The Dream Makers (TV series)

The Dream Makers (Chinese: 志在四方) is a 30-episode drama serial that aired on MediaCorp Channel 8 from 24 June 2013 to 2 August 2013. The show aired at 9pm on weekdays and had a repeat telecast at 8am the following day. It stars Zoe Tay, Chen Liping, Jeanette Aw, Rui En, Qi Yuwu, Chen Hanwei, Rebecca Lim, Guo Liang & Desmond Tan for the casts of this series.

The Dream Makers
志在四方
GenreDrama
Media Industry
Romance
Office Politics
Written byRebecca Leow 洪汐
Directed byWong Foong Hwee 黄芬菲
Loo Yin Kam 卢燕金
Lin Mingzhe 林明哲
StarringZoe Tay 郑惠玉
Chen Liping 陈莉萍
Jeanette Aw 欧萱
Rui En 瑞恩
Qi Yuwu 戚玉武
Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮
Rebecca Lim 林慧玲
Guo Liang 郭亮
Desmond Tan 陈泂江
Opening themeHappiness not hard (幸福不难) by Serene Koong
Ending theme1) 十万毫升泪水 by Tanya Chua
2) 交换 by Jacky Chew
(No commentaries for News Tonight)
Country of origin Singapore
Original languageChinese
No. of episodes30 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerWinnie Wong 王尤红
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes (exc. advertisements)
Release
Original networkMediaCorp Channel 8
Original release24 June (2013-06-24) 
2 August 2013 (2013-08-02)
Chronology
Preceded byI'm in Charge
Followed byLove At Risk
Related showsThe Dream Makers II (2015)
The Lead (2017)
After The Stars (2019)
External links
Website
The Dream Makers
Traditional Chinese志在四方
Simplified Chinese志在四方

Plot

Life is like a show and a show is like a replay of life. The goggle box that is called a television set telecasts gripping drama serials on a daily basis. Isn't everyone's life like a show? Who doesn't fight and struggle between work and family? Who is not affected by the various stages in life and vicissitudes of life? The seemingly splendid life everybody leads in fact hides a life of loneliness. Friends may be many but buddies are few. In the “City of Media”, everyone has his life story. Everyone is a scriptwriter and a producer. How one's story should end lies in one's hands...

Zhou Weiyun (Zoe Tay), heads a variety channel. The aloof Weiyun appears distant all the time. Weiyun lives with her demented mother, and younger brother's family. Although Weiyun's mother, Yalian, (Cai Ping Kai) has severe dementia and doesn't remember who she is, Weiyun is the only one filial to her. Weiyun's brother, Jialong (Lin Weiwen) is unable to hold down a job and hides the fact that he is financially dependent on Weiyun from his wife. Weiyun's sister-in-law, Xu Guixiang (May Phua) is a housewife who grouses against Weiyun for staying with them in their already small flat, burdening the family. For Yalian's sake, Weiyun puts up with it for the general good.

Luo Zhiming (Desmond Shen) is Weiyun's boyfriend of 4 years. Zhiming's job takes him to different countries all the time, leaving them little time together. Friends suspect that Zhiming is a married man but Weiyun firmly believes that he will not deceive her. His marital status is finally revealed to Weiyun on one occasion. Reeling from the shock, Weiyun realizes that she has been the third party in the dark for 4 years. Weiyun initiates a breakup, but Zhiming pleads with her not to leave him, claiming that he has a strained relationship with his wife and will divorce her. Caught between morality and love, Weiyun waits for him helplessly. When rumours of Weiyun being the third party spreads and fingers point to her as the mistress, she suffers in silence. Finally, Zhiming tells Weiyun that he and his wife, Shanshan (Le Yao) are divorced, however, he has to go over to China to plead with Shanshan's father (who is a mafia boss) to agree to the divorce. However, he gets kidnapped by the mafia and most likely is killed. Weiyun is not able to contact him, and finally believes that he didn't want to marry her anymore. She slides into the abyss of misery. It is at this time that Weiyun's good friend and partner, Yu Fan (Chen Hanwei), enters into her world.

Yu Fan is a Professor of Psychology cum eloquent celebrity host. He hosts a programme that resonates with the people, thereby guaranteeing high TV ratings. Yu Fan has no dearth of women around him, yet none has captured his heart. He is suspected of being gay, and that the women surrounding him are only a smokescreen. The truth is, Yu Fan had a wife, Yun Xiaoqi (Lynn Poh) who contracted depression. Sapped from taking care of her and after quarreling with her one-day, his wife died from knocking her head into an ornament at their house. Thereafter, Yu Fan fears entering into another relationship out of remorse. To cover up his guilt, he pretends to be a happy-go-lucky person. Ever since he witnesses Weiyun hurt by love, his empathy towards her turns into love. Unfortunately, the fear of being trapped in the web of love again makes them determined to suppress their love for each other. He can only eye her with interest. Yu Fan's reputation takes a beating after reporters reveal what he did to Xiaoqi. The ratings for his programme drop drastically and his career hits rock bottom. Weiyun faces tremendous pressure and is threatened by her subordinate. Weiyun ponders over the meaning of life, and no longer wishes to waste the rest of her life struggling hard for her job. She finally confesses to Yu Fan that she is willing to give up everything to lead an ordinary life.

Reigning supreme in the drama channel is Yao-Zhu Kangli (Chen Liping). Nicknamed “Drama Queen”, her speech and life are ever so dramatic. Being a perfectionist makes her life tormenting. Yao Jianguo (Guo Liang), Kangli's husband, is a well-known plastic surgeon who often cheats on her. Kangli is aware of Jianguo's philandering ways but puts up with it as long as he loves only her. They have a six-year-old autistic son Naonao. To save face, Kangli hides his condition from everyone and bears the brunt of Naonao's unpredictable behavior by herself. Kangli struggles to juggle her career with her responsibilities as a wife, mother and daughter-in-law. Her only source of comfort is her elderly mother-in-law who is apologetic over her son's behavior.

Unknown to Kangli, Jianguo has felt like a failure due to Naonao's condition and subconsciously pushes responsibility for caring for Naonao onto his wife. His extramarital affairs were merely a veiled attempt to escape his unhappy home life. Kangli suffers a breakdown when she discovers that Jianguo has fallen for his lover and tries to salvage the marriage. Instead, Jianguo wants a divorce so that he can be with his lover. However Jianguo's mother (Zhu Xiufeng) had long saw through her son's escapist attitude and opposes his decision.

With help from his good friend, Yu Fan, Jianguo gradually regains his old self and makes a great effort to win Kangli's heart back. Unable to forgive Jianguo, Kangli becomes cynical. She is particularly hostile towards Weiyun who has been accused of being a marriage-breaker, and makes many enemies. However, it is Weiyun who gets Kangli out of trouble when she keeps making mistakes at work. Kangli feels her colleague's concern and begins to let her armour down. Finally, after losing her position, she sees the light. For the sake of her son, she chooses to accept the repentant Jianguo. The family is reunited, and she settles down to being a contented housewife devoted to her husband, mother-in-law and son.

Super career women face pressure from all fronts while the young struggle in their career. Zhao Fei Er (Jeanette Aw) is a very hardworking second-tier to third-tier artiste waiting hard for her big break. Fei Er comes from a broken family; her mother is an adulteress while her father, Zhao De (Richard Low), is a useless bum who drinks and gambles. The only person she considers a family member is the paternal grandfather (Zhang Wei) who dotes on her. Fei Er vows to leave her past life behind and works very hard in her acting job. Finally, she rises to become a first-tier actress, thanks to Kangli's recognition of her talent. Jason (Qi Yu Wu) is Fei Er's boyfriend from her university days. An outstanding ad director, he ardently supports her dream. In order to take care of, and protect his girlfriend, Jason becomes a freelance director at the TV station. Fei Er starts to change after her new-found fame. An inferiority complex makes her hide the truth of their relationship. She even hides the fact that Zhao De is a drunkard and her paternal grandfather is living in an old folks’ home from the media. Fei Er's hectic schedule leaves her no time to look after her grandfather. She has no choice but to place him in an old folks’ home. When her grandfather is critically ill and dies, Fei Er is in the midst of filming and fails to attend his funeral. She feels guilty and this makes her even more determined to be successful. It pains Jason to see Fei Er fighting hard to gain fame and fortune. Their relationship takes an unexpected turn because of opposing views.

At this time, Fang Tonglin (Rui En), producer of Variety Unit, falls in love with Jason at first sight, the reason being that he looks uncannily like her late faithful father. Tonglin and Jason hit it off real well. She supports him in many ways after finding out about his problematic relationship. Her unwavering admiration for Jason's disregard for conventions ends in a one-sided love affair that she tries very hard to sustain. A stroke of luck lands Tonglin a spot on TV which is widely received by viewers and she even gains an acting role. By now a celebrity, Fei Er views Tonglin's presence as a threat. After Tonglin's transformation, Du Zhanpeng (Shaun Chen), Head of Artiste Liaison Unit, makes the surprise move of courting her. A product of Singapore's elite system, Zhanpeng has never tasted failure. Touched by his earnest courtship, Tonglin accepts his love.

Gao Jian (Desmond Tan), a wealthy heir, has eyes for Fei Er. He showers her with a number of advertising contracts to endorse products, sponsors her programmes, chauffeurs her around in a luxury car, provides a listening ear to her and stands up for her secretly. His actions touched Fei Er tremendously. As she gradually realizes that hard work is not enough to get one far in showbiz, Fei Er learns to curry favour to establish relationships and leans on Gao Jian as her backer. Jason senses that he is drifting apart from Fei Er. On the other hand, he seems to click with Tonglin because they share the same views. Unable to contain his anger anymore, Jason confronts Fei Er on her relationship with the heir. Fei Er is incensed, and decides to break off with Jason to be with Gao Jian.

This is a big blow to Jason and he sinks into misery. Tonglin's tender loving care of him finally makes Zhanpeng see that his girlfriend's heart is with Jason. The bitter Zhanpeng gives up on Tonglin and because of her, his friendship with Jason is strained. Not only is Zhanpeng's love life in the pits, his personal life is in shambles after a legal suit ruins him. At this juncture, Xiao Lixia (Rebecca Lim), enters his life. A sales manager, Lixia is Zhanpeng's good friend.

Jason is devastated after being jilted by Fei Er. Life has totally lost its meaning for him. With Tonglin constantly by his side encouraging and consoling him, he picks himself up again. For a period of time, he devotes himself into his work, produces a number of commendable programmes, wins the award for Best Director in consecutive years and receives offers from international movie directors. On finding out that Tonglin is secretly in love with him, he is touched and accepts her love. Tonglin is finally together with Jason. Their relationship blossoms. However, Tonglin senses that, compared with Fei Er, Jason is less loving towards her. This is especially obvious when Fei Er is in their presence, and Jason somehow behaves awkwardly. Tonglin feels that she is always placed in a helpless situation to the extent of having to betray her own principles. Kangli and Weiyun, who have been hardened by their life experiences, advises Jason not to follow in their footsteps of losing himself. Jason starts to examine his life and decides to rein himself in before it is too late.

The Gao family cannot accept Fei Er. Gao Jian is under pressure to break off with Fei Er and marry a rich man's daughter. Fei Er loses hope in herself and turns malicious. A string of scandalous news causes her popularity to go downhill. Feeling extremely empty and succumbing under the strain of criticisms, she knows that remaining in Singapore is no longer possible. She claims to have gone to Hong Kong to develop her career, but ends up miserably as an extra. Estranged from her kin and kith, and suffering untold loneliness, Fei Er regrets losing herself for the sake of fame and fortune. She still loves Jason, but considers herself unworthy of him. The sight of Fei Er in such a sorry state pierces his heart... Tonglin is perfectly aware that Jason has never stopped loving Fei Er. She is determined to fulfil his wish, but tells him that if he ever needs her, he should know where to look for her. Faced with two women who have an emotional hold on him, who will his heart go to?

In the mundane world, everyone wears a mask in his life. What is more tragic is not the inability to pull off one's mask but forgetting that one is still wearing it. How many people have lost themselves, yet do not have the courage to seek their original self?

Casts

VBS Television Station

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Zoe Tay
郑惠玉
Zhou Weiyun
周薇云
Mistress (小三)
VBS' Head of Variety Unit
Luo Zhiming's ex-girlfriend
Yu Fan's girlfriend
Nao Nao 's Godmother
1-22, 25-30
Chen Liping
陳莉萍
Zhu Kangli
朱康莉
Drama Queen
Yao-Zhu Kangli (姚朱康莉)
VBS' Head of Drama Unit
Yao Jianguo's wife
Nao Nao's Mother
1-22, 25-30
Jeanette Aw
欧萱
Zhao Fei'er
赵非儿
Ah Jie (阿姐)
A C-list-turned-A-list actress ('Ah Jie')
Jason's ex-girlfriend
Gao Jian's ex-girlfriend
Fang Tonglin Best Friend & Rival in love for Jason
1-2, 4, 6-7, 9-11, 14, 17, 19-20, 22-26, 28-30
Rui En
瑞恩
Fang Tonglin
方彤琳
Scatterbrain (大头虾)
Yuanren's younger sister
variety show producer-turned-host/actress
Zhanpeng's ex-girlfriend
Jason's girlfriend
Zhao Fei'er Best Friend & Rival in love for Jason
3-4, 6-9, 12-15, 17-20, 22-24, 26, 28-30
Qi Yuwu
戚玉武
Jason Lam
蓝钦辉
Mr Thrifty (贱省男)
Independent commercials director who later re-joins his former company VBS
Fei'er's ex-boyfriend
Tonglin's boyfriend
Rival in love with Du Zhanpeng for Fang Tonglin
Rival in love with Gao Jian for Zhao Feier
1-30
Shaun Chen
陈泓宇
Du Zhanpeng
杜展鹏
VBS' Head of Artiste Management Unit
Tonglin's ex-boyfriend
Rival in love with Jason for Fang Tonglin
3-30
Chen Hanwei
陈汉玮
Yu Fan
余凡
Piranha (吃人鱼)
Host of Truth In The City
Weiyun's boyfriend
Died in the last episode due to a heart attack (Deceased - Episode 30)
1-30
Rebecca Lim
林慧玲
Lisa Xiao Lixia
萧丽霞
VBS' Senior Manager of Sales
Good friend of Weiyun and Kangli
2-30
Wang Yuqing
王昱清
Producer Qin
秦监制
An EP (Executive Producer) of VBS' Drama Unit.1-30
Li Wenhai
李文海
Mr ChongA retiring Managing Director of VBS looking for a successor.1-30
Dawn Yeoh
姚懿珊
Xie Liuxin
谢柳欣
Ah Jie (阿姐)
VBS' former 'Ah Jie' who falls from grace
Gao Jian's ex-girlfriend
Hate Zhao Feier
1-9
Joey Feng
冯瑾瑜
CatherineLiuxin's former personal assistant
Fei'er's PA
1-2, 11-30
汤灵倢Chen Yunzhi
陈云芝
Supporting Villain but repented
Tonglin's PA, Initially arranged by Feier for sabottishing Tonglin's work
Zhanpeng's Cousin
2-10, 24
Seth Ang
翁兴昂
LawrenceDirector
Treated Zhao Feier badly on set
gang up with Xie Liuxin against Zhao Feier
fired by Yao Zhu Kangli
Setup Feier as the role of movie producer
1-9, 25-26
Silver Ang 洪子惠Lin Peijun 林佩君Er Jie (二姐)
Next popularity actress after Xie Liuxin
1-9

Rain's Family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Vincent Ng
翁清海
Ding Wei
丁威
Lisa's ex-husband
Rain's estranged step-father.
8-18, 20-30
Jayley Woo
胡佳琪
Rain Pei Xiaoqing
裴晓晴
Ding Wei's estranged step-daughter.8-30

Zhou Family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Zoe Tay
郑惠玉
Zhou Weiyun
周薇云
See Main Cast1-30
Ian Fang
方伟杰
Joey Zhou Yaozu
周耀祖
Weiyun's nephew
Guixiang's son who is an aspiring artiste
3-30
Choy Peng Hoy
蔡平开
Yalian
亚莲
Zhou Weiyun and Zhou Jialong's mother
Xu Guixiang's mother-in-law
Joey's grandmother
Suffers from dementia
Adult version portrayed by 陈秋虹
20
Andi Lim
林伟文
Zhou Jialong
周家龙
Yalian's son
Zhou Weiyun's younger brother
Xu Guixiang's husband
Joey's father
20
May Phua
潘淑钦
Xu Guixiang
许贵香
Yalian's daughter-in-law
Zhou Jialong's wife
Zhou Weiyun's sister-in-law
Joey's mother
8, 13, 20

Zhao Family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Richard Low
刘谦益
Zhao De
赵德
Fei'er's father who drinks and gambles all the time
Arrested in episode 28
Released in Episode 30 and turn over a new leaf
1 -28,30
Jeanette Aw
欧萱
Zhao Fei'er
赵非儿
See Main Cast1-2, 4, 6-7, 9-11, 14, 17, 19-20, 22-26, 28-30
Zhang Wei
張為
Ah Gong Zhao De's Father and Feier's grandpa
Deceased in Episode 26

Fang Family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Dennis Chew
周崇庆
Fang Yuanren
方元仁
Tonglin's elder brother
A tabloid reporter who thrives on juicy scoops
2-30
Rui En
瑞恩
Fang Tonglin
方彤琳
See Main Cast3-4,6-9,12-15,17-20,22-24,26,28-30

Yao Jianguo's Family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Guo Liang
郭亮
Yao Jianguo
姚建国
Kangli's husband, a renowned plastic surgeon whose clientele comprises mainly celebrities
Nao Nao's Father
1-30
Chen Liping
陳莉萍
Yao-Zhu Kangli
姚朱康莉
See Main Cast1-30
Alston Yeo Jun Yi
杨峻毅
Nao Nao 闹闹Birth name Yao Zitao 姚子涛
Yao Zhu Kangli's and Yao Jianguo's Son
Weiyun's Godson
1-30
Zhu XiufengYao Jianguo's Mother
姚建国母
Yao Jianguo's Mother
Nao Nao's Grandmother
Yao-Zhu Kangli's mother in law
19-20

Others

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Desmond Tan
陈泂江
Gao Jian
高建
Rich heir
Liuxin's ex-boyfriend
Fei'er's ex-boyfriend
Rival in love with Jason for Zhao Feier
2-30
Desmond Shen
沈金兴
Luo Zhiming
罗智明
Weiyun's ex-boyfriend
Shanshan's husband
1-30
Le Yao
乐瑶
Shanshan
姗姗
Zhiming's wife whose father belongs to the Hong Kong mafia.2-5, 9
Shelia Tan
陈玮甜
Student RoleRain's Classmates and Friend10
Zong Zijie
宗子杰
EdmundRain's Classmates and Friend10, 23

Original Soundtrack

The theme song and sub theme song for the drama series “The Dream Makers” are by two popular Singaporean female songwriters Serene Koong and Tanya Chua respectively.

The theme song 《幸福不难》 is written, produced and performed by Serene Koong, while the sub-theme song is 《十万毫升泪水》 by Tanya Chua. Both songs became extremely popular amongst audiences and grew in popularity together with the success of the drama series. Serene Koong won "MeRadio Top Downloaded Female Artist" at the 18th Singapore Hit Awards, as well as “Best Theme Song” at 2014 Star Awards. She also received a nomination for “Best Theme Song” at the 2014 Asian Television Awards. Tanya Chua won "Best Local Composition" at the 18th Singapore Hit Awards.[1]

Trivia

  • This drama was made in commemoration of the golden jubilee of both Singapore television and MediaCorp Channel 8.
  • Dawn Yeoh's comeback series after Daddy at Home and her first villainous role.
  • Jeanette Aw's first drama collaboration with Zoe Tay.
  • Rui En's first drama collaboration with Dennis Chew as siblings.
  • Zoe Tay, Chen Hanwei, Dennis Chew, Guo Liang and Rebecca Lim performed skits during Star Awards 20 Show 1, alongside Mark Lee. The show Truth In The City is also used for the Favourite Male Character segment.
  • In a spoof performance of the 'Seven Princesses of Caldecott Hill' in Star Awards 2015, Chua En Lai, starring as Joanne Peh, referred to the Mandarin title as "The Mole Makers" (痣在四方), claiming that there are "many moles in MediaCorp". He placed his prosthetic mole in different parts of his face to show Chua En Lai, Phua Chu Kang, Rui En (Kate Pang) and Joanne Peh.
  • This drama has a similar storyline to the HongKong drama Beauty Of The Game that was screened in the year 2009. Starring Kate Tsui, Sharon Chan and Christine Ng as the main villains in the show.
  • This drama also has a similar storyline to the HongKong drama Beyond the Realm of Conscience that was also screened in the year 2009. Starring Charmaine Sheh, Tavia Yeung, Michelle Yim, Susanna Kwan, Moses Chan and Kevin Cheng in the show.
  • The series was repeated on weekends at 4.30pm - 6.30pm after succeeding Together (another award-winning Drama Serial).

Awards & Nominations

Star Awards 2014

The series, at the time, broke the record for having the most nominations with 21, surpassing The Little Nyonya in 2009, which garnered 16. At the time, the series also tied with The Little Nyonya for having the most wins in the award ceremony of 2014, both with nine; these records would remain held until two years later, where the second season topped both records with 26 and 12, respectively.

Star Awards – Acting Awards
NomineesAccoladesCategoryResult
Alston Yeo 杨峻毅Star Awards 20 Show 1
红星大奖20
Young Talent Award
青苹果奖
Nominated
《幸福不难》 by Serene Koong 龔芝怡Best Theme Song
最佳主题曲
Won
Doreen Neo Min Qi 梁敏琪Best Programme Promo
最佳宣传短片
Nominated
Wong Foong Hwee 黄芬菲Best Director
最佳导演
Won
Loo Yin Kam 卢燕金Nominated
Rebecca Leow 洪汐Best Screenplay
最佳剧本
Won
Jeanette Aw 欧萱Favourite Female Character
最喜爱女角色
Won
Rui En 瑞恩Nominated
Zoe Tay 郑惠玉Nominated
Qi Yuwu 戚玉武 and Jeanette Aw 欧萱Favourite Onscreen Couple (Drama)
最喜爱银幕情侣
Won
Qi Yuwu 戚玉武 and Rui En 瑞恩Top three
Jeanette Aw 欧萱Social Media Award
社交嫫体魔力獎
Won
Qi Yuwu 戚玉武Star Awards 20 Show 2
红星大奖20
Best Actor
最佳男主角
Nominated
Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮Nominated
Chen Liping 陈莉萍Best Actress
最佳女主角
Won
Jeanette Aw 欧萱Nominated
Rui En 瑞恩Nominated
Dennis Chew 周崇庆Best Supporting Actor
最佳男配角
Nominated
Shaun Chen 陈泓宇Nominated
Guo Liang 郭亮Won
Rebecca Lim 林慧玲Best Supporting Actress
最佳女配角
Won
The Dream Makers
志在四方
Top Rated Drama Serial 2013
最高收视率电视剧 2013
Nominated
The Dream Makers
志在四方
Best Drama Serial
最佳电视剧
Won

Release

The Dream Makers DVD has been released in Poh Kim Video Stores.

References

  1. "The Singapore Hit Awards 2013: The winners". 23 Nov 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
Preceded by
Pillow Talk (TV series)
2012-13
Star Awards for Best Drama Serial
The Dream Makers (season 1)
2013-14
Succeeded by
The Journey: Tumultuous Times
2014-15
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