SINGAPORE, Sept 15 — Mediacorp TV Channel 8’s latest drama series to come into production has an unlikely but on-trend topic: Coding.

Starring Joanne Peh, Romeo Tan, Desmond Tan, Aloysius Pang, Carrie Wong, Yao Wen Long, Jayley Woo, Rayson Tan and Aileen Tan, the show is titled Dream Coder and takes a look into the world of software development. 

The cast gathered today for a ceremony to mark the start of filming.

Dream Coder is produced with the support of Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA).

“We were interested to use this medium to sell the tech career as a very vibrant one where we see lots of opportunities, especially with the push towards Smart Nation,” said June Koh, IMDA’s Director, Human Capital Development. 

“It’s not an easy job to sell as it can be quite technical, so we wanted it to be brought to a point where it was easy for the layman, the man in the street, to understand. That’s why we chose Mediacorp.”

Koh added that the move was influenced by the success of dramas such as the You Can Be An Angel Too series, which is produced with the support of the Care To Go Beyond initiative and aims to attract more talent into the nursing industry; and the C.L.I.F. series, which aims to raise the profile of the police force.

“We were quite inspired when we heard that the perception has shifted for some of the jobs, and that recruitment has also improved tremendously in those other sectors,” she said. “In general, we want to sell to all ages. 

“But specifically, obviously, we want to target the younger generation – the youth and maybe even their parents – to see the possibilities and to allow options to be explored.”

Desmond Tan, who plays the head honcho of the tech company in the show, is convinced of technology’s power in our lives and its relevance as a topic to be explored.

“Times have changed. In the past, you were considered successful if you were a doctor or a lawyer. 

“Now, it’s app developers who can change the world. 

“Technology has made our lives so much more convenient. 

“10 years ago, who would have thought that Facebook could change the world?” — TODAY

* Catch Dream Coder starting Feb 7, weekdays at 9pm on Mediacorp TV Channel 8.