We find out what went down once the cameras were turned off—and if there's going to be a season two
The recent worldwide premiere of the Netflix reality series Singapore Social has focused a huge amount of attention on its six stars.
Three of the cast members—fashion influencer Mae Tan, singer Tabitha Nauser and burlesque performer Sukki Singapora—are Gen.T honourees. They are joined on the show by Nicole Ong, Singapore chapter lead of Gen.T honouree Pocket Sun's VC firm SoGal Ventures; YouTuber Vinny Sharp; and actor Paul Foster.
Riding the wave of interest in Singapore society, sparked by last year's Crazy Rich Asians, Singapore Social is a structured reality show in the model of Keeping Up With The Kardashians or The Only Way Is Essex, following the glamorous lives, loves and conflicts of the lead characters.
As the first Netflix series based in Singapore, it has received criticism from some corners for not accurately portraying the lives of most Singaporeans (as opposed to the super-relatable Kardashians).
Gen.T honouree and star of the show Mae Tan seems impervious to such comments: "Falling in and out of love, dealing with expectations, and friends—everyone deals with these things, no matter where you come from," she says. "At the end of the day, it’s just television."
We caught up with Tan to hear what went on behind the scenes, and her reaction to the show's huge impact around the region.
How did you get involved in this Netflix series?
The producers contacted me a few years ago, looking to do the show. And who doesn’t want to be in a Netflix show, right? They gave me the opportunity, I took it and that’s how I got involved.
What was the process of being part of the cast like? Did you have to audition for the role?
There wasn’t any casting or audition or anything like that; the production crew came down to Singapore and met with locals and did some Skype calls to get to know not only the community and culture better but to also know us. And through that, they narrowed it down to a select few that could make the show. Some people they initially wanted couldn’t make it due to prior commitments. We were told that we'd be part of the show at the end of 2018 and started filming in January 2019.
How long did filming last?
Filming went on for about four to five months until sometime in June 2019 and was later launched globally.