While We Are Young
While We Are Young (Chinese: Z世代) is a 20 episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on MediaCorp Channel 8. The show aired at 9 pm on weekdays and had a repeat telecast at 8 am the following day.
| While We Are Young  Z世代  | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Generation Z | 
| Genre | Drama   Romance School Youth Education Teacher's Day  | 
| Written by | Ng Kah Huay 黄佳华  Ang Chee Chuan 洪志川  | 
| Directed by | Loh Woon Woon 罗温温  Lim Mee Nah 林美娜  | 
| Starring | Generation X/Y:  Zoe Tay 郑惠玉 Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰 Terence Cao 曹国辉 Denise Camillia Tan 陈楚寰 Generation Z: Zong Zijie 宗子杰 Chantalle Ng 黄暄婷 Calvert Tay 郑凯介 Joanna Theng 唐舒恩 Marcus Guo 郭麦洋 Shalynn Tsai 蔡绮耘 Gary Tan 陈毅丰 Chen Yixin 陈一心 Shanice Koh 许舒宁 Li Decheng 李德承  | 
| Opening theme | Go Home and Sleep (回家睡觉) by Jayden Chew | 
| Ending theme | 1) 致爱 by Zong Zijie , Chantalle Ng , Calvert Tay , Joanna Theng , Marcus Guo , Shalynn Tsai  & Chen Yixin 2) 致爱 (Demo Version) by Deng Bi Yuan  | 
| Country of origin | Singapore | 
| Original language | Chinese | 
| No. of episodes | 20 | 
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Winnie Wong 王尤红 | 
| Running time | approx. 45 minutes | 
| Release | |
| Original network | MediaCorp Channel 8 | 
| Original release | 6 November – 4 December 2017  | 
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Lady With Class | 
| Followed by | My Friends from Afar | 
| Related shows | Don't Stop Believin' (2012)  My First School (2016) My Teacher Is a Thug (2017)  | 
The drama series is a production to commemorate 35 years of locally produced Chinese-language dramas and in appreciation to the local educators in celebration of Teacher's Day. It stars Zoe Tay, Rebecca Lim, Zhang Zhenhuan, Terence Cao, Denise Camillia, Zong Zijie, Chantalle Ng, Calvert Tay, Joanna Theng, Marcus Guo, Shalynn Tsai, Gary Tan, Chen Yixin, Shanice Koh and Li Decheng.
For the first time in 29 years, Zoe Tay will be taking the role of a teacher which incidentally has been her childhood dream. She had previously taken on a variety of roles, but never those of a teacher.[1] It also features several "second-generation" stars who are children of veteran artistes, including Calvert Tay (son of Hong Huifang and Zheng Geping), Chantalle Ng (daughter of Lin Meijiao and her ex-husband former actor Huang Yiliang), Chen Yixin (daughter of Xiang Yun and Edmund Chen), Marcus Guo (son of host Guo Liang), and Shalynn Tsai (daughter of Chen Xiuhuan).[2][3]
Plot
    
Yang Xiaoshuai (Zong Zijie) is a troubled youth who comes from a broken family. After his stint in the boys’ home, he turns over a new leaf and aims to be a competitive swimmer. Tang Yijie (Calvert Tay) comes from a well-to-do family and excels in his studies. Being talented and good-looking, Yijie is well-liked by his teachers and peers. Both boys with different upbringing and personalities will eventually cross path with each other as they vie for the affection of a girl, Huang-Li-Bai Yun (Chantalle Ng).
Tang Yijie's mother Fang Ting (Zoe Tay) is a righteous teacher who is highly respected by her colleagues and as well as her students. Fang Ting's eldest son Yiwei (Zhang Zhenhuan) was a passionate counsellor in his youth, he encouraged a delinquent, Zhong Ai (Rebecca Lim), to change her ways. She eventually becomes a teacher and marries him. They enjoyed a happy married life until Yiwei's employee Jiayi (Denise Camillia Tan) decides to come in between them. Yiwei nearly strayed, but with interference from his wife and mother, he eventually pulls himself away from Jiayi's advances. To complicate matters, Zhong Ai and Fang Ting have their differences when it comes to teaching methods and domestic matters.
Will they be able to set aside their differences and work out a common solution when it comes to nurturing the Z generation youths?[4]
Cast
    
    Generation X/Y
    
| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoe Tay  郑惠玉  | Fang Ting  方廷  | Teenage Version portrayed by Alicia Lo (盧予萱)
 Fang Lord (方爷) 
  | 
1–16, 19–20 | 
| Rebecca Lim  林慧玲  | Zhong Ai  钟爱  | Little Mummy (小咪)
  | 
1–20 | 
| Zhang Zhenhuan  张震寰  | Tang Yiwei  汤一伟  | 
  | 
1–20 | 
| Terence Cao  曹国辉  | Bai Jinshun  白金顺  | 
 Teenage Version portrayed by Chen Yixi (陈一熙) 
  | 
7–20 | 
| Denise Camillia Tan  陈楚寰  | Zheng Jiayi   郑嘉怡  | Main Villain
  | 
1, 4–5, 9–10, 15, 17–19 | 
Generation Z
    
| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Calvert Tay  郑凯介  | Tang Yijie  汤一杰  | 
  | 
1–20 | 
| Zong Zijie  宗子杰  | Yang Xiaoshuai  杨小帅  | 
 Younger version portrayed by Perez Tay (郑传峻) 
  | 
1–20 | 
| Chantalle Ng  黄暄婷  | Huang Li Bai Yun  黄李白云  | 
  | 
1–20 | 
| Joanna Theng  唐舒恩  | Zhou Xuanxuan  周轩轩  | 
  | 
1–2, 4–9, 11–14, 16–20 | 
| Marcus Guo  郭麦洋  | Kang Lele  康乐乐  | 
  | 
1–6, 9, 12, 14, 16–18, 20 | 
| Shalynn Tsai  蔡绮耘  | Luo Yiling  罗依玲  | 
  | 
1, 3, 5–6, 9, 11–13, 17, 19–20 | 
| Gary Tan  陈毅丰  | Lin Junkai  林俊凯  | 
  | 
1–10, 13–20 | 
| Chen Yixin  陈一心  | Hong Yuanyuan  洪媛媛  | 
  | 
1–7, 9, 14, 16–18, 20 | 
| Shanice Koh  许舒宁  | Ren Youwan  任游玩  | 
  | 
1–9, 11–12, 14, 16–20 | 
| Li Decheng  李德承  | Xu Tiancai  许天才  | 
  | 
1–20 | 
Zhou Yue Junior College Staff(s)
    
| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Mok  莫健发  | Old Principal  老院长  | 
  | 
1, 3, 11–12 | 
| Li Fuliang  李福樑  | New Principal  新院长  | Principal He (何院长)
  | 
14, 16, 19 | 
| Kenneth Kong  江坚文  | Discipline Master  训育主任  | 
  | 
2, 4, 11, 14 | 
| Rebecca Lim  林慧玲  | Zhong Ai  钟爱  | Ms Zhong (钟老师)
  | 
|
| Zoe Tay  郑惠玉  | Fang Ting  方廷  | Ms Fang (方老师)
  | 
|
| Li Wenhai  李文海  | Zhuo Zigan  卓子乾  | 
 Mr Zhuo (卓老师) 
  | 
1, 3–4, 9, 11–12, 14, 19–20 | 
| Chen Ning  陈宁  | Guo Liwen  郭丽雯  | 
 Ms Guo (郭老师) 
  | 
1–3, 9–12, 14, 19–20 | 
Other Casts
    
| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Chia  謝樂  | Cai Yaozu  蔡耀祖  | 
  | 
1, 4 | 
| Adele Wong  王筱惠  | Ah Jie  阿姐  | 
  | 
1, 11 | 
| James Hu  胡问遂  | Alan | 
 Villain 
  | 
1–3, 6 | 
| Teo Ser Li  张思丽  | Fu Xiuqin  傅秀琴  | 
  | 
1-3, 8 | 
| Jazreel Low  刘琦  | Rose | 
  | 
1–3, 5, 7–8, 12 | 
| Authur Choo  朱锐雄  | Ah Hao  阿豪  | Villain
  | 
1, 4–5, 9 | 
| Shane Tan Yu Xuan  陈宇轩  | Sunny | 
  | 
1–3, 5–7, 13, 15–16, 20 | 
| Cassandra See  薛淑珊  | Mary | 
 Villain 
  | 
2–4, 6, 9, 11–12, 15, 17–18, 20 | 
| Andi Lim  林伟文  | Ben | 
 Supporting Villain 
  | 
2–3, 6 | 
| Kenneth Chung  钟坤华  | Kun Hua  坤华  | 
  | 
3 | 
| Steven Chiang  江常輝  | Yang Shanhe  杨山河  | 
  | 
3, 11 | 
| Ye Xiangling  葉向玲  | Li Xue  李雪  | 
  | 
3–4, 8, 14, 16–17, 20 | 
| Seth Ang  翁兴昂  | Ren Chuan  任川  | 
  | 
3, 8, 14, 16, 20 | 
| Chen Waiwai  陈慧慧  | Yu Feng  玉凤  | 
  | 
3, 10–11, 13, 16, 20 | 
| Lu Guanyao  卢冠耀  | Mr Luo  罗先生  | 
  | 
3 | 
| Nico Chua  蔡伟彬  | Mrs Luo  罗太太  | 
  | 
3, 5–6, 13 | 
| Tay Ying  郑颖  | 
  | 
4 | |
| Zeng Hanrong  曾汉荣  | Gary | 
  | 
5 | 
| Cansen Goh  吴开深  | Mr Zhou  周先生  | 
 Mr Zhou (周先生) 
  | 
7, 9 | 
| Larry Low  刘龙伟  | Tony | 
  | 
9, 14 | 
| Zack Lim  林志强  | Xiao Kedou  小蝌蚪  | 
  | 
14 | 
| Joy Yak  易凌  | Lin Qingxia  林青霞  | 
  | 
14 | 
| Lin Peifang  林佩芳  | Ms Wu  吴老师  | 
  | 
14 | 
| Wauren Beh  马纬翰  | Jon | Villain
  | 
16  20 (voice)  | 
| Brendon Kuah  柯迪宏  | Ray |  Villain
 Peeping Tom (偷窥狂) 
  | 
18 | 
| Tao Li  陶李  | Herself | 
  | 
18 | 
| Joyce | 
  | 
20 | |
| Kitty | 20 | ||
| Lili | 20 | 
Original Sound Track (OST)
    
| No. | Song Title | Singer(s) | 
|---|---|---|
| 1) | 回家睡觉  (Main Song for the series)  | Jayden Chew 周俊安 | 
| 2) | 致爱 | Zong Zijie 宗子杰  Chantalle Ng 黄暄婷 Calvert Tay 郑凯介 Joanna Theng 唐舒恩 Marcus Guo 郭麦洋 Shalynn Tsai 蔡绮耘 Chen Yixin 陈一心  | 
| 3) | 致爱 (Demo Version) | Deng Bi Yuan 邓碧源 | 
Awards and nominations
    
    Star Awards 2018
    
While We Are Young is up for 4 nominations.
The other dramas are nominated for Best Drama Serial are Mightiest Mother in Law, When Duty Calls , My Friends from Afar & Have A Little Faith.
It won 1 out of 4 nominations.
The Star Awards are presented by Mediacorp.
| Star Awards – Acting Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accolades | Nominees | Category | Result | 
| Star Awards 2018 Creative Achievement Award Ceremony 专业奖项颁奖礼 | Loh Woon Woon  罗温温  | Best Director | Nominated | 
| Star Awards – Acting Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accolades | Nominees | Category | Result | 
| Star Awards 2018 Awards Ceremony 红星大奖2018颁奖礼 | Zong Zijie  宗子杰  | Best Newcomer  最佳新人奖  | Nominated | 
| Chantalle Ng  黄暄婷  | Won | ||
| Zoe Tay  郑惠玉  | Best Actress  最佳女主角  | Nominated | |
| N/A | Best Drama Serial  最佳电视剧  | Nominated | |
Development
    
- Filming began in May and wrapped in July 2017, with the major scene taken at Nanyang Junior College. The series is the first to cover Singapore's post-secondary education landscape.[5][6]
 
References
    
- "Zoe Tay lands 'dream job' in upcoming TV series While We Are Young". TODAYonline. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
 - "ALL GROWN UP: Introducing the next generation of local stars". Toggle. 1 May 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
 - "Local TV's Act 2: Actors' children enter the industry". The Straits Times. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
 - "WHILE WE ARE YOUNG Z世代". Toggle. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
 - "Zoe Tay lands 'dream job' in upcoming TV series While We Are Young". todayonline.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
 - "While We Are Young Z世代 – Toggle". Toggle. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.