The Dream Job
The Dream Job is a Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. The show aired at 9pm on weekdays and had a repeat telecast at 8am the following day. The series stars Shaun Chen, Jeanette Aw, Rebecca Lim, Zhang Zhenhuan, Ian Fang and Hong Kong veteran actor, Hugo Ng, as the main cast. The show is Channel 8 mid year blockbuster for 2016. The Series is repeated at 5.30pm on Channel 8 on weekdays.
Plot
Many people harbour the hope of a "dream job", one that pays well, offer great benefits, and with a boss who treats them like his own. A television commercial pops up, advertising three "exceptional job positions" – to act as the children of and help in the business of a mysterious wealthy businessman, Zhang Qingdong. Not only does this job draws a high salary, it also offers expensive cars and life in a mansion with servants at their beck and call. This of course attracted many applications but the lawyer Li Junfeng is hired to coordinate the employment decided on a financial advisor Cheng Huishan to be the second daughter, a nurse Jiang Xinya to be the third daughter, and a model-actor Lin Zijie as the youngest son.The mysterious man turns out to be the boss of an established horticultural enterprise. The three children are introduced to an "older brother" Zhang Lixing and the four strangers work to live amicably together to please their boss. However, the lawyer in charge of them appears to be sowing discord among the siblings, leading them to wonder what his true intentions were.
The mystery boss had affairs with several women who bore him offspring. Now an old and lonely man, he longs to find and reunite with his flesh and blood through this job offering. But will this end up as a futile effort, or will he be able to reunite with his children?
Cast
Main cast
| Cast | Character | Description | Episodes Appeared |
| Hugo Ng 吳岱融 | Zhang Qingdong 张庆东 | Main Protagonist Owner of Purple Garden Landscaping Teo Keng Tong A man with three illegitimate children due to his many affairs in the past Liang Yongqiang's distant cousin Love triangle with Lin Melian and Wang Bizhi Li Junfeng, Cheng Huishan and Lin Zijie's father Zhang Lixing's adopted father Huang Xiumei's son-in-law Li Junfeng and Huang Xiumei's sworn enemy Revealed to have lung cancer in episode 8 Cause the death of Junfeng's grandmother to have Cerebral hemorrhage after Junfeng's grandmother had a tussle with him. Suffered a stroke in episode 19 due to too much heartache. Died after his meet with Junfeng; caused by Zhang Mingde and him engaging in a scuffle | 1-25 |
| Shaun Chen 陈泓宇 | Li Junfeng / Zhang Junfeng 李俊风 / 张俊枫 | Main Villain But Repented Younger version portrayed by Ian Teng Teenage version portrayed by Gary Tan Lawyer Lee Choon Feng Chen Yiqing's boyfriend, broke up on episode 21 Likes Jiang Xinya Zhang Qingdong and Li Ziyun's son Huang Xiumei's grandson Zhang Lixing, Cheng Huishan and Lin Zijie's half elder brother Despise Zhang Qingdong and plans to avenge his mom Did many dirty things Persuaded Tim to chase Chen Huishan back because of the money Betrayed Tim Caused the revelation of Chen Huishan and Zijie's biological dad in episode 8 Convinced Jiang Xinya to accept Zhang Lixing's love to manipulate him for money Vows to get revenge and hates Zhang Qingdong more after the death of his grandmother Watched Zhang Qingdong having stroke at his grandmother's grave and leave without caring in episode 19 Arrested by the police but was later set free as he is not the murderer of Zhang Qiangdong Called people to beat up Zhang Mingde in episode 28 Indirectly caused the death of Zhang Mingde | 1-30 3–8, 10–11,24 6-7 |
| Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰 | Zhang Lixing 张立行 | Teo Lip Heng Younger version portrayed by Alston Yeo Zhang Qingdong's adopted son Cheng Huishan's love interest Zhang Mingde and Li Ziyun's biological son Huang Xiumei's grandson Li Junfeng's half younger brother Likes Jiang Xinya Deaf in his right ear Confessed to Jiang Xinya in episode 13 Secretly listened to Huishan's confession to him by acting asleep Married Cheng Huishan in episode 30 | 2-30 3–5, 7–8, 10–11, 24 |
| Jeanette Aw 欧萱 | Cheng Huishan 程卉杉 | Senior financial consultant Thia Hui Say Younger version portrayed by Sun Yi En Teenage version portrayed by Dora Teo Wang Bizhi's daughter Zhang Qingdong's recruited daughter, later revealed as biological Li Junfeng's half younger sister Lin Zijie's half elder sister Zhang Lixing's love interest Tim Goh's ex-girlfriend Recruited in The Dream Job recruitments as the eldest daughter Has allergic rhinitis when in contact with pollen Reaccepted Tim to be his boyfriend in episode 14 Betrayed by Tim again in episode 17 Kidnapped by Tim and almost fell off a rooftop but was saved by Tim and was also told by Tim about Junfeng's evil deeds in episode 19 Married Zhang Lixing in episode 30 | 1-17, 19-30 5, 7–8, 10 10 |
| Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 | Jiang Xinya 江欣雅 | Nurse Kang Hiam Nga Zhang Qingdong's recruited daughter Qiu Xinling's elder sister Li Junfeng and He Jiazheng's love Interest Recruited in The Dream Job recruitments as the second daughter Dated Lixing in episode 13 but was not sincere about the feeling because Junfeng told her to do so Kissed Junfeng on episode 18 | 1-20, 22-30 |
| Ian Fang 方伟杰 | Lin Zijie 林梓杰 | Lim Chu Kiat Television drama cameo Younger version portrayed by Donald Chong Lin Meilan's son Zhang Qingdong's recruited son, later revealed as biological Pan Xiaoxue's boyfriend Li Junfeng and Cheng Huishan's half younger brother Recruited in The Dream Job recruitments as the younger son Was drunk and slept with Pan Xiaoxue on episode 16 | 1-11, 13–18, 20–21, 25-30 8, 11 |
| Aileen Tan 陈丽贞 | Wang Bizhi 王碧芝 | Villain But Repented Cheng Huishan's mother Lin Meilan's rival-in-love, but later reconcile Sacked by her employer, who colluded with Li Junfeng in episode 7 Moved to Zhang Qingdong's house in episode 10 Fought with Lin Meilian in episode 26 Attempted to make Xiaoxue fell down on a stair in episode 26 Caused Zijie to be jailed | 2, 7, 9-15, 17, 19–23, 25-30 |
| Pan Lingling 潘玲玲 | Lin Meilan 林美兰 | Nightclub singer Lin Zijie's mother Wang Bizhi's rival-in-love, but later reconcile Fought with Wang Bizhi in episode 26 due to Bizhi almost caused her daughter-in-law, Pan Xiaoxue's miscarriage | 2, 4, 8-11, 13, 15, 17–18, 20–23, 25-30 |
Supporting cast
Cameo appearance
Development
First announced in December 2015, the drama series features a strong story plot by maestros behind Hong Kong's mega-hit and award-winning drama Heart of Greed, Lee Ji-wah and Suen Hou Hou. Targeted to reach an extensive audience from family, working women to Professionals, Managers, Executives and Businessmen, the publicity for the drama will be on multi-platforms from teaser recruitment ads, on-ground Recruitment Roadshow, Toggle microsite coupled with social media activation, launch trailers on radio channels, Press Conference and Meet and Greet. Major sponsors include Subway, Daikin, Mama Magica and Simmons.Imaging sessions were done in the month of December 2015. New daddy Shaun Chen plays a lawyer who sets out to take revenge against a father he grew up hating. This is his first role after his Star Awards 2015 Best Actor win, not before he completed filming , and his second onscreen couple collaboration with Best Actress Rebecca Lim, after The Dream Makers. On the other hand, Jeanette Aw plays an ambitious, driven career woman, which was different from the other roles she has portrayed over the years. In a Toggle interview, she said, "I used to play characters with gentle exteriors but tough personalities, but for Huishan it’s the opposite. She doesn’t display her weaknesses or tell anyone of the difficulties she faces." Hong Kong veteran actor, Hugo Ng, who played in Singaporean dramas Takeover and Men of Valour in the 1980s, returns to Singapore screens for the drama, playing a wealthy businessman who hires the characters of Aw, Rebecca Lim and Ian Fang as his son and daughters. He and his family returned to Singapore, as his son will be enlisted for National Service the following year.
The drama held its soft launch on 26 January 2016, one month after filming commenced. Hugo Ng, Shaun Chen, Jeanette Aw, Rebecca Lim, Zhang Zhenhuan, Ian Fang, Aileen Tan, Pan Lingling, Romeo Tan, Sheila Sim, Somaline Ang, Brandon Wong, Bonnie Loo and Chen Tianwen were present at the event. The cast also shared their first jobs at the launch. The production crew and cast, together with the Toggle reporting crew, head to Perth on 18 March for a week of filming. Toggle made live reports throughout their stint. The cast also provided their experiences while filming for the show on Fridays, beginning from 20 May. Back in Singapore, filming for Cheng Huishan and Zhang Lixing 's wedding was on 28 March. Shaun Chen disclosed that his family "may attend Star Awards 2016", and he is jam-packed with filming commitments - he might fly to Taiwan to film a movie in April, before returning to star in Hero the following month, also starring Chen Hanwei and Jesseca Liu. Filming wrapped up in April 2016.
A press conference was held at Swissôtel The Stamford on 21 June 2016. Hugo Ng, Shaun Chen, Rebecca Lim, Ian Fang, Aileen Tan, Pan Lingling, Romeo Tan, Sheila Sim, Somaline Ang, Bonnie Loo and Chen Tianwen attended the conference. Notably absent were Jeanette Aw, who was away on a holiday, and Zhang Zhenhuan, who was filming Legal Eagles in Malaysia. A meet-and-greet session was held on 25 June at Changi City Point. Ng and Pan were not present at the event, but Wong, who was also absent from the conference, joined the other nine. The first 150 audience to form the queue for the event got to receive an autographed poster and a goodie bag each.
Original Sound Track (OST)
Awards & Nominations
[Star Awards 2017]
The Dream Job is up for 9 nominations.The other drama serials that are nominated for Star Awards 2017 are Hero, C.L.I.F. 4, Fire Up and You Can Be an Angel 2.
The other drama serials that are nominated for Best Theme Song are You Can Be an Angel 2, Eat Already?, Life - Fear Not and If Only I Could.
It won 3 out of 9 nominations.