#child-actor

Wenlong in the musical I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, staged by the Paparazzi, an annual theater production by the students of Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

Ho Wenlong was a Mediacorp child-actor and had starred in many films and television dramas. He made his television debut at the age of 8 in the award-winning Chinese television series STAND BY ME. He also played Robbie, the protagonist of the English children's drama series, ROBBIE AND THE BOOK OF TALES and the character Tan Seow Hay in Jack Neo's HOMERUN (2003).

Wenlong is currently pursuing a degree in Communication Studies at Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. In the following interview, he shares with us his experiences being a child and child-acting. 

Growing Up in SG: Do you think that films in Singapore, especially commercial big screen films, tend to glorify childhood by portraying it as a period of limitless possibilities?

Wenlong: I don’t think we should look at whether they glorify childhood, but instead, look at the ultimate point of the movie. Most of the time, childhood is only part of the message. Glorified or not, I think it is mostly, still a good message.

Growing Up in SG: As a child actor, has your own childhood differed from the childhood of the characters that you played on television? 

Wenlong: It really depends on the film and the characters. I really wanted to be Robbie from ROBBIE AND THE BOOK OF TALES. He had a special duty to protect the ‘Fairy-tale Land’.

For PRINCESS MOON (2004), a short film from the Blueprint series, the character was more realistic - about a boy’s first time falling in love and heartbreak. It so happened that the female protagonist (Clara Dunareanu) really became my first love.

I reckon this might be the reason why I came to love filming - I get to be someone else, regardless of how the character’s childhood or life was like. I loved it. That also made my childhood more interesting.

(Credits: Poached Magazine)

ROBBIE AND THE BOOK OF TALES was an English drama series for children, which Wenlong starred in when he was a child. It was one of the original productions by Mediacorp's Kids Central.

Growing Up in SG: Many film critics have criticized HOMERUN for its political satire. Do you feel that adding politics into children-centered films, ultimately dilutes the element of innocence in the films? 

Wenlong: I can see how some might find it a little manipulative but I don’t think it dilutes the element of innocence in the films. Even we (the child-actors) did not take those political elements very seriously. For example, in HOMERUN, there was a scene about water agreements and we were fighting over water. During the filming, some of us were sniggering because we realized it was about the controversial water agreements between Malaysia and Singapore, but that was it. We were in character as Kampong boys fighting over water rather than acting out political satire. But perhaps, for some, the political satire may stand out more for them.

It is hard to ignore the political satire in HOMERUN, as it is set in 1965 Singapore, a historical year in which Singapore separated from Malaysia. The film appears to metaphorically represent the monumental moment in Singapore's history by subtly referencing the struggles and tribulations that Singapore as a young nation experienced during that time. In the final scene of HOMERUN, the two children stand before a muddy pathway in their brand new shoes, seemingly daunted by the prospect of dirtying their shoes. This has been said by some to metaphorically represent Singapore's uncertainty after gaining full self-independence upon separation from Malaysia. 

Wenlong's character Tan Seow Hay in HOMERUN.

Growing Up in SG: Has your experience acting as a child on popular TV shows and commercial films, contribute to your acting repertoire?

Wenlong: Definitely, the more shows you’re in, the more seasoned you are. I have never been in an acting class or programme, so everything I know and do I learn from those I work with. 

Growing Up in SG: From your experience as a child actor of the 90’s era, do you think that there is any underlying message for children that is constantly being presented in television shows and films?

Wenlong: I have never actually thought of this! But I believe it would be the message of filial piety and other family values that is constantly reemphasized, along with the importance of pursuing an education. In fact, these are very close to Singapore’s founding ideologies.

 Growing Up in SG: Local children television shows almost always have the element of magic and fantasy in them, like in ROBBIE AND THE BOOK OF TALES for example. Do you think that these characters of fantasy are necessary, since they are not completely true to what Singaporean kids are like?

Wenlong: I think so. Mainly because Singaporean children tend to have kinda boring childhoods - studying, tuition, CCA and barely any time for friends. The point of children programmes is to entertain and educate. So they need to make it more interesting than a normal childhood, to infuse important values into these characters, and have children want to be like them.

I realized just how much of a role model Robbie was when I hosted an event for Kids Central, I was on stage, and there was a sea of children, looking up and screaming my name. It was scary.