory I knew that all that time working on the set was time well spent.

DND ’12: Interview with Isaac and Ashley, Block CD

Interviewed by Zachary Low

Edited by Celine Yeap

Today, we find ourselves talking to Isaac Chay and Ashley Tong, CD Block’s very own pageant contestants. Join us as we find out more about what they think of each other, and give us some insights on life in school!

Our CD pageant contestants, Ashley and Isaac

Z: As always, the first question is going to be… tell me about yourselves.

Isaac: I’m in softball, handball, tennis, and also the assistant producer for Hallplay.

Ashley: Marketing, OCIP Laos, and I’m also in NUS Climb (rock climbing).

Previously, Ashley was also overheard saying ‘I rate myself an 11 out of 10.’ That’s some serious belief in your own mojo there. Good stuff!

Z: Very nice. Now, legend has it that Isaac is the object of desire for the girls in this year’s Medicine Year Ones. Ashley, aren’t you worried when you hear knocks on your door at night? Ever received any death threats from jealous doctors-to-be?

Ashley: Oh, I’m not worried at all. Isaac doesn’t want to date M1s: he has a rule on intra-faculty dating.

Isaac nods sagely.

Z: And you know this because?

Ashley: Because I know all of Chay’s deepest, darkest secrets.

Z: And Chay, what do you have to say about this?

Isaac: I’m not the object of desire.

O RLY?!

Ashley: It’s the eyebrows. That’s the real object of desire.

That’s what she said…

Z: So Ash, what’s it like being an Arts student in KE? Ever felt like you were discriminated as part of the minority?

Ashley: People in the science canteen always look at me as if I’m not supposed to be there.

Isaac: She’s the object of desire in Science. Guys look at her like ‘damn, she fly!’

While Ashley is the object of desire for all guys in Science, Chay's eyebrows are THE object of desire (albeit not for his fellow female classmates).

Z: Thanks for clearing things up. So, Chay, are you looking forward to dancing in front of everyone? Going to show the world how you twist?

Isaac: No, no, I can’t do that. I don’t have the moves. But I’ll try.

Ashley (indignantly): Do or do not, there is no try!

The Star Wars fan in me approves.

Z: What’s your greatest source of East Wing pride?

Isaac: Ashley. She motivates me to practice for pageant.

Awww.

Ashley: The people… every night I can knock on someone’s door, knowing that someone will be there for me.

Z: And for our last question: imagine you are a character in a movie and you are facing off with your archenemy. It’s a no-win situation for you, and your enemy is about to make you shuffle off this mortal coil, as Shakespeare so eloquently puts it. What’s the last thing you’re going to say to the camera?

Ashley: Hasta la vista, baby!

Isaac: Mooooooommmmmmy! It’s ooooverrrrrrrr!

And that concludes the second part of our pageant participant interview series. Look out for the next instalment as we begin our journey to the West.

DND ’12: Interview with Jack and Jen, Block AB

Interviewed by Zachary Low

In the first of the pageant contestant interview series, we sit down for a short chat with Jack Neo and Jen Yeh from AB, to find out what makes them tick. Please forgive any interjections by members of the public while the two of them are providing thoughtful answers to the questions posed.

Our AB pageant contestants: Jack Neo and Jen Yeh

Z: So, tell me about youselves.

Jack (lying on the floor): I’m in softball, marketing, hallplay marketing, and a part-time vegetarian.

Note: Jack is also Mr. Science and Mr. Personality!

Jen: I make pancakes.

Jen is also in touch rugby, choir, KE media, hallplay set design…

Celine: She does everything.

Z: So of all the time spent in hall so far, what has been your defining experience?

Jack: When I first moved into hall. It was good. Especially the first night – it was a bit rough, but I liked it.

Jen: That’s hard… (this provokes lots of eyebrow raises from other people). But I’d say Rag. Rag was awesome.

Z: Very nice. And now because I like food, I’m going to ask about it. Jen, what’s your favourite Singaporean food, and why?

Jen: Singaporean food is actually pretty good. (Nods of approval from assembled pageant contestants). But I like nasi lemak…

Z: Why? Because it’s fattening?

Jen: Because the lady who serves it is really nice.

Z: Jack, what do you have to say about Jen’s choice of food?

At this point, we must note that Jack is speechless and unable to provide a coherent answer in response to Jen’s answer on why nasi lemak tastes good. Jen responds indignantly by questioning Jack’s vegetarian orientation, and the ensuing argument breaks into a discussion of their daily diet and monthly expenses.

One must wonder whether there are any trust issues between the two.

Jen and Jack, apparently suffering from some minor trust issues.

Z: Rumour has it that AB block houses many party animals. Is this true?

Jen: No… it’s all in CD. Not AB!

Jack (nodding sagely in agreement): Yup. All the havoc is in CD.

The two of them proceed to elaborate on this. It’s good to see them united on at least one issue.

Z: Jen, what’s your favourite fictional character?

Jen: Peter Pan.

Wesley: Not Jack Sparrow?

Jen: No! Well, Peter Pan can fly and he never grows old.

Alex: Peter Pan never reached puberty.

I encourage you, dear reader, to use your imagination to decipher Jen’s reaction to Wesley and Alex. After all, that’s what Peter Pan would have wanted you to do.

Z: Alright Jack, tell me why any girl should date you. Is it because you’re a physicist with a working knowledge of everything in the universe?

Jack: Because any girl who meets me will be attracted to me, like the Earth is attracted to the Sun – with a large force inversely proportional to the distance squared.

Z: Very good, Jack. I hope you put your working knowledge to good use. And finally, can the two of you tell us whether you can be like Jack and Jill and have adventures on the hill?

Jack: Ask Jen.

Jen: Jack can have adventures by himself.

Our interview with the couple from AB ends with Team Jen beating Team Jack 1-0, courtesy of a last minute verbal burn.

And that concludes our chat with Jack and Jen. Look out for the next in our ‘interview-with-the-pageant-contestant’ series, also known as ‘Zach-will-never-interview-himself’.

Up Close with the 55th JCRC: Eddie, President

Interviewed by Adrian Chia

Eddie Tan, 55th JCRC President

As the JCRC President, almost everyone in Hall knows Eddie. But how many of us truly know him in person? In this interview, Eddie shares with us some of his insights and experiences, both as the President and as a KEVIIan.

Q: You have been staying in A2 (Block A level 2) for 4 years. What is so magical about that place?

It has the right balance of everything – it is near the bus stop; I only need to climb one floor to reach my room from the dining hall; it is at the top of the slope so I get a lot of wind.

Q: Before you became the President, you have been one of the most active members of this Hall. What have you joined since Year 1?

I was in AB Block Committee for 3 years, for which I was AB Block Head when I was in Year 2. For HallPlay I first joined as a Tech member, then I became the Tech Head  in Year 2. I have been in the Merit Awards Board twice, being the co-head during one of the years. I joined KEWOC (KE Welcoming and Orientation Committee) 3 times – once as a programmer, once as logistics and flag member, and once more as counsellor. In Year 1, I was in Hall Marketing as the bazaar in-charge, as well as KEVision…

Eddie's KEWOC 09/10 Poster

Q: Wow! Those were just the committees right? How about sports?

In Year 3, I took up 6 sports – softball, touch rugby, road relay, volleyball, floorball and squash. I have been joining softball and touch rugby every year.

Q: Gosh, how did you cope with so many sports??

Haha towards the end I realised it was a bit hard to go for all the trainings.

Q: As a final year student, you have heavy academic workload and the make-or-break  final year project (FYP) to handle. How have you been coping with your studies?

Haha not very good lah, only 2A+s for the last semester. In Hall, between grades, Hall activities and sleep, you can only choose 2 at a time. I chose to sacrifice sleep. For my FYP, I am not putting in as much time as the rest of my coursemate! *Exasperated look*

Q: What about other commitments?

Trust me, I have no more other commitments in life at this point in time.

Q: Haha okay then. What motivated you to take up this heavy responsibility in the first place?

I am doing this because I know there is something special in this Hall that we need to uphold. When I think back about my friends and experiences in Hall, they don’t just happen like that. Somebody must make sure they happen. So this is my way of giving back to Hall.

Q: Any regrets thus far?

To be honest, there were times when I wished I had more time for myself – FYP, recreation, sports. A lot of sacrifices had to be made. There were episodes when I thought, ‘What if I did not become President? Would I be happier otherwise?’

I guess at the end of the day, it would turn out to be like the NS kind of feeling – you finished it then you feel proud of yourself that you actually went through that much sh*t.

I hope in the remaining time we can make some changes that will benefit KEVIIans, that will make a difference to this Hall. So that there will be a meaningful memory, because you have made a difference and given back to this community. I think it will be a rewarding experience.

Softball

Q: One semester into your job as the JCRC President. How do you feel now?

[The semester] has passed faster than expected. [The JCRC was] kept very busy all the time with very urgent issues.

Currently I am starting to settle in. But the challenge for me is still as big as before. After the semester ended, I had a lot of opportunities to meet with JCRC members from other Halls during the leadership camp. We talked a lot during the camp, especially on the topic of how we go about doing things in Halls. I feel that we have a lot to learn from other Halls, but there are also things which we are doing very well.

For example, our Hall Master is one of the most supportive ones around. His vision for Hall as a place for learning, exploration and self-development is really great.

Q: Looking back into the past semester, how much do you think you have achieved?

I think in terms of tangible, visible changes, not much. But we have started to lay the foundations. The start was very rocky for us, because we started late and there were so many things to be done. That period was not good for us.

One of the biggest breakthroughs for my team was the December holiday subsidy. Our Hall is the only Hall to offer up to 100% subsidy. The SCRC has been very supportive about it.

Q: If you were to start again, would you have done anything differently?

Hell yeah! I think at the start I was being too nice to certain people. When they said they would do something, I trusted them. But in the end things were not done properly. If I were to start again, I would have kept a more watchful eye to ensure things are carried out properly. I realised there are times when I should be little more heavy-handed, because everyone knows that I am a very nice person!

Ultimately, you need to find the balance between trust and control, and there were times when I got the balance a bit wrong.

Q: What are your future plans for KE? What would you try to achieve in your remaining term?

Our Hall is really weak in terms of marketing and sponsorship when compared to other Halls, because we don’t have the framework to attract sponsors. For example, we have very little cash sponsors. We are trying to improve on this by branding our Hall, such as through our productions.

In terms of sports, I hope team KE can make it into all the semis. Any gold medal will be great. We have pumped in the money, hired the coaches and provided ample support. We have pulled in a record number of new residents in Semester 2 under the sports category. Many of our teams have been training hard. I hope all will do well.

KE has never had a pre-IHG supper. IHG has always started quietly and before you know it it is over. This year in Week 1, we will try to organise one to mark the start of the season and to rally support for our sportsmen. We are also putting up an encouragement board in the dining hall. We hope to receive support from all KEVIIans for these initiatives. We want to create the atmosphere of mutual encouragement, to make all our sportsmen feel like they are playing for this Hall, and they have the whole Hall behind them as their supporters.

As for KEIPS, we are devising a way to track the contributions of KEVIIans across the years, so that by the time KEVIIans graduate from Hall their contributions can be recognised. We are hoping that this would eventually be recognised by NUS as well.

For all KEVIIans, especially our sportsmen and sportswomen

Q: In your opinion, what is the most unique feature of KE Hall?

Hmm… *deep in thought* we have been thinking about this for a very long time, especially when we think about branding. I wouldn’t say this is a unique feature, but it is a special thing – among all the Halls, we have the most accommodating and homely community. I think everybody can find a friend here. The culture against foreigners is not so bad – they can join almost any CCA they like. I think we are nice people.

Q: What is your leadership style?

I don’t like to take an authoritative or domineering style. I try to influence or ‘infect’ others with my actions.

Q: So you lead by example?

Hmmm, that’s not exactly correct either because there are times when I’m not such a good example. *Chuckles* I want to win other people’s trust by showing an honest and sincere side of me.

Eddie is infectious!!

Q: Finally here is the last but toughest question: between popularity and practicality, which is more important to you? Why?

I think it is more about doing things at the right time. It is about doing practical things while trying to maintain a certain level of popularity. Sometimes managing your popularity is the means to carry out practicality. If you think long term, you cannot keep doing things at the expense of your popularity. But if I die die have to choose one, it would be practicality, because no matter how people will dislike me, there will always be God to support me.

“I’m a busy man” – an interview with Mitchell Yeo

Written by: Zachary Low

Edited by: Celine Yeap

Our writer takes a trip down to the F block lounge for a chat with the JCRC Financial Secretary and ‘sexy beast’ of KEVII, Mitchell Yeo. A Year 3 Math major, Mitchell also plays squash for KEVII and enjoys running in his free time. Due to his being the Financial Secretary, Mitchell is often seen surrounded by people during dinner, leading him to remark to his friends that ‘I’m a busy man’. Today, we find out what makes this intrepid character tick.

JCRC Financial Secretary and ‘sexy beast’ of KEVII, Mitchell Yeo

Z: Let’s take a trip in the Tardis, back to the year 2010. Whatever made you decide to join the JCRC?

Mitchell: In 2010, the 54^th JCRC President approached me after Orientation. KEWOC was my only CCA then, and I thought I would need a new CCA to continue staying in hall. Moreover, I was confident that if I took up the post of Financial Secretary, I would be able to dispense my duties with due diligence and competence. Also, the people who made up the JCRC were a big part of it.

Z: Do you think it is a tough job?

Mitchell: Initially when I first started, it was difficult. I had to learn the ropes by myself. But routine made it easier over time, and collecting receipts, photocopying, and reimbursing became a habit over time.

Z: And what makes you take up this appointment again, knowing full well the weight of responsibility it entails?

Mitchell: Well, this year I was helping a friend. Also, because of the late formation of the 55^th JCRC, I knew that someone had to step up to fulfil the role. Even if I wasn’t the Financial Secretary, I would still have to coach the new Financial Secretary. It’s also out of a sense of duty – I’m doing it because I know I can do it. That said, we’re looking for an assistant Financial Secretary!

Z: What is the one quality that you think a JCRC member must possess, above all others?

Mitchell: Integrity. Because as a JCRC member you attend hall leaders’ meetings, SCRC meetings… and you know the internal workings of the hall. There are some things you can and cannot say, especially when you’re dealing with sensitive issues like money. People want to know how much budget is allocated to them, and why, and you have to be answerable to them. For me, it’s about making sure every cent goes where it’s meant to go.

Z: Don’t you ever get tired? What keeps you going?

Mitchell: Well, it’s better than studying (laughs). It’s a matter of routine. I like systematic and orderly things like processing receipts. When I’m stuck at tutorials, I work on JCRC stuff, and then I know that I am accomplishing something. After that I go back to my tutorials. But at the same time responsibility is a big part of it. I know what I got myself into, and so I must do it!

Z: What do you think of your nomination as a contestant for DND?

Mitchell: To say I expected it is wrong. Let’s say if this happened when I was still in Year 1 – I would have done it then. I’m not going to take part this year though, have to give the freshmen a chance.

Z: That’s the kind and gracious Mitchell we all grow to know and love. Thanks for your time.

Mitchell: What? But I was just getting into the mood. Ask some more questions!

(This actually happened and can be corroborated by eyewitnesses who were also in the lounge at the time of the interview. The following questions were formed out of spontaneous combustion and were not planned.)

Z: Alright. Recently, the phenomenon of KEVIIans calling you the ‘sexy beast of KE’ has spread to both East and West Wings, and has even intensified. What do you think of people calling you the ‘beast’?

Mitchell: It’s a very interesting nickname, whose origins are lost in the sands of time. Perhaps you could ask the interviewer. The name is growing on me though.

Z: But do you think ‘sexy beast’ fits you?

Mitchell: More of the first part than the second. But ‘beast’ is becoming part of my personality, especially when I go for squash training, or dinner in the dining hall.

Z: I know, I’ve seen that side of you manifest during dinner. As the undisputed beast of KEVII, what is some advice that you would give to freshmen?

Mitchell: Don’t be afraid to try new things. Hall is a place where opportunities are everywhere and new avenues abound. Play a new sport, learn something new from the culture side, go on an overseas trip for CIP, or perform on stage. You might even find your lifelong partner!

Z: Which leads us nicely into our next question: have you met any potential lifelong partners in hall?

Mitchell: (resoundingly) YES!! (laughs) If I said ‘no’, maybe someone would come and look for me. But in all honesty, the special someone has not yet made herself known in my life. (This is followed by disbelieving looks from other members of F Block who are also in the lounge.)

Z: I’m sure with your newfound reputation, you will need to give out queue numbers soon enough. Any last words?

Mitchell: I just want to enjoy my last year in hall, and make more new friends. And I’m always glad to help KE Press raise its profile. Read the hall blog more, everybody.

At this point, Mitchell’s good friend, CK Chiu, was asked to describe Mitchell in one word. CK replied with no hesitation with this adjective:

SEXY.

What else?

The writer would like to thank his friend Mitchell Yeo for being such a good sport and agreeing to the interview, despite the fact that he (Mitchell) had to cut his lunch appointment with two girls short in order to accommodate the interview schedule.

KE中文戏剧新十年作品《如影随行》的台前幕后

Written by Hui Ze

Edited by Png Ning

如影随行

《如影随行》是KE中文戏剧成立第十一年的作品，也是新的十年第一部作品。

从前年的《过客》，去年的《我和我和他和他》，到今年的《如影随行》，KE中文戏剧每一年都带给观众不一样的体会和感触。笔者有幸与几位主创人员聊聊今年中文戏剧创作的台前幕后。

心情溶剂的幕后小揭密——与三位Heads面对面! A Behind-the-Scenes Interview with the 3 heads of XQRJ!

written by : Zhang Rong

Edited by : Png Ning

心情溶剂是我们KE7 HALL每年对外宣传的super major event,其影响力和知名度都颇高！十三届心情溶剂得到了很多称赞和好评，作为小记者的我带着大家的好奇和疑问，近距离接触Heads，看看他们心中的XQRJ =)

The Love-Hate relationship

Written by: Jeremy Auw & Sarah Lah

In this feature, we wanted to find out what KEVIIans think of our hall. To get a representative opinion, we approached one of the “grassroots leaders “of KE7 – none other than Hui Min, CD block head! Let’s hear what she has to say:

All ready to be interviewed!

Interview with Chia Hui Min, CD Block Head

1) How did you feel about KE7 when you first came in?

The first thought I had was – “so many stairs!” Especially since I stayed in D block in year 1, the walk to the dining hall was long and arduous. But the rooms in KE7 are spacious so I guess that makes up for the stairs!

2) How is it like being the block head for CD block after a semester?

Fun and tiring. It’s heartwarming to see blockers have fun and enjoy themselves during block events! It’s great getting to know most of the blockers too. Organising block events and having to do admin stuff can be quite tiring, but all’s fine with my fantastic block committee!

3) Have your perspectives of KE7 changed? If so, how?

In year 1, I used to think East Wing was a very quiet place but I think East Wing is a lot more happening this year! The freshies are quite crazy and noisy (in a good way of course) so that adds a lot of life here. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear random shouts and laughter in the middle of the night anymore (laughs)!

4) What do you like about KE7?

It’s near to Science so even if I oversleep (which unfortunately happens quite often), I’d only be a few minutes late for lessons. I also look forward to dinnertime because it’s a time to de-stress and chat with my friends. I guess that makes the food more bearable (laughs)!

5) What do you dislike about KE7?

Probably still the stairs, but my room is near the bus stop so I can’t complain much!

With the noticeboard!

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Sien Long

By: Wang Liansheng

Photos: Sien Long

It was euphoria for all when the KE Float was awarded “Best Rag Performance” and “Most Environmentally-Friendly Float”. The entire hall was absolutely beaming with pride over such awesome accolades – something we had desired for so long, and finally achieved this year. Months after the hard work, KE Press now turns to the heroes behind the scenes to hear their secrets to success, and find out all the juicy gossip they have to share. For this article, we have Sien Long, from the RAG team.

Thumbs up for KEVII! Sien Long is first from the left.

Q: For our audience, introduce yourself briefly!

A: Hello, the name’s Sien Long, a typical year 2 Food Science & Technology (FST) student who enjoys eating, playing but not mugging =) On top of that, this insomniac loves running, music, milk, and good food. And one thing I’d want to clarify that is its Sien Long and not Hsien Loong, they might sound the same but totally different persons.

Q: So what was the special, critical role you took on in Float?

A: I was the production manager (PM) of this year’s KEVII Float – KEnovo. I believe the “critical” role in float is not mine but those of each and every KEnovo floater that formed this incredible team, but I do admit that the PM is a special role because you are one of the only 2 who can get the kick of directing the float lorry during Rag Day itself =D

Q: Share with us what you thought was the most outstanding part of Float this year.

A: The most amazing part of this year’s float is basically the tremendous effort of the people behind KEnovo who made this happen. Whether it is ROCKE or the new blood of KEVIIans this year, I would like to thank every form of support you all have given.

Apart from that, I want to give a thumbs up to all KEnovo floaters. We walked out of our comfort zone this year and went all the way with such a daring and impossible float design. We’ve been through times when all the odds were against us, from a lag of 2 weeks behind production schedule to even lorry battery failure. I still remember this quote of a senior, “everyday in the morning when I enter the tentage, I see a different float”. I’ve seen my team conjure up countless miracles which brought us back on schedule especially the construction of Willy himself during the final few weeks of production.

Introducing the workers behind the scenes

Q: Time to confess, what was the most unforgettable snippet of event that happened during Rag? Any person left an indelible mark in your life? =)

A: The most unforgettable moment for me and every single KEnovo floater is when we marched our float gloriously into SRC on mounting night with our KE Chant deafening all the other Halls and Faculties. I believe those who were present on mounting night itself will definitely remember that moment for a lifetime.

P.S. : And the number of McD Deliverys we had =p

Q: What words of wisdom would you offer those interested to take on the time-consuming yet extremely rewarding Float next year? Any suggestions for next year’s theme or design?

A: If you want it, go all the way! It is not just a time when you don’t have to worry about studies and commit fully to a hall CCA, not just the time that you are upfront on the battlefield for your hall, but also a time to enjoy and make many friends of a lifetime. ;) But always remember, dare to dream and don’t constrain yourself to the traditions of KE7, be bold in your design and carry on that “New Beginning” that KEnovo has brought ;)

Q: Was it tough juggling work and hall activities for you? How was it possible for you to overcome all these problems?

A: Not as tough as one could imagine, some activities towards the end of semester 2, but other than that all I had to manage was the home sickness throughout the holidays. Thanks to all the support of friends and family, I survived =D

Q: Describe the days of post-float – Is it all back to studies and no more fun?

A: Definitely NO =p Though everyone is back to the normal semester life, we still get together often for birthday celebrations and gossip around on the potential couples of KEnovo haha. But its still amazing when you walk around hall and realize that even after float, those comrades who went through all the hardship with you are still alive, kicking, and fighting on for our Hall.

Q: Lastly, what’s up for you in the days to come?

A: Studies… and my other family – XQRJ of course =)

“Float is not just an activity, It is a way of life!”

“Once a floater, always a floater!”

Sien Long

PM KEnovo

Indeed, Sien Long has provided rare insights not only on being the Production Manager of KEnovo, but also several very interesting snippets on being a resident in KEVII. Now, who’s up for the job next year?

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Wee Lee

By: Yap Juin Shiong
Editor: Pearly Neo

Wee Lee, Head of KE Flag Committee 2009

This year’s NUS Flag Day 2009 saw residents of King Edward VII (KE) making their way in full force to various parts of Singapore in a throng of yellow shirts emblazoned with the rag and flag design. The sole purpose: to raise funds for Community Chest on the behalf of 20 needy beneficiaries, who would eventually benefit from the $443,000 collected that day. The collection for KE was overseen by a single man, who is gifted of that very rare attribute that most people spend their entire life trying to acquire- the ability to effectively lead a group of people and organize them into a team working towards a single aim.

Recently, reporters from KEPress were able to coax this charismatic gentleman, Wee Lee, the head of KE Flag Committee 2009, into taking some time off his busy schedule to share his thoughts about Flag Day and hall life.

Q: Congratulations on organizing everything so perfectly! What are your thoughts on this year’s Rag and Flag?

A: This year was a fantastic year, especially because we won the Best Float and everyone I know is proud of it!!!

Q: That’s why KE is the best! Any interesting experiences to share about preparation for flag?

A: Yup, Johan keep molesting me. Just joking! It was great to see everyone’s passion and spirit into working for the final day to make sure everything went smoothly.

Q: Well, it must have been quite stressful! Why did you choose to be flag head then?

A: Because there was no head towards the end of the semester and being the previous Flag head I felt that it was a pity if no one were to lead it. So I told myself, “why not”?

Q: Wow! Being such an experienced person, what advice can you give on how to improve next year’s Flag Day? Do share some tips with the next potential Head of Flag Committee!

A: By asking the alumni to help. Halls like Sheares and KR have a very huge alumni base. Imagine if we have 500 alumni who donate $50, we will have $25,000 and definitely there are more than 500 alumni who have graduated from KE7. Imagine how much we can collect from them.

Q: Excellent advice! Let’s move on to hall life. As a senior, I’m sure you must have felt that KE has become your home away from home.

A: Yup, definitely!

Q: Well, so far, are there any changes you would desperately like to see in KE?

What I feel is that KE has a lot of potential to be one of the greatest hall and the alumni plays an important role, hence, I would like to see a more active alumni committee this year.

Q: What do you like about KE Hall? What is your most memorable experience of KE?

A: I like KE because it is quiet, it is near science, it is home of the squash champions and it has a kind of serenity around it. One memorable experience would probably be running for presidency when I was in year 2; it was quite an exciting period and a fruitful event.

Q: Having had the honour to interview you, I’d like to know more about the man himself. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a person?

A: I feel that I am a team player and a very motivated person. My weakness is that I am sometimes too optimistic at times.

Q: Being so motivated, you must be a really busy person! What do you do in your spare time?

A: Well, I guess normal stuff like going to the movies with my girlfriend and playing squash. I also like to play soccer and basketball.

Q: Which Junior College (JC) were you from? Do you feel that university life is anything like JC life?

A: I was from Nanyang JC. To me, University life would most probably be like JC if I was not staying in hall. You go to school, you hang out in the canteen and you go back home. Nothing special.

Q: Well, university life is also definitely about the academics too! Which course are you in? What do you like most about your course?

A: I am taking life science. What I like about it is that it is very interesting and the subject never fails to amaze me with topics ranging from viruses to human DNA.

Q: Any tips on studying?

A: I would be a wrong person to ask! Cause I feel I study very hard but I just can’t seem to score. Maybe I am self-delusional that I study hard, haha! But from what I observe from others, probably consistency is the key, no matter how busy you are, always take some time to review the day lectures.

Q: Now, a question which is on everyone’s mind- Which canteen do you think is the nicest in NUS, and why?

A: Hmm… Probably science, because it has a great variety and also it has Megabytes, which can be quite a treat after eating 2-3 weeks of canteen food. I usually eat Claypot Beancurd, it is a must try. I always feel very satisfied after eating it. Haha!

Q: I’ll be sure to try out the claypot beancurd next time I visit! Thank you so much for your time! Any last words of advice to fellow residents?

A: Enjoy hall life while you can and these will be the stories that you will tell your children when you have your own kids!

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Xiao Shuang

By: Akhilesh Narayan
Photos: Xiao Shuang

KE’s spectacular, whimsical, sea-faring float, made an absolute splash at Rag Day 2009, plunging into victory, with the ‘Best Overall Float’ prize, an honour that King Edward VII Hall has not had for years. Behind this bedazzling work of genius, however, was an unforgettable experience for many, a summer of infinite memories, a treasure chest of burdens and hopes. Here to tell us the story is the little bundle of energy and enthusiasm, who managed the finances for KE’s Whale- Xiao Shuang, Treasurer and Operations Manager of ROCKE’s Float Committee for 2009.

The wording on the picture says it all.

Congrats on being treasurer and Operations Manager for KE7’s best float! What was special about KE’s float this year?

This year, our float adopted a different concept from our past floats. Our main concept was to have a main float, which have always been Kent Ridge’s and Sheares’ trademark, instead of the concept of having a montage float. Apparently it did the trick =)

That could very well be the secret behind our success. KE also won most environmentally friendly float. How did you make this possible?

Our team had gone all out to source for any and every creative material that they could lay their hands on. This included electrical appliances such as electric irons, telephones, electric kettles and also kitchen utensils such as butter beaters. The judges were especially impressed by our ‘Iron’ fish =)

Cheers on the day!

Describe life in the post-Rag euphoria.

Life goes on, apparently. But one day, long after Rag is over, you will suddenly think of it and smile and say to yourself, “I’m glad that I joined and experienced one of the most meaningful activities in my life!”

Tell us about your experience as a member of the Float Committee last summer.

My experience is quite different from others. I am more involved in the admin side. I was responsible for liaising with the Hall management, other ROCKE members, companies (sponsors) and NUSSU.

What was your role as a treasurer, exactly?

Well, it was just normal stuff that a treasurer does. Plan a budget and keep an eye on it among other things. One additional thing I had to do was to hand in the financial statements to NUSSU towards the end period, when things were getting physical and mentally draining!

Describe a typical day of Float-work over the summer.

Wake up → switch on your computer → start work =)

Dedicated hard workers feeling tired...(L: Xiao Shuang, R: Sien Long)

 

Describe one special memory of your work in Float Comm?

A very special bonding session was when we cut and processed almost all the cans we got from Mega Metal (weighs up to 47 KG!!) in two consecutive nights. We chit chatted along the way and it was truly an unforgettable experience to me.

Describe one point when you and the Float Comm felt slightly down or bugged with the progress on the float.

There was one point of time when we had a miscommunication problem and were pushed to the brink of collapse. Luckily everyone sat down, discussed and probed every possibility that could be done to overcome the crisis. The crisis, in fact helped to bond our team even more!

Ok! Tell us one funny/ interesting thing about each of the other main committee members from float! (Please!!)

• Vincent likes to play with the kitten in Comm Hall.
• Sien Long cannot survive without milk.
• Zhi Peng was forced to wear one of the ‘sexy’ costumes =) (Zhi Peng, im soooo sorry!)
• Anthony likes to order large coke from Mcdonalds
• Xiao Han also likes to drink milk
• Wen Hao is another big fan of Coke.
• Sharlene is always painting =)

 

Finally, congrats on been selected to JCRC this year! What are your hopes and plans for our Hall (and possibly float) in the coming year?

Since we are a bit tight on our budget this year, I hope that all of us can work together and try to cut down unnecessary expenses so that we can still achieve what we intend to achieve when we made our plans for hall’s CCAs.

 

—

And those were the parting words of our Financial Secretary (she’s perfect for the post, I feel). This has been a wonderful way for all of us to gain a sneak peek into the world of our Float Comm. While many of us went back home, they stayed on and built for King Edward VII Hall a beacon of pride…