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Actress Mindee Ong launching a line of bags

2009-06-11 2:27PM / 標準BLOG / 好時光...

Mindee pushes the Envelope
Article from TNP
By Sylvia Toh

MOST of us put off opening envelopes with windows in them because they can only be bills, bills, bills, rarely a Robert or a Thomas, little joke there lah.

And that's why you're no Mindee Ong - once a calefare, then a papaya, and now actress and designer.

As one half of the Papaya Sisters in Royston Tan's 881, Mindee's career took a very fruitful turn.

Most recently she turned her deft fingers to handbags. 'Envelopes,' she said, were the inspiration.

Sembonia, the second line of Bonia bags, had sounded Mindee out on the idea of drawing up their summer 2009 collection.

Yes, it is called the Envelope Collection. With Mindee Ong's stamp.

'I was kind of like, but I draw trees, not handbags,' she said.

She was persuaded - possibly by what you usually have in your bag - and you can have a slice of Mindee's creativity, in leather, at Sembonia outlets in the malls.

Homegrown

The homegrown brand, born in 1994, retails from $199 to $399. Go do your bit and support Singapore, especially during this GSS of discounts.

In support of the launch of the line, a cocktail reception was officiated at VivoCity outside Tang's emporium which carries the label.

A clutch of Fly Entertainment artistes skittered in, there were hugs and kisses, that's what friends are all about.

They'll show up at your event as brand ambassadors, you present each with a handbag, and then with not much persuasion, you make them do a quickie catwalk.

Of course your friends will have to look like Jaime Teo and Tracy Tan (currently in Red Thread) and Rebecca Tan, each popular and pretty in their individual way.

And then for added bagroom, you also call up lyricist Xiao Han and stylist Dollei Seah.

Everyone went home with a heavy arm, weight welcome in the envelope-shape of a prized new bag.

'It was interesting,' Mindee said, 'because I draw in black and white, and then to see the actual pieces when they've materialised, it's quite something. I worked with their marketing department. For me the key word is 'fun'.'

Quite the busy bee, Mindee also has a 'concept store' in Amoy Street.

No, she doesn't sell concepts, but one-of-a-type material stuff.

2個評論– 我來說兩句
Sembonia- Mindee's Collection Launch

2009-06-11 12:54AM / 標準BLOG / 好時光...

After several meetings, workshops and discussions. Finally my very first collection has materialize from messy drawings.

I don't usually sketch out my visuals. I would just jump on the computer and start drawing right away. Also because I'm very dependent on the UNDO key. Very tempted to get a Wacom Intuos4 Pen tablet to draw instead of using mouse.

The concept of this range came about when I was clearing all my pile up letters and majority are bills, bills and bills, all are out going.
When suddenly, an inspiration came to me that I should convert all those envelope I was opening into bags and reversed the situation.

Immediately I starting sketching instead of drawing it on the computer.
Not fashion trained at all, but bearing in mind that my designs got to be functional and fashionable.
From the concept of the first bag I drew, I came up with a a few more in different style.
I'll spare you the process of making and.... here's the collection.

The last I heard was that the mini envelope was selling very well.
Thank you Sembonia for the opportunity and trust.
And to Christine for giving me all the creative leeway in terms of the bags designing.
She was able to interpret my visual. Mindee's Collection Launch was made possible with her help and guidance. Thank You.

17個評論– 我來說兩句
Mindee Ong's favourite spot is in a TROLLEY.

2009-06-10 1:44PM / 標準BLOG / 好時光...

Relaxing with her real 'baby'
Article from TNP
By Shea John Driscoll

MINDEE Ong's favourite spot is in a trolley.  

Her shop, Trolley, to be exact. The cheery actress, who starred in director Royston Tan's hit getai movies 881 and 12 Lotus, opened Trolley in September last year.  

The shop, located at Amoy Street, carries an eclectic range of home and personal accessories, along with a quirky line-up of furniture, including CD racks inspired by the iconic Tetris blocks, and even counts the royal family of Brunei among its customers.  

But the most personal items in Trolley are the ones she designed herself, which include a range of sidetables created in a diamond motif.  Her flair for design isn't just limited to furniture.  

Mindee, who is the ambassador for local brand, Sembonia, will be launching her first range of designs in Sembonia's upcoming Spring/Summer Collection 2009.  The New Paper sat down with her to find out why she calls her shop 'my baby'.  

Why is your shop your favourite spot?  

Well, Trolley is really my interest. Everything in here is handpicked by either my partners or myself and they're all things that we like.  

Most of the products have their own story, and I even had to fight to bring in some of the items, but I can't show them off now because they're sold out.  

So I always feel very comfortable when I come to Trolley. If I'm in a foul mood, coming here is always a relief somehow, but I'm not sure if it's the designs that are talking to me or it's the shop rather than the products.  

How does the shop inspire you?  

It gives me the drive to bring in more unique items.  

For example, our next range will have eco-friendly products where the designers actually use recycled materials.  
Every time I come into the shop, there are so many things that I want to do, to design. I even want to make the shop bigger so that I can bring in more products.  

Would you say that your hard work has been worth it?  

When we started, there were only empty shelves and paintings, so people walked past and thought it was an art gallery and didn't even come in.  

But I'm happy to see that the shop is up and running and my staff are manning it very well, but most importantly, customers have been very supportive.  

They like the items that we pick, and I'm happy that people are trolleying stuff out of the shop.  

How do you find these new items to bring in?  

We actually bring in products from different countries.  

Overseas designers are becoming aware of us through word of mouth, so they tell their friends and budding artists, who e-mail me. Some of them even approach me when they come to Singapore.  

How are you balancing running the shop with your other showbiz commitments?  

When I'm on a shoot, I honestly can't make it down here all the time, so I trust my staff and depend on my other partners to help me compensate.  

What do you find most rewarding about running your shop?  
There are even people who don't buy anything, but before they leave they tell me thanks for bringing in such wonderful products, and I really feel great when people appreciate the shop like that.

3個評論– 我來說兩句
Electrico MV Directed by Boo Jun Feng Staring Mindee Ong

2009-05-28 10:54PM / 標準BLOG / 好時光...

Gary the producer from Zao Wei films called and asked if I would be interested to be a guest star in Electrico's MV directed by Boo Jun Feng. I said: " Well, Why not!" I've always wanted to work with this talented blooming director and I should support the film industry.
I think it is a great synergy.
A MV Directed by Singapore's director Boo Jun Feng. Music by Singapore's own band Electrico. Performed by Singapore Actress Mindee Ong, Actor Nelson Chia and Daryl Pan.

“Faces” is Junfeng’s first music video project. Lasalle provided most of the equipment, while some of the crew members were students in the Puttnam School of Film.

“Faces” music video places 3 characters applying make-up in surreal situations, where their private and public spaces meet:
“A soldier applying camouflage cream next to his bed in the middle of a rainforest”;
An actress applying make-up in front of a backstage dresser on the red carpet;
And a drag queen applying make-up in front of her bedroom dresser, set in the middle of a busy commercial district.
With the help of Zhaowei Films, Junfeng pulled together Mindee Ong, Daryl Pan & Nelson Chia to cast in the music video, while Electrico had a cameo appearance.
Fans were invited to be part of the video; they screamed their hearts out as they see the band walking down the red carpet while the “paparazzi” clicked away furiously.

Actress – MINDEE ONG
Cross-dresser – NELSON CHIA
Soldier – DARYL PAN

Director – BOO JUNFENG
Producer – GARY GOH
Associate Producer – JASMINE HO
Assistant Director – FRAN BORGIA
2nd Assistant Directors- NOORAINI SHAH & SUHAILA SAID
Director of Photography – SHAWN CHONG
Art Director – NADIA LOW
Set Construction – LIU ZHENGHAO
Camera Operator – ALVIN TAN
Camera Assistant – EDEN CAI
Gaffer – JOEL HENG
Grips – DHARFIANTO, SVEN STEFANOVIC, ANIRUDH ASHOK, CHIA JIAHUI & GOOMAGAN S/O RAJENDRAN
Production Assistants – SHARON TAN, ALYZA, LUO MIN, BOO XINYING, GILLIAN LIM, CHERMIN TEO
Mindee Ong’s Dress – FREDERICK LEE BRIDAL
Mindee Ong’s Makeup – DOLLEI SEAH
Special Thanks To – FLY ENTERTAINMENT, GOODWOOD PARK HOTEL, AMX STUDIOS, W!LD RICE THEATRE COMPANY
Made Possible By ZHAO WEI FILMS, INFINTE FRAMEWORKS & THE PUTTNAM SCHOOL OF FILM – LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

12個評論– 我來說兩句
王欣想当暴力女？

2009-05-26 5:49AM / 標準BLOG / 好時光...

娇小亲切的王欣，竟然想当暴力女？黄和栋准备了10道“考题”，看这位近年开始上位的本土演员如何应考。

如果你有一间三层楼的大房子，会如何布置？

我想最底层会是一个绿意盎然的大草坪，草坪中央是一个惊艳粉红色的游泳池。除了细心布置的假山假石外，还会在四周装置玩具熊形状的灯饰。如此一来，当我在柔和的玩具熊光影中畅泳，感觉就会犹如置身绿野仙境。是的，那会是一间外表很女生，内里很高科技的智慧屋。

如果你有一年假期，会做什么？

我会好好地计划，做有意义并且让我的生命有大不同的事情。例如，会到国外当社会、环保，或者野生动物的义工。

如果李安、陈子谦、Steven Spielberg同时找你在同一个档期拍戏，你会如何取舍？

Steven Spielberg，他是当今全球最有影响力的电影人之一，作品几乎都是大制作，即使我被分配到的只是小角色，我也肯定那是很多演员引颈期盼的无价经验。想想，一个新加坡演员得以出现在他的电影中，那将是何等的曝光率，我的演艺履历将会大大地增值！我如果放弃这个机会就是笨蛋！

陈子谦一定会明白我的想法，也希望李安将来还会再给我机会。

你会选择饰演女同志、女疯子，还是女流氓？

我全部都想尝试。如果一定要选，会先选流氓，就很想演一个暴力人物，一个无法控制自己怒火的角色。

如果你的白马王子要你放弃事业，在家当“贵妇”，你会如何？

会接受。但当有绝好的剧本出现时，会说服他让自己接演。这样就两全其美啦，哈哈。

如果有一天你出席金马奖，发现与林志玲撞衫，你会如何？

会一笑置之，然后说：我们是穿同一件服装，不过我是当长裙来穿！

如果你走在街上，有路人误认你是另一个艺人，还要求签名，你会如何？

还是会签啊，不过会在签名后写上“BTW我是王欣”，让他/她从那一刻起记住我是谁。

如果有一天你醒来，发现至今努力争取的演艺成果，只是一场梦，你还是当年那个默默无闻的小演员，你会如何？

光想象是蛮可怕的。不过想深一层就觉得其实也还好，那场梦会成为我的推动力。我不会哭，因为那只是一场梦，反而会受激励，因为我从梦中看到未来的自己。只要我敢敢追求梦想，一定会实现，甚至做得更好。

如果周星弛找你演他的最新作品，却是要演一个化了妆之后没人认得出是你的人，你肯吗？

当然！虽然认不出我，但大家还是会知道那个角色是王欣饰演的。只要是一个有发挥的角色，而我又能做得好，我就会接受。认不认得出，那只是造型问题罢了。我相信我的经理人一定会确保我的名字出现在演员名单上。

如果可以，你最想拥有什么样的特异功能？

可以治愈一切的力量。这样就可以治愈任何病痛；可以治愈任何生理与心理上的疮伤；可以“治愈”任何问题和错误。

黄和栋《女友》

3個評論– 我來說兩句