Guest: Steven Ma
Steven going down the memory lane with the radio host.
1) early singing career -- being jeered, vilified and hated because of slogan. (Tn: The ill-feeling towards Steven still lingers to these days. Even more unfair and crazy is that some netizens on Hk forum + hkgolden forum still hate him because Charmain's character ended up with his character in Return of the Cuckoo instead of with Julian Cheung -- so incredible, isn't it?) ref: Steven's memoir
3) For the first time Steven revealed the deep seated secret festering in his heart that he had hastened his mother's death when his mother gave in to his plea to have the fatal surgery that took her life in the end. Although she finally agreed to the surgery she wasn't at first and communicated her anger in written words to Steven. The memory of that scene still made Steven choke up with emotion when he spoke of it. (7:55 ) Mom wrote: "I don't want to do it. Are you pushing me to my death? Do you want me to die? I don't want to do it!" Her words cut right into Steven's heart, that wound never healed. At reading his mom's written accusation, Steven instantly collapsed in loud sobs, and his mom's heart melted at seeing her son's heartbreaking collapse, (she had lost her hearing by then so could not hear Steven's sobs) and so in the end she agreed to the surgery. And though the surgery itself was successful, she succumbed to post-surgery pneumonia and died of it a few hours later. Worse, Steven and his sisters weren't there when their mother passed away as they went home to take a much needed rest after a long day at the hospital (doctors had assured them their mother's surgery was successful), only his father was there beside her when she passed away. (see my comments below) When narrating his mom's cancer and her death, Steven's voice sounded hoarse and shaky with emotion. He had to break off his narration several times to compose himself. Even the hostess quietly cried with him. After his mother's death Steven did not cry, and could only cry when he was drunk and so he locked himself inside his bedroom and got roaring drunk to release his tears. But he did that all behind close door since he had to be strong for his grieving family. After his mother's death, his grandma died a few year later, and a few years later in 2003, his younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, but luckily she is now in remission.
5) Revealed the secret for the first time publicly why he came back to TVB on a per series contract with TVB. (eta: confirmed in other interviews that he only signed that one contract with TVB for SIAC only, that's it) Besides repaying his gratitude debt to Catherine Tsang and TVB, the main reason is because he had given his word to TVB executives (Tsang and Chan Fai Gong (Uncle 6's secretary then) at the time of his early termination negotiation with them that he would sign a different form of collaboration with TVB. The management wanted Steven to sign another form of contract collaboration at the time but Steven was too busy then filming in mainland, so he told them he would but not then because he just did not have the time. But he assured them he would come back at a more convenient time to discuss with them about signing a different form of contractual collaboration.
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eta: Circles 2014-6-14 why leave tvb** clarifies signed siac contract only.
To Steven, his spoken word of promise is just as binding as any legal b&w contract. In February 2012, I think, TVB (Catherine and another TVB high executive) tried to persuade him to film a tvb series in September but he could not due to schedule conflict but he kept his word by filming PP.
Steven - a man of his words. I gather from this interview and other news reports Steven has only signed this one series contract, that's it. Just like how I'd previously conjectured on why Steven got off 'easy' for his unprecedented premature termination of his contract - because TVB had exacted from him a promise at the time to sign a different TVB contract. And Steven gave his word he would but and so he did, cos a man of his words, his promise is as ironclad as a written contract. TVB had looked him up in February but he was still busy filming then.
6) Love life
Love life is doing fine. Vivien is a very independent woman with a quiet personality. Steven and her understand each other very well but he has promised her not to talk about their love life to the public so a pretty short segment here. But what's interesting is that when the hostess brought up the old news that reportedly Steven had planned his wedding to Vivien without even telling her parents, Steven denied he had ever said that -- that the reporter made that news up.
7) 5-6 years ago Steven was diagnosed with a heart disease that causes abnormal heart palpitations. A surgery is required to permanently fix the problem but the catch is the surgery can only be performed when the heart is acting up. When asked if the disease can be fatal, Steven was nonchalant about it. He said his family doctor said that there is only about 1 out of 10,000 chance that a person can die from hyper heartbeat, so he was not too concerned over his health condition. read link
8) Want to make a movie inspired by his mother's life
Steven has already completed the script inspired by his mother's story. If all goes according to plans, he would probably have it shot next year as he has already have a sponsor lined up to produce it but he would not be in the cast cos' it would be too painful for him.
listen link Old Footprints
or open realplayer with this part 1 link and part 2 link
My comments:
Besides two hitherto unrevealed secrets now exposed, Steven is basically rehashing what had been published about him on the newspapers from his early career as a singer, his first major series as Hong Hei in Domd1998 and his career changing role as Dr. Joe in HH1, to his mother's cancer and her death, to TVB work and his early termination of contract to love life, to tvb awards to tvb's present situation to lots more. But I already know most of what he said through print reports, audio and video interviews, so no surprises there for me except for his insight in TVB's present situation. But what caught me off guard is how emotional Steven was talking about his mother's death. How he still carries the irrational guilt over that ill-advised and ill-fated surgery that hastened his mother's death, how the scene of their last exchange (written) constantly replayed itself in his mind - haunting him through the years, and how his mother's written accusation of him pushing her to her death still cut him to the core. (ngo mg wui zou, ni hai mai yu ong ngo hui sei ya? - I won't do it, you want to push me to my death?) Time has not erased that guilt, that written accusation; only faded them somewhat, but there it lodges forever in Steven's heart and mind, easily re-ignited - what a burden to carry around. The psychological trauma of losing his mother so unexpectedly, his remorse and guilt over his advice to his mom to take the surgery forever changed Steven's psych and his life outlook.
I feel that Steven is forever trying to atone for that very moment when his uncontrollable and bitter sobs made his dying mother change her mind to finally agree to the ill-fated surgery. His mother's death is a cross Steven carries to this day on his back, its intangible weight heavy on his conscience, hopefully one day Steven can totally discard that guilt and drop that heavy cross. Guess his 'selfish' desire of wanting his mother to take the surgery despite her pain and suffering somewhat attributed to Steven's own tolerance and forgiving nature towards other people's frailties and flaws, for who amongst us do not err in our lifetime. To these days, Steven is still making amends to atone for his 'transgression' towards his mother's death. It was not his fault but often it is heart over mind. Glad that Steven has found spiritual strength and peace with his faith in God.
And good for him, Steven has Vivien to support and love him as he is cos' from what I gather, Steven is quite a moody bf. Moreover, Vivien has to know this, and most probably does: she can never get the full, complete love from Steven cos' he has already given a part of it to his late mom, so she has to be content with whatever Steven can give of his heart. Like I said: Take Steven as he is - warts and all, and 2nd place in his heart after his late mom. Before Vivien, there was Tsui Yong Yong, Steven's ex-manager to comfort him. God bless him, them and us all!
In part2 last segment on TVB, Steven is once again downplaying his talents and accomplishments; modesty/humility is a virtue but if excessive, it can hold back an artist from realizing his potential to achieve a greater height in his career. I always feel that Steven is too humble, too passive and not exertive enough in his career. I recall this weibo entry from an (ex?) long time fan who said this on weibo: Steven lacks the 霸气 (the aggressiveness) that's why he can only be a celebrity not a superstar. Without that aggressiveness - acting is his career but he cannot make it (career) into a superstar business. (sounds like Cao Zhi). Tn: Steven's lack of aggressive spirit, plus his overly humility and his selling short his talents and accomplishments, collectively hinders him from realizing his full potential as an artist, a loss to his fans. But whatever floats his boat - it's his life. But imo as his fan, what a shame to his god given talents being under-appreciated. Moreover, as an outsider, I don't understand his loyalty to TVB despite their past maltreatments; there is such thing as blind loyalty. (愚忠)Thank goodness, he only signs a one series per year contract.
Another good fan essay on Steven's psych. (Too bad I somehow overlook this original essay when I transferred the other Steven-ma.org fans' essays here before the fansite closed.)
So, those who have listened to the interview, any comments?
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