A month ago I joined Redefine (R/D) as my CCA. The CCA chairperson, Jace would later offer me an opportunity to participate in a gameshow. Not as the production crew, but as a gameshow participant!
This was not just a random gameshow. It is hosted by WeKayPoh. They were inviting two students to compete against two local influencers. I was hesitant initially as I wondered how would others judge my responses. However, I also felt that this was a chance to get used to being in front of the camera, so I agreed. When I contacted the organisers, they asked me to invite a female polytechnic student to join the gameshow. I immediately thought of my good friend, Yeji. Being one of the most gung-ho people I know, I was not surprised that she said “Yes” immediately.
The organisers informed us that the gameshow will be about current affairs. To not appear like a illiterate fool in front of the camera, I found myself reading the news more often than usual. I even created a google doc to collate some of the recent events in the past month!
Fast forward to the day of the shoot. I met up with Yeji and headed to the venue together. She expressed excitement and nervousness for the shoot. She also had similar anxiety of being filmed but agreed that this would be a great exposure. To reduce our stress, we talked about what happened in our respective schools over the past semester. It was nice to hear that she is doing very well at Ngee Ann Poly and enjoying her time there. I enjoyed our little catch-up.
When we finally reached the venue, we found ourselves in a dilapidated building. We cautiously took the lift up to the upper floor. With no signages, we walked around aimlessly before coming across a brightly lit room. A person suddenly appeared and guided us to the “Teahouse Recording Studio”. Despite a small and cramp entrance, there was a large recording room. The warm lighting and the wooden walls made the atmosphere very relaxing.
Do not judge a book (building) by its cover (façade)
While Yeji and I got used to the surroundings, I quietly observed how the crew was setting things up. It got me thinking of the amount of prep work involved. First of all, there would be a pre-production plan that involves scriptwriting, designing the games (we were about to play), create questions, challenges and storyboard how the show will flow. Then there is the technical set up involving cameras, lights and microphones so as to ensure good audio and video quality. Rehearsals to get participants, host and crew familiar with the game rules and iron out technical glitches. Gameplay recording when the session actually starts. The director would have to communicate prior with the host and players as well as the camera crew on which camera angles to go for. Lastly, there is the Post-production where recorded footage is refined, graphics added, audio enhanced, creating a final cut of the show. So, while viewers enjoy a simple 10 minute gameshow video on YouTube, many will never realize the huge coordination effort behind the scenes to ensure the game show is entertaining, smoothly executed, and ready for broadcast.
Shortly after, the two local influencers arrived. It was Sherrin and Yixin! I nervously introduced myself. They were friendly and polite, engaging in small talk with us. They could sense that Yeji and I were nervous and reassured us not to worry.
When the show began, we played an emoji tic-tac-toe game, with each emoji representing a current affairs question. Despite my preparation, I could hardly answer any question. Questions about Section 377A left me dumbfounded. As the gameshow progressed, I forgot that I was on camera and became more relaxed. During the intermission, Yeji and I discussed our experiences so far. We agreed that it was not so bad and encouraged each other. I wondered if my CCA (Redefine) and Storytelling Digital Media (SDM) classes helped me be more comfortable in front of the camera?
The second half of the gameshow went more smoothly as everyone had now familiarized themselves with the game rules and grew comfortable with the environment. When the gameshow concluded, the WeKayPoh team thanked us with a nice water bottle gift, as well as covering our lunch expenses. Yeji and I also took the opportunity to chat with Sherrin and Yixin to learn more about how they are so composed and how what’s life like as an influencer.
Reflecting on my performance during the gameshow, I couldn't help but cringe. I was so tense and nervous! Fortunately, I managed to calm down later on. The idea of standing in front of an audience with cameras pointing at you is intimidating. Adding on the fear of being judged, the stress of answering questions on the spot, only made things worse. But similar to all journeys, it begins with baby steps. So, I still give myself a small pat on the back for daring to try something new.
Ok... what’s next in my learning journey? :)
Howie Chia
25 September 2023
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