Monday, March 15, 2010

Jack Neo (梁智强) - A Great Inspirer, A Legend.

After so many days of reporting and breaking news, I'm glad to say that my opinion of Singapore's most successful film maker cum director, Jack Neo (梁智强), hasnt changed.

A true living legend, he has made many breakthroughs in his career and bring proud and glory to Singapore with his hardwork and talents.


Before disputing the word "Legend" used on him, let me ask, how many of you watched 搞笑行动 when you were young? How many of you here havent hear of Liang Po Po (梁婆婆) or Liang Xi Mei (梁細妹)? How many of you here havent watched a single show or movie of his?



I believe many of you have. Thus, I truly believe the word "Legend" is really totally deserving to him.

What made me respect him more is his selflessness and passion towards grooming his artistes. Famous celebrities like Patricia Mok, Mark Lee, Henry Thia, John Cheng (阿南) and even the recent Yin Yin, without Jack Neo, will they still be who they are today? Jack has given his artistes his life and dedication, even till today, he still tries his best to bring them up a level by including them in his movies and bringing them overseas for promotion.



How many producers today would dare to use "fat" and "ugly" (as said by the public) people as their main leads in every single movie and even go a step further to groom them? Even till today, J-Team's website is still giving them a chances by openly encouraging "fat" people to audition as artistes. He does not see people by their cover and that's one thing I really admire him about.

When his artistes are "attacked" by press and public, he stood by them and gave them his fullest support. When Mark was "attacked" by the press and public, Jack stood by him, continued grooming him until today when he is now the face of the Sentosa IR. When John Cheng (阿南) was jailed few years back for drug related offence, he never gave him up and upon his release, he gave him a chance to comeback and continued grooming him and featuring him in his movies. He has never given up on any of his artistes. Yet when things happen now, he has never ask for anything in return from them. He chose to silently swallow the humiliation dealt to him. This is a true teacher, a true man.

A friend in Shanghai told me recently that almost all of his classmates have watched I Not Stupid in Shanghai. I told him I like that movie alot too. Lol. He told me that he's really impressed with Jack and I proudly told him that he is someone I admired alot too!

The news for the past week, have taken a toll on him and his family. Watching the press conference of him and his wife, Irene, was really a heartbreaking moment. I wish I could do something to help them.

How many of us havent done wrong in life? Be it small or big, a wrong is still a wrong. But who are we to criticised whether what one person done is right or wrong? What determines right or wrong?

The Law says it's illegal to kill a person, yet the "Death Sentence" exists in the book of Law. We all say it's wrong to curse and swear, yet we unknowingly do it everyday.

At the end of the day, what matters the most is standing up, admitting his mistake and moving on. Being a man and a prolific public figure of his stature, his willingness to completely put down his pride and ego and 'face' (面子) and publicly admit his mistake and seek forgiveness to not just his family, but the mass public, is a very arduous thing to do.

True enough, many of you would have seen this as a "mistake", but what matters most is that his wife, Irene, is willing to forgive him. And that's enough.

I hope from today onwards, everyone can stop mocking and give the couple a chance to rebuild the marriage and family.


To 梁导:虽然你没见过我,我们也没有见过面,我一直都以你为榜样,以你为偶像。谢谢你对新加坡的演艺圈付出了这么多。从梁婆婆,到梁细妹,直到后期的 J-Team 电影,我都一路跟随,都有看。从小就有个小小梦想,想像自己以后能和你有合作的机会。哈哈。在此也想对你说我会永远都支持你。希望你和你的家人也能振作,早日恢复。也希望你能坚强。这一切很快就会过去了。不管发生什么事,我都会以你为荣的!

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