Steven Ma Pegged to Win TVB Best Actor Award This Year?

Charmaine Sheh Si Man was rumored to leave TVB and focus on money-earning opportunities in China . Bowie Lam and Joe Ma Tak Chungwill be heading to mainland as well. With few big stars left, TVB was forced to increase wages and please their remaining artists, such as Bosco Wong Chung Chak and Steven Ma Chun Wai. This included casting Bosco in a new Shaw Brothers’ movie and airing Steven’s new series in the latter half of the year, paving his road towards winning the TVB Best Actor Award this year.

There is a great demand for artists in the mainland film and television industries. Many mainland companies were actively recruiting Hong Kong artists and willing to pay high salaries. Many artists were interested in filming for mainland. Once dominating the industry, TVB now has to pull out various incentives to make their artists stay with the company.

TVB Eager to Make Steven Ma Stay

TVB regularly invited artists to dinners. In the past, Steven Ma was rumored to not get along with TVB executive, Viriginia Lok. However, at a recent dinner, Ms. Lok sat next to Steven and frequently chatted and joked with him. The atmosphere was harmonious. With Steven’s contract ending this year, TVB was eager to retain him.

An inside source at TVB revealed, “Steven often filmed ancient dramas and was very suitable for the mainland market. With mainland companies paying such high filming fees, TVB was afraid to [drag its relationship with Steven like before]. Aside from producing a new culinary programApprentice Chef "大廚出馬 2" featuring Steven, TVB will be airing Thunder of the Forbidden Palace "紫禁驚雷" in September, which will pave the road for the TVB Best Actor Award. Anyway, TVB was using every possible means to make Steven stay.”

Opening a Movie for Bosco Wong

Although Bosco Wong Chung Chak’s contract will not expire until two years later, many companies approached him to discuss collaborating together. Since Ms. Lok knew Bosco wanted to film movies, TVB decided to open a new film project to boost his popularity further. In the new crime thriller, Bosco will be playing opposite Anthony Wong Chau Sung. An inside source commented, “Earlier when Chin Kwok Wai filmed "戀夏，戀夏，戀戀下", Ms. Lok advocated casting Bosco in the movie. Since the filming location would be Hainan Island , Bosco did not have time to travel to the filming location, so the role was given to another actor. By pairing Bosco with Anthony Wong in the new movieUnderworld Justice "江湖 ．義 ", TVB wanted to show how much they valued him and make Bosco stay with the company.”

With Charmaine Sheh determined to leave, TVB Deputy Chairman, Mona Fong, ordered management to make sure that no more popular artists will follow. Allegedly, TVB was successful in making Roger Kwok Chun On stay. Ms. Lok was still discussing contract details with Bernice Liu Bik Yee, who was interested in pursuing filming opportunities.

Source: Next Magazine # 1098
Translated by: JayneStars