Mediacorp tries to be funny again

I thought the “Peranakan Ball” was Mediacorp’s worst idea of a joke. Then my friend and actor Brendon Fernandez wrote about something else our fine broadcaster apparently did, apparently for laughs:

Mediacorp has been calling up actors and making appointments with them to attend an audition at Mediacorp for an English-language project which has been described as a “still in development drama-dy”. This is in fact completely disingenuous.

In the account that I heard from an actor who attended the audition on 25 May 2009, the waiting time was in excess of an hour and a half past the scheduled appointment time.

When the auditionee is finally ushered into the area in which the audition is supposed to take place, he or she is given several forms to fill out. The area is reported to resemble a badly-constructed mock up of a tv-set. The auditionee will be left alone in the room.

After some time has passed, the auditionee will hear a knock that appears to come from inside the wardrobe that is on the set. There will also be a voice of someone claiming to be locked in the wardrobe, asking the auditionee to let them out. When the auditionee opens the wardrobe, it will be empty.

At some point after this, the crew will burst out from concealment, and announce something to the effect of “Surprise, you’re on ‘Just For Laughs- Gags’!”

I was saddened and angered to learn that this is how Mediacorp treats working actors today. This was a deliberately concocted scheme to lure professional actors into a humiliating trap. The people who attended devoted their time and their skills in preparation for what they believed to be an audition for a role in a professional tv series. Some may have given up other opportunities for work in order to attend. These actors responded in good faith to what they thought was an opportunity for work, and they were treated abysmally.

If you feel the same way I do, please spread the word. Let people know that this happened. Tell friends in the industry. Tell friends who are not in the industry, but who watch Mediacorp TV. If you work in Mediacorp or for Mediacorp, please speak about this to your colleagues. Ask whose idea this was, and who ok-ed it. Basically, tell other people how you feel. I’ve reached my tag limit for this note, but you can link it, if you like.

I am aware that this is only one part of the story. Those from Mediacorp who perpetuated this charade will undoubtedly have their own version of events. Nevertheless, at this time I find it necessary to state that I personally cannot imagine any circumstance or combination of circumstances that can excuse such behavior.

It is never permissible to treat other people without respect.

Sincerely,
Brendon Fernandez
Singaporean Actor

Shame!

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27 responses to “Mediacorp tries to be funny again”

  1. RT @lennel: f**king joke of a national broadcaster RT @miyagi From miyagi.sg: Mediacorp tries to be funny again http://bit.ly/15nsGP

  2. It’s funny. I was just having a conversation with someone about this particular media organisation… http://twurl.nl/ufls1h

  3. Shame! RT @miyagi From miyagi.sg: Mediacorp tries to be funny again http://bit.ly/lHRkg

  4. RT @miyagi: From miyagi.sg: Mediacorp tries to be funny again http://tinyurl.com/qfp7n4

  5. RT @ctham: RT @lennel Mediacorp tries to be funny again http://bit.ly/15nsGP : Not funny at all. Bottom of the barrel as usual

  6. RT: @JoeAugustin It’s funny. I was just having a conversation with someone about this particular media organisation.. http://twurl.nl/ufls1h

  7. MediaCorp does a Punk’d on local actors. No one’s laughing http://bit.ly/lHRkg

  8. RT @lennel: f**king joke of a national broadcaster RT @miyagi From miyagi.sg: Mediacorp tries to be funny again http://tinyurl.com/qfp7n4

  9. Benjamin Lee Avatar

    Another account: http://bit.ly/jJIih RT @miyagi: From miyagi.sg: Mediacorp tries to be funny again http://tinyurl.com/qfp7n4

  10. Anon Avatar
    Anon

    sad. Just sad

  11. […] This post was Twitted by lennel – Real-url.org […]

  12. ra Avatar

    out of ideas and just pathetic. poor actors. we should all boycott the show when it airs.

  13. […] This post was Twitted by alvin_lai – Real-url.org […]

  14. […] by snapp on Tue May 26, 2009 4:14 pm Mediacorp has been calling up actors and making appointments with them to attend an audition at Mediacorp for an English-language project which has been described as a “still in development drama-dy”. This is in fact completely disingenuous.In the account that I heard from an actor who attended the audition on 25 May 2009, the waiting time was in excess of an hour and a half past the scheduled appointment time.When the auditionee is finally ushered into the area in which the audition is supposed to take place, he or she is given several forms to fill out. The area is reported to resemble a badly-constructed mock up of a tv-set. The auditionee will be left alone in the room.After some time has passed, the auditionee will hear a knock that appears to come from inside the wardrobe that is on the set. There will also be a voice of someone claiming to be locked in the wardrobe, asking the auditionee to let them out. When the auditionee opens the wardrobe, it will be empty.At some point after this, the crew will burst out from concealment, and announce something to the effect of “Surprise, you’re on ‘Just For Laughs- Gags’!”I was saddened and angered to learn that this is how Mediacorp treats working actors today. This was a deliberately concocted scheme to lure professional actors into a humiliating trap. The people who attended devoted their time and their skills in preparation for what they believed to be an audition for a role in a professional tv series. Some may have given up other opportunities for work in order to attend. These actors responded in good faith to what they thought was an opportunity for work, and they were treated abysmally.If you feel the same way I do, please spread the word. Let people know that this happened. Tell friends in the industry. Tell friends who are not in the industry, but who watch Mediacorp TV. If you work in Mediacorp or for Mediacorp, please speak about this to your colleagues. Ask whose idea this was, and who ok-ed it. Basically, tell other people how you feel. I’ve reached my tag limit for this note, but you can link it, if you like.I am aware that this is only one part of the story. Those from Mediacorp who perpetuated this charade will undoubtedly have their own version of events. Nevertheless, at this time I find it necessary to state that I personally cannot imagine any circumstance or combination of circumstances that can excuse such behavior.It is never permissible to treat other people without respect.Sincerely,Brendon FernandezSingaporean ActorSource: https://www.miyagi.sg/2009/05/mediacorp-trie … nny-again/ […]

  15. CSIteam Avatar
    CSIteam

    This has been done on “Just for Laughs” before.

    This is not the original but it's similiar.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKZ8DpCYDhM

  16. corpse Avatar
    corpse

    I've seen a lot of crap on Singapore tv but this will probalby take the cake.

  17. sgcynic Avatar
    sgcynic

    it would be GREAT if they do that too to the CEO of Mediacorp. To command some respect from the employees. 🙁

  18. […] to treat other people without respect. Sincerely, Brendon Fernandez Singaporean Actor Source: https://www.miyagi.sg/2009/05/mediacorp-t…e-funny-again/ __________________ [QUOTE=ce_lau;36517312]me ish love pockey [/QUOTE] […]

  19. Anon4 Avatar
    Anon4

    Poor chap.

    He should demand compensation from MDC for the time wasted.

  20. […] https://www.miyagi.sg/2009/05/mediacorp-tries-to-be-funny-again/I saw it being posted on Hardwarezone. The link: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2381048 zzzz So which other actor(s) will be the “victim”   ?? Champions League final!The Ultimatum!27th May!!! […]

  21. […] Mediacorp Tries To Be Funny Again […]

  22. CSIteam Avatar
    CSIteam

    This has been done on “Just for Laughs” before.

    This is not the original but it's similiar.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKZ8DpCYDhM

  23. corpse Avatar
    corpse

    I've seen a lot of crap on Singapore tv but this will probalby take the cake.

  24. sgcynic Avatar
    sgcynic

    it would be GREAT if they do that too to the CEO of Mediacorp. To command some respect from the employees. 🙁

  25. Anon4 Avatar
    Anon4

    Poor chap.

    He should demand compensation from MDC for the time wasted.

  26. […] Fake Mediacorp Auditon…by Mediacorp: Mediacorp wants to be funny but makes others angry.Actor Brendon Fernandez writes,Mediacorp has been calling up actors and making appointments with them to attend an audition at Mediacorp for an English-language project which has been described as a “still in development drama-dy”. This is in fact completely disingenuous.In the account that I heard from an actor who attended the audition on 25 May 2009, the waiting time was in excess of an hour and a half past the scheduled appointment time.When the auditionee is finally ushered into the area in which the audition is supposed to take place, he or she is given several forms to fill out. The area is reported to resemble a badly-constructed mock up of a tv-set. The auditionee will be left alone in the room.After some time has passed, the auditionee will hear a knock that appears to come from inside the wardrobe that is on the set. There will also be a voice of someone claiming to be locked in the wardrobe, asking the auditionee to let them out. When the auditionee opens the wardrobe, it will be empty.At some point after this, the crew will burst out from concealment, and announce something to the effect of “Surprise, you’re on ‘Just For Laughs- Gags’!”I was saddened and angered to learn that this is how Mediacorp treats working actors today. This was a deliberately concocted scheme to lure professional actors into a humiliating trap. The people who attended devoted their time and their skills in preparation for what they believed to be an audition for a role in a professional tv series. Some may have given up other opportunities for work in order to attend. These actors responded in good faith to what they thought was an opportunity for work, and they were treated abysmally. Read the rest of the story here.[via Mr Miyagi] […]

  27. Mediacorp tries to be funny again – http://shar.es/0RpT

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