The much-anticipated sequel, "Number 2," is set to light up cinemas on January 28, bringing back the glitz and glamour of the local drag queen comedy genre. Directed by Ong Kuo Sin and scripted by Jaspers Lai, the film follows the story of Chow Chee Beng, played by Mark, as he navigates a crisis within the drag community. Marcus Chin takes on the role of Monica, a veteran drag queen, marking his return to cross-dressing roles since the early 2000s. The storyline unfolds with Chee Beng and his friends venturing to Thailand for a drag competition, promising audiences a blend of humor, drama, and vibrant performances.
Marcus Chin's portrayal of Monica required significant preparation, both physically and mentally. Known for his role as Bao Meili in the early 2000s, Chin embraced the challenge of donning six-inch heels once more. The costume and make-up process was exhaustive, requiring him to arrive at the make-up room by 7am to begin filming only at 2pm. Despite these challenges, Chin found the experience rewarding.
"As an actor, I can act in any role. I didn't have any struggles [embracing the character] and felt that it was a rare experience. I haven't cross-dressed for any roles since playing Bao Meili," – Marcus
The film also stars Jaspers Lai as Money, Kiwebaby Chang as Pearl, Darius Tan as Italy, and Gadrick Chin as Unicorn. Each actor brings their unique flair to their roles, contributing to the film's dynamic ensemble cast. However, the production was not without its hurdles. Local actress Gina Tan, portraying Chee Beng's wife Marie, faced a medical emergency during filming. Tan had to be hospitalized for nine days following an emergency surgery for a partially collapsed lung.
"I woke up one morning feeling tightness in my chest and breathlessness. I thought I pulled a muscle while sleeping and remembered having to go for filming that night," – Gina
Despite her condition, Gina Tan demonstrated remarkable resilience on set. She required assistance from co-stars Mark or Darius and a walking cane for support during filming.
"I felt a searing pain in my right leg and it hurt a lot for about two days. During filming that day, everyone was very patient with me because I had to hold on to Mark or Darius as well as a walking cane for support. Just before the camera rolled, I would throw the cane away and perform. Once filming was done, they all came to help me." – Gina
Jaspers Lai's dedication to his role also shone through amidst personal challenges. He experienced an accident just prior to filming a dance scene but managed to maintain his professionalism.
"I slipped down the stairs. It was just before we filmed a dance scene and we were preparing for it. I kept telling myself not to fall but I did in the next instance." – Jaspers
The film's costume and make-up design received critical acclaim, clinching the Best Makeup and Costume Design award at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards. However, these elaborate costumes posed practical challenges for the cast.
"We wore padding, corset and stockings — two to three pairs sometimes — which we had to take all off when going to the toilet. It actually took up a lot of time, sometimes as long as 15 minutes." – Darius
"We had no choice, so we would all go together, even if we didn't have to. If not we would waste a lot of time," – Mark
To mitigate these inconveniences, modifications were made to the costumes.
"We had to wear a few layers and would have to take everything off to go to the toilet. Later, we decided to modify the costume so that it was more convenient. We also didn't dare to drink any water during filming," – Marcus
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