tsui yong yong weibo - Evergreen Mak's response

Tsui Yong Yong weibo.  Tsui is Steven's ex manager, whose earlier resignation the tabloids blamed on Steven for his maltreatment of her.  Of course, that is not true as evinced by the below weibo entries.

@黃日華: Agree with Bao Bao! 認同包包！

evergreen 麥長青: Exactly!  There are always people stronger than you, and beyond the horizon there's another horizon!  And mortals us are just insignificant dust on earth.  Why be so arrogant! Appreciate one's good fortune!  Appreciate one's fate!  沒錯！人外有人，天外有天！於天地間人祇是微塵，何必自大！惜福！惜綠

9/22 13:29 As a person don't worship the people with high status, and step down on people with lower status, and even most so, don't hit a person who is down. Remember!

9/20 13:31 Given my temper, if not to protect him, she? I (despise)

9/20 13:25  Many people because of mutual benefits “refrain from hitting a rat for fear of smashing the dishes beside it”. I have a husband to take care of me, why scared of you? I’m not scared to critique bad people upfront for their wrongdoing.

9/20 13:20 To dare to speak candidly without restrain needs a lot of courage, a great undertaking responsibility strength, and a fearless spirit to do it. I applaud myself because I was able to do it. To reveal the truth I dared to face down the mighty power without fear. With rationality on my side, who’s scared of who. Put the blame on me? You sure had the gall! Hng!

9/17 14:14 Why did people who want Steven for an outside job looked me up? First: I treat people with sincerity. Will return phone calls at any time, and never put on airs. Second: Clients want pig, I would not hard sell to them to use cow, or sheep or horse instead. Third: Because looking me up, they can buy pig immediately, so they prefer to see me. I have nothing much to offer but I am polite, fair and loyal, and even with just these (attributes) I still have business to do, this I have to thank heaven for helping, and for having eyes..

9/17 11:10 For fear of harming him, after my bitter departure I never told the outside my reason. That someone actually shoved the sluggishness of his career onto me. Today, the whole dialogue will appear on my article. This matter cannot be tolerated. I too have a mother. Have a mouth to speak out. Wronged me?

9/17 10:39 That (wo)man-man tribulation, that page of blood and tears chapter, (I'll) forever remember how she bullied him and me. A completely unqualified, biased and incompetent so-called Ah Ma.

9/17 10:16 It took half a year to get him this job, in the end it took less than a hour to turn it down. Turning down not just money but a person’s golden opportunity to further his career in the next decade. Disheartened, (I) leave as protest! Making me leave was not him but her.

9/17 03:33 This six years, we mutually helped each other, and had suffered through the days of bullying, today see the beginning of clear weather, inside is sad or happy? Truly had to describe. The bully should ask herself why be so hateful. Too much. How to not rebel?

Citing Weak Affinity with Virginia Lok, Steven Ma Reveals the reason for his resignation

直認與樂易玲「緣薄」 馬浚偉剖白請辭無綫因由
source: Ming Pao issue 2236

Admitted that He has “Weak Affinity” with Lok Yi Ling.
Steven Ma Reveals the Reason for Tendering his Resignation.
Virginia Lok's Response to Steven's news article.
see related post: Steven reminded Ms. Lok he is requesting to terminate his contract not renewing it.

Steven Ma, who has worked in TVB for eighteen years, shockingly requested termination of his contract. I sought confirmation from the horse’s mouth and he candidly admitted its veracity. “I’m not asking for an increase in salary, or for the tv king award, it is just that I am at the bottleneck now, and that I just can’t see any further growth, which makes me uneasy.”

The year before (2009) Steven had already decided to leave the nest but general manager, Stephen Chan, personally persuaded him to stay back, and promised him lots of opportunities to grow in different areas, and so he decided to stay. But with the changes in the higher management, after Apprentice Chef, things came to a halt. The steadily accumulating anxiety and anger ignited by the company's rejection of the Mainland grand tv series production, "The Founding of Yuan Dynasty", finally exploded. “I want to exert it is not that TVB is bad to me but that I often met with unhappy issues….” Is it because of someone’s suppression? “If you want me to answer “no”, I can’t do that!” Naturally, it brought to mind the persistent widespread rumors that Steven and Virginia Lok do not get along. For the first time, Steven speaks out what he had suppressed in his heart for a long time, “Virginia Lok and I, weak affinity!”

3 Weekly : Steven Ma Disheartened, Leaving the Nest.

Reposting prohibited.

source: 3-Week tabloid
translator: Tamaya @steven ma fanblog

TVB siu sang are getting fewer and fewer, even Steven Ma, who has previously lambasted the company for arranging the broadcast of his series in unfavorable timeslot as cannon fodder, has decided to leave the nest when his contract ends in July next year.

The fact is that Steven has already penetrated the Mainland market; recently a Mainland producer wooed him with a 2-year 12 million (RMB?) contract to join his company; the fee for each episode per series is 100,000 yuan; compare that to tvb episode fee of 40,000 hkd; his fee is three times higher; very tempting indeed.  As to leaving the nest, Steven candidly says: “It’s true that many people have approached me; lots to discuss!” which implies his departure is imminent. 

Lately Steven has been discontented with TVB, especially with the broadcast of his two series, Links to temptation and Seven Days in Life, being aired in cannon fodder timeslots, which, besides affecting their ratings may also affect his chance of winning the tv king award.

To placate him, TVB arranged to have his series, The Life and Times of a Sentinel, aired in the golden summer timeslot.*  Further it also tailor custom made for him a cooking program, Apprentice Chef. ** Earlier, TVB also arranged an ice breaker dinner to have Steven sit at the same table with Virginia Lok, who was rumored to be on bad terms with him.  Surely enough indication of tvb’s sincerity?

All these actions from TVB is just so that comes June next year when his contract terminates, hopefully, Steven will obediently renew his contract. Allegedly, recently TVB has been trying hard to get him to renew his contract but Steven has been dragging his feet. The fact is that Steven has already penetrated the Mainland market with his Ghost Writer, Where the Legend Begins, and his other ancient drama series. Last year airing of Ghost Writer in Mainland has also greatly heightened his popularity there.  Mainland companies frequently invited him for stage performances, thus, he has no worries for other outlets.

Recently, Tsui Siu Ming (HK tv series and film producer) who now focuses on Mainland, has had his eye on Steven’s well-received ancient look. He had wanted Steven in his upcoming October Mainland tv series*** but because of TVB’s harsh terms, Tsui rescinded his offer.  Consequently, Steven lost the opportunity to earn a 2 million (yuan) fee, which serves to reinforce his decision to leave the nest.

Tsui admitted candidly to this magazine: “I’d wanted to invite Steven to join in one of the big-scale productions in the nation, 建元风云忽必烈, (The Reign of Kublai Khan) collaborating with Hu Jun. But who knew, TVB’s terms and conditions will affect the future progress of the production. So the negotiation fell through. I feel helpless.” As to Steven’s decision to leave, Tsui expressed his welcome to him. “His image is good, and his other aspects also match my requirements. I want to use him, hopefully we can collaborate in the future.”

Allegedly, right now there are several production companies hoping to sign up  Steven in their company. Among them is one company that has offered a contract with extremely attractive terms and conditions, including shooting  one hundred tv episodes within a two-year period, each episode commanding 100,000 yuan, in a 2-year 12 million yuan package. In the interim, Steven is allowed to accept other jobs for side incomes; lots of freedom; very tempting indeed.

As to having a company offering an over 12 millions contract to him, Steven admitted to this magazine: “It’s true  there are lots of ongoing discussions. TVB siu sangs have always been in great demand. Many people have approached me but at the same time, the company has arranged lots of work for me to do too. Like this coming August, I will shoot Siu Ching jie’s modern series.”

As to his contract ending next year, he said: “It’s true my contract will end next year. What’s important is to have a happy collaboration. I’ve been in TVB for 18 years, have to thank Zang jie (Catherine Tsang). She has been my benefactor, without her there's no me. All these years, she has given me ample opportunities so no matter what happens in the future, I’ll always maintain a good relationship with the company."

 *******************************************
And btw, this reporter is a silent member of Steven-ma.org because 3 fans posts from there were printed on the tabloid too.

F1: What's the point of renewing the contract, he'll be back to square one.
F2: Whatever 4th Brother decides, and so long he is happy, I'll support him. F3: Wonder if 3 color will really treat him better, anyway  whatever his decision is, I will support. 

TN:How do you feel about Steven leaving TVB for Mainland? What interest me most in this report is the Mainlaind series that was lost to Steven because of TVB's harsh terms? 2 millions not enough for Steven to accept the series?  What's with TVB?  

News: Steven Ma Disheartened, Leaving the nest

Sudden 1 Week tabloid just last wrote that TVB was laying the path for Steven to win TV King, this time 3 Weeks tabloid vol 616 exposes Steven is leaving the nest, so what next?  So take this news with a grain of salt.  But this rumor will definitely affect Steven's chance of being tv king this year or any year thereafter.  

Salient points:
1) Steven rumored to leave the nest once his contract ends.

2) A Mainland artistes agency offers 12 million yuan 2-year package to Steven.  Will pay over 100,000 per episode for every series 3 times that of  tvb $40,000  per episode.   When asked, Steven says there are lots of negotiations going on.  He has had many offers from Mainland.

3) Steven's October China series fell through because according to its producer, TVB is playing hardball with them. Thus Steven lost the opportunity to earn 2 million yuan .

All these big sums of money boggled my mind.   Sound too good to be true, probably is.  Don't trust China Artistes Management company with their big talk, so Steven better watch out with all these too good to be true promises.   

scan credit: Alva_阿烦

Ma Zai and Virginia Lok Pretend to be Friends.

Apple Daily 2011/03/16
Ma Zai and Virginia Lok Pretend to be Friends. (Gulp!)

The night before, TVB Deputy Executive Chairman, Norman Leung, had dinner at Shark's Seafood Restaurant in Causeway Bay with a group of artistes including Steven Ma, Evergreen Mak, Kiki Sheung, Mag Lam, Alfred Hui, Maggie Siu, Paul Chin, Krystal Tin, Christine Kuo and TVB executives, Lam Bo On and Virginia Lok.

Recently there have been rumors of Charmaine Sheh, Joe Ma and Bowie Lam and other siu fas and siu sangs leaving the nest as soon as their contracts expired. On that night, when this reporter queried Lok if the dinner was set up to appease hearts, she  laughed and said: "This is a very leading question. First, not everyone left; second, I,representing the company, was never scared."

video: tv news report on baidu

Steven was once rumored to be on bad terms with Lok, but on that night,
they sat next to each other chatting amiably and seemingly quite chummy.

Credit: steven ma.org :

Ms. Virginia Lok's dinner invitation

video: news broadcast of the dinner




Actually, TVB artistes being invited to partake a meal with Ms. Lok is no big deal and quite common too, if they are her favorites, that is, but in all those years as a managed contract artiste, Steven was never once reported being invited to one of her lunches or dinners or birthday parties, at all. But check out the news below (though Steven's name was mentioned only in passing), how telling was it of the dire exodus of TVB artistes from the nest? Steven still has some two years left in his contract, would he stay or leave? But on second thoughts, maybe it wasn't Lok who invited Steven, maybe it was Norman Leung who invited him.

Translation of article: TVB executives, Virginia Lok and Norman Leung, had a dinner (lunch) gathering with a group of artistes including: Crystal Tin, Kiki Sheung, Maggie Siu, Paul Chin and Steven Ma etc (not mentioned - Evergreen) Crystal laughingly said the meal was to celebrate her birthday, but Kik interjected that they all gathered here to belatedly celebrate her wedding. (Even they seemed amused by their invitation to eat with the top executives.) Mr. Leung expressed that it is not unusual for the company to occasionally have lunch/dinner gathering with the artistes. (TN: just not this group of people) As to the recent rumors of many artistes leaving TVB and flocking to the north to pursue real money, Lok clarified: "First, not every one is leaving; they're not all gone! Second, I, representing the company, am not scared at all!"

From weibo concerning the above news report:
fans: Guess the exodus of tvb artistes is really serious. See, even Steven had a chance to attend her lunch/dinner.
fan: Wow! 4th brother had a meal with Lok! Incredible!
fan1: That Steven was in Lok's dinner is a miracle!
fan2: I thought so too.
fan3: 4th Brother, go follow Princess Cheung Ping to the north
fan4: Seems like Lok is under great pressure.

And many more voicing the same train of thought.

So, why was the dinner even reported as news if it was not a publicity stunt for tvb?

Note: Mark Lee was also present but not mentioned in the news.