news 2009 SM as judge in 「爱Fun享歌唱比赛」

AF #1942 Posted 23 November 2009 - 01:00 AM

source: takungpao reposted on Baidu steven11-23-09

Contract renewed, Steven Ma will host a food & beverage tv program.
Yesterday Steven Ma (Ma Zai) was a judge for「爱Fun享歌唱比赛」Love Fun Enjoy Singing Contest held at Olympian City. There was news speculating that Ma Zai has currently become TVB General Manager's, Stephen Chan, newest favorite, and that the latter will arrange numerous programs for him next year. Steven said that prior to his contract renewal in mid-year he had considered leaving the nest, but Mr. Chan, Virginia Lok and Catherine Tsang at different occasion conferred with him, during which time he made known the stuff he would like to do, including a food & beverage tv show because he himself enjoys cooking. Therefore, after his contract renewal the company will duly arrange such a program for him; furthermore, he will also release an album next year.

Ma Zai said laughingly: "Anyway, my real boss is still TVB! Previously I was said to be in Zhan Jie's group and now, in another new group. I find it all very amusing! But regardless, whoever gives me opportunities I'll cherish them all. Actually the company welcomes suggestions from its artistes because they cause no harm to the company. If artistes fare well, company will too. So I don't approve of factions, and in actuality there's no need for them. What's important is doing well in one's own performances."

Dread Adjudicating a Singing Competition.
Having participated in many singing competitions himself, Ma Zai said frankly he dreads being a judge in a singing competition because of the total concentration needed to rate the candidates' performances; moreover, the judging is subjective to personal preference. But since entering the industry, he knew there are criteria to judging such as: intonation, emoting and stage presence etc. He will use them (criteria) to rate the singing, accordingly. As to looks, he does not think them important; what is important is having a beautiful voice, the looks can be “enhanced” later after becoming a singer. As to the music world currently being clogged with off-key singers, Ma Zai said: “Because the new generation singers have fewer opportunities to sing live. Like the saying goes ‘practice makes perfect'. So can't blame them. That being said, they need to hone their singing skill because if their live singing is weak, it will chase away a lot of the audiences.” Ma Zai asserted that he would never lip-sync, else will cause him to lip un-sync, that is why he insisted on singing live for this year anniversary.

note:
This singing contest was sponsored by HK Labor and Welfare to promote the United Nations "Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities," as part of public education activities.

credit group pix @ 2nd runner up blogger more pix and 2 vids in the blog

*******************************************************
AF#1943





candid shots taken at Fun singing competition by fan @ steven's warmhouse

*****************************************************************

 

TVB 42nd anniversary gala

AF1939

Dogs discussions

AF#1924 Posted 17 November 2009 - 04:46 AM

Tamaya: Steven says he will not eat dogs or monkeys or rabbits or any house pets. Once while working in a restaurant he was shocked to see hotplate rabbit on its menu. He talked about pet sitting his younger sister's rabbit in his house while she was on vacation. Said the rabbit was as big as a small dog. (He actually wrote about this rabbit in his prose essay book.) Said he used to love to eat crabs but ever since his friend who is a devout Buddhist (Ah Ying Zai) persuades him to 放生 (fong sang, release captived creatures) the crabs, he has since given up eating them. Eating one less kind of food is no big deal to him. Steven is truly a very compassionate man. 

Oh, he also warned against eating shrimps with Vitamin C. Haha! I myself have received several emails on that warning too. So take heed of that warning!

Akazukin: Didn't know Steven's kindness spread to even animals. Eating meats maybe cruel to animals, but then, in nutrition point of view, is the nutrition in vegetable enough? The last time I went to China, the famous medicine company advised people to eat as much variety of food as possible to promote health and immunity because of the diversified micro-organism contained in different food. But anyway, don't know how true that is. I don't know what's wrong is eating shrimps with vitamin C? So that means can't eat shrimps with oranges and chillies too?

Tamaya: Neither did I until I received emails stating that as a fact, and then to hear Steven repeating it. Both he and I have been duped for I just now verified that claim on snopes.com. Turn out it wasn't true at all. Debunk in 2005. Wonder if there is a counterpart Chinese snopes.com website. How to let Steven know he's been had. Guess only through his yahoo blog. 

Steven Ma 16 years in TVB, first time as a sports commentator.

11/07/2009

Steven Ma, Charles Szeto, (司徒瑞祈) Kayi Cheung ( 張嘉兒)、Skye Chan (陳倩揚) and Janet Chow (周家蔚) attended the live broadcast of 2009 Hong Kong East Asian Games press conference. Steven disclosed that he will be the TV analyst for the badminton finals in the EA games. He said:"At that time, I will have a pro to talk ball with me. I've been with tvb for 16 years, this is my first time as a commentator in a sports program!" He admitted to being very excited right now at the same time nervous. He jested that the biggest benefit to it was being issued a press pass: "The best part is having the almighty super pass. I could move freely to any competitive arena, and can also take pictures with my camera, too. This pass is even better than a VIP pass."

pix of steven preparing for his sports commenting 

2009 TVB 42nd award polls

AF post#1890
Posted 05 November 2009

Everybody please vote Steven. He is nominated for 6 categories: Best actor, most favorite tv male character, best series, tvb.com Popularity (as opposed to top tvbblog), best variety show and Most admirable program of excellence - the last two for Since 1967.

http://event.tvb.com/42nd/voting/
http://event.tvb.com/42nd/award.php -  the best program of excellence - "Since 1967"

If you have problems, ANY at all, please see link from another tvb artist's fanblog. And if you don't have a HK id#, no problem, again link above has the solution to it, just scroll down to the bottom of the page for  ID generator to get one. If the id generated is not useable, click `2'  again to get a new id. (or google for hk id generator.) The ID must be 8 characters. The 6 characters must be digits 0-9. The standard format of the HKID number is X999999(C), where X can be any capital letter followed by 6 digits and C is the check digit.  see link for explanation

Above image credit sehseh's blog

Actually, you can skip that id generator by googling the sample of HK id image and then inputting similar numbers using HK id format like how one can get fake Malaysian id for Astro and Singaporean id for Starhub.  It's all a game! 

********************************************************

Tamaya: Since Steven will be at the Vancouver Beauty Pageant as a special guest star on the day of TVB 42nd Anniversary Award night, Dec. 4th, his chance of snagging an award is nominal at best, but still we should vote for him if only to inflate his votes for show. 

Nikki01: Tamaya, why should Steven's chance of snagging an award be low if he is not present? Do you mean that since he is allowed to engage in the Vancouver Beauty Pageant on that day, it shows that TVB is already indicating that he is not going to win or not considering him as a likely award winner or...? I wonder if all the awards are allocated solely based on this fan voting method. If so, then there may be some older artistes who deserve an award but are not selected owing to the lower number of internet savvy fans. I believe there must also exist a panel of judges whose judgement will carry weight besides this fan voting method especially in the final round of selection. Is this fan voting only a screening process and final selection is still dependent on a TVB or its appointed panel or this is it? Do you know?

Tamaya: How to say this? --- that the award system is rigged? It's a game that TVB management plays with its artistes .. much like the carrot and stick mind game. Toe the company line, you might just be awarded, else good luck in ever getting one. But occasionally, some of tvb management award decisions might actually coincide with fans' preference esp. when the series and the candidates are red-hot like Wayne Lai and Michael Tse this year. But yeah, in most cases, the award decisions based on TVB's own agenda have already been pre-determined if not carved in stone. Last year for the 1st time ever, Steven was off the nomination list for any award -- this year he has 6 nominations, think it had anything to do with his management contract being finalized at last? Jessica Hsuan terminated her tvb mgmt contract and coincidentally she is not nominated for any award. 


Nikki01: Is this fan voting only a screening process and final selection is still dependent on a TVB or its appointed panel or this is it? Do you know?

Tamaya: I don't know for sure but it's no secret that TVB has the last say on the winners, who may or may not be the fans' favorites or the most deserving candidates. Stephen Chan has said time and again that this awarding of prizes to the artistes is totally a tvb internal affair, although fans' opinions are seriously taken into account in determining the winners. Yea, right, as if! So yes, the management has the final say. Fan voting as a screening process? I see it more like a process to hype up the anniversary celebration. But it can be a 2 sided sword - fans voting can 'push' or put pressure on TVB management to listen to its online polls to avoid alienating its viewers. 

Nikki01:  Tamaya, unlike the normal western film awards which assess movies across many production companies and are really international in scale, for TVB which is assessing drama series and other programs under its umbrella, I tend to agree with Stephen Chan that this should be a TVB internal affair altho regardless, it still has to be fair and transparent in the eyes of all, including fans. Of course, the latter statement is subjective and not easy to achieve. 

It is just like in a company, as a manager, I would want to be able to rate my staff because I believe I know them and their performance best. I understand this scenario may be different since we are talking abt artistes whose performance is really open to all who watch the series to judge but then as an employer of these artistes, other criterias such as work attitude, overall contribution, capability etc are also things that are important that the employer will want to rate (maybe you'll say, yes, but thru other means, not the awards). One thing for sure, if I were from the TVB management team, I shall want to have some say in the award allocation and not just based it solely on viewer opinion or poll. 

Tamaya: Haha! Nikki01, you've said it all, anticipating and preempting my comeback response. 咩都俾你讲晒罗! No argument with your above scenario but, but here's another a scenario 

If I were a company manager, I too would want to have a say in how the awards are being distributed. However, the case of TVB is different because by it ostensibly and sensationally  'inviting' the public to 'assist' in its award decision-making process, it gives the specious impression that the public's votes decide the winners. The truth couldn't be further away! It could be said that TVB is engaged in false and deceptive advertisement, without even so much as a disclaimer to say that all final decisions rest with the TVB board of directors. 今年「萬千星輝頒獎典禮2009」共設15個獎項，其中12個獎項有賴你的神聖一票 This year 2009 anniversary has a total of 15 awards, 12 of which depend on your votes. 

Since TVB made such a big deal of seeking the public's opinion on deciding the winners, it should at least give an appearance of respecting its opinion, and not alienate them by being so obvious in its agenda by awarding the incomprehensible and undeserving winners. Like I say, the polls are a 2 sided sword. TVB should really insert the above disclaimer to its invite. 

Nikki01: Hehee! Tamaya, I did try predict your comeback response but hah, I know too that you will still come back with a reply that will make me scramble and bang my head..... You are right, TVB must add a disclaimer that the poll results are not the only deciding factor if true. Is it true that TVB did give out awards to incomprehensible and undeserving winners? 

Tamaya: yes! Those come right to mind that did not mirror majority's opinion are:

Kevin Cheng - after all these years, he still gets bashed for it. lol! The untimely award is more a bane than a boon to him. 

Gigi Lai over Sheren Tang in WAB? Even Charmaine's acting was better than hers, not to mention Maggie Cheung's.

Fala Chen, the best supporting actress for Steps. ?? Fala has potential for great acting, but not at the point in time when her Cantonese was still considered atrocious. 

Shirley Yeung, the best supporting actress for Always Ready - one of the most boring series I've ever watched. Her performance was just average. too.

Strawberry: I think tvb gives the award to whom they like. The voting part is just to show audiences they are doing something. Some actors/actress does not even deserved to be nominated. 

Source

Editorial - what drawn me to Steven?

AF#1865 Posted 26 October 2009 - 12:44 PM

Tamaya:
Steven's birthday has officially ended.
To commemorate his birthday, I would like to share my recollection on how I became a Steven fan since Oct 2007. I first noticed Steven in HH1 as Dr. Joe somewhere around 2006. Though only a minor role, he caught my eye with his natural and adorable personality, enough to imprint that image in my memory. His Dr. Joe is like a breath of fresh air, so breezy in personality and so 'clean' in looks. He has a face that any young children and elderly people, even dogs for that matter, would instinctively trust at first sight, so guileless are his eyes and so spontaneously warm are his smiles. His whole looks exudes decency, trustworthiness and youthful vitality. And most of all, Dr. Joe is believable.

True, Steven's excellent series drew me into his world and triggered my interest in him as artiste. But in the course of reading his memoir, his yahoo blog, his books, and watching and listening to his tv and radio interviews, I became interested in the man himself. I liked the image of him taking shape in my mind. To be exact, it was his memoir that truly clinched me as his steadfast fan. Through his eloquent writing, I got a sense of the real person behind the artiste, thinking to myself, hey this guy is for real after all, and he is actually of flesh and blood, too. Further foraying in his fandom showed him eloquent and quick-witted in his speech. Last but not least, I read excerpts of his book, "Why Suicide?" Why such a serious topic from an entertainer, no less? Intriguing indeed! What's incredible is that his 2 other books also deal with subjects just as serious. His compassion and and empathy for his subjects were real. Wow! Steven Ma is not just a tvb artiste but a real person who has real feelings and thoughts. Deep!

Below is some of the earlier re-collection of Steven's quotes that had at one time or so impressed me. Care to share yours?


Publishing books
To me, if you think something is meaningful, then you should pursue it. I hope through my celebrity status I can get in touch with the youths as they might presumably be more interested and willing to listen to my 'ramblings'. Actually these past 3 years, within the HK educational world including high school, middle School, and primary school, I did some lecturing tours. I shared with the next generation of young people on life based on my own experiences, on the importance of reading and on familial relationship, and the like. By and by, these lectures invoked in me the notion of publishing inspirational books for the youths, to awake in them the respect for life, and to have a positive outlook in life.

On love
Nowadays I don't have presets (for choosing girlfriend) because love will come when it comes; it's not up to you to pick and choose. I admit I'm not very romantic maybe because I tend to concentrate more in my career. Love can't be explained. Like for instance, if you love a person, even if she slaps you on the face, you'll still love her! But if you don't love a person, no matter how much she begs you, you still don't love her! Actually, what's more genuine than I taking good care of you, giving you confidence, and will not do you wrong? The rest is just icing on the cake. Only those who are with me will know of my love and my heart, so no matter how much I blow my own trumpet right now, it's all meaningless.

On family
My friends and my colleagues are all aware of my close relationship with my family. In my life to date, what I most proud of is that I grew up within this kind of family. To see my father with his own two hands provided for our family of seven. He remained faithful to my ailing mother through thick and thin. He exemplifies that love can indeed be eternal until death do they part, and that love and respect be shown among siblings. All these I had felt in my family.

Mazai chipped teeth in concert

Steven Trivia Pursuit - unearthing old news
Singing with a mike around bodyguards can be risky for one's teeth and health!
Poor Steven! Getting hurt seems to be a day's work for him.

date:April 8, 2005
Mazai chipped teeth in concert.
马仔登台撞碎门牙

Steven Ma and Kenix Kwok held an Easter concert at Atlantic City, USA. Because their series had aired in both Canada and the US, their concert attracted a huge crowd of supporters, resulting in sold outs for both performances. The only hitch to the concert was when Mazai was hurt during his 2nd performance.

At that time, Mazai was singing Better Halves theme song. Accompanied by several security guards, he got off the stage to shake hands with the audience. Grasping the mike in his hand, he sang as the enthusiastic audience surrounded him. To protect him, one of the guards in shoving the audience away accidentally knocked the mike with his arm, causing the mike to smack against Mazai's front teeth, chipping them instantly. Mazai promptly felt an excruciating pain shooting right into him. So as not to affect his performance, he kept his cool until the end. He said: "I was in such pain that I felt woozy for a minute. I was worried that my mouth might become bloody. Luckily the roots of the teeth were not affected. So I sang through a mouth filled with blood. Even though the security guard was rough, Mazai did not blame him because it was an accident.

Afterwards, Mazai had considered going straight back to Hong Kong to see a dentist, but since he had already reserved tickets to visit NYC and to see Broadway shows, he had no choice but be a "chipped teeth leng zai" for two days. When he got done with his NYC trip, only then did he fly back to Hong Kong. Upon arrival, he immediately rushed to his good friend's dental office and though it was late at night, he had his teeth fixed immediately, thus enabling him to regain his leng zai appearance within a short period of time. He smiled wryly and said that stage performance got to be his most unforgettable experience since entering showbiz.


source:http://www.xici.net/b284854/d26699409.htm

===chinese==
馬浚偉登台撞崩牙