Hanwei puts on the style
BY AVIS WONG
Apr 29, 1998
Life after Channel 8: In his first major project after leaving Channel 8, Chen Hanwei will be
image consultant for the Mandarin theatre production, Want United People.
EX-CHANNEL 8 actor Chen Hanwei has clinched his first major project as an image consultant
since leaving the station last October.
He is working on his first Mandarin theatre production, Want United People.
The play, jointly presented by ETCeteras Production, Drama Box and Toy Factory Theatre
Ensemble, is being staged for the Singapore Festival of Arts '98.
"Lim Hai Yen, the director of the production, looked me up to do the image styling for her
actors," he said.
Did he get the job because he is an ex-TCS actor?
"I don't think so," he said. "Hai Yen knew me before that so it's natural that she asked me
to help her."
Want United People is about three flatmates whose lives get intertwined when they get into
a tussle with a loanshark.
Hanwei, 28, will be in charge of the actors' total look, from their costumes to hair and
to make-up.
When The New Paper spoke to him last Wednesday, he sounded cheerful, but cautious.
He stressed he was still new to the job and only understudying as a designer with TCS and
not yet a full-fledged image consultant.
But, just for the record, Hanwei has recently taken on the styling for Channel 8 variety
shows such as City Beat and Bon Appetit, and the sitcom Different Cuts, Different Strokes.
His new job gives him a "different kind of motivation, satisfaction and contentment" from
acting. And he is happy he has more time for friends now.
Hanwei is taking a half-year part-time course in Fashion Design & Anatomy Drawing with the
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
As for future plans?
"I just want to do more work and have more to show for it while I'm still young. Other than
that, I just do what I can."