The Dream Makers (TV series)

The Dream Makers
Genre	Drama Media Industry Romance Office Politics
Written by	Rebecca Leow 洪汐
Directed by	Wong Foong Hwee 黄芬菲 Loo Yin Kam 卢燕金 Lin Mingzhe 林明哲
Starring	Chen Liping 陳莉萍 Zoe Tay 郑惠玉 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 theme	Happiness not hard (幸福不难) by Serene Koong
Ending theme	1)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 language	Chinese
No. of episodes	30 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer	Winnie Wong 王尤红
Running time	approx. 45 minutes (exc. advertisements)
Original release
Network	MediaCorp Channel 8
Release	24 June – 2 August 2013
Related
The Dream Makers II (2015)

The Dream Makers
Traditional Chinese	志在四方
Simplified Chinese	志在四方
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin zhí zaí sí fáng

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.The Series is repeated at 5.30pm on Channel 8 on weekdays and 4.30pm on weekends. It stars Chen Liping , Zoe Tay , Jeanette Aw , Rui En , Qi Yuwu , Chen Hanwei , Rebecca Lim , Guo Liang & Desmond Tan for the casts of this series.

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 fillial 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

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes 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) Main Villain but repented 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 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 Chong	A 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	Catherine	Liuxin's former personal assistant Fei'er's PA	1,2,11 - 30
汤灵倢	陈云芝	Tonglin's PA Zhanpeng's Cousin	2-10,24
Seth Ang 翁兴昂	Lawrence	Director Treated Zhao Feier badly on set gang up with Xie Liuxin against Zhao Feier fired by Yao Zhu Kangli	1-9,25
洪子惠	二姐佩君	Er Jie (二姐) Next popularity actress after Xie Liuxin	1-9

Rain's Family

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes 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

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes appeared
Zoe Tay 郑惠玉	Zhou Weiyun 周薇云	See Main Cast	1-30
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

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes 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 Cast	1-2,4,6,7,9-11,14,17,19,20,22-26, 28-30

Fang Family

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes 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 Cast	3,4,6-9,12-15,17-20,22-24,26,28-30

Yao Jianguo's Family

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes 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 Cast	1-30
Alston Yeo Jun Yi 杨峻毅	Nao Nao 闹闹 (Yao Zitao 姚子涛)	Yao Zhu Kangli's and Yao Jianguo's Son Weiyun's Godson	1 - 30
Zhu Xiufeng	Yao 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

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes 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 Role	Rain's Classmates and Friend	10
Zong Zijie 宗子杰	Edmund	Rain's Classmates and Friend	10, 23

Music

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.

Trivia

• This drama is the first that celebrates 50 years of Singapore television as well as Channel 8's 50th anniversary.
• 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 '7 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 .

Awards & Nominations

Star Awards 2014

The Dream Makers garnered 21 nominations for 12 awards in the Star Awards, the most since The Little Nyonya in 2009.The other dramas nominated for Best Drama Series and Best Theme Songs are C.L.I.F. 2 , The Journey: A Voyage , 96°C Café & Beyond

The Star Awards are presented by Mediacorp.

Star Awards – Acting Awards
Nominees	Accolades	Category	Result
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 歐宣		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
—		Top Rated Drama Serial 2013 最高收视率电视剧 2013	Nominated
—		Best Drama Serial 最佳电视剧	Won

See also

• List of MediaCorp Channel 8 Chinese Drama Series (2010s)
• List of The Dream Makers episodes
• The Dream Makers II

Release

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