Posts by bzzz

Jeff Han is the vice president of TenCent Penquin Pictures, producing all previous seasons of Chuang. This is a summary of his interview with Sanook.

Through 4 previous seasons of Chuang, various Chinese showbiz' stars were born. Chuang is an opportunity for Asian youths to unpack their potentials and debut under Ryce Entertainment.

Chuang Asia is a 2024 highlight of WeTV Thailand. We diversified our talent pool to make Chuang more interesting. We have contestants from Thailand, China, Korea, Vietnam, Korea, India and other Asian countries. Age wise, our contestants' ages range from 15 to 26 years old. This is truly a platform of diversity.

Thailand is chosen as the host of the first season as it is a multicultural society and, WeTV Thailand has established solid market.

Contestants will not be only supported by talented and experienced mentors. We transport from China the crew behind the successful previous 4 seasons of Chuang. We also has supportive partners from Thailand and other countries such as, Have Fun Media, Ryce Entertainment, One 31, GMM TV and 411 Entertainment.

WeTV will work closely with other members of TenCent family such as Joox and Sanook to advertise the program and enhance business synergy. Sanook will continuously release Chuang exclusive contents.

Quote from BEG4DAWIN

There is speculation that some CSR members may be on this show.

due to this

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When did they start missing? On the day of press con (21 Dec), a mentor said first 2 episodes had been recorded. I assume it was the first evaluation divided into 2 parts.

Ten left Thailand on 20 Dec so, the first evaluation likely took place on Dec 19. Trainees must be in Thailand since 17 Dec as latest.

CSR's members are quite average K-pop idols. Perhaps, that's good enough to have someone in final lineup?

Quote from bartkun

I have small question

are most of those stage names or real names?

because some doesn't look as Thai names at all

also if there ain't that much of Thai trainees it means that we will get more international ones

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These are "nicknames" and hardly has anything to do with race/ethnic.

For example, Chaba is a very Thai name (rose of sharon) and, she is obviously half white.

Crista does not have western background but her Christian mom wanted to name her child after Jesus.

If someone from Thai side dropped out, it only makes sense to fill the gap with Thai applicants if ever. Most likely, the spots for the dropped out were left vacant.

I'm amazed at the ratio of Thai contestants. I thought it might make up of 1/3 max. Not like half of these Thai contestants are debut worthy.

In appearance order. From left to right

1.Ilene

2. Panda

3. TN

4. Grace

5. Praew

6. Vita

7. Pream

8. Mingming

9. Natty

10. Kanompang

11. Krista

12. Chaba

13. Pangjang

14. Pailiu

15. Ray

16. Jaoying

17. Acare

18. Phingphing

19. Ninnint

20. TK

21. Preemmy

22. P Amp

23. Pim

24. Jasmine

25. Lissa

26. Chacha

27. Rose

28. Yean

29. J Jazzper

30. Jessica

31. R Jing

They were meant to be 35 Thai trainees in total but, I counted 31. Someone must have dropped out. Total number of trainees supposedly was 70 (Thai 35 + the rest of Asia 35).

Notable trainees (in my opinion) are

1. Ailene, 4. Grace, 5. Praew, 8. Mingming, 13. Paengjang from Mindy

7. Pream

11. Krista (half Korean)

12. Chaba

14. Pailiu (beauty pageant contestant, half Viet)

15. Ray

31. R Jing (ex S.M. Trainee)

She looked terrible in wavy hair. Hairdresser better find new job.

For now, R Jing, Krista and Pream are my picks.

Today, there was the press conference for Chuang Asia, of which Ten was one of mentors. All mentors present in flesh

but Ten, who showed up as VTR

because he had left to Korea on the previous night for call-sign event.

It was rumored that S.M deliberately set the call-sign event on the press conference day so Ten would skip the event. Besides, call-sign could have taken place in Thailand so Ten could have attended the whole event, taken a nap then, call-sign.

Since TenCent is a giant in C-showbiz, a beef against this conglomerate should be avoided for WayV to have any future. This decision of S.M badly is puzzling fans.

Quote from bartkun

this means that even kids from Korea applied and those will probably either be some young ones

Kids from Korea? LMFAO. What potential Korean kids will come to SEA to debut under a Chinese company? Don't you know what the Korean thinks of SEA and China? Only those K-pop agencies rejected ones may be desperate enough to be interested. Thus, if they are not too old to debut, they are not pretty/talented/well-behaved enough.

Tencent dropped more mentor teasers which confirm earlier speculation

Mike?

Jeff?

Ten?

Nene?

Quote from Dreamer95

Miu Sakurai, what a career. Was eliminated from Nizi Project, was eliminated from Girl's Planet and now finally a success after 3rd attempt. True embodiment of "Never Give Up"

OMG, she was also part of the debut line up of New Jeans

Poor girl, she suffered a lot. Hope this heals her wounds

You missed her fortunate drop out from Young Posse.

Quote from bartkun

Nene being mentor is very good because she is former contestant herself

but remember that Jackson Wang will be a mentor/judge as well

he will probably be only in few episodes but he has big name

same goes with Ten, after all if NingNing already was in that one Chinese show and Ten debuted 2 years earlier if I remember well then as Chuang debuts in 2024 he will be a 6 year senior... that's good time to do some mentoring

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I believe GP rather wants to see someone with 10+ years in the industry and still popular.

Remember that trainees in this show may be elder and someone may have been on-and-off in the industry for 5+ years already. His age will be very close to elder trainees too.

In term of showbiz seniority, actually Mike is the biggest senior of them all. He debuted in 2004. Nene is bigger senior to Ten too (debuted 2015).

Official account of the project teased the mentor lineup as following

1.

2.

3.

4.

I have no idea why but fans collaboratively have deciphered those hints as

Mike Pirat

Nene (former Bonbon Girls' member)

Ten (NCT's member)

Jeff Satur

If true, this lineup is underwhelming both for seniority and popularity. And, in term of expertise, some of them are questionable, Jeff Satur especially.

So, what is "issue" or "non-issue"? Who is it to defy and how? You, by your own one fixed standard? That is a pure form of ignorant I believe.

The name of the group is ME:I. Its members are

ranking

11 Kato Kokoro (former Cherry Bullet)

10 Ebihara Tsuzumi

9 Ishii Ran

8 Shimizu Keiko

7 Iida Shizuku

6 Sasaki Kokona

5 Yamamoto Suzu

4 Sakurai Miu

3 Takami Ayane

2 Murakami Rinon

1 Kasahara Momona

This gonna make somewhat visually pleasant lineup without #3.

Quote from xx-jenn-xx

and i have no desire to, ever

This means you have never been their target and your opinion is pointless.

The brand 48 has been washing up. So, if there will be another collab project, trainees must be pooled across multiple franchises/agencies on the Japanese side. I can see labels like Upfront, Keyholder, Stardust, Yoani interested.

If the pedo scandal of Johnny & Associates is alright for the Japanese, the vote manipulation scandal cannot be too bad. Mnet also may lend someone's name to run the show (e.g., LAPONE or Yoshimoto).

Quote from xx-jenn-xx

This

Quote from FoReveries

They got exposed for the corrupt stuff they'd been pulling off for years in their survival shows, so I hope not.

If another company would start up something like PD48, that would be better.

You 2 must have not watched My Teenage Girl or Universe Ticket.

Apparently, Pledis has planned to debut a new boy group in Q1 2024

Yet, it will debut a new girl group next year too? In summer even? 2 new group debut only 3-4 months apart? Is this possible?

Also available on all major music streaming platforms. No idea if there will be actual music video.

This is collaboration project between LDH and High Cloud from Thailand.

The music producer is Ae (aka Botcash) of Boom Boom Cash. This is a song about being addicted on something bad. You know you have to stop but can't. The music is a house EDM pop mix of The Rampage robust sexy image and Boom Boom Cash's playfulness. (Boom Boom Cash is EDM artist.)

Quote from xx-jenn-xx

snoozefest for who? you?

because i'm all over JO1, Just B, TXT, TVXQ!, Xikers, Ateez, and Seventeen.

so no it's not a snoozefest.

Can't you read? Ateez and Seventeen clearly are on day 2.

Unpopular opinion, I guess Vcha will do better. Vcha looks and sounds like a group for tweeny girls while Katseyes appears to be more public friendly.

Yet, this means Vcha has clearer market and clearer identity. Despite being a group for a very niche market, it is easier to market the group to this focus group.

It will be way more difficult and way costlier marketing for Katseyes. This means it is a way riskier project.

Vcha unlikely will ever hit big but is promising to set itself in a lucrative enough niche market. Katseyes can possibly hit big but the possibility is very low.