In this month's column, Rajan Chettiar talks to Ferlin Jayatissa - former
lawyer and Deputy Public Prosecutor turned part-time actor and part-time law
lecturer. Find out what it's like being an actor, how it has affected one
person's life and the courage and sacrifices it takes to follow one's dream.
'What do you plan to do? Are you happy with your life?' Ferlin Jayatissa shot back the question to me at the end of the interview. Surprised for a minute, I laughed and leaned back in my chair.
Life is full of phases. We engage in different pursuits at different points in our lives. What we want for ourselves is important. Happiness is our individual responsibility and we must take control of our lives. No, I was not talking to a self-help guru but to a man from nearby Kuala Lumpur who came to Singapore as an Asean scholar with a companion.
A companion who filled his days with joy and meaning. She later became the mistress of his life and brought serenity during a difficult period.
'Do you regret giving up a good job?'
I asked innocently, referring to his career as a lawyer, a Deputy Public
Prosecutor in the Attorney General's Chambers and a law lecturer at Temasek
Polytechnic. Ferlin cocked his eyebrow and repeated, 'Good job? You mean, I'm
not working right now?'
To Ferlin, acting is a vocation that requires a great amount of discipline, focused planning and high stamina. 'Once the day breaks, unlike many people, I take pro-active steps to find new work.' Professionally managed by actress Irene Ang's company, Fly Entertainment, Ferlin first appeared on television in a few episodes of the household sitcom, Phua Chu Kang (2001). 'When I saw myself on Phua Chu Kang, I felt embarrassed and cringed at the way I acted in certain scenes', Ferlin reminisced when he recounted the first time he watched himself on TV in the popular sitcom which also starred Gurmit Singh and Pierre Png.
Having dabbled in the arts scene in Kuala Lumpur during his teens, it did not take Ferlin long to discover his first love in the Arts Club of the National University of Singapore. Studying for law examinations during the day, Ferlin spent his nights rehearsing and acting in the local play group, Action Theatre's stage production, Best Foot Forward (1995).
'In theatre, you have to exert a great deal of energy to act; an actor projects his voice, makes visual physical movements. On the other hand, on television, everything is in moderation; the television actor only has to portray subtle emotions. All the scenes are well-rehearsed and are shot to the director's satisfaction,' said Ferlin as he recalled his lengthy shoots during the filming of First Touch (2002), MediaCorp's first English medical drama. In this production, Ferlin played Dr Vasoo, one of five gynaecologists, together with well-known actors Edmund Chen and Vernetta Lopez. Ferlin was clearly impressed with the professionalism and down-to-earth attitude of the famous cast and crew of First Touch. 'The babies in the drama are the real show-stealers. They were so adorable and quiet when they were supposed to be crying,' he said with a laugh.
Ferlin speaks with clear diction about his life and experiences, straight from the heart and at sufficient depth to interest and warm the listener to him. 'Do you know that many of us are afraid to spend time alone with ourselves? We cannot face many of our life questions,' commented Ferlin, who enjoys taking long bus journeys. Pursuing an acting career seems to be self-therapy of sorts for him. He appears to have 'discovered' himself, balanced the yin and yang aspects of his life, thus becoming a better person in the process. 'I have become more tempered with reason and logic, and carry myself better since following my heart', he says simply. Citing his mother as his role model, Ferlin believes in the importance of being 'passionate within reason'. 'Your passion must create a living for you in Singapore.' Money is a servant to Ferlin, who lives a frugal life. 'I take very few taxis, watch movies during concession periods, and buy books at second-hand book stores rather than at Borders. I enjoy the freedom the job gives me', he says with glee, much to my envy. He plans his day carefully and ensures that he has sufficient time to attend to his daily tasks. The rewards of such meticulous planning are punctuality and a blissful sense of contentment.
'Both the media and actors are highly misunderstood by Singaporeans. There is no glamour in our vocation. We spend a great amount of time filming a scene for television or put in gruelling hours in rehearsals to stage a play', said Ferlin who was rehearsing for the play, Animal Farm, at the time of this interview. Painting a realistic picture of the lives of actors here, Ferlin, however, does not see his ethnicity as a hindrance to his success in the entertainment industry. When asked whether he sees himself acting full-time for the rest of his life, he shook his head and admitted that he did not know when this phase of his life would end. A part-time law lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic, his eyes lit up when he talked about teaching. He passionately shared that learning instills in him a sense of energy and he looks forward to days filled with long walks along the corridors of education. That day will come when Ferlin has completed learning his life lessons. If you see Ferlin on a public bus, he would be busy spending time with himself. If you go up to him to find out which phase of life he is at, be prepared to answer that same question yourself.
Rajan Chettiar
Allen & Gledhill