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Mon, Jul 04, 2011
The New Paper
Already famous as super-earner
By Kwok Kar Peng
FULFILLING a decade-old dream is costing TV actress-host Michelle Chong hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The 34-year-old had to liquidate many investments - including selling a condominium apartment - to come up with the six-figure sum to finance her debut movie, Already Famous.
Yet, it's no skin off her nose.
Chong told The New Paper: "The money was profits from my earlier property investments and stocks. I felt it was okay to channel it to my movie because the money was a bonus.
"The movie is not just an investment, but also a passion. If I didn't do this, I would have put the money in more property or stocks."
The MediaCorp artiste is on no-pay leave for the next seven months to film Already Famous, of which she is the writer, producer, director and lead actress.
This means losing an estimated low six-figure sum comprising her monthly salaries and the bigger earnings from hosting private events.
The film, which has a production budget of $899,000, is about a small-town Malaysian, Ah Kiao (Chong), who comes to Singapore to be a local TV star.
Taiwanese singer-host Alien Huang plays her love interest. Local actors such as Chua Enlai, Alaric Tay and Kumar, and celebrity hairstylist David Gan co-star.
Filming is expected to continue till mid July.
The movie is scheduled for release here at the end of the year.
Personal care store Watsons is a main sponsor.
Chong said there are other private investors, but didn't want to name them. She firmly declined to say exactly how much she has invested in the film.
The New Paper
Already famous as super-earner
By Kwok Kar Peng
FULFILLING a decade-old dream is costing TV actress-host Michelle Chong hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The 34-year-old had to liquidate many investments - including selling a condominium apartment - to come up with the six-figure sum to finance her debut movie, Already Famous.
Yet, it's no skin off her nose.
Chong told The New Paper: "The money was profits from my earlier property investments and stocks. I felt it was okay to channel it to my movie because the money was a bonus.
"The movie is not just an investment, but also a passion. If I didn't do this, I would have put the money in more property or stocks."
The MediaCorp artiste is on no-pay leave for the next seven months to film Already Famous, of which she is the writer, producer, director and lead actress.
This means losing an estimated low six-figure sum comprising her monthly salaries and the bigger earnings from hosting private events.
The film, which has a production budget of $899,000, is about a small-town Malaysian, Ah Kiao (Chong), who comes to Singapore to be a local TV star.
Taiwanese singer-host Alien Huang plays her love interest. Local actors such as Chua Enlai, Alaric Tay and Kumar, and celebrity hairstylist David Gan co-star.
Filming is expected to continue till mid July.
The movie is scheduled for release here at the end of the year.
Personal care store Watsons is a main sponsor.
Chong said there are other private investors, but didn't want to name them. She firmly declined to say exactly how much she has invested in the film.
