Realiti - Episode 5 notes

A word before I begin this. Despite what some people might think, I am not a producer for Realiti, merely a humble scriptwriter. The real producers are Ping Ho and Anne Low of Popiah Pictures, who do the hard work of coming up with the original idea, figuring out the structure for the whole series, selling it to the studio, finding sponsors, casting the actors, approving locations, directing, and, yes, occasionally writing for the show.

Because I get along with Ping relatively well, we also spend hours in coffee shops throwing ideas at each other, as well as dissecting scripts. Note that he is the one who decides what stays and what goes. On the other hand, I take immense pride in having helped shape a large part of the series. This is, without doubt, the proudest piece of writing work I have ever been involved with. I'm sure it's not the best I can do, but it feels like I'm getting there.

Anyway, as usual, I have spoilers throughout this post. So, if you prefer, you can first watch it on YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

By the way, Melissa has her own Behind-the-Scenes thing for this episode on her blog. Because she doesn't believe in permalinking her posts (WHY?!!), you'll have to scroll down to the post marked 'excess baggage', and then scroll down a little more after the list. In it she talks about wiping her tears and mascara on Amir, sleazy fans and what she thinks of her singing.

• Minggu Lepas..., Azizan reminds us what happened last time round. Aiyo... looks so dramatic, lo. I tried - really tried - not to fall into the whole Drama Minggu Ini mode of storytelling, but it's easy to be melodramatic if the humour doesn't cut it the other way. Must try better next time.


• Ping had the idea of an episode where Baby gets a poison pen letter from the beginning. For Baby, image is everything, so somebody attacking her from that angle would really hurt her. Obviously, the one person who wouldn't really care is Amir, which is one reason we have them interacting later on.


• There was a contestant on Malaysian Idol who received a poison pen letter and I think the title was, "10 Reasons Why ... Should Not Be Malaysian Idol". I can't remember if I told the team this, or if it's just sheer coincidence that Kartini/Ping used practically the same words.


• Incidentally, I find it quite incredible that people would take the time and effort to sit down and compose poison pen letters. Although those on the receiving end say it doesn't affect them, the truth is that it does. In most cases, there is some truth in the letters, albeit a truth that has been twisted into something bitter and unrecognisable. My take on them? Peoples' private lives are their own and just because they're stars, it doesn't mean you have full permission to probe and expose what they want to keep personal.

Photos couresy of Popiah Pictures and Chelsia Ng




• Ah Tak is played by Douglas Lim, who is also responsible for all the music you hear the kids sing on the show. Well, if he hasn't written it, then he's produced it or arranged it.


• Songs sung this week: Back to You by Douglas Lim (Baby); Izinkan by VE (Burn); Higher Deeper by Ferhad (Nickson); Tears and Flowers by Douglas Lim (Melody); and Amir sings a song by John's Mistress (don't know the title). (Thanks to Chelsia and Douglas for this info)


• Okay, this is what I really can't stand. The whole point is that Amir is not comfortable singing in English. So why the hell would he pick an English song to serenade Dayang with? Incidentally, in the script, it just says "Amir serenades Dayang", no song title.


• Heh. I'm pretty sure I came up with the Ramly Burger scene, although originally Joe was involved, and he was teasing Burn about getting the hots for Melody. It turned into this "So, Daddy said, huh?" scene, which is much better. Kudos to Kartini/Ping.


• The Pop TV announcer is basically a tool for exposition, so Juliana really doesn't have much opportunity to shine in this role - but I do think she looks nice in her top.


• Okay, I don't like those banner ads interupting the show, but since it's related to Realiti, I'll forgive it this one time. If you want pictures of the kids on your handphone, send an SMS to 33838, with the message 8TVRC 40609 for Amir, 8TVRC 40611 for Baby, 8TVRC 40612 for Burn, 8TVRC 40610 for Nickson and 8TVRC 40613 for Melody. And, no, I don't get a cut of this.


• In real life, people aren't so rude as to laugh at you when you're not singing well, but this is TV land. Having said that, I personally have stifled huge chuckles when watching some contestants perform. So I'm a bad person, sorry.


• Okay, for all those out there who write 'that girl who plays Baby cannot act-lah' or something similar, you can just watch Melissa's performance in this episode and eat it. I think she's pretty good, and has definitely improved since her debut in Table for Two.





• Something's that surprised me is some reaction out there on Burn and Melody kissing. I don't think it's such a big deal, really. You do know you don't actually see it happen, right? At the moment, this is what we're assuming the censors will accept. If you don't actually see it happen, then it's okay. Anyway, I prefer the anticipation of something happening than the actual seeing.


• Amir's story only works if you believe that he's singing in english because of Dayang. I think I suggested a whole scene where Amir and Dayang are working together, and they confirm their feelings for each other. This got reduced in the episode to where he asks her to help him, but you miss (I feel), Dayang's feelings for him in return.


• Okay, believe it or not, that scene where Burn and Melody play with utensils in the kitchen? I was told that in the original script, it said "Burn and Melody fool around". In my dictionary (and Ping's), "fooling around" means getting hot and heavy, with a lot of clumsy fumbling, but the director for this episode disagreed, I guess...


• "Just because dia pakai sexy, orang kena undi dia, lah". Erm... yah. But overall, I don't really like that scene. It feels too forced. How Baby's plot unfolds was a sticking point of sorts. I think I did suggest that Baby wrote the letters herself (which on hindsight doesn't look like such a bad idea after all), but in the end we went with a fan of Melody's having written it. I'm not really completely satisfied with that, but I guess it's okay.


• On the other hand, the "You read my journal?!!" scene really works.


• We did debate who the different characters would hook up with. And we had all sorts of combinations between Amir/Burn and Melody/Baby. In the end, having Burn go with Melody pretty much forced the Amir/Baby link.

Realiti. 10pm Sundays on 8TV, starring Azizan Nin, Ashraf Sinclair, Melissa Maureen, Alvin Wong, Chelsia Ng, Radhi Khalid. With Nazrudin Rahman, Juliana Ibrahim, Maria Farida, Lydia Ibtisam, Gambit, Kee Thuan Chye, Nell Ng, Cheyenne Stutzriem, Reefa, Aishah Sinclair, Mazin Siraj. Guest appearance by Douglas Lim. What would you do to become a star?

Labels: realiti, tv