A PRANK meant “Just For Laughs” by MediaCorp has provoked an online furore, with actors aghast at the broadcaster’s “disrespect” for them.
The incident started when they turned up for an audition at MediaCorp’s premises on Monday, only to become victims of a prank.
Actress Daphne Ong posted an account on her blog and Facebook profile.
According to her, a man repeatedly tried to give her a scare in a room she was taken to, but failed.
“He said, ‘Surprise! You’re on Just For Laughs!’ and pointed to a camera in one of the two-way mirrors (in the room),” she said.
As she had reacted calmly, the man asked her to “pretend” to be “really scared” in a second take and, in return for doing so, she would appear on “national TV”.
Worse, when she asked if she would be paid, the man promised her compensation of a “whopping $20″, she said.
In response to queries yesterday, MediaCorp told my paper that “all participants who are filmed must sign release forms giving consent. Otherwise, we will not use the footage”.
The gags were part of a collaboration with the Canadian award-winning comedy show, Just For Laughs, with an Asian take on the series.
The spokesman added: “Given the nature of the gag, this involves putting the participants through situations to gauge their reactions and evaluate their spontaneity.”
But it was not in good taste, actors said.
Actor Brendon Fernandez, whose friend was a victim, wrote on Facebook: “This was a deliberately concocted scheme to lure professional actors into a humiliating trap. The people who attended devoted their time and their skills in preparation for what they believed to be an audition for a role in a professional TV series.”
Mr Randall Tan, 35, an Artiste Management celebrity, said he was split “down the middle”, but added that he thought the gag was “uncalled for”.
“Auditions mean work and, if there is an opportunity, we will take it,” he said.
However, Mr Rabil Lian, 37, a production manager, felt differently.
“To be fair, this could be seen as a prank that fell flat. Celebrities overseas are also Punk’d and humiliated, but they know how to laugh it off,” he said.
Home-grown singer-actress Asha Edmund said that while the incident was a prank, the actors were “angry about something else”.
“Maybe (it is because) MediaCorp does treat actors with disrespect,” she said.
“Maybe it does tend to be a little obnoxious, and maybe its programmes are mediocre.”
But there are many opportunities for actors to voice their unhappiness over those issues, so they shouldn’t overreact to this prank, she said.
