Kent Cheng & Ma Zai because of ‘fire’ became bosom friends.

鄭則士馬仔因「火」成莫逆@大公报
2009-7-9
Kent Cheng because of Steven Ma's 'fire' became bosom friends.
In a one-on-one relationship, to get along with each other there need to be a bit of fate involved. Kent Cheng and Steven Ma, both are indomitable personalities, yet connect like father and son.

One late night, I happened upon Kent goh in the TVBcity cafeteria. Turns out that he would be flying out to Hengdian the next day to shoot a series. However, before setting out, he still made this one special trip to TVBcity to visit Steven Ma who was shooting Pu Songling then. Does Kent gor love Ma Zai this dearly?

“You know me; black is black, white is white, no middle ground. I cherish Ma Zai because he is willing to endure, also very hardworking, willing to analyze meticulously each and every one of his characters. In an entertainment field, what is most important to have is a fire inside. He has it. And this fire is burning pretty big. All this child lacks is a bit of luck, and when luck comes, the achievement will be extraordinary, for sure. I once said this to some tvb top brass: to have Ma Zai this kind of artiste is extremely rare. TVB must treasure him,” responded Kent goh, earnestly.

Kent gor expressed: The success or failure of a series is everybody’s responsibility; not just if I did my part then that’s it. What’s rare about Ma Zai is that he is willing to scrutinize every scene, to scrutinize every line; he is even concerned over the scene of the person playing opposite him; even down to the nitty-gritty details. What good about him is that he has a heart that cares about the whole, big picture.

Kent gor professed that so long a person is worth respecting, even if he is a junior, he will duly respect him; and Ma Zai is one such person.

Kent gor is a talented all-around artiste in the entertainment world. His influence has spurred Ma Zai’s drive. Whenever they have free time, they will meet up to discuss acting and directing of shows. Ma Zai has already regarded Kent gor performing arts endeavors as his life-long endeavor to aspire to. An actor cum director, Kent gor during this one year of their acquaintance, has imparted quite a bit of his acting knowledge and techniques to Ma Zai so as to ‘open’ him up.

Ma Zai and Kent gor shared a mutual affinity. Although they have not known each other for long, they have already become bosom friends. Ma Zai frankly acknowledges that he is very lucky to have met Kent gor, this teacher.

“Kent gor taught me the most important thing in acting is to understand the concept of “allocation”. When to reel in? When to let go? When to yield? When to let others make their moves; although clearly is mine yet not permitted release ya! When is the right time to fight forcefully; don’t fight for scenes. Only upon grasping this can one be qualified to be the main lead.”

But then, other artistes may have their own points of view and ways of acting. During the process of communicating, aren’t you concern that you may be misunderstood ma? Kent gor felt that in a materialistic society, the majority of people are concerned only of their own good; people who are concerned about others are in the minority.

“The people who give opinions only wish to do the work better. I don’t see it as a wrong approach. Ma Zai and I discuss and analyze movies and series nonstop. So very enjoyable. It’s merely an exchange.”

A relation that transcends age as well as transcends status. Kent gor and Ma are the best example that true friendship can and does exist in the entertainment world.

Posted 09 July 2009 - 12:27 AM
asianfanatics 1615 
magscan credit: steven-ma.org 

Lee Kwok Lun complimented Tavia and Steven for having a 'fire' inside them.

gist Lee Kwok Lun complimented Tavia and Steven for having a 'fire' inside them.

Ever since the training class; bystander, customer, secondary lead, male lead, I have portrayed them all. Regardless of the roles, I will not admit defeat. For every series, I will memorize the script thoroughly, and do my best to perform my role. Whether other people do the same, I care not. But I will make sure I did my part well, and hope that I can inspire other people.

As an actor of over 30 years in tv series, this experience made me more discriminatory towards many things. When shooting Sits, there were a male and a female whom I thought “well deserved their harvests today.” They are Tavia Yeung and Steven Ma.

It was a 9 degrees Celsius day when Tavia had to shoot a water scene. At the time, she was not feeling well. So, after the scene was done she suddenly cried uncontrollably. After her crying fit, she insisted on returning to the studio to complete the rest of the shooting for the day. Only when so persuaded by other people did she decide to take the rest of the day off to rest. I observed that Tavia is truly a very diligent and ethical, professional actress. Also, she would not become snobby because of her status; she is still friends with her classmates from her training class.

I once mentioned that Ma Zai has the style/conduct ?? (風範) of Andy Lau of yesteryears. He did not know how to fight (in SITS), so he practiced nonstop in the outdoor scene studio. When discussing a show, he would, for sure, discuss it with much relish. During work, he was always charged with energy. I consider myself an ethical professional who also enjoys his work, but when compared to him I lagged behind. The fire/passion towards acting burns strong inside him. In this line of work, regardless front stage or backstage, all must have a ‘fire’ inside them. After 1997, the whole scene has changed. We often feel that the work quality has become sub par. But I feel that many of my colleagues rely on this bolt of fire to indefatigably challenge themselves, and to produce results that they can be proud of.


pix source from tavia fansite, reposted in Steven-ma.org
post1507

Foreword - Rejuvenation Society

Note: 2^nd foreword in图文并谬

Chung Hui Ling
In 2003, Steven Ma (Xiao Ma Ge)’s publishing company published Steven Ma’s True Tales of Society book series. The 2nd book in the series is “I Am a Relative of a Sick Patient.” An employee of his company, Ms. Liew Sin Yee, visited "再生會"* (Regeneration Society) hoping to get some firsthand materials on the patients and their families for their book.

I am a Lupus erythematosus patient who understands firsthand that to combat their illnesses, patients must possess both a strong and tenacious will to live and the support of their families. It was through Ms. Liew that I met Xiao Ma Ge.

He is a very amiable person, and very solicitous to the patients. I invited him once to my house for a meal. We talked for a few hours, only then did I know his mother was a chronic patient, too; no wonder he was so knowledgeable on the caretaking of a chronic patient.

Xiao Ma Ge is young but his thinking is very mature, very precocious; his demeanor is solid and steady, and well-grounded. I admire him very much; admire that besides working in entertainment, he also publishes books of cultural genre with his own money and effort. And that he serves up bowl after bowl of soul soups to each and everyone who needs concern and encouragement.

Xiao Ma Ge has invited me to write a foreword for his book; subsequently sending in a copy of his manuscript for my preview. In “Familial Love Remembered”, I sensed his filial piety, and of his remembrance of his late mother.

“Though the person is gone, but the feelings linger,” makes me all the more appreciative of my time with my family.

But reading another essay “I am a Salesman” gives off a different feel. Xiao Ma Ge has accomplished much in the entertainment circle, but prior to entering the circle, he had worked in myriad jobs. He feels that regardless of the line of work, first and foremost, one must respect one’s job, and be committed to making something out of it; only then can one engender respect from other people.

His personal experiences rendered him the importance of self-respect and hard work. Xiao Ma Ge’s life wisdom today is arduously gained and sharpened from all the hard knocks experiences learned from the University of Society.

I feel that he is a good role model to the youths.

This book of prose essays is highly readable. Through his essays, I feel that Xiao Ma Ge has his own very distinct way of interpreting events and things. He is already very industrious in his entertainment work, but still he finds time to write during his spare time; he is truly a man of high aspirations and determination.

Here’s hoping he will continue moving forward on the cultural road, using his exquisite writings to depict more genuine feelings and concerns.


**Footnote: "再生會"* (Regeneration Society) A non-profit society established in 1991 May. Its charter is to help chronic and cancer patients confront their illness, overcome adversities and to reclaim their health.


Translator: Tamaya
Source: Steven Ma's 图文并谬
2nd foreword

Foreword - Chen Jia Ying

Foreword by Chen Jia Ying (陳家瑛) (a paraphrase)
It is strange how I got to know Steven. We both work in showbiz, but for 10 or more years we never met each other before. My impression of him at the time was vague: knew only that he was a singer, heard his songs and that he sang quite well. That’s about it, as far as my knowledge of him then, until on one evening in 2004 when my friends and I talked about him, one of them was a good friend of mine for a decade or more, Tsui Yong Yong.  I was curious as to why she would quit her journalist job for a publishing one.

Ah Tsui said, " I love publishing. Ma Chun Wai gave me an opportunity to learn, so I changed my career path.”

Ah Tsui’s obvious respect for Ma Zai impressed me.

Last year, an overseas mutual friend introduced me to Ma Zai. I finally got to really know him. This fellow was even more 清秀 (qing xiu – delicate & refined) than his TV image. Rather on the polite side, he had on this bashful look on his face. Definitely an image of a "good" young man, indeed. (Haha!) That was my first impression of him.

Later, a group of friends invited me for an initiation into a club... what club? Can’t guess, eh?

Apparently, Ma Chun Wai, Tsui Rong Rong and other friends have gathered to form a poetry club. They invited me to join them in matching poem couplets. Poem couplets match? I had never done that before in my whole life. There I was, caught; here coupling this dui lian, there matching that phrase. At first, I was scared to death. Who were these people? But as time passed, I began to enjoy this kind of interaction, furthermore, I got to know the real Ma Chun Wai.

I discovered Ma Zai’s lovable side, but at the same time, his obnoxious side, too. Let’s start with his obnoxiousness first. Don’t be deceived by his refined exterior appearance. He actually possesses quite an impatient disposition. If anxious, his impatient personality will surface. Though very self-deprecating, he, however, has an extremely strong sense of self, and can be quite impetuous – all in all, a very traditional Chaozhou chauvinistic man. And his most annoying trait is that he is very perceptive, in that he can penetrate other people’s innermost thoughts. The people whose innermost thoughts so penetrated by him will feel a sense of self-failure. (tn: because they failed to protect their thoughts from him)

But he also has a lovable side to him. He is filial; he is responsible to family; he possesses good work ethics; he is willing to help people (but sometimes can be overly helpful); he is loyal to friends and loved ones; and he understands gratitude.

I also discovered that this fellow’s Chinese Language standard is very high. If I made an error, he actually dared to bluntly expose my mistakes. All these years very few people dared to be this direct to me; I actually appreciate his directness.

Ma Zai is very discerning of things around him. His sense of perceptiveness is very strong. He is a very intelligent person. A strong perceptive insight will only benefit an artist in his entertainment work.

He also has a very fertile imagination, as illustrated in his prose essay, “Landgull”. It’s really funny that a person could actually waste a whole hour just staring at a seagull. “Hi, fellow (Xiao Zi), weren't you tired?” I guess normal people will not do that, only a mental person would fantasize over a seagull for so long. He has the talent to write fantasy fictions.

I hope that readers reading his book will also share my feelings about him.

Translator note: Think Chan Ka Ying is the manager of Faye Wang and Eason Chan

source: Steven’s 图文并谬 3rd foreword
translator: Tamaya

Foreword - James Wong

James Wong’s foreword title: "Ma Chu Wai Once Again Made People Sit up and Take Notice."

Chun Wai’s manager, Frankie Fan, phoned and asked if I would write a foreword for ‘Why Suicide?’. I agreed unhesitatingly. I’ve known Chun Wai for many years, and what I remember most about him is that he would periodically come up with new stuff. It’s been so for many years. And his new stuff would always make one sit up and take notice of him with anew respect.

During Chun Wai’s early start in the entertainment circle, insiders dubbed him “Little Leon” – Siu Lai Ming. When he was introduced to me as such; he smiled, held out his hand to shake mine, and said, “Uncle Jim, I’m Ma Chun Wai.” Outwardly, this self-introduction was nothing out of the ordinary, nevertheless, it carried an undertone that caught my attention. What he had wanted to say to me was: “I’m Ma Chun Wai, not some ‘Siu Lai Ming’!” But being a newbie then, he could not very well come right out and say that, so only one of the two-phrase sentence was uttered. My instinct at that time was that this young man displayed a social knowledge way beyond his age, as well as discretion.

Later, we became colleagues in a TVB game show 1994 - (江山如此多FUN). During one of our chats, I found out that he started working at an early age. His poise, and social comportment of being neither supercilious nor obsequious were nothing short of extraordinary - this kind of knowledge provided by the university of society, he had not only learned it well but applied it well, too. I couldn’t help but be impressed by him, thus, I've had my eye on him. Through the screen, I observed his every gesture and every move. Before long, he blossomed on TV. This did not come by easily. Chun Wai has no formal acting training. But he is the kind of person who is inborn with a strong survival instinct, if needed, his fortitude will naturally emerge.

I recall the time when he performed Cao Zhi’s 7-step poem on screen, when the episode ended, I mused: wonders never ceased to amaze; who would have thought! This Ma Chun Wai’s new stuff definitely and indisputably exceeded far beyond expectation. Later, I guest hosted a Metro TV morning show. On every Saturday, there was this talk show, ‘James Bond’s Happy Hour’. I was in charge of its guest list; for one hour, I would shoot the breeze with my invited guest of the day. One day, I invited Ma Chun Wai. We talked about books; he was very knowledgeable on them. As we chatted amiably along, I was inwardly pleased with him as nothing pleases me more than well-read young people. That interview was a pleasure. Ma Chun Wai once again made me sit up and see him with new eyes and anew respect. But I would never have guessed that he would come out with this book series of ‘Ma Chun Wai’s Tales of Society’. I have only briefly skimmed through a section of the book, but I know this Ma Chun Wai will once again make people sit up and take notice of him with increased respect!

2002 September

Translator: tamaya