2002 Sisters Magazine -Angie Chiu - Still as Elegant as Ever

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

mag source: 7月12日23:54weibo

related artists' articles found online: Maggie Cheung Ho Yee, Joyce Coi, Ada Choi, Liza Wang, Jessica Hsuan, Nnadia Chan

2002 Sisters Magazine cache

2002 Sisters Magazine: Jessica Hsuan

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

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2002 Sisters Magazine - Liza Wang: Iron Butterfly

credit: steven ma baidu Steven's interview of Liz Wang as part of his "Women in Mazai's Eyes" column in the 2002 Sisters Magazine. 《马仔眼中的女人》之汪明荃:铁蝴蝶 [前言]阿姐汪明荃,这位由六七年开始,直至现在,二零零三年的今天,依然屹立在娱乐圈不倒的前辈.  横跨一个又一个的难关,在艺术上出人头地,练就演,唱,舞,主持能耐于一身,成为演艺泰斗,毅力已非一般人可比.凭藉无穷斗志,热心公益,领导八和,在政坛上处处有出色的表现.为社会,为国家,尽显本领.  [正文]:坐在阿姐的写字楼内,看到刚练完功的阿姐,看来是有点累.但是,一谈到演出工作,她的眼神充满光彩.[其实你拍这么多古装,应该看粤 剧.如果你未看过我做大戏,你应该看<穆桂英大破洪州>这个戏有打又有唱,轻喜剧.你拍<洛神>之前,应该来看我演粤剧< 洛神>呀!]  告诉阿姐,我是有观看粤剧的,[我也想多看!][你也可以看郑少秋的演出,秋仔的古装好靓.]对于好拍挡,阿姐完全不吝啬赞美之言.  我是奇怪,也带佩服,颇惊讶这位如铁般刚强的前辈,在体力不停透支下,如何这般艰巨的表演,日夜练功背曲,她不累吗?  [其实好累呀!]深深地吁出一口气,阿姐完全没有掩藏体力与精力消耗后的倦意.[三个多小时的粤剧,又是台词,又是台步,没有甚么秘诀,只能遂句背,可能别人懂得取巧,但我却不懂,我只能死背,没有浓厚的兴趣,真的好难坚持到.]  除了兴趣,那份意志力才真够惊人.  [唔!不同的演出,也是一种调节.由一九八三年与林家声开始合作演粤剧,至今也有二十年了.期间有五年完全没有踏足台板,其余日子则有经常性演出.拍剧没有时间练功,有停过一阵子,但隔了一段日子剧瘾又来了.]  三十六年演出生涯,积累了无数好作品,想知道阿姐最满意的是那一部?  她可是分阶段去评议的:[每个阶段都有,近期拍过<创世纪>,<婚前昏后><雷霆第一挈>< 昏>剧那个师奶look几正,可能这一阵流行做傻的,所以憨直的角色较受欢迎,这个师奶look好有平民feel, 电了发,戴上眼镜,所以特别有 亲切感.]  我便有这份亲切感了:[好师奶呀!好似我妈妈.....,]阿姐开心地笑起来:[一样电了发,戴上眼镜....][是的,哈哈哈....我们相视而笑,由事业型的阿姐来扮师奶,这样才令人有更新鲜的感觉.  做演员就会有这样奇怪的经历,每演一个剧,就似做着另一个人,[我喜欢拍剧,是因为一个作品全部都需要构思,角色塑造全部都要考虑清楚,剧本,人 选,台前幕后通力合作,缺一不可.尤其在今天,连播映时间也很重要,遇上大时节,观众返内地度假,便会影响收视.所以对任何环节都不能掉以轻心,答应后就 要做到最好.]  阿姐声言,她绝对言而有信.  [我是答应了就一定做的人,就如我答应做这个访问.我不会让自己迟到,因为我的时间宝贵,你的时间也宝贵,我不能影响别人.定了约会,我连塞车时间都计好,一定不能迟到,迟到我个心会猛跳.在我的字典中,互相尊重是最重要的,我要大家都feel到一份诚意.]  听到这番说话,我好感动,[我们这一行,不是一个人便能做好一件事,不能为了自己耽误别人.]  尽管如此,总结几十年所得,阿姐的感觉只有开心.[又赚到钱,又做到自己喜欢的事.]  我觉得她很专业,她反而赞回我一句:[你都好呀,我都听到人赞你.]多谢阿姐.!  [做事不能太心急,不是一拍剧便会遇到好对手,尤其你这般年青,可以尝试多方面的工作,有知名度了,更应好好把握每一次的机会.别以为今次演不好还有下一次,下一次可能已没有了你,因为TVB实在太多人了.]  阿姐续说;[每次接戏都先与监制导演研究, 监制会以大局为重,但你可以谈自己的意见,尽力争取.]  [每一次演出都要做到最好!]这句话深深印入我脑海之中,经验之谈,真的要记牢.作为一个有知名度的艺人,因为有知名度,一言一行都会对社会构成 影响,每次带出的信息都要正面,是不易做到的.但阿姐多年来一直能保持以正面形象面对观众,她不仅做到了,还在观众群中带出好影响.  她教导我:[别把自己弄得太残,我是提醒你,一拍剧便不要做其它事,因为作品每次出街,都有很多人看,如果是应酬或马虎了事,观众一看便知你不认真.不要以为太疲累了,便想松一松,一松可能会累死你,一做坏便一世,节目录影下来后,给人翻睇又翻睇,怎么可以?]  句句金石良言,如斯倾囊相授,我内心对阿姐的好意真是无言感激.  [我一向对自己的工作好满意.]阿姐骄傲自己的努力得到佳绩,我也希望有一天,能对自己的工作有如斯的骄傲.  [后记]:强,一向是我对阿姐的印象.  刚强,坚强,对艺术表演认真执着,人处事态度严谨.次现于人前,她的压场风范总是慑人心神.  看惯了冷冷的她,希罕看到嫣然一笑时的神韵,看到阿姐笑一回,便似感觉到春回大地般的暖意,只因那一丝暖是如此稀有,令人更觉珍贵.  惟是藉着今次访问,我感觉到前辈把珍宝般的工作经验全意相授的爱护情意,这是一份意外的惊喜,感激之余,内心对她更是深深折服了.  人生短促,艺术长久,只要对人生有情,再辛劳,相信阿姐也无憾了.

2002 Sisters Magazine - Joyce Koi: Waiting for love

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

006-12-18 09:24 [转帖]《马仔眼中的女人》之盖鸣晖：等爱的日子

[前言]:盖鸣晖是粤剧界著名的文武生,去年更荣获[十大杰出青年].名气和地位都有了,她本应无憾惟,惟是当谈到大众对自己的性别模糊不清,盖鸣晖却是有冤无路诉.

[正文]:经常在电视城遇上盖鸣晖,大部份时间,她都是一身古装男性打扮.这天,与她相约在酒店咖啡室见面,一身花恤,窄脚牛仔裤,高跟鞋的她百分百女性化.

正想赞她好看,拿着一叠照片细看的盖鸣晖,抽起其中一张,递到我跟前问:[像不像人妖啊?]那是她的花旦造型照.

没想过她会这样直率地取笑自己,霎时间竟不懂回话.

[因为我扮男生扮惯了!一个经常以男装扮相示人的女人,突然一身花旦装扮,就会有人妖的感觉.告诉你,穿男装就杀死人,回复女身就吓死人的感觉,实在很凄惨的!]

老实说,盖鸣晖的小生造型,的确有型的令人拜服,然而像这天的她,也很有女人味呀!看到我对她的[人妖论]充满疑质,她竟然[咄咄迫人],冷不防反问我一句:[你不认同吗?]

[入行以来,都没有遇过追求者!]

[一个也没有?]我怎也不相信!

[一个也没有!]她强调.我演小生,FANS都是女性居多.工作又忙碌,没有多少机会结识新朋友,有时我想,也许我的样子太恶太酷了,人家都不敢和我交往!]她在嘀咕.

今日已经甚有名气的她,谈到当年入行时,仍笑指自己是傻更更入行一族.

念中三,中四的时候,八和会馆招收学员,还未,成为盖鸣晖的少女李丽芬,在报章上看到广告,基于对粤剧的热爱就决定报名一试.

没有家族遗传,亦没有任何亲友鼓励和提携,唯一人影响,是戏迷母亲带着女儿到戏棚看戏的那段日子,在耳濡目染下,小眼睛对粤剧产生了根生蒂固的好感.

[ 那天,我依报章的地址跑到八和,跟那里的职员说要学戏,他们问我要学花旦还是小生,其实,我是想学花旦的,因为花旦的造型好看.但我不肯定自己适合演 甚么,就让他们替我作决定.老师给我度高,认真的将我打量,然后说:[你做花旦不够美,做小生又不够高!]老师往外头瞧了一眼再道:[男孩子没多少个,你 就先学做小生吧!]

一开始就当小生,其间从没转过行档,因为戏行女多男少,就这样突围而出.

盖鸣晖说,粤剧演员比现今的演艺人更为辛酸,[还未懂得演戏,先要学习化妆打扮,演出时,主角也要自资聘请助手照顾,其它演员,由穿衣服到戴头上妆,都要 自己一手一脚完成.所以,我常常跟师弟师妹说:[入行前,一定要先肯定自己对粤剧真的很有兴趣,因为这一行没有前景,你不知道什么时候才会走红.]

[我很幸运,遇到契妈(刘金耀太太)她赏识我,栽培我,这是很难得的!]盖鸣晖由八三年开始学戏,等了四,五年,机会终于来了.

[是连续两晚的演出,我在其中一晚演<龙凤争挂帅>声哥来看,那一次,是我与师傅(林家声)第一次见面.我知道师傅久不久就会到戏院看看新人 的演出,其后,我问过他,为何这般留意新人的情况,:[他说如果发现粤剧界有值得栽培的新血,应该是扶植.]直到现在,他也没有设馆授徒,但他挺肯教人, 作为徒弟,我希望将来可以达成他的心愿.]

谈到师傅林家声,盖鸣晖顿时肃然起敬,师傅对她的影响极为深远.[他是我的一面借镜,一个座右铭,他是后辈的一柄盲公竹,只要照他所言所行去做,错极有限,他会把后辈带入正途,而我为人处事的态度,亦直接受到他的影响.]

八七年,一口气认识了契妈和师傅两位伯乐,这一年,对粤剧界一颗还未发亮的新星的来说,得到了琢磨打造的好机会.

[大家认识后,不久,声哥打电话来说,他即将上演的新戏,当中有一个赵子龙角色,问我有没有兴趣尝试,我当然说有兴趣啦!]十五年前的片段,今天提起还是难掩兴奋.

往后的两个月,声哥要求盖鸣晖每天到他那里练功,每次两小时,遇有适合她演出的机会,即使只是客串,亦安排她接演,以争取经验.

成功非侥幸,要做到像师傅一样成功,除了努力练习,还得不断钻研.师傅排一出戏,由筹备到演出,最少花半年至一年时间,这样才会好看.我们太忙了,能够有一个月时间记曲已经很好,许多时,明知未如理想,惟有边排戏边求进步.]

[我似乎瓣数很多,其它的演出,譬如电视,既可增加自己的知名度,又能广阔朋友圈子和粤剧以外的演绎方式,得着不少,虽然如此,粤剧始终是我眼中一生的事业.]

盖鸣晖知道自己的跟怎样走,才可以达到目标,今天,她的目标是办一间学校培育新血,把国粹薪火相传.

甚么都有,独欠爱情的女人,亦很坦白告诉大家,她在等爱,一点也不含糊.


[后记]:经常听一圈中朋友谈到入行后面对的压力和不快.

但是,在影视圈工作,只要际遇稍微好一点,付出了劳苦,在名利方面一定得到应有甚或更多的回报.

反观粤剧伶人,面对的却是行业前景黯淡的徨恐.连基本生活也应付不来,他们却仍然为追求理想,锲而不舍地流尽血汗,付出一切的心力.

体会过[滴滴皆辛苦]的滋味,盖鸣晖对今日所得加倍珍惜,她面对风雨的坚毅能力,是令我动容的,相比之下,原来我们影视视界的艺人,已经得到太周全的照顾,更切确知道自己是这般幸福.

以后,我想,我不应再埋怨甚么了!

2002 Sisters Magazine - Nnadia Chan - Often being misunderstood

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.
.......................................................

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!

2002 Sisters Magazine - Maggie Cheung - Remains True to Onself

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

magscan source: weibo 11/9/ 01:27

Steven Ma’s interview with Maggie Cheung in his freelance 2002 column for Sisters No.721.
The woman in Ma Zai’s eye  马仔眼中的女人》
Subject: Maggie Cheung - Remains True to Onself.  之忠於真实自我——张可颐
Writer: Steven Ma

Maggie Cheung entered the (tv) industry at age nineteen, crossing over through the thresholds of movie world and music world, respectively. Even though she once left this field to venture into other worlds including a dip in a 9-5 job, the title of Miss Hong Kong with the most acting potential awarded her pulled her back into it again. Because her Chan Bao Zhu’s portrayal was so realistic, her forehead was henceforth “embedded’ with these four gigantic words “natural born thespian”. (天生演员) However, only her acting potential flows into the entertainment world’s channel; her personality clashes with it.

“Better Halves” was not my first collaboration with Maggie. Two three years ago, we had already worked together in a movie called “When a Man Loves a Woman” (爱我别走).  My impression then was that this girl was very punctual, which is why I found the later disseminated news of her tardiness to work very perplexing.

We did not have much on screen interactions in the earlier movie, but in the tv series, we faced each other day in and day out. I noticed that this girl was not only very punctual but also possessed a rather straightforward personality.

One Friday afternoon, we arranged to meet at a certain restaurant in Clearwater Bay for a lunch interview. And sure enough, Maggie talked as she ate; seemingly enjoying both with much relish.