Ming Pao Weekly on Steven Ma 2014 May SM films mini movie for father

Promote new song, filmed mini movie for Father, Steven Ma depicts his father-son relationship

Last year Steven Ma wrote a song for his late mother, who passed away years ago of nasopharyngeal cancer, this year in time for Father’s Day he will release his new song, Father Bus (爸士), dedicating it to his father. In conjunction with the song, he will also film a "Father Bus" short film mv thus letting him personally experience his father’s 30 odd years of being a KMB bus driver. In the film he fully depicted his father-son relationship as he did for this interview. He candidly admits that although he has great respect and love for his father, in the past he rarely expressed his love towards his introverted father. He says: “My father’s sense of responsibility towards his family, his attentive caring of my mother thru thick and thin until her death deeply impressed me.” Steven hopes that thru his new song and mini movie, people would now pay more attention to father’s love, and that they will be less reserve in showing their concerns for their fathers in actions and words alike.

Steven Ma's album cover doggie partner on strike during photoshoot

馬浚偉拍封套秋田犬罷工
Macaodaily 2014 May 30

Earlier on Steven Ma did a cover photoshoot for his new album《CHERISH VOL 2》.  Prior, he was happy to find out that his news song with Fala Chen,《非戀之情》has consecutively topped mainland's "National Vehicles Chart (全國汽車榜) two weeks in a row. Later, as a promotional and publicity stunt for his new album, two KMB buses will be sprayed painted with his album cover image as it makes its bus route around Hong Kong and Kowloon. Steven was happy to receive KMB's cooperation.

To convey the notion that love  has no boundary, Steven especially included a dog in his album cover photoshoot.  He placed an ad on the internet and chose an Akita breed. On the day of the photoshoot Steven was taken aback by the dog's massiveness.  Because of its heavy built, the dog was easily tired and even went strike refusing to get up from the floor, very cute.

Steven was grateful to the dog's owner for only charging him a nominal fee as reimbursement of his/her transportation expenses for the use of his/her dog. Steven said that he loves all pets especially dogs, as to the places in mainland that still hold "dog meat festival", Steven stresses that he totally opposes eating dog meat, and appeals to the public that even if they dislike dogs, but still don't eat them.

2014 5-31 Steven Ma becomes tourists' 'collectible stamp' in Seoul

Recently, in preparation of his upcoming June 12 new music album release, Steven Ma brought along his image consultant to Seoul, S.Korea for a shopping spree to buy new clothes at the time same taking a break to relax from his busy schedules, and to recharge himself for what comes next. Steven said that it was his first time visiting S.Korea and he totally went the tourist route using taxi and subway as his main transportation around town. Steven praised the locals for their friendliness towards tourists.  Despite the language barrier, when asking for directions they all did their best to either explain the directions in limited English to him or lead the way for him.

Because Steven hit the tourist cities of Dongdaemun and Myeongdong popularized by Hong Kong tourists, Steven was quickly recognized by the populace, who requested to have their pictures taken with him. Thus, Steven became a "collectible stamp". Nevertheless, his trip was most fruitful with a bountiful harvest. Besides the shopping spree Steven also partook the local cuisines and delectables including chocolate flavored ice and king crab.  He also visited a Seoul bar but ever mindful of his health, he abstained from alcohol and opted to drink fruit juice in its stead.

above pix credit 蓉蓉細語

The additional songs below are from Cherish1

above 4 pix credit Steven Ma weibo

image consultant Andydaniel

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Steven Ma Gives Song to Dad as Father's Day Gift

Credit news translation to hyn5

The mini movie that Steven Ma produced for his new song, 《爸士》, premiered. Steven's father used to be a bus driver. This time, he hopes to use the new song to profess to his father. In the mini movie, he sat in the bus driver's seat for the first time. He expressed feeling a very surging mood. He said, "My dad has retired for ten years, but still remember the days of being a bus driver. The new song is a Father's Day gift. Dad still does not know yet. Last year, made a song for Mom. This year, giving one to Dad".

Steven also said that his father has blood pressure problems in recent years. On holidays, would also accompany him to get a health examination. As a son or daughter, should take the initiative more: "Hong Kong people are rather reserved toward fatherly love. Care for him, but would not say it out. In these few years, I have had more physical contact with my dad, but still cannot say 'I love you'. Hope to use this song to encourage Hong Kong people to take the initiative more". When asked whether his father has urged him to get married, Steven frankly said, "Would want it in his heart, but would not say it out".

When talking about him slapping his son in the mini movie, Steven emphasized, "That slap was fake. I myself do not support corporal punishment. In my whole life, Dad has only hit me once because I secretly went mountain climbing, and the housewife next door told on me. In the end, he hit me with a whip" *.  Steven also thinks that children should be taught when young...cannot spoil them. In addition, Steven acted as the producer this time, and also participated in the editing...hope to be able to create even more productions in the future.

Tamaya's Note: *with a whip.  I would translate the original words 藤條 he was canned as with a long thin rattan cane or a feather duster with an elongated rattan handle.

In other news reports Steven used the phrase  藤條炆豬肉 = "six of the best"  canned either using a feather duster or a thin rattan

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News: Steven Ma's MV Short Film Dedicated to Father as Father's Day Present

To commend father’s love, Steven Ma approached his music album producer with the story of his relationship with his father, thus, the creation of his new song, Ba Xi (爸士) dedicated to his father. Originally, Steven planned to produce a regular mv accompaniment for the new song, but he felt that their story could not be fully expressed within that few minutes. It just happened at the time KMB* contacted him concerning some other job. To make his story more complete and meaningful, Steven proposed his short film mv idea to the KMB person-in-charge, consequently getting the latter’s approval the use of KMB venue and bus to facilitate the filming of “ Ba Si (爸士 )*. Steven's first short film as producer will debut May 19 in all KMB buses for viewing by their onboard passengers.

Steven specifically produced the film as a Father’s Day present for his father, and on that day June 15 he plans to surprise his father with the viewing of his 1st short film as producer and present it to his father as a tribute to his fatherly love. In the short film, Hugo Chan (陳泓達) portrayed Steven’s younger self, while Gigi Wong Pui Chi (黃佩芝), a performing arts student, portrayed his late mother.

Steven’s father, a retired KMB bus driver of 30 years or so, is a taciturn man who rarely expresses his feelings hence it was difficult for Steven to understand the full extent of his father’s hardships. So, Steven incorporated a plethora of real feelings into the film to honor his father.

Steven said: “During filming, while seated on the bus driver seat the image of my father driving a bus flashed thru my mind; my feeling was tumultuous, inexpressible; thinking back to all those years of him toiling day in and day out in this small cramped space. Today, buses have improved in many aspects, but in those days the buses my father drove did not have a temperature control device so he endured both the cold and the heat; very grueling.”

To personally experience some of the hardships in his father’s job, Steven drove a bus around the bus terminus since he does not have a bus driver's license so could not drive on the road. Clad in his custom tailored standard bus driver’s uniform, Steven was teased: “Where got such a good looking bus driver wo?” Steven said: “Today, I had the rare opportunity to personally experience my father’s job, moreover, this mv short film was my first time as a producer too. It has definitely augmented my experience as a producer."

*Ba Si = a wordplay on baba + the colloquial Cantonese word for bus. 

KMB = Kwoloon Motor Bus

Steven weibo 2014-05-18 12:42 : Actually not only bus drivers but also mini bus drivers, taxi drivers, truck drivers and the like; everyday on the road for long hours cooped inside a cramped space, and when stuck in a traffic jam, the feeling is indescribable....tough; all for their families and livelihoods!

Steven weibo 2014-05-17 12:38  "Ba Xi" 「爸士」 is dedicated to my father, and is also a token of my regards to all the fathers out there!

sources: compiled from various news portals on.cc; singpao; takungpao;

Ba Xi preview video link
related 2006 news Steven as host to a 2006 TVB tv special on bus passengers' manners and courtesy

Steven Ma wasn't well in Atlantic City concert, thanks friends & fans for their concern

Steven Ma was invited by Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, USA, as the celebrity performer for its Mother’s Day program. (sic. along with Niki Chow)  Given his extensive performing experiences in the US, this concert should be a breeze for him but unfortunately that was not the case. The night before his Hong Kong departure Steven did not get much sleep because of a stomach ache and diarrhea. He suspected it must be something he ate that night. He said: “I've had bad stomachaches before but none as severe as this. I suspect it's caused by something I ate the night before departure. But since I had to get on a plane I could only take some Chinese herbal tea and pain medicine for stomach ache for relief.  In flight, I only drank water and dared not eat anything.  I thought I would get better after resting for 10 hours or more inside the plane but when it landed I was still sick."

Steven Ma and Fala Chen oppose eating dog meat

【on.cc東網專訊】
馬浚偉陳法拉堅決反對食狗肉

Recently, Steven Ma has been promoting his new music album, now in its final stage of production the album will be launched in June this year. To appease fans' anticipation, the mv of his "Platonic Love" duet with Fala Chen that has recently been plugged on various radio stations and media outlets will be released online on May 7th, a free for all preview for fans' enjoyment.

Steven appreciates the public feedback on Platonic Love after its plug. He and Fala also love this song because it expresses that besides the invaluable romantic love there are also different kinds of love such as: familial love, friendship love and even the love between owners and their pets. Thus,'Platonic Love' mv even included a pair of cute dogs in its filming.

Steven and Fala are both dog lovers. During the mv filming they shared their love for dogs. They expressed that they would never eat dog meat, and that they are totally against consumption of dog meat!* From young Fala had wanted to own a dog but her parents forbade so she didn't, now she only has a cat as pet at home. As for Steven, since losing his pet dog ten years or so ago, he has put off getting another pet dog due to his hectic work schedules and his constant absences in Hong Kong. Steven believes that dogs are sentient and should be treated lovingly. He gets enraged whenever he reads news of human cruelty towards the little animals.

Steven will soon be flying over to Atlantic City in US this week for a concert. Earlier, he has been busy in his album production so has skimped on rest, so, when done with his US concert he will first fly to Taiwan for a break, and then onward to S. Korea to buy clothes in preparation for his new music album's promotions and launch in June. Steven said: "I like to be hands-on, but of course I'll accept other professional opinions. I truly attach a great importance to this June launching of my new album. After my return from S. Korea I'll be fully engaged in the next round of promotions for this album."

*Incredibly there is actually an annual June dog meat eating festival in Guangxi, China (广西玉林夏至荔枝狗肉节) . Like Mala, many Hong Kong and mainland celebrities have taken a stance to oppose killing dogs for consumption. 

per Steven's weibo, their 'Platonic Love' mv will be online this evening, so keep an eye out for it. 

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