NEW AH BOY IN TOWN

People1 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/_migrated_english/people1052deb99-f964-4579-88d4-8fec30b7f8b1.jpg?sfvrsn=c28edae1_2 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/NEW-AH-BOY-IN-TOWN
NEW AH BOY IN TOWN https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/NEW-AH-BOY-IN-TOWN
01 Nov 2017 | PEOPLE

NEW AH BOY IN TOWN

Private (PTE) (NS) Ryan Lian, a new face in the Ah Boys To Men (ABTM) franchise, shares his journey in becoming an actor.

Report // Thrina Tham

Photos // Kenneth Lin & courtesy of Ryan Lian, J Team Productions & MM2 Entertainment

Melayu 华文
English Melayu

He's become so well-known as "Ah Long", he sometimes forgets that it is just his on-screen name. After all, it was his role as Ah Long that shot local actor PTE (NS) Lian to fame in director Jack Neo's two-part period movie Long Long Time Ago, released last year.

"On the streets, and even when I do getai (live stage performances), people call me 'Ah Long'. It feels warm and affectionate," said PTE (NS) Lian.

Riding on this wave, Mr Neo added a character of the same name to the ABTM squad, with PTE (NS) Lian playing the part of Corporal Tan Kin Long (a.k.a. Ah Long).

The fourth movie of the ABTM franchise features favourite military boys Sergeant Ong (Tosh Zhang), Lobang (Wang Weiliang), Ken Chow (Joshua Tan) and Wayang King (Maxi Lim) returning as Operationally Ready National Servicemen. The movie premieres in cinemas on 9 Nov.

SAME NAME, DIFFERENT 'BENG'

"Ah Long" may be a familiar face to audiences but don't be confused: his role in ABTM is very different.While the Ah Long from Long Long Time Ago is steady and cool, the Ah Long in ABTM offends others easily, described PTE (NS) Lian.

"Ah Long is a troublemaking Ah Beng who wants to turn over a new leaf," he said, using the term for Chinese males who are typically unsophisticated. "But he is not good with words and ends up offending everyone."

It is also a role that has presented PTE (NS) Lian with a new challenge: portraying an Ah Beng who "doesn't act like an Ah Beng".

To give an example, the 32-year-old actor had his chest up, arms raised and put on a cocky and hostile look - the typical Ah Beng.

"But Ah Long is quiet and his 'beng' side is very subtle; you see it in his facial expressions," he continued. "Since Lobang is a very loud and outspoken character, I had to make sure there wasn't another Lobang in the movie… For this character, I had to portray a lot of inner emotions."

MY BUDDIES AND ME

Initially, PTE (NS) Lian was worried that he would not gel with the close-knit cast of ABTM. But they became good friends in no time.

"The guns are heavy, the weather is hot, you just feel so shack (tired). But because they were there with me, to joke around with during breaks, the time passed very quickly. I learnt these six words: 认真做,大声笑 (Chinese for work hard, play hard)."

QUOTE-A-credit

The same could be said about the actor's own National Service (NS) as a Rifleman in 3rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (3 SIR).

Back then, he was always up to mischief and would, together with two camp buddies, sabo (Malay for playing pranks) others by putting toothpaste on their faces while they were sleeping. But the trio got caught and were made to wash the toilets while their platoon mates napped, recalled PTE (NS) Lian in good humour.

"That was an unforgettable experience," he said with a laugh. PTE (NS) Lian is now an Admin Support Assistant with 788 SIR because of a back injury.

In ABTM 4, PTE (NS) Lian (second from left) plays a troublemaker who is initially unable to get along with his platoon mates.

AH MA'S BOY

"Despite the bad-boy persona that he often channels on screen, PTE (NS) Lian is a self-proclaimed stay-at-home person. "I'm actually quite shy. The fun of being an actor is that I can become someone different from who I normally am."

"Raised solely by his Ah Ma (grandmother), PTE (NS) Lian is very close to her. The family-of-two were poor, so times were tough when the then-teenager went into show business - earning just $21.60 a day acting as an extra (background actor)."

"I faced a lot of setbacks then and I wondered if I was suited for this profession."

But the young actor did not give up his passion. Though lacking formal training, he learnt through watching the likes of Andy Lau, Louis Koo and Nicky Cheung in shows.

"After 16 years of taking on bit roles, he finally landed his first big break playing a gangster in a period drama. He had scored the role of Ah Long, and the rest is history."

PTE (NS) Lian (far left) with his camp mates and their Basic Military Training Sergeant (third from left) during their graduation parade.
Suggested Reading
From hospital ward to hyperbaric chamber
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

ME1 Kaitlynn Arumugam shares why she made the switch from nursing to joining the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), in the latest of PIONEER’s From Desk to Field series.

Feature
NDP 2025 BRINGS THE PARTY TO THE HEARTLANDS
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

The National Day festivities don’t end at the Padang! Continue the fun at five heartland locations on 10 Aug.

Cover story
COORDINATED JUMP BY RED LIONS & NAVAL DIVERS AT NDP
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

It’s the first time the Red Lions and Naval Divers are jumping into two different locations – the Padang and Marina Bay respectively – as part of a coordinated display!

Feature
60 YEARS ON, THEIR COMMITMENT REMAINS STRONG
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

The SAF celebrated its 60th anniversary on 1 Jul with a special SAF Day Parade and Combined Rededication Ceremonies across Singapore. 

Cover story
BRINGING THEIR A-GAME IN SAF BEST UNIT COMPETITION
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

These units were recognised for their outstanding achievements in this year’s SAF Best Unit Competition. Find out what makes them champions!

Feature
RECOGNISING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAF
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

These servicemen were among over 1,200 MINDEF and SAF personnel who are being promoted for their good performance and potential – meet COL Fairoz, SWO Zulkarnaen, MAJ Muhammad Iskandar and 1SG Muhd Hidhir.

NDP 2025 SHOW EXPANDS FROM PADANG TO MARINA BAY
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

This year’s NDP show will be a musical extravaganza with over 3,000 performers, eight land and water floats, and the largest mobile stage ever used in NDP history!

Feature
PREPARING THE PARADE FOR SAF’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

SAF Day Parade Commander LTC Shew Narian and Parade Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) ME4 Lee Han Seng share how they and the parade participants have been hard at work to put up the perfect parade come 1 Jul.

Cover story
First air-land-sea display at NDP 2025 Mobile Column
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

The NDP Mobile Column makes its highly anticipated return this year not just on land, but also in the air and in the waters of Marina Bay!

SAFVC turns 10, promotes senior volunteers to SV4
PEOPLE
01 Nov 2017

Marking a decade of duty, the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a special parade featuring some of its first as well as latest batch of volunteers.