Filming commencement ceremony for “Ge Ai” (“Love Cuts”)

I attended the filming commencement ceremony for “Ge Ai” this morning. To quote from my media Q&A, the film revolves around a 40-year-old mother of two’s struggle with breast cancer. It portrays the challenges she faces as a result of her diagnosis, and how she goes through them with dignity and courage, inspiring those around her.

Zoe Tay plays the lead, and Hong Kong actor Kenny Ho plays her husband (I had to Google him although he certainly expected everyone to know who he was when he showed up). Anyway, their kids are played by Edwin Goh from “Fighting Spiders” and Regene Lim from Kelvin Tong’s new movie “Kidnappers”. Model/actress Christy Yow has a supporting role as a model at the peak of her career.

OK, I’ll turn the PR-speak off now.

Offerings to the gods for a successful movie.

This was my first time seeing such a blessing ceremony. I’d always thought that it was carried out on location on the first day of filming itself, but Clover Films MD Lim Teck told me that it’s evolved over the years as a stand-alone event because the actors need to stay focused on their roles when filming starts in earnest. So what they do now is they carry out the ceremony, film a token scene, and then actual filming might start only a few weeks later.

The pig chilling out before the ceremony.

I can’t find a description of the ceremony online, but basically what they do is they offer joss sticks and prayers for a smooth production process and a successful release, and then there is some pouring of water?wine? and then the breaking of a brown kidney-shaped thing on the floor. If you can enlighten me on the specific steps and the significance for each, please do!

The cast and crew pray for blessings as a dozen photographers and cameramen jostle to get a good shot.

After that, the suckling pig is chopped up while auspicious phrases such as “shun shun li li” are chanted, and the meat is served as part of lunch.

Welcome to the working world, pig.

This is the last significant happening before I leave my job after two and a half years at the Health Promotion Board. I’ll be leaving at the end of March. I’ve learned so much, and I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to be where I am and do what I do. Onward to new pastures and experiences!