The Dream Job

The Dream Job (Chinese: 绝世好工) is a Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. The series stars Shaun Chen, Jeanette Aw, Rebecca Lim, Zhang Zhenhuan, Ian Fang and Hong Kong veteran actor, Hugo Ng, as the main cast.

The Dream Job
绝世好工
GenreDrama
Created byLee Ji-wah 李绮华
Suen Hou Hou 孙浩浩
Story byCheong Yan Peng 张彦平
Lim Gim Lan 林锦兰
Directed byDoreen Yap 叶佩娟
Joe Ma 马家俊
Gao Xiu Hui 高秀慧
Loh Woon Woon 罗温温
StarringHugo Ng
Shaun Chen
Jeanette Aw
Rebecca Lim
Zhang Zhenhuan
Ian Fang
Opening themeAnnual Ring (年轮) by Jim Lim and Chew Sin Huey
Ending theme1) 从彼此的世界路过 by Pierre Zhang
2) 学会 by Tay Kewei
3)假裝不了 by Derrick Hoh
Country of originSingapore
Original languageChinese
No. of episodes30 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerLeong Lye Lin 梁来玲
Production locationsSingapore
Australia, Perth
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes (exc. advertisements)
Original release
NetworkMediacorp Channel 8
Release28 June (2016-06-28) –
8 August 2016 (2016-08-08)

Cast

Main cast

CastCharacterDescription
Hugo Ng 吳岱融Zhang Qingdong
张庆东
Main Protagonist
Owner of Purple Garden Landscaping Teo Keng Tong
A man with two illegitimate children due to his many affairs in the past
Liang Yongqiang's distant cousin
Love triangle with Lin Melian and Wang Bizhi
Li Junfeng, Cheng Huishan and Lin Zijie's father
Zhang Lixing's adopted father
Huang Xiumei's son-in-law
Li Junfeng and Huang Xiumei's sworn enemy
Revealed to have lung cancer in episode 8
Cause the death of Junfeng's grandmother to have Cerebral hemorrhage after Junfeng's grandmother had a tussle with him.
Suffered a stroke in episode 19 due to too much heartache.
Died after his meet with Junfeng; caused by Zhang Mingde and him engaging in a scuffle
(Deceased - Episode 25)
Shaun ChenLi Junfeng / Zhang Junfeng
李俊风 / 张俊枫
Main Villain But Repented (at the end of the series)
Younger version portrayed by Ian Teng (丁翊)
Teenage version portrayed by Gary Tan (陈毅丰)

Lawyer Lee Choon Feng
Chen Yiqing's boyfriend, broke up on episode 21
Likes Jiang Xinya
Zhang Qingdong and Li Ziyun's son
Huang Xiumei's grandson
Zhang Lixing, Cheng Huishan and Lin Zijie's half elder brother
Despise Zhang Qingdong and plans to avenge his mom
Zhang ZhenhuanZhang Lixing 张立行 Teo Lip Heng
Younger version portrayed by Alston Yeo (杨峻毅)
Jeanette AwCheng Huishan 程卉杉Senior financial consultant Thia Hui Say
Younger version portrayed byTeenage version portrayed by Dora Teo (张淑婷)
Wang Bizhi's daughter
Rebecca LimJiang Xinya 江欣雅Nurse Kang Hiam Nga
Zhang Qingdong's recruited daughter
Qiu Xinling's elder sister
Li Junfeng and He Jiazheng's love Interest
Ian FangLin Zijie 林梓杰Lim Chu Kiat

Television drama cameo
Younger version portrayed by Donald Chong (张俊豪) Lin Meilan's son
Zhang Qingdong's recruited son, later revealed as biological
Pan Xiaoxue's boyfriend
Li Junfeng and Cheng Huishan's half younger brother

Aileen TanWang Bizhi 王碧芝Cheng Huishan's mother
Lin Meilan's rival-in-love, but later reconcile
Pan LinglingLin Meilan 林美兰Nightclub singer
Lin Zijie's mother
Wang Bizhi's rival-in-love, but later reconcile

Supporting cast

CastCharacterDescription
Hong LingPan Xiaoxue 潘晓雪University student
Works at Purple Garden
Uncle Quan's niece
Lin Zijie's wife
Bonnie LooQiu Xinling 邱欣灵Nursing home patient
Jiang Xinya's younger sister
Paralysed from waist down 2 years ago after being met with an accident
Romeo TanTim Goh 吴康顺Businessman but later became a criminal, caused by Junfeng
Cheng Huishan's ex-boyfriend
Cheng Huishan's business partner for the Grand Corp, planned by Junfeng, in episode 12
Peggy's ex-boyfriend
Sheila SimChen Yiqing 陈依晴Famous designer
Wesley's daughter
Lawrence Wong 王冠逸Qiu Zhiying 邱致颖Earthworm (蚯蚓)
Gangster
Qiu Xinling's elder adoptive brother
Brandon WongLiang Yongqiang 梁永强Manager-cum-chef of the restaurant at Purple Garden
Zhang Qingdong's distant cousin
Chen TianwenZhang Mingde 张明德Gambler
Raped Li Ziyun in the past
Zhang Lixing's biological father

Cameo appearance

CastCharacterDescription
Marcus Mok 莫健发WesleyCEO of The Grand Corp
Richest Man in Singapore
Chen Yiqing's father
Forced Yongqiang to worship his feet in episode 12
Attempted to kill Xinya and Xinling by paying someone to car crash them in episode 24
Paid some thugs to beat up Yongqiang
Killed Xinling by paying someone to drop a big flower pot on her in episode 28
(Arrested - Episode 30)
Bryan WongTelevision host
Ambassador of The Dream Job

Cameo

Jeffrey XuHe Jiazheng 何家政Doctor Hoh Ka Cheng
Likes Jiang Xinya
Shortlisted in the second round of The Dream Job recruitments
Chen Zhiqiang 陈志强Wang Wen Cai 王文财Zhang Qingdong's personal assistant
Benjamin HengPeterCheng Huishan's superior, later Tim's superior
Louis Wu 伍洛毅Actor in the bed showroom scene
Seraph SunActress in the bed showroom scene
Xavier OngTakaTelevision drama AP
Applicant of The Dream Job
Nick TeoApplicant
应征者
Applicant of The Dream Job who is shortlisted in the second round of recruitments
Alfred SimApplicant
应征者
Applicant of The Dream Job who failed the first round of recruitments
Adele WongLi Ziyun
李紫芸 (Lee Tze Wan)
Li Junfeng and Zhang Lixing's mother

Huang Xiumei's daughter
Died after committing suicide
(Deceased - 19 years ago)

Cansen Goh
吴开深
Armed man A
匪徒A
Staged an "attack" during the second round of recruitments with Qingdong
Chua Cheng Pou
蔡清炮
Armed man B
匪徒B
Staged an "attack" during the second round of recruitments with Qingdong
Dylan Quek
郭景豪
BensonLi Junfeng's assistant
Hoong Kuo Juey
洪国锐
Cheng Dayong
程大勇
Farmer
Cheng Huishan's foster father
Jacob Wong
王乐雄
BryanPurple Garden worker
Yeo Thiam Hock
杨添福
Uncle Quan
泉叔
Purple Garden gardener
He Pei Bin
何培斌
Guorong
国荣
Purple Garden restaurant worker
Zhu XiufengHuang Xiumei
黄秀妹
Nursing home patient
Li Junfeng and Zhang Lixing's maternal grandmother
Zhang Qingdong's mother-in-law
Li Ziyun's mother
Liao Xianghui
廖翔輝
Group leader
团长
Elderly tour guide group leader
Lin Jiang Yuan
林蒋源
Elderly A
老翁A
Elderly tour guide group member
Ou Meixin
欧美杏
Elderly B
老妇B
Elderly tour guide group member
Yun Xiulian
云秀蓮
Elderly C
老妇C
Elderly tour guide group member
Kayly Loh
卢传瑾
PeggyTim's girlfriend
Broke up with Tim in episode 7
Yong Ke Xin
雍可欣
JuliePurple Garden worker
Lu Weijie
陸韦杰
Long-ge
龙哥

Lent Lin Zijie a sum of money, and learnt he has a "billionaire father" at the pub
Attacked Li Junfeng and Zhang Lixing in episode 5 when he found out they called the police
Xu Jun Yuan
许俊远
GaryLi Junfeng's bandmate
Invited to perform in Tim and Peggy's wedding in episode 5, but is told it would be the following Saturday in episode 6
Wu Min Wei
吴铭伟
Band member
乐队成员
Gary's bandmate
Invited to perform in Tim and Peggy's wedding in episode 5, but is told it would be the following Saturday in episode 6
Lin Lihui
林莉惠
Band member
乐队成员
Gary's bandmate
Invited to perform in Tim and Peggy's wedding in episode 5, but is told it would be the following Saturday in episode 6
Benjamin Khoh
许凱童
AdamPurple Garden worker
Yu Suhan
余素菡
KellyPurple Garden worker
Vincent Tee
池素宝
Peggy's father
Peggy父
Peggy's father
Tan Qiu Hong
陈秋红
Peggy's mother
Peggy母
Peggy's mother
Garett Lim
林家庆
Sam
Chen Fengling
陈凤凌
Yiqing's mother
依晴母
Chen Yiqing's mother
Wesley's wife
Bunz
包尚泽
Black Cow
黑牛
Tried to kidnap Zhang Qingdong with Earthworm
Mervyn Ong
王驯凯
Alfred
William Lawandi
刘峻宏
Roy

Development

First announced in December 2015, the drama series features a strong story plot by maestros behind Hong Kong's mega-hit and award-winning drama Heart of Greed, Lee Ji-wah and Suen Hou Hou. Targeted to reach an extensive audience from family, working women to Professionals, Managers, Executives and Businessmen (PMEBs), the publicity for the drama also on multi-platforms from teaser recruitment ads, on-ground Recruitment Roadshow, Toggle microsite coupled with social media activation, launch trailers on radio channels, Press Conference and Meet and Greet.[1] Major sponsors include Subway, Daikin, Mama Magica and Simmons.

Imaging sessions were done in the month of December 2015. New daddy Shaun Chen plays a lawyer who sets out to take revenge against a father he grew up hating. This is his first role after his Star Awards 2015 Best Actor win, not before he completed filming The Journey: Our Homeland, and his second onscreen couple collaboration with Best Actress Rebecca Lim, after The Dream Makers. On the other hand, Jeanette Aw plays an ambitious, driven career woman, which was different from the other roles she has portrayed over the years. In a Toggle interview, she said, "I used to play characters with gentle exteriors but tough personalities, but for Huishan it’s the opposite. She doesn’t display her weaknesses or tell anyone of the difficulties she faces." Hong Kong veteran actor, Hugo Ng, who played in Singaporean dramas Takeover and Men of Valour in the 1980s, returns to Singapore screens for the drama, playing a wealthy businessman who hires the characters of Aw, Rebecca Lim and Ian Fang as his son and daughters. He and his family returned to Singapore, as his son will be enlisted for National Service the following year.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The drama held its soft launch on 26 January 2016, one month after filming commenced. Hugo Ng, Shaun Chen, Jeanette Aw, Rebecca Lim, Zhang Zhenhuan, Ian Fang, Aileen Tan, Pan Lingling, Romeo Tan, Sheila Sim, Hong Ling, Brandon Wong, Bonnie Loo and Chen Tianwen were present at the event. The cast also shared their first jobs at the launch.[10][11][12] The production crew and cast (Shaun Chen, Aw, Lim and Zhang), together with the Toggle reporting crew, head to Perth on 18 March for a week of filming. Toggle made live reports throughout their stint. The cast also provided their experiences while filming for the show on Fridays, beginning from 20 May.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Back in Singapore, filming for Cheng Huishan and Zhang Lixing (played by Aw and Zhang)'s wedding was on 28 March. Shaun Chen disclosed that his family "may attend Star Awards 2016", and he is jam-packed with filming commitments - he might fly to Taiwan to film a movie in April, before returning to star in Hero the following month, also starring Chen Hanwei and Jesseca Liu.[23][24] Filming wrapped up in April 2016.

A press conference was held at Swissôtel The Stamford on 21 June 2016. Hugo Ng, Shaun Chen, Rebecca Lim, Ian Fang, Aileen Tan, Pan Lingling, Romeo Tan, Sheila Sim, Hong Ling, Bonnie Loo and Chen Tianwen attended the conference. Notably absent were Jeanette Aw, who was away on a holiday, and Zhang Zhenhuan, who was filming Legal Eagles in Malaysia.[25][26][27][28][29][30]

A meet-and-greet session was held on 25 June at Changi City Point. Ng and Pan were not present at the event, but Wong, who was also absent from the conference, joined the other nine. The first 150 audience to form the queue for the event got to receive an autographed poster and a goodie bag each.

Original Sound Track

Song titleSong typePerformerLyricist(s)Composer(s)Song Arranger(s)Producer(s)Provided by
年轮 (Opening Theme Song)Theme SongJim Lim 林倛玉
Chew Sin Huey
Pierre Zhang 乐声Matthew Teng 邓碧源Mo Ju Li 麦如丽Mediacorp Audio Post
从彼此的世界路过 (Song For Cheng Huishan & Zhang Lixing)Sub-Theme SongPierre Zhang 乐声Pierre Zhang 乐声Matthew Teng 邓碧源Mo Ju Li 麦如丽
学会 (Song For Li Junfeng & Jiang Xinya)Sub-Theme SongTay KeweiPierre Zhang 乐声Matthew Teng 邓碧源Mo Ju Li 麦如丽
假装不了SongDerrick HohXiaohan 小寒Derrick Hoh 何维健
Tat Tong 唐达
Warner Music Singapore
相思河畔Song吴惠冰Chris, Babida
Cheng, Kok-Kong
Matthew Teng 邓碧源Mo Ju Li 麦如丽Mediacorp Audio Post

Accolades

YearCeremonyCategoryNomineesResultRef
2017Star AwardsYoung Talent AwardAlston Yeo Jun YiNominated
Best DirectorDoreen Yap Pei KiangNominated
London Choco Roll Happiness AwardIan FangWon
Bioskin Healthiest Hair AwardZhang Zhen HuanWon
Romeo TanNominated
Ian FangNominated
Best Theme Song《年轮》(performed by Jim Lim 林倛玉 and Chew Sin Huey)Nominated
Best ActorZhang Zhen HuanNominated
Best ActressJeanette AwNominated
Best Supporting ActorIan FangNominated
Romeo TanWon
Best Drama SerialNominated

See also

References