Into overdrive for Sichuan quake victims
By Neo Chai Chin, TODAY | Posted: 23 May 2008 1157 hrs
SINGAPORE: Even as rescue workers in China are toiling to help the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, the production team at MediaCorp Studios is working overtime to play its part in relief efforts.
Never has the team needed to put a charity show together in less than a week and staff have been working "round-the-clock, editing footage" for broadcast, said Ms Doreen Neo, senior vice-president of MediaCorp Studios' Chinese Entertainment Productions and Studios Business Division.
The Sichuan Earthquake Charity Show, to be broadcast live this Sunday from 7pm to 10pm on Channel 8, will "be a show that comes from the heart and we will be showing Singaporeans what our Chinese friends are going through," said Ms Neo.
Mr Clifton Yong, MediaCorp's executive vice-president of sales and marketing, applauded the extra hours put in by staff attending to details like securing the relevant permits, making seating arrangements and structuring the programme.
It is likely to be a simple affair, with song routines and calls for donations. Besides celebrities like Fann Wong, Zoe Tay and JJ Lin, Singaporeans from all walks of life and Chinese nationals based here will also be appearing to appeal for donations, said Ms Neo.
In addition to the three phone lines for $6, $18 and $50 donations that have been set up since Thursday, 35 more phone lines — manned by MediaCorp Radio's DJs and other celebrities — will be open to those wishing to give more than $50.
Those who give more than $5,000 will have their donations acknowledged during the broadcast.
"We want to enable everyone to pledge their donations in a more accessible way," said Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, adviser to the show and the MP for Aljunied Group Representative Committee.
MediaCorp has received calls from businesses like hawker stalls wishing to donate their takings to the quake victims and "we are setting up these new hotlines to facilitate", said Mr Yeo.
The show is organised by Unusual Productions, Scorpio East Holdings and Novena Holdings, and produced by MediaCorp. When Mr Yeo found out that Scorpio East planned to stage a live concert at the Kallang Indoor Stadium while Novena Holdings wanted to stage a concert at the Singapore Expo, he managed to get them to join forces with the other organisations and take the show to a much wider audience on national TV.
Supermarket giant NTUC FairPrice will also be collecting donations for the Sichuan quake victims. From today to June 14, the public can make donations at all FairPrice outlets and Cheers convenience stores, making it "more convenient for the public to show their concern", said Mr Seah Kian Peng, FairPrice's managing director. - TODAY
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