2011 Feb 15 Interivew: today's vip with Astrid Chan

Bump up the thread for newly transcribed excerpt on 1) how Steven broke the ice to bury the hatchet with Sonija to finally clear up the misunderstanding between them. 2) How Steven won't listen to gossips and rumors.

 first posted 2011-2-15

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/nL1xxu1UHd0/

Astrid's Today's VIP with Steven as guest star.

Of significance:
Steven says he learns through the years in entertainment to not only ignore rumors and gossips,but also to disengage himself from them.  Astrid responds that Steven was already that way from the very start when she met him -- that Steven has no interest in rumors or gossiping. 

7:10

A: There was once a time, reportedly, that there was some misunderstanding between you and Sonija. But now you two are ok again.  And have become friends.

S: Good friends, to boot

  

A: Can you recount how all this came about?

S: I recall it was like about 1-2 months before the shooting of 7 Days in Life, just happened that Sonija and I along with other colleagues had to go outstation on an overseas job (Singapore Starhub Awards).  We both knew we had this upcoming collaboration. We were sitting inside the hotel restaurant drinking. I asked her bluntly: So actually what happened last time?

A: Haha! What happened? You guys didn’t even know what happened

S: Yah, We poured out what we had heard and felt at that time to each other. Yee? How come there were discrepancies? During that period, we separately heard words (noises) that made each of us feel very uncomfortable, very unpleasant. Left a thorn inside each of our hearts.  But after clarifying..; actually it’s quite a pity. If we were good friends, we should not have let these noises affect our relationship.  So after that we happily collaborated on 7 Days in Life.  Even after 7 Days in Life is done, we still keep in touch.  

A: This once again evinces that (like during that time of you and Sonija) especially in this entertainment circle, we live within a circle with too much extraneous noises, and also maybe media not understanding the situation exacerbated the misunderstanding between the two main characters .  

S: That’s true

A: But luckily you were willing to take the initiative to bring up the incident.  

S: Actually, I had been waiting for just this opportunity.  I feel that two persons, boyfriend or girlfriend or just good friends or two good brothers, or good sisters, it’s not like we have a vendetta or a huge grudge, that we can meet and become friends requires fate. Should not let some rumors or gossips to influence the relationship.   

I’ve been in the entertainment circle for almost 18 years now.  I hold on to one attitude.  I won’t listen, won’t listen at all.  Won’t listen to those so-call  news, or gossips or rumors or news from one person point of view about another person.  I’ve no interest to listen to them. Because if I listen to the info; you told me this person was this and that, but that was only your point of view. But maybe I feel differently if I talk to this particular person.  I only believe my own perception, my own eyes and what my heart feels about that person.  Anyway, when I hear this kind of talk, I immediately stop it.  Never mind, I don’t want to know. Don’t tell me.

A: Actually, you said you’ve been in the industry for 18 years that you have become thus, but many years ago, you were already that way wo.

S: True!

A: Actually there is one thing that can be learned from you, a good thing; to be your friend is good is that many years ago you already disliked gossips/rumors.  Like people spreading news, you would not consider that to be true.

S: I certainly won’t

A: But that’s not just recently. So that’s why all these year you have a very good affinity with the older generation. Your face does not look old but inside you, you are actually an old  man.

S: hahaha!  You’d said the same thing to me before long time ago.

A:  Really, I don’t remember.

S: yes, long time ago you said that to me.

Related material (weibo) on Astrid
10/28 6:30 Once there was a friend. I thought if I treated her well, perhaps, conscious of it she would reciprocate in kind! But, because of various reasons, I hurt her, and she hurt me, too! Today, we met again and talked at length of the past. Turn out, who owes who is actually not important at all. Maybe the starlight of that time was brilliant, but, it does not mean tonight’s moonlight can't regain its past brightness! Friend, it’s all in the heart! In the heart! 

TN: At first thought he was talking about Sonija Kwok, but now am pretty sure he meant Astrid Chan. After all these years, on October 28th Steven and Astrid finally saw each again doing on  the stage recording of 《善心滿載仁愛堂》 hosted by Astrid.  see photos

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Interview with Anna Yau 2006
After work, during my free time, I prefer not to talk shop. I don’t like talking about myself. Like, so what film are you making now? So on and so forth. Even at old friends’ gatherings, I'm very clear on that I’ll brook no entertainment related questions. If you are my friends, don’t discuss my series, don’t ask if she’s pretty or not, or if she a good person. Etc… If you insist on asking me this kind of questions, I’ll leave immediately. I don’t relish chatting about these things after work.

A: Neither do I.
 

Uncle Choi missing Steven

Aww! Uncle Choi is so close to Steven. Made me so touched to read this weibo post of his.

uncle @馬浚偉: Enthusiastically celebrating the upcoming Daddy's Good Deed! To high ratings！

Steven: Thank you, I miss you, godfather!

uncle choi@ 馬浚偉: Seeing the recent work, and realizing no Old Ma's share, so not used to it. It's like the son's not home from outside so can't sleep,understand?看看近作 發現沒有老馬的份 這麼不習慣 有如兒子出夜街未歸 睡不著 明嗎？

5/21/2011 10:35 @材叔 Since wrapping up Thunder I haven't seen Steven. Feeling a bit dejected so can only watch him on Book of Words and Apprentice Chef. He was great. His kind of scholarly look is so hard to find nowadays in 2011. Refinement is inborn. Especially in ancient drama series, muscular men or overseas Chinese men are limited to only performing comedy.

Steven on Shirley Yeung's news

Steven on  Shirley's news 

Steven Ma attended Han Sang Hong's 15th anniversary dinner. Reporter asks him if the recent relationship dramas make him wary of marriage.  Specifically asks about Shirley's news.

S: Collaborated with her on Change of Destiny, of course, would see each other now and then. I was slightly taken aback.  But both are adults and they are both mature. Whatever they decide is up to them.  If they think the decision is fine and they are happy with it then go ahead. I think.  No need to justify to the public.  Actually for myself and those friends who know me know that I have a whimsical ideal, if I truly decide to get married I naturally hope that it will be forever, and will not part.  Love is very difficult to predict.  Behind every person there is a story.  Every household, once the door is closed, how does anybody know what their lives are like inside. I believe nobody will willingly part company. So we should all cherish ba (sic each other). Also, if decides to start, should also first think carefully beforehand.  Shouldn't do it just because of an impulse.  I believe they have been through that, so towards their decision we should respect their opinions. 




credit:  爱爱MT Mweibo 
tudou
youtube

attending good friend, Cao Chung's restaurant's grand opening

Note: Steven's interview starts at 2:48 
see related news report

Astrid Chan's weibo - Steven's VIP interview

Astrid Chan: feb 1, 19:09

It had been a long, long time since I last had had a good chat with Steven Ma.  In VIP Today's interview, I rediscovered that sense of mutual candor between us.  We have not collaborated ever since Healing Hands 1; the feeling he gave me is that he has not changed; he's still the quintessential traditional man.  Really enjoyed this interview, hope you all will too

2002 Sisters Magazine - Ada Choi: Decent by Nature.

Steven's interview of Ada as part of his "Women in Mazai's Eyes" column in the 2002 Sisters Magazine.

Posted 17 August 2009 - 03:10 AM

Read what Steven wrote about Ada Choi in his 2002 column assignment for Sisters No.721.  温馨马仔小屋 - see enlarged images

《马仔眼中的女人》蔡少芬：我本善良
The women in Ma Zai's Eyes
Ada Choi: Decent by Nature.
To look at Ada Choi, the feeling is as if looking at a side of a fan. The snow white side of it is what most people think of her brilliant acting skill, her elegance and dignity; strong yet compassionate. In truth, she is all that.

But the other side of her resembles another side of a “peach blossom” fan* “亂世桃花逐水流” . In her past, she had experienced an episode beyond her control, much like a beauty whose head was fractured and blood dripped from it onto the fan, spotting it with peach blossom dots. This mixture of bloody peach blossoms and the ink lightly tainted her snow-white spirit with a layer of gray, greatly infusing her with a sense of inferiority. Hidden deep within her being are vulnerability, insecurity, and the need of protection from other people. What are the reasons that made her radiate such strong contrasting perceptions? It all goes back to the earlier years of her maturation.

I admit I appreciate Ada Choi. This appreciation, respect and friendship happened in one chanced conversation. When shooting a Hong Kong TVB series, “Healing Hands 1", I was extremely troubled by my mother’s failing health due to her cancer relapse. One day, I was crouching by the roadside all by myself, smoking a cigarette, lost in thoughts; my heart was in extreme pain. Suddenly, before my eyes, appeared a smiling face. She walked lightly towards me, and subsequently engaged me in conversation, showing much concern for my problems. At that moment, I felt a sense of deep friendship from her. From young, I had a reserved personality, so besides being grateful to her sincere gesture, what puzzled me more was why she would take the initiative to reach out to other people. She truly has a good heart. Ada told me; her own personal experience shows her the importance of taking the initiative to care for other people.

“I guess this kind of thinking has something to do with my own maturation. Since elementary schools, because of the constant house moving, just the elementary schools, I’d transferred at least 20 times from one school to another; always taking on the role of a transfer student. Usually teachers do not like transfer students so I was always bullied. The wish for friends was very strong.

“At high school because I was especially tall, so was discriminated against by schoolmates. Moreover, my parents were very strict. As soon as school ended, I must be home. Not allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities. In middle school, I had only been on just two school field trips. Really didn’t know how to communicate with other people. To find friends, I joined this group of bad schoolmates. And also learned to swear from them, even though I didn’t know much about swearing then. Later, I would use a ruler to cut my hand, causing both hands to be covered with bruises. This made me think I was being a cool character. Actually, at the time, I did not think much, had no opinions whatsoever. This was the period in my life when I was at my worst. Until I met a Baptist schoolmate. She showed me that even without treating others to breakfast, there are still people who cared about you. She truly cared about me without conditions. I’m very grateful to her.”

Ada has felt the sadness of being without friends, so whenever she sees helpless people, she will, of her own accord, show them concern, comfort and help. This kind of making friends attitude enables her to find genuine friendship in the entertainment world. Didn’t know that I would become one of the beneficiaries too. At the time, her each and every word truly comforted my then hurting spirit.
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The lengthy article went on to describe how Ada became a Christian and how it changed her life for the better. Before then she had thought of committing suicide many times. But now her faith in God gives her strength, guidance and comfort, and she is much happier because of it.

桃花扇* ref: The legend of the peach blossoms fan.

                                                                        

 
A SM fan once wrote this to me: "Of all Steven’s talents, the one most drawn me to him is his writings. I cried all the way back in my flight home from Hong Kong reading his book “I’m the relative of a patient,” especially the portion where he wrote about his mother.” 

Unfortunately for me, the only Steven's book I own is his latest, "图文并谬". Nevertheless, that book together with his blog entries, his 2002 memoirs and some of the selected chapters from his other books all laboriously typed onto his fansite made me appreciate Steven’s diverse talents all that more. Steven writes straight from his heart, with simple elegance, with acute discernment, and most of all, with compassion and sensitivity. He writes to express and communicate his thoughts, feelings and values; he writes to empathize, to praise and to motivate, but most of all, he writes for the sheer pleasure of writing. Good for him!

Opinion of Steven's leading ladies

Wow, thanks for the clips of Steven's interview on his co-star.

AF768 Posted 25 January 2009 - 10:17 AM
Based on Steven's  2004 mainland STAR interview on his 4 main leading ladies - Maggie Cheung, Ada Choi, Jessica Hsuan and Charmaine Sheh.

Out all the fadan, Charmaine is my least favorite. I can't stand her voice, and her acting as the perfect princess is not to my liking. In some scenes, she even looked haggard. She was so much better and prettier and fresher in Return Of The Cuckoo. Pitnol dragged too, esp. with all the flashbacks. But Steven looked marvelous as usual, he can't be beat in ancient costumes. 

Of all his characters, my most favorite is Gan Yuan of On the track or off. Gan Yuan is a very well-written & fully evolved character, from an exuberant horse lover youngster to a more mature and sober young man. His two co-stars are Bondy Chiu 赵学而 and Ada Choi. I thought Bondy did an excellent job as an overly ambitious, money grabbing villain, whom I could actually sympathize with. Ada's character is a bit too perfect and static for me, though her performance is commendable, too. Of course, my love is Gan Yuan, who, joy of joys, is the indisputable central figure in the storyline, so lots of screentime. His character got to display and express all kinds of emotions. And the storyline is excellent. Though 40 episodes long, the time flew by fast for me. So yeah, Gan Yuan it is, after waffling between his characters in Better Halves, WTLB, and Safeguards. Gan Yuan is my most loved character. Steven was just adorable in the first half of the series, but later his scenes became heartstrings tugging as he matures through life's tribulations. 

Yes, his co-star is Nnadia in the realm of success. I couldn't even finished the series, because I didn't like the storyline and the cast's including Steven's performance was dull. 

And Linda Chung spoiled VOH II for me. I thought her acting was more than terrible, it was an insult to acting, so I watched that series in a fast forward mode. I was so dreading AJCL but she redeemed herself in my eye. AJCL is an excellent series, but Steven was relegated to a supporting character so as to accentuate Linda's character. 

I like WTLB very much so. The whole cast was excellent. 

I also like Steven as a talkative young doctor in Healing Hands, very cute as he was too in Ultra Protection. In UP, his xiu ye zai stole lots of scenes from Bowie. He and his flossing after being 'kissed' by Bowie. haha!

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