The Dream Makers II
The Dream Makers II[Star Awards for Best Director |] is a 32-episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. The show served as the year-end blockbuster for Channel 8 in 2015. The show aired at 9pm on weekdays and had a repeat telecast at 8am the following day. It stars Zoe Tay, Li Nanxing, Huang Biren, Jeanette Aw, Rui En, Qi Yuwu, Romeo Tan, Julie Tan, Zhang Zhenhuan, Chen Meifeng & Damian Lau as the casts for the second series.
The series finale end credits include a special tribute to MediaCorp actor, Huang Wenyong, who died in 2013, and all those who contributed assiduously to the country's TV industry.
Plot
The show starts three years after Zhou Weiyun was transferred from the Variety department to the Drama department as Vice President. Since the death of Yu Fan, Weiyun's outlook on life had changed. She becomes more cheerful and personable in her dealings with others. She lives with her mother, who has dementia and focuses on her career to produce sentimental television programs. The rising popularity of internet content has caused the ratings for traditional television shows to fall, adversely affecting advertising revenue.Her bosses decide to hire Guan Xie En as a second Vice President to create healthy competition within the department. She is a business management genius and takes over half of Weiyun's production resources, splitting the department into two teams. Although initially in charge of the 7pm primetime slot, Xie En reels enough sponsors to take over Weiyun's primetime slot of 9pm. Some of Weiyun's subordinates attempt to betray her to join Xie En's team but fail.
Meanwhile, Lin Tao takes over the helms of the variety department. His creative and innovative input lead to soaring ratings for variety shows. His eager for success is motivated by a personal vendetta against his good friend Richard, who owns a competing drama production house. Richard previously absconded with his money and even stole his girlfriend.
For years, Lin Tao has been watching over Eddy, a former teenage thief who became his godson. Lin Tao soon finds out that Eddy is the son of Xie En, who divorced his father and gave up custody of him and his younger brother Eden. Eden is led to believe his mother is dead. After their father dies, the brothers go to live with Xie En, who tries to mend her relationship with her estranged sons.
Joey, Weiyun's cocky nephew joins the entertainment industry. Weiyun reprimands him frequently, straining their relationship. Joey's parents die in a freak accident while on a Greek holiday sponsored by Weiyun. Overwhelmed by the sudden loss of his family, Joey's antics turn for the extreme. Feeling guilty for causing his parents' death, Weiyun tries to make it up to Joey. The struggles that both Weiyun and Xie En face help develop a mutual understanding between them.
Fang Tonglin is excellent in both hosting and acting, pressuring the reigning queen of the station, Zhao Fei Er. Meanwhile, Tonglin and Jason Lam's relationship stabilize with marriage on the cards. Jason has been promoted to executive producer, but his artistic vision leads to clashes with the company's more commercial approach to production. Fei Er still has not gotten over him, secretly envying Tonglin. She is paired as an onscreen couple with Zhong Yiming, a new actor who found success in major Chinese-speaking markets, but loathes his narcissistic personality. Eventually, their tension blossoms into romance.
A filming accident with Jason and Joey injures a passerby on set. Joey pushes the blame to Jason, who eventually quits. He starts a career as a hawker, leading to various arguments with Tonglin, whose popularity has risen.
A new television station is also awarded a broadcasting license, introducing added competition to the industry, and Lin Tao is poached to run the company's productions. Lin Tao recruits VBS's best talents to follow him, but is horrified to find out Richard will be his superior in the new company. The fighting and rivalry leaves Weiyun bitter and disillusioned, and she considers leaving the entertainment industry.
Cast
Main cast
VBS Television Station
Fang Family
Zhou Family
Zhao Family
Guan Family
Zhong Family
Lam Family
Other cast
Cameos
Development and production
The first season concluded with overwhelming success: high viewership ratings on television and video streaming portals, huge turnout for its on-ground events, and won 9 out of 21 nominations in Star Awards 20. Towards the end of 2014, MediaCorp announced a sequel to the series. As the series will coincide with MediaCorp's big move from Caldecott Hill to Mediapolis@one-north, MediaCorp shared plans to promote the show, including a mega-bulk publicity plan on major television, radio, and interactive media channels, and a charity gala premiere to increase sponsors' advertising profits.The cast of the series had imaging sessions for the show in May. Jeanette Aw's wardrobe was expanded by the production team to match her role's elevated career status. Julie Tan revealed that she began her preparation work for her role by watching Japanese dramas and practicing her expressions while looking into a mirror, and also made a trip to Taipei for five days to observe the behaviour of 'taimei's there.
Filming commenced on 10 June 2015, and held its lensing ceremony on 19 June. Taiwanese actress Chen Meifeng appeared in the lensing ceremony during her 5-to-6-day stint, dismissing rumours that she is in a relationship with Li Nanxing. It was also revealed that the show will end on 15 January 2016 with 32 episodes. Additional promotional phtoography was held on 29 June, involving the main cast. In addition, Zoe Tay and Aw went to China International Film & TV Programs Exhibition in Beijing to promote the show. The bridal magazine sequence was shot on 24 July at the Peranakan Museum, with Aw, Romeo Tan, Rui En and Qi Yuwu.
TVB actor Damian Lau went to Singapore in September for the show. One of his scenes involves a flashback with him attempting suicide from a 13-storey HDB flat. Because the haze had hit unhealthy ranges, Lau was under the weather and declined all media interviews, but felt much better at the time Toggle interviewed him. During the filming, Li, dressed in his 1990s style haircut in the scene, brought in herbal tea for him, while Tay offered local cakes and snacks.
The production crew and cast, together with the Toggle reporting crew, head to Melbourne on 25 September for around 10 days of filming. Toggle made live reports throughout their stint. The cast also provided their experiences while filming for the show on Thursdays, beginning from 15 October. Filming wrapped up in October 2015.
Soundtrack
, who previously performed theme songs for My Home Affairs and Devotion, recorded the show's theme song, "Finally". Serene Koong, who performed the theme song for the first season, recorded one of the sub-theme songs for the series, "All Alone". She revealed that her eyes became swollen from crying after binge-watching the first season twice, and eventually composed the lyrics of the song in half a day. Other sub-theme songs include "Happiness is Not Difficult", the first season's theme song also sung by Koong, "Learn to Love" By Eric Chou and "Hate-Love", an acoustic version of "Finally" with different lyrics.Release
An autograph session for the series was on 7 November 2015, at Square 2, hosted by YES 933 FM DJ Kenneth Chung Kun Wah. Zoe Tay, Romeo Tan, Zhang Zhenhuan and Ian Fang were present at the event, and interacted with the audience. The first 150 audience to form the queue for the event will get to receive an autographed poster and a goodie bag each. A meet-and-greet session was held on 15 November at Junction 10, where Dennis Chew joined the above-mentioned cast. Similarly, the first 150 audience to form the queue for the event will get to receive a limited-edition tumbler and a goodie bag each.A press conference was held on 18 November 2015. Zoe Tay, Huang Biren, Jeanette Aw, Rui En, Qi Yuwu, Romeo Tan, Julie Tan, Zhang, Fang and Chew attended the conference. During the conference, the cast shared their experience in making the show.
Previously planned as a charity gala premiere, Mediacorp announced a charity gala finale at its new premises at Mediapolis@one-north which was held on 16 January 2016. Besides Zoe Tay, Huang Biren, Romeo Tan, Julie Tan, Zhang Zhenhuan and Ian Fang, supporting cast Joey Feng, Damien Teo and Maxi Lim also attended the finale. This event was hosted by DJs Chung Kun Wah and Lin Lingzhi. The event began at 7.00pm, but before that, a red carpet was held for the event at 5.30pm, where eight lucky winners from a Facebook contest got a hair and face makeover, and strutted down the red carpet along with the cast. The lucky winners also got a pair of tickets and pre-show cocktail party, for both the winner and an accompanying partner.
Apart from an entertaining showbiz talk, audience also got to take part in a charity auction, where items featured in the show, including Zhou Weiyun and Guan Xie En's identical dresses, lanyards, Fei Er's merchandise and Jason and Tonglin's wedding merchandise were put up on sale. Minimum bids began from $25 each of the lanyards and the glass shoe to $200 for each of the dresses. The highest bidder went to Chen Guang's lanyard and bear, where she was invited to the finale to collect these items on stage. The finale episode was then screened to round up the day's event. Over $20,000 went to Mediacorp Cares beneficiaries, from tickets sales, auction sales and sponsor donations.
Social media
Online popularity contests involving cast members were held on Facebook and Instagram, which began on 11 October. Each week, users can support the casts' posts according to the challenge by liking them. The cast with the highest total likes on their posts will win for that week.Two "Battle of the Queens" and three "Battle of the Dukes" challenges have been organized on social media.
Results
- Battle of the Queens - Huang Biren VS Zoe Tay
- Battle of the Dukes - Ian Fang VS Romeo Tan VS Zhang Zhenhuan
Home media
The Dream Makers 2 DVD has been released in Poh Kim Video stores.Trivia
- This is Zoe Tay and Huang Biren's first drama collaboration in 27 years. It was reported that Huang was already considered by the production team for a part in this drama as early as two years ago.
- This is also Huang Biren's first drama collaboration with Rui En, Romeo Tan, Zhang Zhenhuan, Edwin Goh and Damien Teo.
- This is Hong Kong TVB actor Damian Lau's second Singaporean drama series after Dare To Strike, and Taiwanese actress Chen Meifeng's first Singaporean drama.
- Zhang Zhenhuan's second villainous role after Against the Tide and Julie Tan's second villainous role after Unriddle 2.
- Huang Biren collaborates with Julie Tan for the third consecutive time in this series.
- At the end of each episode just before the ending credits, a quote from a renowned celebrity will be shown. Snippets of the next five episodes are shown during the ending credits of each episode. This is the 12th series where News Tonight commentaries are not announced. However, the audio for the snippets were muted as of episode 27.
- In episodes 13 and 15, Dennis Chew mentions "Auntie Lucy" as his fan, where Lucy is Auntie's lost cat to which he found. In episode 22, "Auntie Lucy" is the cleaner at Studio 6, by coincidence.
- This is Damien Teo's third drama after and You Can Be an Angel Too.
- The series repeat its telecast on Channel 8 at 5:30pm succeeding House of Fortune.
Awards and nominations
| Accolades | Category | Nominees | Result |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Director 最佳导演 | Loh Woon Woon 罗温温 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Director 最佳导演 | Wong Foong Hwee 黄芬菲 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Screenplay 最佳剧本 | Rebecca Leow 洪汐 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Programme Promo 最佳宣传短片 | Kee Chee Wee 纪志威 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Cameraman for Drama Programme 最佳戏剧摄影 | Tommy Lee Heng Soon 李兴顺 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Editing For Drama Programme 最佳戏剧剪接 | Simon Poon 潘耀东 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Editing For Drama Programme 最佳戏剧剪接 | Joyce Teo 张必芳 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Backstage Achievement Awards 红星大奖2016之幕后英雄颁奖礼 | Best Editing For Drama Programme 最佳戏剧剪接 | Steven Lee 李明辉 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Young Talent Award 青平果奖 | Damien Teo 张值豪 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Theme Song 最佳主题曲 | Kit Chan 陈浩仪 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Supporting Actor 最佳男配角 | Edwin Goh 吴劲威 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Supporting Actor 最佳男配角 | Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Supporting Actress 最佳女配角 | Julie Tan 陈欣淇 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Actor 最佳男主角 | Romeo Tan 陈罗密欧 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Actor 最佳男主角 | Qi Yuwu 戚玉武 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Actress 最佳女主角 | Jeanette Aw 欧萱 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Actress 最佳女主角 | Rui En 瑞恩 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Actress 最佳女主角 | Zoe Tay 郑惠玉 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Show 2 红星大奖2016 下半场 | Best Drama Serial 最佳电视剧 | ||
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | Favourite Female Character 最喜爱女角色 | Jeanette Aw 欧萱 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | Favourite Female Character 最喜爱女角色 | Rui En 瑞恩 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | Favourite Female Character 最喜爱女角色 | Huang Biren 黄碧仁 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | Favourite Onscreen Couple 最喜爱荧幕情侣 | Qi Yuwu 戚玉武 & Rui En 瑞恩 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | Favourite Onscreen Couple 最喜爱荧幕情侣 | Qi Yuwu 戚玉武 & Jeanette Aw 欧萱 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | Favourite Onscreen Couple 最喜爱荧幕情侣 | Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰 & Julie Tan 陈欣淇 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | London Choco Roll 最佳开心果奖 | Romeo Tan 陈罗密欧 | |
| Star Awards 2016 Post-show Party 红星大奖2016庆功宴 | Bioskin Flawless Skin Award 完美肌肤奖 | Julie Tan 陈欣淇 | |
| Fame Awards 2016 星光大奖2016 | Best Actor in a Leading Role 最佳男主角 | Qi Yuwu 戚玉武 | |
| Fame Awards 2016 星光大奖2016 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role 最佳男配角 | Edwin Goh 吴劲威 | |
| Asian Television Awards 2016 | Best Supporting Actor in a Leading Role 最佳男配角 | Zhang Zhen Huan 张振寰 | |
| Asian Television Awards 2016 | Best Supporting Actress in a Leading Role 最佳女配角 | Julie Tan 陈欣淇 | |
| Asian Television Awards 2016 | Best Drama Serial 最佳电视剧 |