Steven to participate in a badminton tournament

The news report below reveals the reason why Steven mysterious appeared in Nanjing. Bet he was enroute to Changchun to participate in the reported badminton tournament.

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Global Chinese Badminton Tournament include celebrities: Gao Ling and Steven Ma.
This coming Sunday, September 2nd, the 19th Red Bull Global Chinese Badminton Tournament will be held in Changchun Wuhuan Gymnasium.  This year event attracted 1536 participants, among them Gao Ling, a retired Olympics gold medalist champion. 

Apparently, this tournament was jointly initiated in 1993 by a group of cross-strait badminton enthusiasts sharing a common interest and wanting to compete in a traditional international badminton tournament.  Its mission statement is "Make friends through sports, learn through playing with opponents, improve health through physical fitness, unite Chinese people".  “以球会友，切磋球艺，强身健体，团结华人”.  Since its inception, the highest number of participants ever registered has reached 3000.  The participants came from all over the world including overseas badminton clubs from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Korea as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and from all walks of life including celebrities, retired badminton instructors, and former athletes and former world champions, making this tournament a very high profile event attracting much interest from the public. 

The tournament is divided into categories: by age, by singles, doubles, mixed doubles, married couples, etc.  Furthermore, the requirements for registration are pretty low, so long the participants are badminton enthusiasts and 25 years and above they can register.
 
Among the 1500 over participants for tomorrow's event is the champion of 2000 and 2004 Olympics mixed doubles, Gao Ling (高崚). Representing Hong Kong Li Ning Badminton Club, her events are mixed doubles, and women's doubles. Former members of national teams including Li Han Nan, Li Hao Nan,  Xie Xin, and Chen Zhiben, also registered. 

Besides them, Hong Kong TVB well known siu sang, Steven Ma, also representing  Hong Kong Li Ning Badminton Club, has registered, too.  Apparently, Steven Ma is an avid badminton buff and he is also well acquainted with the national badminton team members.  After the London Olympics, as the badminton ambassadorial host in Hong Kong, Steven even entertained Lin Dan and the mixed doubles duo during their recent goodwill visit in Hong Kong. 

This time Steven will also get into the badminton competitive fray. Undoubtedly, with more celebrity participation in the tournament, it will receive more attention and interest from the public. 

source: Changchun Daily 8/30/2012 (excerpt)
credit:  Steven-Ma.org

TN: Guess Steven will partner Gao Ling in the mixed doubles match.  Good for him, and good luck!

 8/16  21:42  P.S. Had on one of the new jerseys belonging to the club I belong. Nice or not? 

Club = the  same badminton club as Gao Ling's, Hong Kong Lin Ning Badminton Club

Steven with manager, Sandy Lau.

Steven's weibo in Simplified Chinese

Steven's weibo entries in simplified Chinese baidu sm thread

including:
weibo page 2011-July

Steven Sighting in Nanjing

Nanjing, makes me happy!











enlarged pix link



Earlier, Steven was sighted inside a Nanjing mall but these people could not be sure if it was him so they kept checking him.  And later more people sighted him on 3rd floor inside a restaurant but they were too timid to ask for signature and to take pictures.  

罗马时差EASTERN: Today in HK flight (tn: to Nanjing) encountered Steven.Handsome and friendly. Even took pictures with us. Hope you get over your cold quickly.

罗马时差EASTERN: 回复@欣苒: Handsomer than on screen, cos' of his skin complexion. Very polite.

micky_s: Real person much more handsome

Steven in his role as part time instructor

episode 3 in Daddy Good Deeds

Concedes Defeat to Olympics Gold Medalists, Steven Ma Happy to Break Zero.

source: wenweipo 8/26/2012

稱臣金牌羽球手拍下 馬浚偉破蛋笑開懷
Concedes Defeat to Olympics Gold Medalists, Steven Ma Happy to Break Zero.

The 2012 Olympics Chinese gold medalist delegation is in Hong Kong for a 3-day goodwill visit from August 24th thru August 26th. Yesterday (8/25) the badminton and the table tennis gold medalists did an exhibition show in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai. Steven Ma (Ma Jai), a badminton enthusiast who is also Hong Kong Badminton Ambassador, partnered with Hong Kong badminton player, 'Hak Miu' (Yip Pui-Yin) played against the gold medal badminton duo, Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, in a mixed doubles friendly match. But the resounding cheers in the stadium for Steven were no less than those for the gold medalists, even the MCs incessantly cheered him on. Steven expensing all effort in kill shots finally broke zero, in the end he and Yip Pui Yin lost to the other team 2 to 7.

news 2012- SM as badminton ambassador in friendly match

HONG KONG: China's Olympic gold medallists are in Hong Kong for a three-day goodwill visit. A 70-strong delegation of Chinese athletes, including Olympic gold-medal winners from London, got a warm welcome from the people of Hong Kong on Friday. The delegation's itinerary includes public demonstrations in badminton, table tennis, diving as well as a gala event on Saturday.  During their visit, the athletes will also participate in various sports demonstrations and a variety show.

Loudly cheered on by the crowd, Steven Ma broke zero scoring, finally losing to opponents 2-7.

Guess Steven was in cloud nine that day

a fan work.

Single Parent 10 Years info

source: 中国影视剧

Series: Single Parent 10 Years《单亲十年》
Filming venue: Wuhan, HuBei
Start date of production: 9/20 2012

# of Episode: 25
Male lead: Steven Ma

Assistant Director:李建潮
Email: 18610161129@163.com
Filming commencement: Early October 2012


(Hengdian 横店剧组最新动态)
 Start date of production: early October
 Director:刘嘉靖  movie《囧探佳人》tv series:《江南传奇之十五贯》; Horse Tracks《跑马场》

Steven Ma in badminton mixed doubles friendly match

vid source: steven ma weibo

source: youku

***********************************
So after last night dinner with China Olympics badminton players, early this morning 8/25/2012 Steven played in a friendly badminton mixed doubles match with China national badminton 马浚伟 叶姵延对张楠 赵芸蕾

news feature on SM's mixed doubles

*********

below 2 vid source: isdgovhk @ youtube

 Cantonese news

English news report

Gold medallists’ talent on show August 25, 2012
news source: news.gov.hk

Gold medallists’ talent on show August 25, 2012 The enthusiasm for the Olympic Games was rekindled in Hong Kong when Mainland athletes who won gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games staged demonstrations in badminton, table tennis and diving this morning.

The badminton and table tennis champions gave demonstrations at Queen Elizabeth Stadium while the diving champions performed at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.

Another group of athletes joined an exchange session with youth uniformed groups and demonstrated their gymnastics talent at Siu Sai Wan Sports Centre.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam and Chinese Olympic Committee President Liu Peng attended the badminton and table tennis demonstrations, in which the gold medallists had friendly matches with Hong Kong athletes. Hong Kong badminton player Wong Wing-ki beat men’s singles badminton gold medallist Lin Dan by 7 to 6.

Some spectators were selected by drawing lots and granted a rare chance to participate in the sports-for-fun sessions.

Mixed Doubles badminton gold medallists Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei had a friendly game with Hong Kong badminton player Yip Pui-yin and artiste Steven Ma.

In an entertaining exchange, badminton champion Lin Dan played table tennis with men’s singles table tennis gold medallist Zhang Jike - who used a badminton racket.

All sports demonstrations featured lucky draws for prizes that included badminton and table tennis rackets autographed by members of the national teams.

Steven with his badminton heroes

 Lin Dan with his wife, and China Olympics badminton double. 林丹，谢杏芳, 傅海峰, 蔡斌又
Steven in cloud nine last night as he uploaded the pix. Meeting them the next day probably for a game or two.

The lastest LOTYEF on Li Bingzong

credit as labeled

So looking forward to Steven's performance in the series.  Director Tsui has high praise for him as well as for Hu Jun and Charmaine.  Won't be aired until early next year. 

CRHK: SM clarifies he is not the 'lou ban'

Steven wants to clarify that he is not the investor/boss of his upcoming Single Parent Ten Years series but that he works for the company that is investing in that series.

SM: I want to clarify that actually I'm not the boss but that I'm very happy to get to know a very good boss (investor), I thank them for their appreciation of me: to enable me to experience being a producer; to invest in my series production. I'll try out script-writing, or maybe later will also try out directing. But that company is theirs not mine.

TN: Steven just confirms my surmise that he did not open his own studio. Like what I surmise the big boss maybe Beijing Jetsen Technology.  In any case, it is good that Steven doesn't have to spend his own money to produce his own series. 

Per recent Eileen Cha's interview the very same 'lo ban' has invested close to $200, 000 000 (budget) on Steven. 

Tsui Yong Yong's Ending Essay: SM Inborn Disposition & Willfulness

Steven Ma:  Natural Disposition and Willfulness (生性 與 任性)
My fate with Steven Ma is extremely strong. I recall my first encounter with him was in the mid 90s inside a hotel coffee house. An unexpected encounter, a patch of white before my very eyes …it was his fair complexion against which his lips looked even redder.

A young sapling, once viewed, hard to forget.

The second encounter was inside TVB makeup room. He was standing next to Leon Lai. People said he resembled Leon Lai but I did not see the resemblance. Steven Ma, he is himself.

Celebrity Hosts for the new Commercial Radio program

 What a solemn bunch on the left vs those on the right.

click pix to enlarge

8/21/2012 Commercial Radio (CRHK) held a press conference to publicly launch its newly created program, 一圈圈 (circles, loops) that will officially commence August 27 in the M-F 10 am - 12 pm timeslot, effectively replacing Eileen Cha's 15 year in the air long running《巴巴閉邊個夠我查篤撐》program.  The new program is jointly hosted by Elaine Ng (吳綺莉) , Tony Leung 梁泰來 and Vanessa Yeung 楊崢 , supplemented with occasional guest hosts.

CRHK CEO, Stephen Chan, using friendship card invited a host of friends as celebrityt hosts for the newly launched radio program, the first wave of guest hosts include: Steven Ma, Cally Kwong (鄺美雲), Anthony Wong(黃耀明), Leo Ku 古巨基, Pastor Lam 林以諾 Margie Tsang (曾華倩),  Hacken Lee (李克勤), Mak Ling Ling (麥玲玲),  張繼聰, 胡敏珊Christie, 何國鉦,  柳俊江,  Michael Cheng,丁子高, Andrew Lau (劉偉強).

Mr. Chan said he personally invited all the celebrity hosts. The content of the talk show will touch on movies, tv series, music etc with insiders from the E-circles talking about stuff with their respective E-circles. And relevant videos will be uploaded online for all to view.  And that this wave of celebrity hosts is but the tip of an iceberg, because there will be lots more of unexpected guest hosts to come.

When asked about celebrity hosting fees,  Mr. Chan laughed and said: "It's all about heart not money".  Upon hearing that, reporter commented that Mr. Chan with his friendship card saved CRHK lots of money, to which Mr. Chan laughed and said that it is all fraternal love. They all gave CRHK face."

Cally Kwong accepted Mr. Chan's invitation to be celebrity host unhesitatingly without even first discussed about compensation. Whe asked how much Mr. Chan paid her as celebrity host, she laughed and said they are good friends so will not discuss money matter. As owner of (1 or n# ) precious gems shops, Cally will talk about precious gems and also the study of Buddhism. Leo Ku jests  that he will invite one of his ex-girlfriends as his guest.  Paster Lam on Christianity. (tn: What will be Steven's topic?)

Mr. Chan refutes the rumors that Pansy Ho Chiu-king (Macao King of Gambling Stanley Ho's daughter) will acquire CRHK.

Mr. Chan said that Eileen Cha was originally offered one of the 3 permanent hosting positions but she rejected for a hosting job in tvb.

TN: I don't know most of the people on the list.
Wong Hei is not in the first wave of guest hosts because of work but Mr. Chan said he is working on getting him on board.

Actually back in 1999 Steven hosted a talk show in CRHK, along with his recent cooking show Steven should do well as a radio talk show host.

I didn't know that Elaine Ng was the very same actress that collaborated with Steven in the 1999 Ultra Protection.

So the guest hosts truly are not paid as guest hosts?

credit pix as labeled
credit screen caps to steven-ma.org
To view watermark Steven's individual photos goto steven-ma.org

2012 HK Food Expo

As B2 line premium ham spokesperson, Steven demonstrates its great taste in a ham salad.

Transcript: 2012 8/18 HK Food Expo B2

August 18 2012, Steven Ma participated in the Hong Kong Food Expo 2012 activities.  Steven said he had started cooking since elementary school so cooking simple dishes will not faze him. Though Steven has already broken up with his ex-girlfriend they have kept in contact and that their current relationship is even better than before. Steven expresses hope to reconcile.

SM: "Will have to depend on fate ba or if she so willing. Because honestly I'm seldom in Hong Kong, and she is also very busy and seldom in Hong Kong, too.  So will have to see how she feels about it.  Because in the past I seldom had time to accompany her, that was my fault.  I hope if she can  bear with it, we can come up with a compromise to smooth out our differences.  I think there's still a possibility."


On TVB collaboration, Steven says TVB is still his maternal home but because of his work his schedule the earliest won't be until May next year.

SM: Actually it's like this, early this year when I left TVB, actually TVB has kept in contact with me. Recently, they did ask me when I would have time to film their series . I said because TVB is still my maternal home, and also the place I grew up in, if they truly want me to go back, I'll prioritize it as my first consideration. But the earliest will have to be in May next year. 

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马浚伟大厨出马 真材实料

transcript: SM hopes to reconcile with ex-girlfriend

TVB artist, Steven Ma, has excellent culinary skill. He’s at HK Food Expo today sharing his cooking experience with his audience. He also reveals that he and his ex-girlfriend’s past relationship was actually nurtured through cooking together.

SM: Yes, sometimes we would shop for grocery together; in the supermarket. Then we either went to her house or mine, and we cooked together. And then we dined together. And then I would make soup for later, and when I was done (making soup), we drank red wine and shoot the breeze. In the past we would do that.

Last year, Steven terminated his contract with TVB, and took on the role of a tv series producer and ventured north to invest in tv series and to release music album, enabling him many opportunities to encounter the opposite sex. In August when we interviewed him he was not against looking for a wife in the mainland. (tn: per video, SM never said that. Reporter put words in his mouth.) But today when we asked him the same question again, there is no such possibility for such a relationship to develop. The reason being that he has reconnected with his ex-girlfriend, and that their reconciliation is a possibility.

SM: Actually, recently, this past 6 months our contact has indeed increased from before. I think go with fate ba.  Because, originally due to time, or my work , we were often at work in different places. I was either in Hong Kong or mainland. And she was either in Hong Kong or in Europe, like Italy or somewhere. So we rarely saw each other. But now she’s in Hong Kong as I am so we see each other more often. And our communication has also improved. Wait and see ba. Now, there is~; have reverted back to friends kind of feeling, close friends feeling. But in the future if can continue to once again walk that path then will have to depend on fate.

Hope Steven can reconcile with ex. In his heart she is probably already his wife, marriage to him is just a certificate formality.  All these news about mainland 'milk cows' bombshells gave me such a bad impression of mainland actresses. Also may I say from browsing their weibos, I am also not impressed with and even wary of his mainland collaborators?  Mainland chicks are reputed to be overly 'friendly' towards HK males. (re qing)  It could be their 'overly friendliness' toward him that Steven so publicly announces his heart still belongs to his ex gf?  

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At B2 Premium Canned Ham Promo: SM Hopes to get back with ex-gf

Yesterday August 18, Steven Ma attended the Hong Kong Food Expo 2012 held in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai. As the spokesperson for B2 premium luncheon ham, Steven demonstrated on site the making of a delicious salad using the endorsed product instantly attracting a huge crowd. Steven said he had started cooking since elementary school so cooking simple dishes will not faze him. His spectators comprising mostly of housewives jostled each other to sample his food and invariably praised his good looks. (leng jai). Well liked by housewives, Steven admits he himself prefers the more mature women.

Among the many young and middle aged women requesting to take pictures with him, there was this one fan who incessantly asked Steven to face the camera, to which the latter finally replied that he did, and many times at that.  Steven jested:  "Snap so many pictures. Why not I go home with you?" ; hearing that, the fan instantly dissolved into spontaneous laughter.  

Steven has already broken up with his ex-girlfriend but he asserts that they still keep in touch and see each other.  When asked if there is a possibility of reconciliation, Steven said: "There maybe. Our earlier break up was due to lack of time to spend with each other." 

Ever unwavering in his love, Steven hopes to reconcile with her in the future, but first they must surmount the obstacle of their frequent separation at different places.  Steven awaits ex-girlfriend's reply.  He said: "Will have to depend on fate ba, or if she so willing. Because honestly I'm seldom in Hong Kong, and she is also very busy and seldom in Hong Kong, too.  So will have to see what she wants.  Because in the past I seldom had time to accompany her, that was my fault.  I hope if she can  bear it, we can come up with a compromise to smooth out our differences.  I think there's still a possibility."

"We parted because I was too busy with work, and had to go to mainland to film series. And she had to go to Europe; separated in different places, so no point dragging it out. We are all mature people. But we keep in touch through phone and  text message." 

But there are the many "milk cows" (tn: busty actresses) in mainland who are enamored with tvb siu sangs.  As a 'seon poon' (a good deal eligible bachelor) how does he cope with such situation? Shrugging off the 'seon poon' label, Steven smiled and said indeed he has made many new mainland friends recently, men and women.  He quipped: "I know many mainland women. But friends with them does not have to involve love."  (Won't ex-girlfriend worried?)  To let her have confidence in me, what's most important is to first do well by myself."

When asked if there were any explicit messages in their exchanges, Steven said: "We are not young people head over heels in love. The messages are mostly mutual exchanges of regards. No passionate exchanges. (In response to tvb sius' incidents) I understand when in love, one's guards are naturally lowered so flirting words are understandable."

He thinks that after breaking up, exes should not disclose previous words of love to each other to the public.  He believes his ex will not reveal his messages to her and vice versa. 

Steven said there is a chance he may collaborate with TVB if they want him to, after all, TVB is his maternal home where he grew up,  but the latest would not be until May next year.

credit as labeled

Sources: wenweipo, Hong Kong Daily news, ming pao

Steven Ma Uses Bug Zapper as Badminton Racket

8/8/2012 Steven Ma has always loved sports, especially badminton. His enthusiasm for badminton is so 'feverish' that he would not forgo any available spare time playing badminton even when at Hengdian shooting a series. (May-July). In between shooting scenes, he would use this free time to practice badminton strokes with an electric bugs zapper. With the bugs zapper in his hand, he had a game going, now 'killing the shuttlecock', now 'backhanding the shuttlecock', thoroughly enjoying his badminton fix. What's so amusing is that his immersion in his pretend game was so total, it incurred other workers' snickers at seeing him so, but ignoring all, Steven continued to do his own thing.

When showed this set of photos as proof, Steven did not mind at all, and even admitted his guilt with a smile: "People who know me know that I like to play badminton. Whenever I've free time I'll drag my friends to play badminton with me. During the time in Hengdian, the days had turned hot and humid so lots of mosquitoes and flies so I would bring the bugs zapper everywhere with me. Besides using it to zap the bugs, in between shooting scenes, I could use it to mimic badminton strokes and moves. People thought I had gone mad. Actually, waiting to shoot my scene, I was just looking for some self-entertainment; this is what is called "using a product to the max."

When the talk turns to Olympics, Steven was full of enthusiasm: "Besides studying the script, and preparing the September new series, I also watch my most beloved badminton games. I didn't even have time to sleep. Need to support both national and Hong Kong teams ma. Women's doubles took the gold, women's singles both gold and silver, men's singles, Lin Dan, took the gold. And also there are the women's volleyball, and table tennis to watch. But watching the Olympics games makes my "hands itched", so when have the time I'll immediately called up friends to play badminton".

As a badminton buff, he is naturally attentive to badminton news, among them is the disqualification of the Chinese women's doubles team of Wang Xiao Li and Yu Yang from Olympics. Steven feels that is very unfortunate: "I know these two athletes. We are friends. In spirit, I still support them, and hope that they will not quit badminton, but will continue to play and get even better results in the future. Actually, through the years I've gotten know many mainland and Hong Kong athletes and know that they work really hard, and that they have expended much blood, sweat, tears and physical efforts and spirit into their sports. That's why all along I always respect and love them, and hope that every one of them, regardless medaling or not, so long he/she has done his/her best, that's enough. Frankly, having watched Olympics all these years, regardless the Olympians medaled or not, in my heart, they are all awesome. But what I want to emphasize most is this: medaling or not is not important because what they have given out (tn: of themselves and to their sport) is already the biggest harvest."

Those who have played badminton with Steven know that his techniques are not bad. This reporter heard in September Hong Kong badminton platform has an upcoming big event:

"Chinese Badminton Open competition ma; already sign up. This is my first time participating in an open competition. But don't know if the date will clash with my work schedule or not; hopefully it won't. If schedules clashed then I can't do it. So feeling a bit nervous here. Actually in recent years I've been playing with former Hong Kong national team members and Hong Kong coach(es), and they practise continually with me to help me improve my game. Participating in competition, win or not, not that important; most important is the participation itself, and that the whole competition process can help improve one's progress; that, will give me the most satisfaction."

source: wenweipo; takungpao; tungstar
related material: Steven's weibo support national Olympians

news on upcoming series with NowTV

NowTV executive producers, Lau Ka Ho and Miu Siu Ching, (ex-tvb producers) are negotiating with Charmaine Sheh as female lead for their first NowTV series to commence production around CNY. Rumored male lead is either Steven Ma or Wong Hei. Wong Hei said he had put aside some time around cny for that possibility. Steven says everything is still up in the air.

But Steven reposted this snippet of news on his weibo and recent news quoted him as saying he has a tv series to shoot around CNY, so not sure if all will go according to plan.  So long the female lead is neither one of his 3 sisters, esp. Linda, I'm fine.  I'm really want a fresh pairing for Steven.

SM, a great fan of all national Olympians

Were you stunned when Li Yibing was robbed of his gold for rings in gymnastics. Even Even the USA tv commentators were stunned as were the audience on site when the camera panned on them.  Just like Steven I was impressed by Li YiBing's graciousness at that moment when the score flashed on the board announcing he had lost the gold and had to settle for the silver.

Did you see how Liu Xiang fell down on his first hurdle? I didn't but my sister who did skype me that unfortunate misstep.  Seems like Liu Xiang was vilified by people on weibo and other Chinese forum for his misfortune and below are Steven's heartfelt weibo entries for these two Olympians whose olympics dreams have fell short.  Steven always finds the right words to express feelings shared by many.


8月6日22:35   
Calm and collected, have bearing and grace, such demeanor truly the commander general of all generals. Good for you, Chen YiBing. Don't be sad; you made me proud.
 
 *********************
8/8/2012 01:29  
Accompany my win are hundreds of thousands people; accompany my loss, how many are there?.

*********************
8/8/2012  02:06   - Liu Xiang's negative press
At this moment, feelings stirred 
Win or lose, not the most weighty 
What I see is their effort Post a comment, who doesn't know how? 
One comment can erase all blood and sweat 
One comment can negate all tears and effort 
Using a simple comment 
To void someone's whole life 
Don't say again you're the kind of person who call it as you see it. 
Let me ask, exactly what kind of person are you? 
Put yourself in someone else shoes 
Feel that someone's emotion 
So simple, can't you? 
I've all along learning to be more tolerant 
Won't you? Can't you?

*********************
-- on the disqualified badminton players and Liu Xiang and all athletes

8/7/2012 06:10  
No athletes wouldn't want to put in their best effort.

Empathize, understand, tolerant and cherish

is my attitude towards them

Their blood, sweat, tears and pressure

I did not have that personal painful experience

But empathy tells me 

I should try to understand

National athletes

No matter what

I love you all.

****************
 
8/6/2012 22:35   re-Gymnastics, Li Yi Bing - 'lord of the rings'
Calm and collected, have bearing and grace, such demeanor truly the commander general of all generals. Good for you, Chen YiBing. Don't be sad; you made me proud.

*********************
8/1/ 2012 - re disqualified badminton duo Wang Xiao Lin and Yu Yang
Have known many athletes and some have even become good friends. The pressure and bitterness they carried through the years, how many people actually understand. From rational angle, I dare not comment but from emotional angle I'll say I still love you all, friends, I love you all.

8/1 1:48: Women team, don't be upset, you did your best. Your performance was awesome! Don't cry! I'm proud of you! National sports team members, even without medaling I'm still very proud of you all. Those with medals are heroes; those without medals are also heroes because your sweat and tears and your pressure, I see them all. National sports team members, win or lose, I love you all, regardless.

7/31 21:45 On the sports arena, to get a medal, so difficult; blood, sweat, not known to outsiders; from a different angle, likewise, the journey of life is akin to Olympics arena. Maybe the goals are different but the attitude is the same. The only thing to do is to strive hard.  You add oil, I add oil; medal, up to heaven ba! 

Steven Ma uses electric bug zapper as badminton racket

8/8/2012 Steven Ma is an avid badminton player, even when shooting series in Hengdian he would use his free time to play badminton. And if he could not be in the court playing badminton, he would use the electric bugs zapper as badminton racket to practise badminton moves, swinging his racket here and there, thoroughly enjoying himself.  What's so funny is that so into his game he was doing his own thing, he was oblivious to other workers whispering among themselves at seeing him.

When the talk turns to Olympics, Steven says despite his busy schedule, but he makes time to watch his most beloved badminton games.  He supports both the national and Hong Kong teams.  He sighs and says between his busy daily life and watching the Olympics he does not have much time left over to sleep. And watching the Olympics badminton games gives him this urge to play badminton.

He found out that the Open Chinese Badminton Cup will be held in Hong Kong this September. And that he has already registered his entry. This is his first entering the open badminton competition.  But he is still unsure if there will be a work conflict on that day or not.  He hopes not and so he feels a bit nervous.

Actually, this past year he has been playing badminton with former Hong Kong national badminton team members and  a HK badminton coach.   They have been teaching him how to improve his game. But he expresses that what is most important is to enjoy the process of the competition, win or lose is not important.

source: wenweipo

speculation on Steven's first tv series

With Single Parent 10 Years, Steven's first tv series produced by him will most probably be an uplifting story emphasizing familial love over romantic, and with great doses of  positiveness and optimism, and societal ills, much like AJCL.  It may not appeal to the general public who seek more gratuitous and out there entertainment.

2005 news report
Steven: Because if I truly want to communicate my viewpoints (tn: on family and society) through books, there are actually other mediums I could use, too. Besides books, I could also do it through TV series by choosing different kinds of characters to portray. I could even write scripts. And also, my characters could convey what I want to communicate to the public. Really not necessary to strictly do it through printed words. Printed words are indeed important, but images/videos could also be used, as well as, audio.

Interviewer: As such, it could be done through different mediums.

S: Exactly. Singing could do that too. Like for instance, I could compose a song about family love, or include some words about the meaning of life. Actually, a lot of stuff are interrelated, no need to relinquish any one of them.  link

interivew - Eileen Cha - SM on his upcoming series

Highlights:

1) The big boss has invested close to $200, 000 000 on Steven. (see: Beijing Jetsen Technology Co.)
2) Steven's fee per episode is a 6 digit figure no way close to 7. He knows his own current market value. If it is close to 7 digit then there won't be anybody using Ma Chun Wai. Actors should know their own current market value and be reasonable with their asking price.
3) Made many close friends in Mainland, male & female but puts his career above looking for love
4) Stephen Chan invited him to the Life Talk Show charity to rally pledges for organ donation.
5) Steven has a written living will. (His organs will be donated upon his death.)
6) Steven considers Mr. Chan to be a close friend whose friendship and advice he values very much.
7) Steven will set time aside after wrapping up his new series in December to work on his new music album.
8) Steven first time being a groom brother party as he was to Dexter cos' he's very reserved.  He frequently shies away from overly crowded and festive celebratory banquets like wedding.
9) The upcoming series in September in Wuhan will be his 3rd series after leaving TVB. He will start another series (his 4th) next year around CNY.
10) He may film a tvb series under the right conditions and a good script, and if he does, the earliest won't be until April next year.
11) And after that for the next 2 months he will be preparing 3 or 4 series to film in the future.
12) Steven will be one the scriptwriters for his September series, but more of a producer trainee than a full fledged producer.
13) The September series' theme is on romantic and familial love.
14) They have already gotten the authoritative permission and support from the Wuhan governance for location scene filming rights.
15) Steven will spend 7 months or more working in mainland.
16) Will he buy a residence in Mainland. He hopes to be able to buy an apartment in Beijing even though his lodging is paid by the company.
17) He has discussed with the investing company about releasing a music album in Mandarin. 
18) Who is the female lead? Her role is a single mother. Still did not confirm who she is. Will be a mainland actress.

That Steven plans to be more than just an actor is no secret to me, he had mentioned about wanting to experience being a scriptwriter, a director and a producer since 2007 (A Journey Called Life) when he was so inspired by Kent Cheng's own experiences and since then had paid close attention to that aspects of making a tv series.

Steven has a heart that craves new knowledge and new experiences.
His essay encapsulates his learning attitude Learning emphasizes self-deficiency

weibo

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Steven says he prefers wearing glasses to contact lens, eyes more comfortable.  But I think he looks handsomer with contacts than with his black frame glasses which aged him.

Lotyef's progress

The other day, Tsui Yong Yong got together with Director Tsui for a meal, she said he praised Steven, Hu Jun and Charmaine for their performances in LOTYEF.

And Director Tsui chipped in on weibo that the editing work is done, now working on the dubbing.  The person who dubbed Steven in the preview will dub for Steven.  Director Tsui says if the series is aired in Hong Kong, he will have Steven dubbed his own character.

Director Tsui: Filmed in Mongolia for 3 months, and 4 months in Hengdian.

video - Organ Donation charity event

As guest in Life Talk Charity Show《生死之交 》- to encourage pledges of organ donation from the public.

When asked what he's up to these days, Steven says he is busying getting his upcoming, Single Mother Ten Years ready for production in Wuhan. And he is in a very interesting position now that he is straddling the position of producer, scriptwriter and actor.  An actor is just concern with his role while a scriptwriter is concerned with all characters and the big picture of the story in the script.  And as producer he is more concerned on how to producer a series within a budget.

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charity event: Life Talk Show

Life Talk Show (Organ Donor) Charity Event 「生死之交」8/03/2012

Steven said Stephen Chan invited him to the event as a speaker because of his personal experience with his mom's death.

Per  Jackie Lui's weibo (吕颂贤) the number of HK organ donor pledges has broken the previous Guinness World Record held by Britain of 321 donors, currently HK donor pledges stand at 510. pix credit as labeled.

video: Used Books Auction

video source

Besides being a actor, Steven has also recently taken on the role of a tv series producer, too. Currently for his upcoming series, Single Parent Ten Years, 《单亲十年》he is being paid a 6-figure fee (tn: Steven later clarified on his weibo that 6-figure fee is per episode not per series as implied in the news report). But the female lead for the series is still not confirmed from their short list. He said he may film a tvb series next April and that there are plans for him to release a Mandarin music album soon.

When asked about his love life, he said right now it's a blank.  When asked if he is against finding a mainland girlfriend Steven says the place should not pose a problem for finding girlfriends, regardless from Hong Kong, Beijing Shanghai, Wuhan or whatever places, they are all ok.  So long they mutually appreciate and mutually love each other, it's ok.  He thinks the place is never a problem. Hong Kong women have their own good points, likewise, mainland women have their own good points.  If you like her, whatever place is good.

What kind of a question is that asking Steven if he is against dating a mainland woman?  What was he suppose to say?  Yes, he is against? A better phrased question would have been to ask what Steven think about dating a mainland woman vs a Hong Kong woman. 

Woah! Steven's Mandarin has improved heaps! Good job! 

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Additional news from the press.

Steven Ma shoots New TV Series and participates in script-writing 
Since leaving TVB, Steven ventured into mainland to dig gold. After finishing the pre-modern series, Yuan Yang Pei《鸳鸯佩》, in September he will go to Wuhan  to film a new series, Single Mother Ten Years《单亲十年》, and this time he will participate in the script-writing work.  When asked if he personally picks the female lead himself, Steven says he will give his opinion but will not interfere with the producer's and director's decision.  However, at the moment, the female lead has not been confirmed.

Asked if he will be paid for both his script-writing and acting jobs, Steven laughs and says that boss is really nice, and that he/she will invest again in another tv series for him to act in so his script-writing fee is appropriate and discretionary to his effort. Asked him if because as lead actor his fee is high already so did not contest? (tn: the modest fee for his script-writing work) Steven laughs: "Still need some 'petty cash' but since there will be another series to come, it doesn't matter."

He reveals that next year he will take on the role of a director to film a tv series, but he will continue his acting at the same time be involved in the behind the scenes work.  And he does not rule out in the future he may also invest in producing series, will have to wait and see how much he can earn within the next two years.

Just now per a reliable source, the previous Shenzhen filming location has been canceled. Oh dear, the fans there got to be brokenhearted. They had been looking so forward to that ever since Steven revealed to them during their fans visit in April (?) he would be in Shenzhen for his next filming.

Used Books Auction - with Vivian Chow

                                                       click to enlarge - source: torrie_恩

Talk about writing and publishing books to motivate younger generation to read and write. One of the speakers in Used Books Auction. 「旧书回收义卖大行动」

Vivian Chow, Steven Ma and Dr. Leung were asked to draw their dream occupation when young.  Steven wanted to be a policeman, and Vivian wanted to be an artist/painter. The proceeds from their donated books will be donated to the build a school for Shanxxi children.

credit as labeled.