It’s no secret that actors often have to make sacrifices for their roles, but how many would be so game like Mediacorp actor Chen Shucheng?
In new Mediacorp drama Unforgivable, the 74-year-old plays a shabby brothel boss, who is constantly on the run.
Like, literally.
“In general I did all the running myself except for one scene. My character had to run a very long distance so they got a stunt double to do it for me,” he told zaobao.sg in an interview.
Shucheng also praised the directors for being understanding towards actors and their physical limitations.
“It would be too hard on us if we run for too long. If we can’t continue filming after running then it would become a problem,” he explained.
On top of all the scurrying he did, Shucheng also had to hide inside a garbage bin.
The crew tried their best to find a cleaner garbage bin, and they eventually prepared one of their own. However, the rubbish dump they filmed at smelled bad.
“We didn’t have a choice. As actors we simply have to learn to adapt to all sorts of circumstances,” said Shucheng, adding that the stinky environment helped him to get into character faster.
“The moment the stench got to me, my face and body reacted very naturally to it.”
To make things more realistic, the crew also prepared live cockroaches to be scattered into the bin with Shucheng.
While most people would balk at that idea, the actor was not fazed at all. He even offered to take things up a notch.
“The director initially said the cockroaches would just be crawling around the bin but I told him: ‘It’s okay, you can put them directly on my body.’ I could hold the cockroaches in my hand too,” said Shucheng.
Of course the director gave in to the actor’s request.
Though Shucheng was not at all afraid of the cockroaches, he admitted he had a hard time controlling his new ‘co-stars’ and making sure they appear in frame at the right moment.
“Actors are most afraid of filming with babies and animals. Now there’s a new thing to add to the list: Insects,” he laughed.