After the heartwarming, family reunion dinner released earlier this year, local actor Mark Lee’s next film is the gritty Geylang directed by Boi Kwong.

The neo-noir action-thriller is set in the infamous red-light district, connecting five seemingly unrelated stories – surrounding crime, sex, guilt, violence and perversion – that unfold in one action-packed night . The film also stars Sheila Sim, Shane Mardjuki and Taiwanese actress Patricia Lin.

Mark plays a rude pimp – or “manager of prostitution” as he calls him – nicknamed Fatty and in preparation for his role, the 53-year-old spent a few hours chatting with a real pimp in Geylang and also with a triad leader to learn more about the business and the neighborhood.

Sitting with AsiaOne in a video interview, he told us that this is the first time in his showbiz career that he’s met people similar to the character he plays.

“After talking with them about the lives of prostitutes and their own experiences, I realized how little we know – we are like frogs in a well. Their lives are so exciting and some of their experiences will make you even cry,” Mark mentioned.

“For example, pimps really care about the women in their care and they even help them find partners. There are also women who marry their former clients, start a family and later bring their children to their homes. ex-managers.”

He added that the “managers” love their charges and would advise them to quit their job after a while to look for a good man to marry.

Apparently some famous people in Singapore, including artists, also visit a particular brothel in Geylang, Mark’s contact told him.

Mark said: “Some appear on TV and some appear in newspapers. He mentioned a few but he didn’t tell me their names because there are always ethics in the industry.

“He told me which platforms the famous customers are on. His customers go to his brothel because it’s the only one that has parking spaces at the back door.”

Watch our video above for the full interview.

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