REVISED: weibo 2015 dec screenplay

12月6日 01:46  Script writing is a lonely road; the more you know, the lonelier you could only become; only you know what you know thus only you can resolve it! I'm going crazy! Everybody, quickly give me support. The writing is tough but (I) can do it and do it well, too. Don't worry!  If have free time, give me a 'like' la!

編劇的路很孤獨，你知得愈多，你就只能更孤獨，你知的就歸你知，所以解決的必須是自己！我快瘋了，大家快給我支持，很難寫，但一定寫到，而且會超好，大家放心！得閒比個like我啦


From the uploaded pix, looks like the script involves Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi.  Good luck on his writing which is indeed not only a lonely process but a lengthy one, too.

From my superficial read-up on Xu Zhimo, though unimpressed by Xu's character (defiant, selfish and totally spoiled by his parents, that being said, his indomitable spirit is admirable), I do however sympathize with his situation brought on by his time -- fueled by youthful rebelliousness and youthful single-mindedness, idealism, romantic notions, a poet's passion and temperament, and newly acquired modern ideas he felt alienated and fettered by China's close-minded society, Chinese cultures and traditions, Chinese morals and values, Chinese superstitions and Chinese filial obligations. In short, Chinese conventions clashed with his newly acquired western education and worldly exposure. Given his young age (a mere 18- year-old teenager when he got married), he was gutsy to sever these societal shackles (as the first couple in China at the time to get a divorce) just so he could live his life the way he envisioned it, and to be with the woman he loved at the time. Unfortunately and inevitably, his defying parents and China society in pursuit of own happiness hurt the people who loved him, and in the end, he still did not achieve the happiness he longed for. 

The times were against him.  Indeed, he lived a typical poet's life - inspired but tragic and unfulfilled because he felt so much more with a poet's heart and idealism.  He's a man both inspired and subverted by his times;  a man both energized and disillusioned by the women he loved; a romantic idealist whose life was gradually but inevitably sapped by the everyday living and society's expectations - he's a Jonathan Livingston's seagull with wings clipped.

Take away his romances with 3 women, his tumultuous life exemplifies that of many an overseas returnee who after having lived in a more open and advanced western society found it difficult to adjust and conform to the old world China society, and to marry a wife not of his choosing. They were all being tugged between familial duty and society's expectations against individual freedom and personal desires, those like Xu defied while others conformed to marrying a legal wife (of his parents' choosing) with mistresses aplenty on the side. Yes, Xu was caught in a time warp but he was still a cad for his callous treatments towards his 1st wife, Zhang. Their divorce was a blessing in disguise for Zhang as it released her from being a long suffering wife to a husband who  did not love her, and for her to find her inner strength and fortitude, thus becoming the strong woman that she was thereafter. Anyway, Xu got his comeuppance.  Pity that the footnote to this great Chinese poet is that theirs were the first divorce of irreconcilable differences in China. Indeed, Xu was a man before his time.  Perhaps had his parents and society not trapped the unwilling Xu in an arranged marriage at such a young age, could his and Zhang's tragedy be averted?

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Below is a video on 1st wife Zhang Youyi




Huang Lei did an excellent portrayal of Xu Zhimo, and he was so cute then.
Young Huang Lei and young Steven have similar cultured and scholarly feel.
Wonder how Zhou Jie (of Huang Zhu Ge Ge) did on his 2013 stage play on Xu Zhimo's life?

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Steven's fascination with Xu Zhimo thread
Steven's scriptwriting process
Bound feet and Western Dress 
Pheonix TV  Xu Zhimo's personality
20140512 《徐志摩生命中的女人》之《发妻张幼仪》

Lin Huiyin 《徐志摩生命中的女人》之《“女神”林徽因》
Lu Xiaoman《徐志摩生命中的女人》之《名媛陆小曼》; link2

lu xiaoman  那一场风花雪月的往事 陆小曼 徐志摩 1/2
lu xiaoman 那一场风花雪月的往事 陆小曼 徐志摩 2/2

weibo sept 5 2013

2013-09-05 23:17   Into the future, I will continue to work hard as an actor, a singer; also will concentrate wholeheartedly in writing my script; furthermore, will continue to learn how to be a director... all these, I hope and also believe I will be able to accomplish one day.  As long as I put in the effort and hard work I believe I can! Praise the Lord! If support, raise your hand. 

The picture looks like a painting - imbued with different interpretations! How would you describe the look on the wounded soldier's face?  He doesn't look depressed- but as if he is negotiating with the higher up?

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.

Steven Ma Hopes to reconcile with ex-girlfriend

tianjinwe.com
2012-07-03 08:00

Since 1993 when he first joined TVB to shoot《开心华之里》, Steven during his 19 years in TVB has filmed 33 tv series in all, including his Dr. Stephen Chan (陈卓尧) in Files of Justice 《壹号皇庭》, Dr. Joe Cheung (张家裕) in Healing Hands, Emperor Kang Xi in Duke of Mt. Deer 《鹿鼎记》, and horse trainer Gam Yuen, in 《勇往直前》, all of which prompted much enthusiastic discussions among tv viewers. In 2006 Steven received TVB’s 'Most Favorite Male Character’ award, and thereafter have been nominated several times as top 5 finalists for best actor but regrettably to these days he has not been able to win the TV King title.  Toward that, his fans labeled him as TVB’s uncrowned tv king.  Steven responded cheerfully: "Uncrowned or not, doesn’t matter, so long the audiences like it, that’s good enough.”

SM September New Series – Will Participate in the Scriptwriting

Wenweipo part 2
7/2/2012
九月新剧参与编剧工作
The saying goes that the script is the backbone of a drama, be it movie or tv series, that having a good script is already half the battle. Having been an actor for 19 years, Steven’s love for being an actor goes without saying, but actually he also would also love to be a scriptwriter and a director too.

“I’ve accepted a mid-September tv series that will film in Shenzhen. I’ll participate in the scrip-writing work. The story synopsis is already set. It centers on a single mother’s life experiences interweaves with familial love, romantic love and affectionate love. The script promotes love as its main theme.”

As to his directing plans Steven said with confidence: “Everything should be taken one step at a time. Shouldn’t be too impatient and hasty. Shouldn’t overload one’s plate. Let’s concentrate on writing a good script first. Maybe in the next series. We’ll see.”