Afterimages: DJ Mike Kasem makes feature film debut

Class 95FM DJ Mike Kasem features in one of the five horror clips in Afterimages, called Skin Deep.

He plays a dentist called Harrison, who is trapped in a lift with other shoppers in a mall.

Little did anyone know that Kasem is actually claustrophobic.

"I'll be fine, but at some point, I'll have to tell myself to calm down a little bit," he said.

He also had his own spooky encounter to share.

Two months ago, while hosting evening show Cartunes with co-host Jean Danker, the pair heard a little girl greet them.

But there was no one else in the studio apart from them.

"The voice said 'Hi guys!'. Jean was looking at me wide-eyed as she gave the traffic updates and I told her later that I had heard the same thing. It turns out that other DJs had heard the same voice too," said the 41-year-old Singapore-based US-born radio personality.

"I'm okay with it, it doesn't scare me too much. It sounds to me like somebody who enjoys being in the studio and listening to us. It got to Jean a little bit because she didn't want to go to the bathroom after that."

Afterimages is Kasem's first big feature film appearance.

NEXT MOVIE

He will next star as a Pakistani reporter who spends time in London in upcoming local film 1965 directed by Randy Ang.

In preparation for his role, he has sought help from Afterimages co-star Daniel Jenkins, who is British.

"The first time we met is on the set of this film and I've asked him for some acting lessons," said Kasem.

Afterimages: Horror story based on personal experience

While Afterimages is based on urban legends and superstitions in Singapore, a part of it is also based on a true story.

In a part called Xiao Bao Bao, local actress-model Melissa Faith Yeo stars as Amy Tan, who plays witness to a suicide that took place at the foot of her block.

Strange occurrences start happening after Tan captures a photo of the woman who jumped.

The story is based on director-producer Tony Kern's own experience after a woman committed suicide six years ago at his East Coast condominium shortly he moved to Singapore.

Kern, 45, was just about to write the second story for Afterimages when he heard a loud thud, like "garbage or boards hitting the ground".

HAUNTED

A woman had fallen to her death below at the foot of the block.

"She was splayed out on the ground and she looked beautiful. I thought she had a red scarf in her hair. I took a photo and that incident had such an impact. It haunted me," said Kern who became "obsessed with what happened".

He went to the victim's home and saw newspapers covering her window, leading him to believe that she was "critically depressed". He also found a dress that had belonged to her.

The sequences of events that took place became the plot for Xiao Bao Bao.

Kern also chose to shoot the scene at the same location the incident happened.

Said Yeo: "When I found out I was shocked. If I wasn't superstitious, I am now."

Added the actress, who will star in Channel 5 futuristic docu-drama 2025 alongside Amy Cheng and Lim Kay Tong: "Things are different now, I would offer a prayer before anything, just in case."

Kern said that the cast and crew made offerings before filming as a mark of respect for the victim.

He also admitted that he kept the photo, but has not showed it to anyone.

"I haven't looked at it. I took the photo for no one but myself," he said.

Afterimages: What is the movie about?

Afterimages, which premieres here tomorrow, is a locally-produced anthology of five short films - Ghost Pool Leg, Xiao Bao Bao, Skin Deep, Rekindling and Burnt Offerings.

In the movie, a group of film students burn paper effigy cameras as offerings during the hungry ghost month and receive horror film footages in return.

Each footage centres on different urban legends and superstitions often heard in Singapore.

At the end of it, the students realise that they got more than they bargained for.

The largely international cast includes familiar actors like Pamelyn Chee, Keagan Kang, Mike Kasem and Lim Kay Tong.

The film will be released at selected cinemas in the US next month.

This article was first published on Sep 10, 2014.
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