BEATEN, BRUISED & TEARS

The New Paper

04 August 08

One-Minute scene in new movie leaves S'pore actress Bruised & in tears.

BEATEN, BRUISED, BUT SHE'S SO BRAVE LOCAL actress Mindee Ong seems to be building a reputation for being the go-to girl for tough roles.

Last year, she shaved her head to play cancer-stricken getai singer Little Papaya in filmmaker Royston Tan's top-grossing breakthrough hit 881.

This year, she made another big sacrifice for her art by agreeing to film a gang rape scene for his companion movie musical 12 Lotus.

It revolves around the tragic life of talented and successful getai performer Lian Hua (played by Mindee) and the heartless men in her life who use and abuse her.

It spans the period from the '80s till the present day, and plays out against a backdrop of poignant Hokkien songs.

12 Lotus, which opens here on 14Aug, also stars 881 alumni Qi Yuwu and Liu Ling Ling. Writer-director Royston, 31, said it has been rated PG.

Although the violent rape scene lasts only a minute, he said it was 'crucial and extremely important' to the movie.

He told The New Paper: 'Her character is frail and passive, but this is the one scene where she isn't, and she comes across as a strong woman.'

It was shot over four hours at a coffin shop at night, and involved eight actors who played Lian Hua's attackers.

Mindee said she 'burst out crying' when it was done.

Royston had made sure the set was cleared except for minimal crew.

In the scene, a struggling, screaming and sobbing Mindee is dragged up a staircase, thrown on a table and manhandled and slapped by all the actors.

Her top is ripped off to reveal her bra, but that's the extent of the stripping.

However, the 28-year-old was roughed up so badly that she had bruises all over her body. They took three weeks to go away and had to be concealed with make-up while filming continued. MUSCLE TEAR

She also suffered muscle tear on her shoulder and legs which she took a week to recover from.

Royston recalled: 'I have never been involved in such an intense, difficult shoot in my life. Even our make up artist cried while watching it.

'I was scolding (the actors) that they'd better get it right in one take, if not they'll be making Mindee suffer more, because the next day she had to dance for her scenes.

'I was so nervous and under so much stress over this climactic point of the film that I fell sick immediately after it was finished.'

The rape scene eventually required two takes.

Royston recalled that after he wrote the scene, he called Mindee and asked if she'd be okay doing it.

According to him, she never once hesitated or tried to negotiate with him to tone it down or toss it out.

Lauding her professionalism, he said: 'She jokingly asked me when she should start jogging and doing crunches!

'I was very moved that she agreed to do it - I can't imagine anyone from MediaCorp doing this role!

'She has such a good attitude, she never complained and never threw tantrums, but gave her very best. I'm very lucky to have an actress like that.'

Royston added jokingly: 'She said I must marry her already, because over two years, she had shaved her head and got raped for me.'

Mindee's management agency, Fly Entertainment, was so protective over questions about the scene that The New Paper was restricted to an e-mail interview with her.

Mindee said: 'I was actually very calm and open about (the scene) as I knew I had ample time to prepare myself mentally.

'Royston and I had a long discussion and we agreed on certain restrictions and guidelines to adhere to for this scene.

'Also, it was important that I trusted Royston and the crew, who filmed 881 with me, because we had great chemistry and I knew they would watch my back.'

She didn't do any preparation before the scene as she 'did not want to fear it' and wanted her emotions to be 'as raw and real as possible'.

And she ended up being so emotionally affected and physically exhausted that she broke down.

'When Royston said it's a wrap, I asked if he had got the exact shots he wanted. Right after he said yes, I burst out crying because that was my way of dealing with it.

'Everyone cleared the room and gave me my privacy to vent, except for a few close friends who stayed behind with me.'

But that wasn't all she had to go through.

Lian Hua is supposed to have very long hair, but because Mindee had shorn off her tresses for 881 and it hadn't grown to the desired length, she had to wear tight, painful hair extensions for 12 Lotus.

INFLAMED SCALP

Her scalp became seriously inflamed and she couldn't sleep well for a few days.

But ever the trooper, Mindee reasoned: 'As an actress, I think we all make some sacrifices one way or another.

'Sometimes when we love our craft so much, we will not really view them as sacrifices, but more as ways to portray and bring out the emotions of the role as accurately as possible.

'I think 881 and 12 Lotus were both challenging in the same way because they allowed me to stretch and grow as an actress.'

Mindee even embraces the idea of working with Royston again if the opportunity arises - though he has already put her through so much.

She said it 'depends on what he wants me to do next'.

She added: 'I would love to play the role of a man if given a choice...'

And she knows it isn't easy for him either.

'Royston did mention that when he puts us through such ordeals, it actually hurts him as well and he feels the heartache too.'

Royston said: 'After (12 Lotus), I feel I need to be nice to her next time.'

But he went on to explain: 'It's because I see the potential in her, and I always want to do something different with her to challenge her, because I feel she can do it. In a way, we are growing together.

'For 881, it was a bigger challenge - physically.

'But for 12 Lotus, there's a new maturity in her acting - she is 100 per cent better than in 881. And I give her 10 out of 10 for her loud screaming!'

He then added, sounding more sombre: 'I do feel bad every time I look at the rape scene.

'But I think it will pay off because the audience will really feel for her, and she'll have a special place in their hearts.'