The actress and producer is in the midst of filming a joint Malaysian and Vietnamese drama series
PRODUKSI Seni 2020, one of the country’s foremost television production companies, is synonymous with the 1980s and 1990s actress Datin Wani Wong, better known as Wendy Wong.
Still going strong ever since it was formed by Wong and fellow actress Datuk Nancie Foo in 1990, Seni 2020 is currently filming Wong’s brainchild Moonlight Saigon, a joint Malaysian and Vietnamese drama series partly set in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the Klang Valley.
“Moonlight Saigon is a love story as well as a crime drama. In fact, it showcases the cultures of both Malaysia and Vietnam, and is aimed at fostering stronger ties between the two countries,” says Wong in an interview.
The 26-episode drama will be screened on TV2 in October and among its main stars are veteran actress Angela Chan, Amber Chia and Radhi Khalid.
Wong, 51, hails from Bukit Mertajam in Penang and is the fifth of six siblings. She is married to businessman Datuk Yacob Chik from Pontian, Johor and they have a daughter, Alia Yacob, who is 3 years old.
Wong began her acting career in the 1980s, after she studied performing arts in Chong Yang University, Hong Kong.
Her best known movies are Operasi Cegah Jenayah, in which she co-starred with Foo as women police officers, and Red Haired Tumbler Di Malaya, in which she co-starred with Gavin Yap and Datuk Elaine Kang.
Other well-known movies and television series she appeared in are Mengejar Bayang, Peristiwa Di Ufuk Timur, Krisis Pemburu, Titian Rapuh and Riang-Riang Pasaraya.
She starred with Datuk Awie in the crime drama Bara in 1999 and with the late Tan Sri Jins Shamsudin in the TV drama Mahligai Gading in 2005.
“While I’ve always wanted to become an actress, my father did not encourage me to do so.
He didn’t like the idea of me embracing the showbiz culture because he feared its pitfalls,” said Wong, adding that she began acting at the age of 21.
In order to diversify her talents, Wong decided to become a TV producer at the age of 26. This is when she and Foo set up Seni 2020.
To date, the company has produced a wide variety of TV programmes — dramas, telemovies, documentaries, festival specials and travelogues.
Seni 2020’s best known productions include dramas Forever In Love, Strike Force 3, Tauke, Vista, Sempadan Kasih, Anak Villa, Ah Soh, Nita> and Meniti Sawah, Chinese New Year specials such as Menjelang Tahun Baru Cina 2011 and Menjelang Tahun Ular 2013, documentaries including Kisah Benar, Bicara Hati, Dunia Feng Shui and Dunia Fesyen, and travelogue My Travel Sight.
“I hosted and produced My Travel Sight in 2008. It took me around Eastern Europe, to countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic.
“I had a great time there. Some of my best experiences included exploring underground museums, ancient castles and discovering beautiful artworks made from crystals.”
Prior to forming her production company, Wong also managed The Sugar Club which organised events for artistes, the AOC Dancers who backed up artiste performances and the Celebrity Studio in Low Yat Plaza, Kuala Lumpur.
Wong has occasionally co-produced documentaries with the National Film Development Corporation or Finas, most notably Ghazal: Warisan Pak Lomak in 2012. She was also an organising committee of the 24th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM24).
Active in the Television Producers’ Association of Malaysia, she is currently serving a second five-year term as its treasurer.
“Besides the Vietnamese-Malaysian drama series, Seni 2020 is also developing a cultural documentary, Jerunai, which explores a traditional burial custom of the indigenous communities of Sarawak.
Like Ghazal, it is a film that highlights the country’s cultural diversity in line with 1Malaysia.”
