00:00So I think this is a very different drama that we are doing.
00:04Oh, do you see that vintage car that just drove by?
00:07Isn't that cool? Oh my god.
00:09Yes, this is Ping Jie talking.
00:11Welcome to 1947.
00:15Hi Asia1, I'm Priscilla Chan and I'm currently acting as Ping Jie in Emerald Hill.
00:34Ping Jie, she's the head of all the ma jies and she's the ma jie of the matriarch.
00:43So that's my job, yay.
00:45Hi Asia1, I'm Zeng Weiyu.
00:49Today, I'm filming at the set of The Little Mermaid's Emerald Hill.
00:56It's a tense scene involving a lot of people and a lot of things.
01:02Hi Asia1, I'm Sheila.
01:05I'm on the set of Emerald Hill right now and my character's name is Zhang Yingyang.
01:10Zhang Yingyang is a very non-traditional nyonya of her time.
01:15She believes in women empowerment.
01:17She's a philanthropist.
01:19She is very strong-willed and a very determined and passionate woman.
01:27So much like me.
01:35Okay, actually the one of the biggest difference between period drama and
01:38modern drama is the pacing.
01:40And the way you deliver your lines and your body language.
01:43So the way you manage those characters and emotion and for people of the modern to view
01:50it in the, to view a period drama, actually that's one of the challenge that I have to
01:55overcome myself.
02:40Wow, I really, really enjoyed my time with the cast.
02:43Not just the cast, actually with the director and the producer as well.
02:47We had so much good time together and because we went out to Malacca to film.
02:53In fact, when the boys, they were going up to Malacca to film, the girls were already
03:00planning like, hey, you know, let's make a trip there and visit and like have fun together.
03:04But because we were in Malacca, we went to Malacca to film.
03:07But because of coordination and that, it didn't happen.
03:12But then when Don and I were in Malacca for filming, then I asked Ah Jie, hey, come la,
03:17you know, like, let's go and have fun.
03:18And then she said, okay.
03:19And so then Alvin and Romeo and Jojo, like the rest of the Li Zhen Jie, you know, they
03:27all also went out to visit us.
03:29And that was such a fun trip.
03:37Actually, every period drama is always memorable because for each drama, the era is different.
04:08So for me, this is another special era, which was my first attempt, I must say.
04:14Yeah, because I've done the 1930s, I've done the 60s, I've done the late 50s.
04:20So I think this era, the 1947 to the 65 is quite unique.
04:27I feel very happy to be away for filming because I am able to fully focus and not have to worry
04:38about them, you know, being upset that I'm not home and things like that.
04:42So I mean, I've learned to trust.
04:44I've learned to trust the rest of my village.
04:46My husband has to step up and my mom has been helping me a lot, taking care of the children,
04:52my helper as well.
04:53So I mean, I have a good team.
04:54I feel like I'm grateful to have that me time.
04:57I'm grateful to have the time fully focusing on my craft.
05:01And it's been pretty amazing.
05:03Yeah, I am happy to do it all over again.
05:11The point about a lot of people may think that Ma Jie, what's the fit with a Peranakan family?
05:16But later on, as I was progressing and completing to the end of the show, I realised that it's
05:21quite magical because they may seem quiet, but actually their presence there plays so
05:26much importance, not only to the family, to the stability of it, or even helping their
05:32mistresses to say certain things that they can't say because it's all out of love and
05:38respect.
05:39So I think there's a lot of subtle moments, which when I was filming, I was quite surprised.
05:45I'm like, oh wow, actually Ma Jie's job is not what you think it is.
05:48There's so much more to, so much depth to it also.
05:51Even though it's so quiet, I must say it's so quiet.
05:54But our challenge is, yes, let me repeat, our challenge is that you can still have to
06:00feel the presence, even though she's so quiet.
06:21Thank you Asia One, and do support Emerald Hill in 2025.
06:51Thank you Asia One.
06:59That was a long interview.
07:00I hope you enjoyed it as I did.
07:01And remember to catch Emerald Hill when it's out.
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