Steven is not bad in his acting.. sometimes quite funny too..

OMG there sooooo cute together....steven so nice.....what did he mean by "I have given another of my first" what was the other first......

Benny Chan will not Waste Money on Courting - Steven Ma receives complaints about Mispronunciation
TVB series "A Change of Destiny" held a promotional event at a bowling alley yesterday, attended by Benny Chan, Steven Ma, Shirley Yeung, Joel Chan, Yuen Wah and Selena Li. The artistes split into three teams, led by Steven, Joel and Benny and it was Joel's team who won in the end. Benny emerged as the person with the worst score.

Benny admitted that his game was poor and says that he will never spend money taking girls on dates and he will not do any sports that involve paying because if he does not succeed in courting, then he will lose out. As a result, he feels that the best place to date a girl is at the beach. Talking of the series reaching ratings of 29 points, will he wear swimming trunks and appear on the beach if it breaks 30 points? Benny immediately pushed it onto Steven as the main lead before laughing that if the producer appeared in trunks, then it would be a good sight.

Also, Steven has been accused by netizens of mispronouncing a word in one of his scenes, where the word normally pronounced 'gei' was said as 'kei', whilst Joel has also received complaints about saying the word 'dee' like the English letter 'D'. Steven explains that he had the same line of poetry in the series "Where the Legend Begins" and during filming, the producer had checked with a Professor of Chinese Literature to make sure that the word was pronounced 'kei' in the poetic sense. As for the criticisms, Steven says: "I welcome them, because this makes the production more interactive. I feel that if we were too pedantic about our words, the audience would be bored to death." Shirley, Joel and producer Tsui Yu On all feel that to have colloquial words in the show is acceptable because their roles are town ruffians who would not be able to use literary sayings.

Credit: http://tvbspace.blogspot.com/


Steven Ma Support Yumiko over Body Double Rumours
Steven Ma, Yumiko Cheng, Elaine Yiu, Evergreen Mak and Wayne Lai took part in the blessing ceremony for "The Gentle Crackdown II" yesterday. Steven says that for this series, he only has four hours sleep every day and he has therefore lost six pounds. In the show, he and Yumiko have a lot of fight scenes and they are hard work because they have to remember their lines as well. After Steven injured his right eye before last year's Anniversary awards ceremony, it was joked that he should ask Yumiko to hit him in his left eye so he can win another award for 'Best Actor'.

There have been rumours lately that Yumiko has been especially careful, with 80% of her fight scenes filmed using a body double. Steven says that there is no such thing and praises Yumiko for being very serious and even injuring herself a few times during filming, leaving her in tears. However, she is fine after a while and continues filming, he feels that this spirit is something that newcomers should learn from.

This is Yumiko's first ancient costume series and she praises Steven for being the most serious and punctual person she has ever worked with and she has no criticisms of him. With a bruise near her mouth, she jokes that she has a bit of a moustache. As for the rumours of her using a double, she denies this, saying that in a scene where she had to use nunchuks, she did it all herself and if she can do the action, she will do it herself. Yumiko says that as she has been busy filming this series recently, her company is worried she will not have enough money to pay her rent because she has not been able to do other work. They did find her a job that was enough to pay a month's rent, but she turned it down because she did not want to be distracted.

Also, there have been rumours that Elaine has found a rich boyfriend. She says she will not talk about this, but she denies this is a silent admission. She just does now know how to respond because she does not want to affect other people. She is busy focussing on her work and will not have a lightning wedding.

Credit: http://tvbspace.blogspot.com/

Steven Ma is so cute.....I like him a lot. I like him in Perish in the Name of Love.

'
Steven Ma Sees Fala and Linda as Younger Sisters
Steven Ma, Linda Chung and Fala Chen took part in the blessing ceremony for new series "Golden Destiny" yesterday and Steven says that he is not afraid of any rumours from filming this series. "I am a couple with Linda in the show and we have worked together before without any rumours, so I see her as a younger sister." Although he will also be working with gossip queen Fala, he says he has played her elder brother on two occasions, so he is not worried about any rumours.

Credit: http://tvbspace.blogspot.com/

The Chinese title of Brink of Law is "Duc Wai Hang Dong" 突圍行動

Awww, I'm happy to see Steven in another TVB series but I really hate how they completely changed the cast to The Gentle Crackdown II. Why call it a sequel or even keep the same name if its a completely new cast? I really hate it when TVB does that.. it's just not the same They just wanna revive the ratings that the first TGC had.. but haven't they realized by now that sequels are never as good as the original? haha

Oh well, I guess it won't be too bad with Steven in it.. but I just don't like the cast >__< I mean, Yumiko and Elaine Yiu, not really my cup of tea.

Steven Ma: "Carrying Linda Chung is Easy!"
Caption: The tanned Steven Ma has a very fit figure!

Steven Ma Chun Wai, Linda Chung Ka Yan, Queenie Chu Wai Man, Shermon Tang Sheung Man etc. were filming an outdoor marathon scene for new TVB series, "Romance of the Golden Rock" 《金石良緣》. Despite the soaring temperatures, Steven had to run around the track for several hours.

However, Steven did not appear to be tired. Before the filming actually started, he was jogging slowly in position. Linda, Queenie, and Shermon noted that Steven had a lot of energy.

Steven said, "We started filming at 9 AM for 7 hours already. But I did not have to run for several hours straight and I do not feel tired. Today, I exercised for the longest amount of time in my entire life! However, this is not too bad compared to filming an ancient drama in the midst of summer heat!"

The scene spoke of marathon runner, Steven, losing his spirit. In order to encourage him, Steven's wife, Linda, signed up to run in the marathon as well. However Linda did not feel well on the day of the marathon. As a result, Steven had to carry Linda while running the entire marathon.

Despite the intense heat, Steven did not complain about carrying Linda in his arms for the scene. "I prefer Linda to eat more, as she doesn't weigh much in my arms!"

Credit: jayestars.com

I find Steven pretty talented. I've just watched him on HHI and not only his acting was ok but his english was pretty good too when he sang trademark's Miss You Finally. I began to like him after watching him in HHI

Exotic Salsa,
Fussy CHA CHA CHA,
Flirtatious Tango,
A Mixture of Dancing Harmony

Ballroom dancing emphasizes rhythm and mutual trust between the partners. If we can apply the same philosophy to our daily communication practices, we are likely to find ourselves in greater harmony and our lives will surely be enriched.

Dance lover LEE SUM-YING (Liu Bernice Jan) is going to audition for a place in the Hong Kong Dance Company. Before the audition starts, she bumps into her brother LEE LIK-KEUNG ( Lai Yiu Cheung ) and his colleague CHING KA-TSUN (Steven Ma) at a supermarket, where she is accidentally run over by TSUN’s trolley and hurts herself. Due to her leg injury, YING does not perform well in the audition and fails the assessment. At the invitation of TSUN’s mother, YING goes to teach Latin dance at a local community center, in the hope that she can save up enough money for further studies abroad. YING has a very warm personality and is well-liked by many of her students. Her popularity eventually lands her a teaching job at a dance workshop, which makes another dance tutor CHING KA-MAN (Chen Fa La) incredibly jealous. MAN dislikes YING so much that she means to make things difficult for her in every possible way.

YEUNG SZE-MAN ( Tsui Tsz Shan ) , the daughter of TSUN’s boss, is appointed to take charge of the company. In order to improve staff morale, MAN has announced a series of reforms. She needs her staff to learn dancing so that they can get more physical exercise. YING is hired as the dance teacher of TSUN and his colleagues. TSUN who has some knowledge in dancing has soon resumed his interest in this expressive form of art. YING and TSUN have gradually developed a close bond with each other and even decided to take part in an international dance competition as partners. But the pair’s relationship is put to the test when TSUN and KEUNG later fall out over business matters. The discord between the two men has put YING in dilemma …

Executive Producer: Leung Choy Yuen 梁材遠
Scriptwriter: Ka Wai Nam 賈偉南
Casting: Liu Bernice Jan 廖碧兒
Steven Ma 馬浚偉
Tsui Tsz Shan 徐子珊
Lai Yiu Cheung 黎耀祥
Chen Fa La 陳法拉
Matthew Ko 高鈞賢
Claire Yiu 姚嘉妮
Stephen Wong 黃長興

credit: Astro On Demand
http://www.astro.com.my/programming/channe...01/DSC_0028.JPG
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http://ol.mingpao.com/ftp/Lady/20070906/saa01/_06MF003_.jpg
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Bernice Liu, Steven Ma, Fala Chen, & Matthew Ko at "The Entire City Dances" Prom
TVB's new series, "The Entire City Dances" 《舞動全城》will be broadcast on Monday, September 10th, following the finale of "Fathers and Sons." Cast members, Bernice Liu, Steven Ma, Fala Chen, Tracy Ip, Matthew Ko, Wu Fung etc. appeared at a promotional event for the series yesterday.

The normally sexy Fala Chen was dressed conservatively. On the other hand, Tracy Ip wore a low cut dress, drawing the press' attention.

Steven Ma was confident of the ratings for the series. "Although the ratings are beyond the control of the artists, we put much effort into the filming. Learning how to dance increased my income opportunities. Next month, I will be performing at a Macau casino. The organizer requested lengthening the time of my dance segment, thus increasing my fee by 30%."

Regarding Tracy's revealing attire, Bernice commented, "Tracy only respected the occasion. Normally MC's will dress in the same manner. TVB originally set aside a spaghetti-strapped dress for me to wear, but I borrowed this dress from a fashion designer dress. I will not steal the limelight!"

Kate Tsui also said, "If women have the figure, then it's okay to show it off."

Credit: jaynestars.com

http://ent.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/news/show_n...1163&ct=pic
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translated by dee-lush



TVB to Film a Sequel to 'Steps'

Bernice Liu, Steven Ma and the other cast members of ‘Steps’ (舞動全城) were celebrating mid-autumn festival with citizens at a shopping centre. The producer of this popular television series disclosed that the ratings have been satisfactory and so, the company is planning to film a sequel. He also revealed that Steven would have a child in the sequel and praised Bernice for being a ratings attracter.

Steven commented, “I accept the role of being a father but hopefully the child is not too big. Jacky is a good candidate. I also hope to go to England’s Black Pool.”

When hearing the praise of the producer, Bernice was extremely humble by claiming the good plot was responsible for the success of ‘Steps’.

"Steps" Function:

娱乐直播 专访 舞动全城 男主角程嘉俊
E-buzz Interview of Steps’ Male Lead, Steven Ma.

Host::Today at E-buzz, our featured guest, this person I feel though he’s busier than ever, but the busier he is, the fitter he gets, and the more vibrant and attractive he becomes. He is Ma Chu Wai. Ma Zai, how are you?

Steven: Thank you!

H: Yes, I truly feel that you may be extremely busy these days, but your hectic schedule seems to energize you.

S: It could be that.

H: Right. Let’s start with tonight’s premier of Steps. Would you mind telling us what it’s about?

S: Well, actually, Steps’ kind of story with dancing as a main theme is still relatively uncommon in TVB series. The plot centers on Dance International Standard (sic style) which includes both ballroom and Latin dances. The characters all have some connection with dancing. As for my family, my mom, sister Rebecca, is from a family of dancers. Bernice is a dance lover. Our relationship came about because of dancing.

H: And sparks flew?

S: Yes. Because Dance International Standard (sic) is the main theme. And the dance has many moves, in fact, all its moves; maybe should say interactions, require a male and a female to form a partnership. And in it; the level of mutual trust, support, encouragement and understanding of each other depends greatly on the partners’ interrelationship.

H: Exactly. Which means you and Bernice must have good communicate in order to dance well for the public, is that right?

S: Yes. Actually our production supervisor and copy editor hoped to use dance to express a relationship from a different angle. I think dance itself is a kind of expression, especially Dance International Standard because it requires two people to meld into one, and how they go about it; having their moves, their spirit and their energy all fused into one. Which is why in this series, we dance in almost every episode, like dance while romancing, or maybe dance when unhappy, or yet again dance in some dance competitions.

H. Like channeling feelings into a different dimension. But what I’d like to ask you is, before you had said you feared dancing, felt you don’t dance well. When did you change from dancing badly to being able to perform in a series and, moreover, did it so well to boot?

S: I still wouldn’t dare say I dance well, because dancing is truly my Achilles’ heel. All these years as an artiste, dancing is my ultimate weakness. Before whenever I heard my work required some dancing, I would immediately plead with my manager, "I can’t. I’m not right for it, or I can’t do it."

H: So how did you overcome it? As you said, almost every episode has dancing in it. There’s at least one dance per day.

S: At first, I was actually afraid to accept this series. Because, on the positive side, it was a challenge, but conversely, the pressure was enormous. I thought to myself, how could I work under such pressure everyday? Moreover, my co-stars are Bernice, Fala, Kate and Sister Rebecca. They’re all talented dancers.

H: True. They all have dancing background and can dance very well.

S: Right. Even though they learned a different kind of dancing, still they have dancing talent. I was worried. “Will my poor dancing level and standard hinder the production progress? This was my main concern.

H: So how did you overcome it? What made you think you could do it?

S: Well, first of, despite my fear, my interest was high. It’s like if you are scared of a cockroach, but if you try to smack it; maybe you could overcome your fear of it.

H: Like watching a ghost movie; the scarier you are, the more you want to watch under covers.

S: I like to watch ghost movie so I’m not scared but I’m scared of roaches. So I would try to smack them. This is just an analogy. Luckily we had dance instructors as our dance directors. Moreover, I had brother Lingo, and also a group of professional dancers who were extremely patient with me. Besides them, I also have had outside tutoring before filming, a total of four lessons.

H: Prep work before filming?
S: A total of 8 hours, 4 lessons.
H: That’s not a lot.

S: Well, at least I’ve had some contact with it. At least, I knew what are the 10 dances included in Dance International Standard (sic Style) which I didn’t know before. I thought social dance was just social dance. I had no idea what constitute it.

H: So did the more you dance the greater your interest is?
S: Yes.
H: And now you love dancing?
S: Actually, even after the series was done, I continued to take dance lessons. And also danced in Steps’ promos and incorporated dancing into my stage shows.

H: Among the dances, which ones are the most challenging to do?

S: For me, it would be those that are fast-paced such as: Pasa Doblo or Samba or Cha Cha. Their rhythm is much faster. I‘m not very nimble, so I find it easier to learn slower dance. Much easier to catch on. But of course, whether I danced it well or not is another matter. But as far as catching on, slow dance is easier for me. But I, myself, enjoy quickstep, ballroom quickstep.

H: Actually dancing can make one look quite dense. I’ve danced before. I had never thought of myself as dense but dancing will do that to one.

S: It’s ok, you’ve me as company.

H: But after Steps, you’ve become an expert from what I could see from the promo. Also I know you have many dance scenes throughout Steps, and many of those with Bernice. Close bodily contact is inevitable. So were you concerned that people would say. "Wah, so bold, the dancing so risqué."

M: One has to be bold. Actually, during the shoots we weren’t worried at all. Because we did the shoots inside the studio, well, some were on site too. Anyway, since the shoots were done mainly in the studio, we were not worried, because we could completely focus without outside distractions. There’s one such scene where Bernice and I danced inside a dance studio. There was a power outage. Basked in the neon lights, she taught me how to dance rumba, very intimate. It was a moving scene, we both thought so. In the scene, I didn’t even dare to touch her; however, in the scene, she was very professional. She grabbed my hand, brushed her hand down my arm, and wrapped her leg around mine; all these minute details will be shown in the dance scene. As to your earlier question on intimacy, that also was a sticky situation for me. I can be shy too. Either a male or female could be shy. The intimacy..all that will be performed in the show.

H: Was it awkward? You did say the filming in the studio was ok.

S: Yeah. Because this was Bernice and my second time collaboration. Also Bernice, Fala and Kate, they’re all dancers so they understand that dancing, especially, Latin can get very intimate. The way I see it, it’s just a dance. I’ll treat it like an art or a sport.

H: Were you self-conscious wearing such revealing costumes? Also, you mentioned before that it was alright to expose the chest area, but not the belly button, why?

S: Haha, men seldom exposed their belly buttons. Not only the ladies are attired sexily, but in the Latin dance, the men’s costumes are also very snug, most are see-through, it’s just that they are in black. If one has a big belly, then that would present a problem.

H: Oh, it’s not the belly button then.

S: No, there’s problem with showing the belly button.

H: We’ve talked quite a bit about Steps. Now I’ve more practical questions to ask you. What do you think the rating would be for Steps? Do you feel the pressure for garnering high rating?

S: No. Because I’ve been in TVB for quite a while now. And I understand, in fact, all TVB employees understand that they just need to do their best during production, to fully exert their energy and time, their effort and their heart. As for the outcome, each one of us would respond: "Of course hope for the best." But the rating results are always beyond our control. Of course we hope the viewers will like it. And also hope the viewers will like each and every one of our series. Not just my own, but all of the company’s series, I hope the viewers will like them all. Even better, that the company’s series’ can continually maintain a high rating. Then everyone will be happy.

H: If the rating is good, have you thought about performing some difficult dance for the public?

S: I prefer doing that.
H: The reporters frequently ask the actors if they would don their swimwear if the rating is high.

S: I’ve not seen anyone done that yet. In fact, I much prefer your suggestion. If Steps’ rating is high, I would really consider your suggestion. I’ll do something that will challenge me, or maybe do it with my co-star, maybe Bernice or another lady, to perform something that would surprise people because they didn't think we would or could do it. You’ve given me a good idea. Now I know how to respond to my media friends.

H: That was a good idea?
S: Yes, a very good one.
H: To fit in with this series, maybe do a lyrical dance.
S: Or maybe ice dancing?
H: Not a bad idea. But ice dancing is quite difficult
S: Very. I can’t even keep my balance standing up.

H: I really hope the rating will be high so I can watch your lyrical dance. Let’s change the subject. We’ve chatted quite a bit about Steps. You’ve also written about it in your blog. You like to write, and to keep in touch with your fans. Busy filming, busy writing, how did you do it all?

S: First of, I don’t plan ahead on what to write. Often when I write my blog or journal, it’s not always done in the computer, but scribbled on a piece of paper. These are just random writing. Anybody can do it. There’s no pressure in it. There’s no special topic on what I plan to write, just whatever comes to mind. When I get online, I might then update my blog. I enjoy doodling too. I’m interested in many things.

H: What kind of books do you like? Or the kind of books that will inspire you.
S: I like all kinds of books.
H: Such as?

S: I prefer books that are profound. The thought provoking kind, maybe books by intellectuals or philosophers because different readers can acquire different insights from them. I seldom read novels. I also like comic books. There’re some series that I follow.

H: Guess you’re still a big boy yet.

S: Not really. There are some adult comics. Haha, not those kind; the kind that’s written with the adults in mind.

H: Books can be inspiring; filming can be, too, bringing in a different perspective. Recently, in your blog you wrote about meeting a young actor while shooting 金石良缘This young actor changed your outlook in life.

S: Wow! I just wrote that.
H: Why don’t you tell us what the outlook was…like embarking on a new phase in life…to be a father.

S: No. I’m not even married yet. There was this scene; it’s about my sister’s son. He’s around a year old or so, very cute and fun to play with. Sister Helen and sister Mary saw me holding him, and doing a pretty good job too. They taught me how to hold him properly and coax him to sleep; also how to spread his little legs to wrap around me and have his hands hugged me. And sure enough, before too long, like a koala bear hugging me, he fell asleep on me.

H: A very heartwarming sight.

S: Then his mother took out a camera and snapped our pictures. It left a big impression on me. They all quipped, “You are now qualified to be a father.� I think I am too. But this is just an experience. Very happy because if you had a child quietly fell asleep on your chest; that feeling was truly very sweet.

H: You know when you talk like that, you’ll make people think that Ma Zai will marry soon, or maybe wants to get marry, wants to be a father. Have you thought about that?

S: Of course, the thought has entered my mind. After all, I’m at that age already, but I’m not in a hurry.

H: Do you have someone in mind?

S:Haha! Let’s not go there. But if time, no, should say, if it’s so fated, if I married, I’d want to have kids because I love kids and love to watch them grow. Of course, (the young ones) that’s the fun stage, but as they grow older, problems will follow.

H: More difficult to teach.

S: Yes, to me it’s just a natural progression of life journey; to see your kids grow up, or to see other people’s kids grow up, you’re happy just seeing other kids grow, what’s more, your own.

H: You’ve a hectic career schedule, one series after another. Have you thought about maybe getting awards this year, maybe the most favorite male character award again? Would you like that?

S: Of course, I would. I look upon that as a motivation. When to get it, I don’t think about it, but it will be the direction I’m aiming for. Some people would say receiving awards is not that important; more important is making more series and money. True. But for me, receiving awards represents a different stratum, and provides a very good incentive and motivation. It’s my goal to achieve the best male actor award in TVB, or maybe from outside HK, in other places. That very thought drives me. When? This year? I don’t know. Maybe? Maybe next year? The year next? Don’t know. But that’s the direction I’m going.

H: I wish you the very best for your success. I thank Ma Zai today for his interview. Thank you!

S: You’re welcome.


credit to: baidu source & transcript

Video:tudou 娱乐直播专访
Translator: Tamaya

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Steven Ma is Earning More Money Lately

Sharon Chan, Steven Ma, Mandy Cho and others were at a public event on Monday night. After the finale of ‘Steps’ aired last week, Steven disclosed that he has many jobs on hand. When it was pointed out that fellow ‘Steps’ actor, Matthew Ko, has ten times less work than he does, Steven expressed that it cannot not be compared because they are different. Steven then admitted that he has been earning more money lately but he does not care how much because the most important thing is that TVB gives him the money no time.

After participating in the dance competition ‘Wu Dong Qi Ji’ (舞動奇蹟), Sharon has discovered her talent in dancing. The actress disclosed that she had ballet lessons for a short period of time, when she was younger. When asked if she thought of ballroom dancing is intimate, Sharon said that she believes that the most important thing about dancing is that you look beautiful.

I don't know what article this is because the link does not work, but in similar articles that I've read, it was pointed out to Steven that his co-star, Matthew, has reportedly said his workload has increased tenfolds since Steps; Steven was asked if his own workload has also experienced similar increase. In no way, did it report that Matthew has 10 times less (or more) work than Steven.


Edited to add: Just saw the original Chinese article. This kind of erroneous e-reporting is so typical of E-reports: plagarizing aside, the reporters don't even bother to cut and paste correctly, or maybe the twisting and/or restructuring of words are intentional.

Translator: Tamaya

Steven Ma as red wine, fresh milk 忽然一周－红酒鲜奶马浚伟 2006-03-31 TVB明星联盟
Summarized intro: Showbiz, like red wine, is all about place of cultivation, year of production, and taste. Likewise, after 13 years of showbiz immersion, Steven has the goods to become a bottle of good wine. But then again, maybe he is just a glass of bland fresh milk?

Rather be taken advantage of than to take advantage
Safeguards’ rating was a triumph; however, Steven, the person, attracts more news attention than his alter ego, the Big Boss; participation in a charity show, somehow became a sexual indecency scandal; vacation in Taiwan with girlfriend, somehow became Steven got ‘straightened’ by a superwoman innuendo; to top it all off, his past love relationships are once again dredged up and raked repeatedly through the gossip mill. Some female entertainers might have had welcomed the frequent tabloids’ headlines and cover pages; but as a man, Steven must have felt the strain under such unrelenting negativity.

Hu: Do you feel you're like a magnet to controversy?

S: Maybe I handle stuff differently from other artistes. When faced with bad press, I seldom respond. Therefore, people think I’m an easy target, and will try to get more flesh out of me next time. As for the recent news, I really don’t know what to say. The captions are so nauseating. (ref: perv charge) Admittedly, that picture is indeed suggestive. But people got to realize, what artiste would do such a thing in a show that was aired live before millions of viewers. The tabloids want to sensationalize that incident; there’s nothing I can do. I admit my dancing technique is weak, the rehearsal was brief, only a few hours or so. Luckily, I had a tight grip on her and didn’t drop her at the end of the dance; else, the papers would have had a field day with this caption, "After indecent groping, Steven kills to prevent victim’s accusations."

Hu: How do you deal with such negativity?

S: In the past, I brooded; tried drowning in liquor, also tried locking myself in a room, crying. Over time, I came to believe so long heaven and earth know of my innocence, my conscience is clear. The present day viewers are pretty clear-eyed; they won’t continue to misunderstand me forever. Instead of wasting time refuting, why not expend that energy into doing good works so that people, within their limited leisure time, can get to know me better. The tabloids may denigrate me to worth less than a penny; the important thing is, that I’m not.

H: Such high-road attitude. Won’t that corrode? (reputation)

S: Used to think so. But, does silence really induces corrosion, not necessarily. If I explain every detail, maybe some people might say, "Oh, Steven really has nothing to do with it." But then again, others will sure to retort, “Steven is so cheap to bad mouth people like that." Won the argument, but lost on conduct; it’s all so pointless. My father once said: "Rather I be taken advantage of than to take advantage." Every rebuttal will hurt people. I dare to say this, that I can hold my head up high in front of everybody.

H: The homosexual accusation, was that the most damaging rumor?

S: As of today, there is no one such rumor that can truly hurt me. Frankie (his ex-manager) was my mentor. When I first entered the industry, he signed me up for 7 years, which was later extended to 3 more years. During this period, he developed and took care of me. He is a very attentive man, maybe that’s how the misconception started. To me, he was a very good manager. There’s no reason to end our contract just because of the rumors. Whatever rumors about me will not influence me. So long, I take responsibility for my work, who I’m with is of no concern to anybody.

Everytime, Steven dances, things happened. In 2002, after his Latin dance with Sonija Kwok in Miss Hong Kong Pageant final, rumors spread of their dating, and Steven was fingered as the culprit who spilled the beans on their 3 months dating. The lady accused him of self-promotion. Recently, he was accused of indecent touching on Rain Li’s bottom during their dance together. Steven laughs, "I’m not scared to dance. Next time, I will partner Chu Mi Mi, nothing would happen then."

I’m Truly Lucky
Steven is obstinate. Rumor has it that he has a millionaire girlfriend: Shi Hui Ling. But he has made up his mind not to talk about it, and that's that. Steven has been in showbiz for 13 years. He is 35 years old this year, so naturally he has contemplated much on his career path and future. Two years ago, when his contract with Frankie ended, he decided to strike out on his own. Last year, he formally signed a contract with TVB in June. For sure, a big tree can provide better shade. (meaning a big company can provide more opportunities.)

Hu: So in the end, back to TVB?

S: Actually, TVB and I have always had a contract. It’s just that the contract then was more flexible; it allowed leeway of outside work and endorsements. When my contract with Frankie ended, I became a free agent. Honestly, money wise, it was really very lucrative. Also, the ability to completely control one’s success or failure was very self-satisfying. But, freelancing can also create dire predicaments.

Once, while filming in Meizhou, we went to a certain disco for scene site shooting. When we got there, a banner was raised. Somehow, it had become my concert. The admittance ticket cost 120 yuan. It turned out that the film producer did not pay rental to the disco management; he tricked its owner into thinking that I would perform to cover the rent; thus, I became the sacrificial lamb. I absolutely refused, even if they beat me up, which they almost did. I said, "Go ahead, beat me to death here." How did it end? I called up Li RuEn’s husband (Ceng ZhiMing) for help. His factory was in Meizhou. He sent in his factory head and called in the police. So for the rest of the filming in Meizhou, I had a police escort. There’re things that artistes cannot easily take of. I didn’t want to deal with the mountain folks; and it just happened at that time, TVB sought me out. I thought the time was right to sign on. I will now concentrate on filming. My most fervent wish is to perform on stage, no matter how small the role may be, I’m willing. (translator’s add- on: Steven got his wish. He will perform the male lead in 王子复仇记, a Chinese version Hamlet, on stage in Hong Kong Cultural center from Nov 22-25th. Rehearsals have started since Sept 11. His character will recite poetry, sing and swordplay in the show. )


Hu: What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your years of outside ventures?

S: That I am truly insignificant. In China filming industry, even a minor actor posses great acting skills. He can effortlessly do 8 back springs in a row, then somersault 360 degrees mid-air to land gracefully onto his feet. If it’s me, after 3 springs, I would need an understudy. Just in Beijing alone, there are some 200,000 professional thespians. For each role, there are over 2,000 candidates fighting over it. In the past, I took my male lead for granted, but after my eye-opening experience outside, I now know how very lucky I am. Before, I took criticisms hard. A classic example was in Healing Hands 1. Zhen Jie, (TVB upper management) always complained that I would not open my mouth wide to speak the lines. My upper lip would not move. I thought to myself, when I was young, my two upper front teeth were chipped; a deep inverted v separated them. It was only when I was 20 years old that I had them fixed. So all those years, I learned to speak without moving my upper lip. But now I know, understanding and explanations are of no use. The viewers only see the performance; they are not interested in knowing why. Don’t expect people to understand you. If you performed poorly, naturally there’ll be others to replace you. (H: Steven has since corrected that habit of not moving his upper lip while talking.)


Amending a Regret.
Besides acting, Steven’s career also includes book publishing. He grew up in Sham Shui Po-Bak Tin. From young, he was used to seeing discarded used syringes on the back staircase in their building. In the back alleys, the most common sight was the presence of hooligans and prostitutes. His father, a bus driver, was the sole breadwinner in a family of seven. His mother was a long-time nose cancer patient who died a few years back. The materials of his published books drew heavily on his childhood background, which include: suicide, the family of a cancer patient and problem teenagers. Steven has never concealed his humble origin. Maybe to overcome self-inferiority is to face it head on.

Hu: Why book publishing?

S: First, it’s purely sentiment. My 1st and 2nd jobs after graduation were in sales in Lang Wen and Ling Ji publishing companies, respectively. Second, in the past, I was often looked down by people, so I wanted to prove my ability. I still remember that time not long after I entered the industry, a friend sent me home. At first, he thought I lived in Kowloon Tong, but when he found out that I lived in Sham Shui Po, he immediately locked all his car doors. He looked disgusted. I thought to myself, "Was that necessary?" Even though Sham Shui Po may be a slum, it’s not representative of its people. I’ve never studied in a university; my academic education is only Form 5 standard, so being a publisher is a sort of psychological compensation.

H: Aren’t you worried that people would think you’re seeking approbation and fame?

S: Only 2000 odd books are published per run. It’s a breakeven, can’t even make profits. What fame is there to laud? What compliments are there to fish? How people see me, I don’t care.

H: Do you feel that you don’t belong to this time period?

S: Yes, showbiz really doesn’t suit me. The competition is too fierce. But I’ve never participated in it. My personality is similar to Cao Zhi; won’t compete or exploit, always being bullied. I think if I were born in late Qing dynasty, I would be most happy. I love to read history books. The ending periods of the Qing dynasty were very turbulent. The citizens could put themselves out for their country, spilling hot-red blood. If I were in that generation, I’m certain I would be part of the revolution. But I don’t think I would be as radical as the 6 martyrs, or as self-sacrificial as Qiu Jin. I think I would be more like Luxun kind; I would use words and films/stage shows to resist the Japanese.

A Qing Model
Today, seems like I’ve just taken a class on China’s recent history and on Chinese thoughts. Steven loves to read Late Qing dynasty history , and also books by philosopher Tang Jun Yi, especially his 人 生 之 体 验.If not for the fact that I was solidly stuck in Lan Gui Fan Bar, I would have been deluded by Steven’s Qing appearance, thinking myself transported back to the early 20th century. Teacher Tang (Jun Yi) once said: the world mystifyingly doles out random praises and also mystifyingly metes out random hurt. I can relate to that; the entertainment circle is where most of this randomness is fabricated.

Interview credit to:忽然一周-Huran-2006-03-31



马浚伟成长於白田 ，见惯屋 吸毒、斩人等现象，但他是一名戴金丝眼镜的斯文学生。
Steven, who grew up in Ba-Tin, was used to the sight of druggies and muggers in his neighborhood. But he was a bespectacled, refined student, himself.
photo credit:steven fansite

New Series:




http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/ent/20071014...3101403_big.jpg

I am a recent fan of Steven’s, well, since this summer. Last year, I happened to watch Healing Hands1 and, although his Dr. Joe left a deep impression on me at that time, it soon faded. Then this summer for want of something to do, I decided to download some TV series to watch. Steven’s name was as good as any, so I browsed Youtube and found Better Halves. I became his fan. I turned to Tudou for more of his series. Since then, I have watched all his series made since 1998, while some series are better than others, I have enjoyed every one of his character portrayals. Of his series, Better Halves remains my favorite followed by On the Track or Off, Where the Legend Begins and Safe Guards. I’ve also enjoyed his most recent Steps series. Of all his characters, appearance wise, Kangxi is the most memorable, but among my favorite characters, Quan Jia Fu & Gan Yuan are the most loved, Cao Zhi & Zhou Shi Xian are the most romantic while Shang Zhi is the most manly, and of course, Dr. Joe started it all. To my delight, Steven not only acts well, but also sings well, writes well and dances well too.

Since becoming his fan, I did some research on him. Discriminately separating the chaff from the grain, I read all reports on him with a grain of salt, but paid special attention to his tv and print interviews and excerpts of his published books. I like what I saw and heard. So when time permits, I will translate some good articles/reports on him so that his Chinese illiterate fans can also get a better sense of the man he is.

Huran Magazine, issue 306
2001-06-08 忽然一周第 306 期

Mom Was So Very Young Then!
In the series, “On The Track or Off”, Steven grieves inconsolably over the death of Little Flying Elephant, wailing and weeping loudly. That show went on to become a hit, earning instant fame for the series and its cast.

Two years back, when his mom passed away, Steven did not wail nor weep; instead he isolated himself in his house for 2 months. Gradually, he came to accept his mom’s death, slowly letting go of his denial and anger, and decisively headed to a new chapter.

Today, Steven can discuss his mother without pain, except for a twinge of regret that just when his career was taking off after years of struggling, Mom would not be there to see it. Steven says maybe it is so fated. Two years ago, he was not famous, so he had had plenty of time to spend with his mom before she passed away. Mom is gone, but he knows how to deal with his grief now, but truly Mom died too young. She was only 48 years old.

I request a copy of his mother’s photo to be published in the magazine. Steven refuses, for many a time in the past, the photos that he lent to the media for publication were never returned to him. He wants to preserve his mom's memory, therefore can’t afford to lose any mementos.


20 Years of Pain
One can only mature through life experiences. Having experienced his mother’s twenty years' struggle with cancer, Steven thought he had seen through life and death. Actually, he had only unwittingly cornered himself into a dead end, unable to let go... until in 1999 when his mom died without saying good did he change his outlook on life.

"To have survived 20 years of cancer was indeed a miracle. All these years, I had become accustomed to having a patient in the house, accustomed to taking care of her. I thought I could handle life and death; however, thinking and reality are two separate issues. Even seeing her health worsened, seeing her suffered, I was not ready to let her go. But to have her carry on was to make her suffer.

"In 1977, when I was still very young, she was diagnosed with nose cancer. Only electrotherapy could help her then, and prolonged her life. After 15 years of being in remission, the cancer returned in force. The electrotherapy aggravated her already dried skin causing it to ooze pus. Gradually, she lost her hearing and couldn’t hear our voices. Her taste sensation was next to go. Her speech suffered, only her children and husband could understand what she said. The treatment also inflicted her brain causing enzymes unbalance, which in turn affected her moods. That was around 1997, 1998. I was shooting Healing Hands 1 then. There were people who questioned Steven’s frequent mysterious disappearances; but truly I had my own reason.

"For me, Mom suffered and endured the most during that period. When I heard people griped about their suffering, I often erupted, “Suffer? Do you know what true suffering is? Suffer more than my mom?” I often became panicky. I could not relax. I found faults with everything around me. I couldn’t concentrate on my career; no fame no accomplishment; no wonder it was so. Anyway, nonentity allowed me to spend more time with Mom. The prolonged electrotherapy gradually stiffened her jaw and neck causing problematic salivation, and ingestion of food. The doctor recommended drilling a hole in the stomach; she refused. She could not bear more pain, but we persuaded her to have the procedure. She finally consented to it. But before dawn on the eve of the procedure, suffering an acute pneumonia, she died. Her death was painless as she unconsciously slipped away. We did not get to say goodbye. I believed she wished it that way because she could not bear to leave us behind, or see our devastation at her leaving. Mom had always placed her children’s happiness ahead of everything. She was contented to have Dad be there for her at her deathbed.

"I don’t feel guilt or regrets towards my Mom for despite her illness, she had known happiness; still to die at 48 years old was just too young.”


Top Earnings
Steven says: Fortuity leaves when one’s heart overflows with resentment and jealousies. But when the heart is emptied of anxiety and concerns, the resentment will naturally dissipate and disappear on its own. Since January, 2000 beginning with “The Return of the Cuckoo”, he has worked nonstop. He earned the most money within the next 2 years.

Having reached bottom in his personal life and career in 1999, Steven recouped after 2 months of intensive introspection. From year 2000 till 2001, he worked nonstop making 85 tv episodes, 3 movies, 4 commercials, and cutting 1 album, all in one go. “So far in my life, I made the most money within these two years. Ever mindful of showbiz’s fickleness, I made the most of what I could earn upfront, at the same time, carefully contemplating a fall-back career route. My present success came about because of my own diligence and compliance. Whatever TVB wanted me to do, I did. Frankly, TVB is jam-packed with budding actors. It will not mess up its production schedule for anybody. Also, one less actor gone does not mean one extra position to be filled. When people became famous and enjoyed some success, they might become arrogant and demanding. But they should remember who assisted them in their time of needs, and gave them their start. I started from the bottom up to today’s male lead; I know how to be appreciative and grateful.

No Regrets
When asked if it was pity that he became famous only after his mom’s death, Steven said he looks more to the present than the past. What is more important to him now are his father and sisters; and that he can share with them his accomplishments. It means a lot to him that he has them to join in his success. “When Mom was alive, she was happy. Big sister was a nurse, and her husband was a physical therapist, so Mom was well taken of at home. Her afflictions such as: infected wounds, atrophied extremities, so on and so forth, as well as, medicinal care were all taken care of by family members. We had never employed a maid to tend to her. Also, the staff in Elizabeth Hospital knew that Mom had a good husband and filial children during those 20 odd years. That was happiness….She’s gone now but I have no regrets.”

Translated by Tamaya
Source: xici fansite
Edited: remove broken links

Capsicum, thank you for reading. I will continue with my translation then. We can learn a lot from him. His blog address is: steven's blog

Without Steven’s permission, and with much apologies to him, below is my crude translation of his 2 beautifully written pieces on life posted on his blog. ç??惜生命 by Steven Ma 2007-10-02 03:20


Treasure Life – All Lives
Life? It's very strange!
Some people, because of some unknown fears, gave up on life!
Some people, just so they could continue to see, to breathe, fight for life!
One lives, one dies? Who can control? Yet who can prevent?
Some people, because of youthful recklessness, created life!
Some people, because of regretful mistakes, injured life!
Life? Who decides? To give or to take?
So long as one still has a breath left, live life to the fullest, savor it!
When life is at its end, close the eyes in remembrance, go in peace!
Everything but everything is the will of Heaven!
Wish to stay, wish to leave? Don’t ask, don’t fret. It’s all what will be will be.
Perhaps, those who wish to leave shouldn’t! Wish to stay, then let them stay!
This, perhaps is life, predestined, but more so, it’s fate!
We should not exploit, or be exploited! Like walking, the road is right in front of us.
To continue? To stop? It’s all in our hands!
To face life may be tough, but to flee from life is tougher still!
Why bother? Go, taste the nectar from the hardships!
Why do it? Go, experience the gains from the risks !
To have the courage to face life, more than anything else, makes it more meaningful!
*This essay is dedicated to the people of Myanmar (Burma), and to the people around me and ..to myself.


A few days after Steven posted his first piece on life, the media broke the news on his abnormal heart palpitation. The fans, upon reading the news flocked onto his blog to comfort him. The piece below is his response to his fans’ concern on his state of mind and health.

Treasure Life--sequel by Steven Ma 2007-10-05 02:23

Thank you everyone for your response!
Why do I like to ponder on life?
Isn’t it tiring? Or boring?
Why ask why?
Negative? Pessimistic? – Not at all!
To ponder life, to question life, is depressing? gloomy? helpless? troubled?
Not at all!
It is: courage, to confront, to open up, and to be positive!
This, to me, is my way of treasuring, a kind of attitude!
Up to now, my encounters with birth, old age, illness and death, may not be numerous, yet, they are not few.
Everytime, when I witness new life, I’m inspired!
Everytime, when an elder talks of the past, I listen attentively!
Everytime, when friends and relatives suffer illness, I feel helpless!
Everytime, when a life comes to a natural end, I'm resigned!
But all these do not change my attitude.
Life experiences make people stronger, more resilient! So, what is there to fear?
What is to fear are: apathy and indifference!
Why not: treasure, value, explore, and seek!
And strive together!

A video clip:a 1995 live tv broadcast -Steven in a 1995 live tv entertainment program. Very young and very adorable! And very funny! Enjoy!

Dear Tamaya,

Thank you very much for your translations!! I have been a fan of Steven's for some time, but have not been active on this forum. I enjoy reading your translations and appreciate them very much! You are so meticulous and really spend so much care in collecting and translating materials on Steven. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more.

Keep supporting Steven!

马浚伟同理心 领少年向好走[2004-07-12] 文：郑依依
Steven Empathizes; Steers Youths to A Better Path.

It's been half a year before Du Shu Ban (Books Section) did another interview with Steven. This fellow has lost weight, but still looks good. Like his Tales of Society book series which is now onto its third book [向好走　向坏走] (Headed the Right Path, Headed the Wrong Path), likewise Steven’s commitment to social issues, expressed through his publications, has steadfastly strengthened.

The book tells the stories of 10 young men who somehow along the way took the wrong turn. Steven, together with a colleague and a social worker, had pounded the streets, ‘accosted’ young night loiterers, and chatted with juveniles placed on probation; their encounters were later compiled and narrated into that very book. Whether these young men are straddling the fine line of good vs evil or are convicted felonies, Steven strongly believes that, "They are not bad."

He believes that human basic nature is good. "Since birth, people have strived to be good, but somehow, somewhere, they strayed, and got lost because of lack of direction. No one showed them the right way. In order to guide young people onto the righteous path, or to straighten them up from wrong to right, one must first understand their problems."

"Thump, thump", he knocks on the desk top; his face solemn: "Problem teens and teens with problems are two separate issues," he reiterates. Steven wants the reporter to really get his reasoning behind it. "Teenagers make mistakes only occasionally. Therefore, the adults should not so magnify those mistakes that they stick out like labels, and then forcibly imposed demands on the offenders. These actions will not help them to understand or solve the offenders’ problems."

"Spending the night at the beach chatting till dawn; wearing earrings, dying hair does not mean he’s bad; this kind of thinking is outdated." Steven continues: "Using my point of view to solve your problem will never work because the starting points are not the same. To solve a teen’s problem, the most important thing is empathy."

The ability to put oneself in another’s shoes is the very subject of the book EQ (Emotional Intelligence) by Daniel Goldman which was published six seven years ago. In EQ, its author advocates: "Empathy enables feeling another’s experience and emotions; seeing with own eyes is more strongly felt." Sure, youths squatting by the roadside are an eyesore, but surprisingly, squatting is really quite comfortable. And if one chooses to shoot the breeze with some buddies, it can be quite fun if one does not have to go to work or school tomorrow morning. Steven, who has had such experiences squatting with a group of youths by the roadside, can easily relate to the book’s concept, which is why he recommends empathy when dealing with youths.

"Without empathy, one cannot communicate on equal plane with the teens, much less understand their problems. We do not need to try the drug ‘FING头丸’ to understand how ‘high’ it makes the kid, just so we could persuade him to get off drugs." Steven grew up in the poor Sham Shui neighborhood where gangsters and drifters were part of its street scenes. He did not turn bad instead, many a time, he managed to pull back friends from a wrong turn at the precipitous moment.

"During introspection, I realized I possessed a knack for eloquence, and can be quite persuasive." A hooligan in the eye of the public once told Steven: "When my parents reasoned with me, I refused to listen; however, the same reasoning coming out of your mouth sounds good to my ears."

He likes to observe and take note of his peers’ strengths. Some friends sing better than him, or look better than him- only that they did not have the opportunity to fully develop or display their talents. Steven, being a recipient of such an opportunity through someone’s generosity, is especially grateful. "After graduating, I went for an interview with Lang Wei publishers. The employees had to be at least 18 years of age. Attired in suit and tie, I looked 21 (Translator note: I can’t imagine that!) but really I was only 16 then, however, the interviewer was very accommodating. After getting his boss’ approval, I was hired."

"People need empathy and assistance. It would be a pity if people chose the wrong path just because they were not given any help." He sighs. Steven, who strongly believes that being good or bad ultimately lies in one’s own hands, strives to inspire the lost teens with hope for a better life. The publication of this book, "Headed the Right Path, Headed the Wrong Path", realized Steven’s aspiration to contribute to society. Everytime he helps a teen resolved his internal conflicts, Steven feels a sense of accomplishment. His reaching out is purely driven by genuine concern. "Do not seek public eye – just so one could raise the hand in triumphant v when successful, and to lose interest afterwards. One should reach out even when outside the public eye…this is true altruism. What's important is: someone gets the help he/she needs."

The Tales of Society book series does not set a time frame or schedule for its last publication. "The problems in society are ongoing; we should do whatever we could do to help until they are beyond our help." As if entrusted with a mission, Steven wishes to use his artiste’s status to set a good example for the young people, and to influence them with his leads. "It’s important not be a bad role model."

But immersed as he is in an entertainment work environment, Steven often feels stifled by showbiz lifestyle of luxury and dissipation, and inevitably feels detached from real society. So publishing books allows him to once again be in touch with society, thereby greatly enriching his life. "I used to be a low-housing resident, living in close proximity to society", so his social consciousness for society comes naturally out of him.

"Most Chinese people have an urge to trace their roots and to understand their society. Their own community is a good place to start with." He recommends a book entitled, "香港左派斗争史" (The Chronicles of Hong Kong Left Wing’s Struggles) to the young people, so they would know of the struggles and oppression of a group of old patriots whose collective voice is now lost to the public, and how they were oppressed for the last hundred years under the British rule.

Or maybe, what Steven hopes is that through the book, the young generation will learn from its historic chronicles of blood and tears; and upon reflection will treasure their own fortune more; thereafter like him, will steadfastly walk the good path.

wenweipo paper

ETA: Besides Headed the right path, headed The Wrong Path, his other books are:

1)Why Suicide?
2)The Family of a Terminally Ill Patient

He also wrote: “The Women in Ma Zai’s Eyes” for Sisters magazine.

A few years back, Shantou University Press bought the copyright to “Why Suicide”. Steven had planned to write the 2nd book first because of his own experience but first hand information was hard to come by then, (patients and their family were reluctant to talk) so he re-directed his focus on suicides. At that time, Hong Kong society was plagued by an abnormal amount of suicides, therefore, materials for that subject were easier to gather.

Edtiting reason: To remove broken links.

166期《电视剧》马浚伟滴水藏海 sep 2007
Steven – An Ocean Concealed in a Water Droplet.- An excerpt of the original interview.
166 edition TV Series sep 2007
Translated: Tamaya

Before my interview with Steven, I did not have much of an impression of him. Maybe it is because of his consistently righteous screen image that contributed to my “犯贱”, (fan jian) a faddish term meaning that people tend to remember the flawed, conversely overlooking the almost flawless. But to be near flawless is not his fault, not on screen, and definitely not in real life.

I can’t say what kind of man Steven is; what I can say, at least during our hour’s long interview, is that I could not find faults with him. In the Steps’ press conference, he kept his smiles, and was a thoughtful and courteous interpreter for his co-stars. He was neither low-key nor attention grabbing, sharing the limelight equally with his co-stars. Despite his infrequent visits to China, he was a big attraction whenever he appeared, and wherever he went.

Because of his affability, our interview was very relaxed; it’s more like time spent getting to know a person than filling up blank papers with writings. Although the writings may seem incoherent, actually whatever questions I’d wanted to ask, he had already talked about – Just like a droplet of water will reflect the nature of the ocean. His voice is pleasing to the ears. He was also very courteous throughout the interview, in every sense, an exceptional man.

TVseries: You are very interested in photography?

S: Yes, it’s been a year now. Almost half an expert now. I learnt it from friends. I have 2 cameras, so I can take pictures continuously, which is good.

T: Do you have any favorite shots?

S: Yes, but they’re mostly of people. Sometimes taken outdoor, and sometimes indoor. I don’t like to use studio lighting. Prefer natural light. Because the beautiful looks taken under studio lights are not as natural. I like color contrasts in the pictures. Every body has his/her beautiful angles, but not many people realize that. If the pictures are taken with studio lighting, then anybody can look pretty. But if there is no special lighting, no matter what the model does, if I were to take the pictures, I will sure to come out with the most beautiful ones. I’ve taken a lot of these pretty pictures, mostly of the females. Because the females’ expressions are easier to capture. When they looked at their pictures, they all said they didn’t know they could look so pretty. I was happy to hear that. (smile)

Actually, I wish I’ve time to travel, to shoot some scenery pictures; simultaneously shooting and documenting the scenery pictures as I travel along. I’m doing the preparation now. Maybe next year, I will write a prose journal. Still need some 40,000 words. So far, have only written 10,000 words. My company will publish it.

TV: I remember you saying your dream is to open a publishing company.

S: Did that already. Been opened for many years now. Only a side interest – help people to publish books. Next year, I, myself, will publish a prose journal. Also intent to publish a pictorial book. I’ll annotate the pictures with my feelings at that time, and narrate the stories behind them.

TV: What’s the name of your company?

S: 出色堂 (Chu Se Tang) Actually, the name’s been changed several times, (smile) in the end, settled on this. There’s no special meaning behind it. Most thespians hope to just do their best in their acting or singing performances, other than that, they don’t necessarily want to be the best in anything else. It’s even better if there’s no need to communicate. But I don’t think that is possible. Besides, I think an interview will enable the public to get to know you better. It can be an advantage. Of course, it all depends on the thespians’ personality. Some people are naturally introvert or maybe just can’t express themselves well. They may think giving an interview is very tiring. Of course, sometimes, I feel tired too, like when the interviews are too rushed or too tightly scheduled, or when talking non stop. But..

TV: So, just have to bear it?

S: No, no. I don’t see it that way. In fact, it got me into the habit of seeking the 'fun' in it. Everybody has his/her own idiosyncrasy. You may be tired giving an interview, but the person interviewing you is also tired. (smile) They’re all tired. The person who finds the 'fun' during this interview will come out on top.. and happy, to boot. If you can’t find the fun in the interviews, and always go about them with a long face, then how miserable is that?

TV: You entered showbiz as a singer, and did quite well too. But when your acting career took off, your singing career got sidetracked. Is it because you had truly fallen in love with acting or because you had to give in to reality?

S: I truly like it. Truly. Actually, I have never put too much focus on singing. Acting is my main focus. To me, acting is my 2nd life, while singing is just an interest of mine. If both of them could be equally successful then, of course, that would be the best. But if I had to weigh their importance, I would choose acting, for sure.

TV: On a website, there was this question, “What is your favorite Steven’s character role?” Among the top are: “Where the Legend Begins”, followed by “Better Halves”. What about yourself?

S: Actually, Cao Zhi is one of my favorite characters. That was the first time I realized that my moods could be so intensely affected by a character role. Cao Zhi is a tragic figure. I was depressed everyday I did the shooting, because every person close to me tormented me. My brother even betrayed me. Ah, it was depressing, because the script was so tragic, but I was truly into it. The other is Shang Zhi in Safe Guards. I like that character, too.

TV: Did it occur to you that it would become a hit?

S: When we did the filming, we all felt that it was a good script, but it was a small production. We all guessed that such a small production would not stir up much interest. But it did become a hit. It’s all due to its good script. Also, the whole cast including Wayne, Guo Feng, Hui Yin Hong, they all brought their characters alive. However, if the script wasn’t there, then there’s nothing. Even if the actors were gods, but the script is bad and has no excitement, then no matter how they (actors) strive to overcome it, their efforts wouldn’t do much. Conversely, if the script is good, and the actors did their job, the result would be respectable. However, if the script is good and the actors put in exceptional efforts, then the outcome would be all that much better. But good scripts are hard to come by.

TV: You’ve been in many shows, most of them as protagonist. But in the past, many TVB male leads have acted as antagonists leaving deep impression to the viewers. Have you thought about taking the role of an antagonist?

S: In the past, I’ve requested the company to cast me as a villain. But..there are different types of villains. Some people seem to be born evil. (smile) This kind is pointless. I’m willing to perform the role of a person with a story. There must be reasons behind his turning evil, unless he’s psychotic. Actually, I would like to take the role of a psychotic killer, or something similar; like he would randomly kill anybody he sees, but when he sees a child, he will stop. The kind of character that will arouse people’s curiosity over his motives. Actually, it is always been this way: even the most evil person has his/her good side, likewise, a good person has his/her dark side. Anyway, I hope I will have the opportunity to take up different roles.

Today’s viewers have become smarter. They know how to separate a character in a series from its actor in real life. Like Susanna Kwan from the recent “The Heart of Greed”- she was outstanding and is now very popular. But she is a villain in that series. Did the viewers hate her - no, because that is only acting. If your portrayal of a villain is not evil enough, then that is not good. If your villain is evil to the core, then you don’t have to worry, let down your guards and go all the way. With the same token, there are also different types of protagonist.

TV: Which of the relationship in all your series left the deepest impression in you?

S: It’s still “Where the Legend Begins” – Cao Zhi and Yan Fu’s relationship. Ada’s portrayal was simply brilliant! In the story, their kind of star-crossed love of two people loving each other but can’t, obstructed as it is by society, family and tradition. Their relationship is halted, but still they love each other. Their hearts, transcending space, are intertwined. There’s a distance between them, but they are connected in spirit. This is very tragic, very tragic but also very moving. And also very real. Actually in our present societies, there still exists such love.

TV: Is it because of its imperfect, tragic love that makes it so memorable to you?

S: Right. People are like that. The more helpless, the more people will savor the “helplessness’. In fact, sometimes when love comes too easily, it loses its appeal. This is what people called, ““犯贱” fan jian” (laugh uproariously) Wants to have a good cry, to experience the heartbreak. When everything comes too easily, something is missing. People will only know pain when fallen, so that next time they will be more careful. If a person has never experienced it or fallen, he/she will regret it when he/she grows old. Life shouldn’t be too perfect.

Beautiful blow-up pictures in baidu fansite

Related pictures in fansite:温馨马仔小屋

Editing reason: To remove broken links.

The Tale of The Prince’s Revenge, 王子复仇记, a stage play co-starring Steven Ma and Sonija Kwok, will stage 6 performances in the Cultural Center on Nov. 22nd through 25th. It held a press conference yesterday at Regal Hong Kong, Causeway Bay. Besides Steven and Sonija attending the function, the other cast members present included Michael Tse, Yang Tian Jin, and Xie Xue Xin.

Steven’s role in the show is Prince Huan. When asked if he feels any pressure during rehearsals, Steven smiles and says: “This character suffers depression, and has some mental problems. Frankly, I, myself go through some of those problems, too; so there isn’t much pressure on me. Everybody goes through some mood swings in life. It’s true when immersed in the role, my mood would dip. After rehearsal, it’s not physical fatigue, rather it’s mental exhaustion. (Are you worried you can’t extricate yourself from your character?) All these years of acting, I’ve never being unable to extricate myself. Just that the lines keep repeating in my head. Sometime, I became so mindless from memorizing the lines, that I’m totally oblivious to my surrounding. If I really have problems, I will seek out Big Sister Ming. (Lin Jian Ming)

"Actually, what I most worried is the 3 minute sword duel scene with Michael, if not careful, at any moment, could be blinded by the other party."

credit to singpao
*This stage play is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Translator: Tamaya

Show: 王子復仇記
Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Center Theater

Show Date & Time: Nov. 22-25 Eve: 7:30 pm
Nov. 24-24 Matinee: 2:30 pm

Ticket Price: $280 $200, $160 $120


I like the poster depicting Prince Huan's double alter egos: on the left, tormented, dishevelled profile; on the right, normal, handsome profile.

Wish I could be there to watch this play. What a treat it would be for me.

Eta: Hotlinking baidu is not allowed, so go to baiduto look at posters.

Fans of Steven and Bernice in Steps: I've posted some screencaps of them along with my comments in Steps subforum. Those who wish to reminiscent on their chemistry, please step right into that thread.

Steven & Bernice's screencaps in Steps

Source: Steven's Yahoo blog 打掉门牙和血吞　2007-03-04 04:05
Translator:Tamaya

Grit your teeth and bear it
Haven’t been here for quite a while. How’s everybody? Here’s a belated best wishes greeting: Here’s hoping everyone is healthy and happy everyday!

I didn’t plan on updating my blog today, but I’d just finished watching some dvd, and since I’m still not tired, decided to get online. Only then did I realize that I’d not visited my ‘home’ for quite sometime!


Life’s profundity is that: it is difficult to grasp, and also difficult to foreseen!

Truly, who can penetrate life?

I don’t know, truly don’t know!

These past few days, things happened. Happy, unhappy? Like, dislike? Or perhaps smooth sailing, rough sailing?...all of them!

Sometimes, I felt compelled to look myself in the mirror and ask: What did I do wrong? Why does God keep testing me? Of course, I meant not just work related trials but, also, all sorts of trials and tribulations experienced in life journey!

I’ve always considered myself a traditional Chow Chew ‘real’ man: one shoulder supporting the weight of a home, the other upholding a piece of sky! Truth be told, even now, I still think that way! Maybe, this is just my one-track viewpoint, but this belief has sustained me.

But, sometimes, I feel so weary!

“Real” man? How to be one? Perhaps my father’s influence on me is truly too strong!

My father was a public transportation bus driver of 30 odd years. Since young till now, I have honestly never heard my father gripe about anything at all, or seen him displayed any nervousness or fear before me. Even when Mother passed away, he was calm. His conduct and demeanor had always made us feel calm and secure, that father was always there to take care of things.

Until that one day, the day I’ll always remember; the day of my mother’s funeral service. I distinctly remember that very minute when the coffin was about to be sealed, Father finally broke down in tears! At that time, my whole family, the relatives and good friends, all sobbed uncontrollably...except me, I didn’t dare to cry!

Didn’t dare? Hardly an exaggeration! Honestly, when even the master of the house could not hold back manly tears, which over the years I had never witnessed before, as the newly appointed man of the house, how could I dare cry?

Perhaps, you’ll laugh to think I over exaggerate, or that I over dramatize, but that was truly my irrefutable feelings of that moment, henceforth, forever imprinted indelibly in my heart!

Be that I’m only pretending to be strong, or that I’m actually weak; question if I can truly hold on, or perhaps just putting on an act - So what if I am? That’s not important!

Anyway, I can hold on!

Don’t worry, I truly can hold on!

I remember when Mother passed away in the hospital, after completing the forms, we got into the car; the first song from the radio was Gigi Leung’s (梁詠琪) ‘Today’.

I will now share a section of the song's lyrics that touched me the most:

別了依然相信, 以後有緣再聚, 未曾重遇以前, 要珍惜愛自己,
在最好時刻分離,不要流眼淚, 就承諾在某年, 某一天, 某地點, 再見!

Farewell, still believe, if predestined we’ll meet again.
Meanwhile, please take good care of yourself
We parted at the best of times, please don’t cry,
let’s promise to meet on a certain year, a certain day, a certain place.
Zai Jian.


----------------------------------
youtube- gigi leung's Today
tudou-collection of Steven's video clips, including his visit and concert in his ancestral hometown in China.
When Steven was shooting Healing Hands, his mother was extremely sick.

Strolling down the Memory Lane:- Almost a year ago
-------------------------------------
source: Steven's blog -馬仔部落格

Injury Blessing Occasion --傷喜臨門 2006-11-15 18:26
Hi everybody, I’m home!

This November is truly unforgettable to me. What an “Injury Blessing Occasion” month. (Playing on the Chinese idiom “Blessing comes in two.’ 双喜临门) But first, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for your support and concern. Thank you so very much, truly!

Did over a decade of filming; countless horseback riding scenes; too many to count!

I’d never been afraid of horses, or horseback riding, but of this kind of accident, it’s the first!

I remember when the accident happened, I was astride the horse. Heard the word, “action”, acting began. Suddenly, the horse flung back its head, and smacked hard onto the right side of my face. Instant darkness before my eyes. Now that I think back, I believe I must have passed out for about 3-5 seconds, for when I came to my senses, I found my hand pressed against my face. Excruciating pain followed. I remember saying these words, “I can’t hold on,” and proceeded to slip off the horse. Luckily, someone broke my fall and held on to me. (Later, I found out it was the director, my good friend, Sham Zai.) The crew hastily rushed me to the hospital.

Enroute to the hospital, I kept thinking: “Will I lose my right eye? What am I going to do if this eye can’t see?”
Then I thought: If I I’m blind in one eye, can I still act?
And I thought some more: Tomorrow is the award ceremony, how can I attend?

A plethora of questions flooded my mind!

The later details, I’m sure you all know from the media reports!

November 11th – the day of TVB Awards Ceremony; a milestone day in my acting career!

I, sporting an eye patch, accepted “My Most Favorite TV Male Character” award!

The news reported that I was ‘swallowing blood” throughout the awards’ night, and ‘swallowing blood’ when receiving the award. They were all true!

Reported that my eyeball dropped 2 mm, that was true, too!
Reported that I was so happy I forgot my eye injury!
When I received my award, I was truly happy, so happy that I forgot many things!

I forgot…
That night, I actually used up 30 plus tissue packages! Don’t get the wrong idea, they were not for wiping tears, they’re for spitting out blood… a bit bloody..hehee. But it’s the truth, so pardon me!

I forgot….
When I accepted the award, I forgot to thank my family, my friends, and ….those who have been quietly and continuously supported me – all of you!

What’s more, I forgot …
To thank the bigger than life persona who had made it possible for my receiving this award ----Shang Zhi.

Not sure what else I forgot; well, to all those ‘forgots’, I would like to say: ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’.

Well, I will now update on the condition of my eye injury.
My eye has become less swollen. The bloody dripping through the nose has all but gone. But because of a line fracture on the right side of my face, the eyeball has sunk slightly; but outwardly, it can’t be detected, therefore my looks is not affected; which means, I look the same as before. As for eye sight, because the flesh around the eye socket is still swollen, I have double visions when looking at certain angles. But, don’t you all worry, doctor says with some rest to avoid re-injury, the condition will get better.

Come early December, I will start shooting a new series!

This series centers around social dancing, a fresh idea! In the series, I will try out many new stuff, you all will like it!

Once again, thank you all for your concern, and am grateful for your support!

I will continue to work hard!!

youtube-receiving award


In all, Steven has won “My most favorite TV male character” award 4 times since 2001. Starting with: 1) Gan Yuan in On the Track or Off, 2001, 2) Cao Zhi in Where the Legend Begins, 2002, 3) Perish in the Name of Love- 2003, and 4) Shang Zhi - Safe Guards 2006.
Note: Maybe if he was still with TVB in 2004, he might even have won another one for his Quan Jia Fu in Better Halves, or maybe not.

“The award base is casted in real gold; it’s worth over HK$100,000. I’ve won “My Most Favorite TV Male Character” award 3 times in the past years. Moreover, the base is studded with several glittering stars, each estimated value is HK$30,000. It’s quite valuable.” In short, with each award, Steven is richer by over HK$200,000. Friends tease, and advise him to sell off his awards so as to take advantage of the rising gold value right now. He says he won’t, on the contrary, he will keep them safe in a safe deposit box as precious heirloom for his descendants.


Anyone care to add his/her comments/thoughts on Steven?

Question -- Did my translations, in anywhere, 1) let you get to know Steven better? 2) change your thoughts on him, for better or otherwise? or 3)did nothing whatsover as they're just old news rehashed?

Edited to Add:
1) Below is an incomplete series of Steven's columns written for Guangzhou Daily in 2002. He wrote about his start in the entertainment industry as a singing champion, about his hardship, his failures and fears. It was very well and honestly written, well worth a read for those who can understand Chinese and would like to know Steven better.

Steven's column - 马浚伟专栏


2) In the Sisters magazine, he wrote a book section on about (20? 30?) women in the entertainment industry entitled: The Women in the Eyes of MaZai - 馬仔眼中的女人. I know of only 4 articles that are available online. Again these are very well thought out and honestly written articles. They are:

----Ada Choi马浚伟撰文之蔡少芬：我本善良 - Decent by Nature.　　

---Maggie Cheung 之忠於真实自我——张可颐 Remain True to Oneself

---Joyce Koi之蓋鳴暉:等愛的日子 -Waiting for Love

---Liza Wang 之汪明荃:铁蝴蝶 Iron Butterfly

His role in Burning Flames 3 is not confirmed yet. His next series project is with Tavia.

Posted in his TVB blog; lots of pixs of his, Wayne and Christine's trip in Malaysia. His two friends surprised him with a birthday cake.



Wow! First time seeing such a big image of myself.

***check out the rest of the pixs in his TVB blog

The Tale of the Prince's Revenge "王子復仇記"2007-11-05 01:34

Theatre performing is awesome!

Say performing, perhaps that’s not exactly correct, it’s still rehearsals for me; say performing? Way too soon yet.

It’s less than 20 days away from opening night. I’m getting more nervous, and also more excited.

The rehearsal has been ongoing for almost 2 months now. The details of its passage are impossible to put into words.

Bitter? Or Sweet? Happy? Or Worry? Difficult? Or Tough…all these and more can’t even begin to describe my feelings adequately!

Per theatre performance, I am but a novice.
Per Shakespeare, I am but a Han outsider.
Per Cultural Centre Theatre, it’s my very first on its stage floor.
To act the role of Prince Huan, I am, undoubtedly, truly lucky.

I heard most theatre actors considered the role of Hamlet as the biggest challenge, and also an honor!

Oh Heavens, I’ve but my TV acting experience, such as it is, with no formal acting training, at that; it’s my theatre performance debut, and yet I’m so lucky as to play the role of Hamlet; if this is not pure luck, then what is it?

I’m not being self-deprecating; but theatre and TV performances, despite some minor similarities, are worlds apart.

Moods interpretation? Emotion expressions, Body movements and posture? Positions and placements? Acoustics technology, all these skills, (maybe should say), all these notions depart greatly from what I had learned or understood before. Truly, given the short time period, I have had problems adjusting.

Maybe, this is Heaven’s gift to me.

I’ve never attended any acting classes, or studied acting fundamentals; perhaps, ‘The Tale of the Prince's Revenge', is the start of my new chapter, a portal key.

I’ve been in the entertainment circle for almost 15 years: I’ve learned a lot, but never too much, in fact, it’s never quite enough!

Acting is like studying; learning has no boundary. Given such an opportunity to learn, to perform, what else can I say or ask for?

I would like to thank the whole cast and crew of ‘The Tale of the Prince's Revenge', especially Director Mai, (Sir Mai/Teacher Mai Qiu) and Professor He Wen Hui.

Sir Mai, your open-mindedness, your acumen, and your passion for theatre all truly moved me! To be part of your show, and afloating on cloud nine, I’m beyond ecstatic.

Professor He, your expertise and erudition on Chinese culture and Chinese language have my utmost respect! It is such an honor to have known such an esteemed teacher like you. Hmm, compared to you, I’m like a mole hill to your Taishan, a water puddle to an ocean. Haha! You taught me to discard my school bag – here it goes! Heehee!

Of course, I want to once again thank the whole troupe of cast and crew members, how to thank? Hm.. how about in my next write-up, I’ll post their names alongside their pictures, ok? Haha!

p/s What are my feelings at performing 'The Tale of the Prince's Revenge', let me just say this: “The feelings can't be expressed or shared in words, they had to be experienced."

Source & pix = 馬仔部落格

I came across this late James Wong's foreword in Steven's book a few weeks ago online, thought it's pretty appropriate in light of Steven's venture into theatre production, taking up yet another challenge right after social dancing. Joseph Koo (aka Gu Gaa-fai) aslo prefaced the same book but I couldn't find it anywhere online.

Here's hoping that Steven would once again make people sit up and take notice, this time with his theatre performance.

James Wong’s foreword title: "Ma Chu Wai Once Again Made People Sit up and Take Notice."
Chun Wai’s manager, Frankie Fan, phoned and asked if I would write a foreword for ‘Why Suicide?’. I agreed unhesitatingly. I’ve known Chun Wai for many years, and what I remember most about him is that he would periodically come up with new stuff. It’s been so for many years. And his new stuff would always make one sit up and take notice of him with anew respect.

During Chun Wai’s early start in the entertainment circle, insiders dubbed him “Little Leon” – Xiu Lai Ming. When he was introduced to me as such; he smiled, held out his hand to shake mine, and said, “Uncle Jim, I’m Ma Chun Wai.” Outwardly, this self-introduction was nothing out of the ordinary, nevertheless, it carried an undertone that caught my attention. What he had wanted to say to me was: “I’m Ma Chu Wai, not some ‘Xiu Lai Ming’!” But being a newbie then, he could not very well come right out and say that, so only one of the two-phrase sentence was uttered. My instinct at that time was that this young man displayed a social knowledge way beyond his age, as well as, discretion.

Later, we became colleagues in a TVB game show (江山如此多FUN). During one of our chats, I found out that he started working at an early age. His aplomb, and social comportment of being neither supercilious nor obsequious were nothing short of extraordinary - this kind of knowledge provided by the university of society, he had not only learned it well but applied it well, too. I couldn’t help but be impressed by him, thus, I've had my eye on him. Through the screen, I observed his every gesture and every move. Before long, he blossomed on TV. This did not come by easily. Chun Wai has no formal acting training. But he is the kind of person who is inborn with a strong survival instinct, if needed, his fortitude will naturally emerge.

I recall the time when he performed Cao Zhi’s 7-step poem on screen, when the episode ended, I mused: wonders never ceased to amaze; who would have thought! This Ma Chu Wai’s new stuff, definitely and indisputably, exceeded far beyond expectation. Later, I guest hosted a Metro TV morning show. On every Saturday, there was this talk show, ‘James Bond’s Happy Hour’. I was in charge of its guest list; for one hour, I would shoot the breeze with my invited guest of the day. One day, I invited Ma Chun Wai. We talked about books; he was very knowledgeable on them. As we chatted amiably along, I was inwardly pleased with him; for nothing pleases me more than well-read young people. That interview was a pleasure. Ma Chun Wai once again made me sit up and see him with new eyes and anew respect. But I would never have guessed that he would come out with this book series of ‘Ma Chun Wai’s Tales of Society’. I have only briefly skimmed through a section of the book, but I know this Ma Chun Wai will once again make people sit up and take notice of him with increased respect!

2002 September

credit to: James Wong's preface in Steven's book

Ever since I came across this autobiographical column by Steven for Guangzhou Daily in 2002, I had so wanted to translate it because of his honest sharing of his experience, feelings and thoughts on his early start in the entertainment circle. But its formidable length intimidated me, so I had put it off until now. I’ve decided to tackle this 20-part column piece meal. My translation starts with the latter half of part 3, as part 1 – 2 are merely introduction and formal acknowledgement. I’m not sure how many parts were initially in the actual column, but so far I can only find 20 of them online. Column reposted on: Baidu

Excerpt of part 3 ~~Childhood~~
October 26, 1971 - An almost 4 kg boy was born to a family of five: three daughters and two parents; I was he. My birth name was not Ma Chun Wai; it was Ma Chi Wai…… My younger sister was born right after me. Thus, I grew up in the company of four girls. With five children in the family, home life naturally resembled a merry-go-round. Predominated as it was by girls, and girls being natural bonders; being the only boy, I felt the lack of companionship, sorely. Given this gender imbalance, I was on my own, recreation wise. Luckily, I discovered something quite early in life: I like to sing. From a young age, I joined and participated in all kinds of singing and reciting extra-curriculums. If there’s music, I would be like a happy birdie, singing non stop; worries would be summarily cast aside. Music became my childhood favorite pastime.

4. ~~Crowned Champion~~
Fortunately, it was through my 40 odd early failures that I got to really know my own personality. I’m not an obstinate person by nature, but of perseverance, I do have some. If my mind is made up on something, I will carry it through, regardless. The repeated failures did not deter or crush me. They were only a temporary setback; opportunities still abound. I was not at all disheartened or heart stricken by my failures. “I don’t believe I can’t even be a champion for at least one time.” It was this self-belief that sustained me time and again to join the singing competitions. I admit, in my quest to achieve my objective, I was extremely single-minded and persistent.

Actually, there were lots of young people like me in Hong Kong who simply refused to accept failures at face value. As my singing contest participations increased, I noticed a group of people who also did not know the meaning of defeat. Although we were contenders in different contests, there was no enmity among us; in fact, we constantly encouraged each other. The outcome of these numerous competitions, besides tasting success, was that I made some good friends. As to that championship, its accomplishment happened through self-critiques and subsequent improvements from these trials. My repeated failures and tenacious forging ahead had me thinking that blind emulation of a singer’s style and skills just wouldn’t cut it. I decided to learn singing from a teacher. My initiation teacher was Ms. Liang Yue Ling. From her, I learned the basic vocal techniques. She was the one who taught me how to integrate fake and true voices as one. She was also the one who recommended Jacky Cheung’s 李香蘭 as my entry song, thus garnering points on the degree of difficulty. Naturally, I was most thankful to Teacher Liang for my win on this competition.

Jacky Cheung's rendition on youtube

Dear Tamaya,
Thanks very much for your wonderful efforts in translating articles by and about Steven. Must be hard work, and very time consuming. It really helps those like me who cant read Chinese well to understand him better. Appreciate them very much!! Keep up the good work.

Purpleswallow:
You’re welcome and thank you for your response. There’s definitely more to Steven than meets the eye. His public persona as seen on most video clips including interviews appears very sunny and playful; but from his writings, esp. on his blog, he presented a more serious and thoughtful side.

His playful side:
Todou: a guest in a 2005 game show
Youtube: 1995 playing an April's fool trick on his colleagues

Steven's Column [cont] Baidu column

~~Part 5 ~~
Winning the championship proved to be the pivotal point in my career. Furthermore, this championship also brought two people into my life. One was a judge in the competition, Teacher Dai SiCong; the other was my manager, Frankie Fan ChiRong. Teacher Dai had discovered many a singer for the entertainment circle. Perhaps, he saw in me some music potential, for in that competition he awarded me top marks, which was the main reason for my victory. Since he and Frankie knew each other, and were also business acquaintances in the music world; consequently, when I became the champion, they were of a mind to introduce me to a recording company.

Prior to this fortuitous event, I held a good job with prospects. At that time, I was employed as a sales account executive by one of Hong Kong’s well-known companies, “TinsChemical Corporation Ltd.. During my two-year employment, I secured over HK$20 mil of business for the company, annually. The owner of TinsChemical treated me well. If I had so desired a career in commerce, I believed I would have done well in it. But, singing was my life passion. At that time, I was truly more drawn to being a singer than a businessman. Future prospects vs passion – how I bounced back and forth between them; and obsessing constantly over it: “Sei-lo! (oh dear!) If I enter showbiz, what kind of a future would I have?” This question troubled me enormously. Finally, I decided to cast my lot with the entertainment circle. What finally tipped my decision scale was the owner’s statement to me.


6. ~~Sales Solicitation~~
“If you can’t make it in the entertainment circle, I’ll have a manager job waiting for you here!”
The owner imparted this remark to me during my contemplation over my future prospects as an encouragement to me. This was neither a lie nor a jibe; I knew that Mr. Tin was genuinely supporting me and would respect my final decision, regardless. For that, I was truly moved; moved by how well I was treated by Mr. Tin when I first joined his company; moved by my parents’ 100% support of me; most of all, I was moved by the recognition given to my work performance and efforts.

Since young, my parents had shown 100% confidence in me. I made all decisions on my own without first having to consult my family; once my mind was made up, I would follow through; I believe I could handle anything on my own. “Whatever you do, do it well and do it to the best of your ability,” that’s my motto.

I recall my days in TinsChemical; every day, I carried product samples to solicit sales from the plants and factories under my sales territory. This was a mental and manual labor job; nevertheless, I was happy working there.

I remember once: a customer called up on a product; so lugging two heavy samples of leather products, I hurried over to his company, traveling through bus transfers and on foot. However, when I got there, I was swiftly dismissed with no explanation except these words, “Don’t want”. My exertion was all for nothing. I didn’t consider this as a setback; on the contrary, I believed with persistence, I would get the sales. A few days later, I called upon the company again; finally, its doors flung opened, and I secured a purchase order in the tens of thousands. Thereafter, when dealing with customers, be they peddlers or big hotels; I gave my all to each and every of my sales order. During these two years, I encountered all kinds of capricious treatments from people, but, I also became increasingly confident in my work. At its peak, my business volume reached 20mil. Who wouldn't appreciate this kind of ‘manager’? Efforts beget results. TinsChemical’s owner’s remark confirmed my efforts were not wasted.

Next: part 7 = Contract Signing

7. ~~Contract Signing~~

I left the business industry, where I had toiled for two years and had made something of myself, for the music industry. September 27th 1993 was a very significant and unforgettable date for me. That day, I signed the contract, thus, officially becoming part of Warner Music (HK). As a newcomer in the music industry, frankly, I was totally clueless as to how I should go about on my new career path. But I knew given such an opportunity, I must take full advantage of it, and to value it.

Finally, I got my foot officially into the entertainment door. I was already ecstatic, as it was; but shortly after signing the contract, the company began the preparation on my album recording. When I heard this, I became very nervous. I braced myself for my first project in the music entertainment. I recall distinctly the day the recording supervisor handed me the lyrics to a song entitled: 幸运就是遇到你 – Luck means meeting you. The melody was not only beautiful but familiar too, it’s a 周华健 Emil Chau’s song, 花心 Flower Heart. I had listened to “Flower Heart” and even sang it. It was one of my favorite songs. But I never dreamt that one day I would sing the Cantonese version.

My first time stepping into a recording studio; first time recording my very own song; my feelings were very chaotic. On one hand, I was extremely excited and ecstatic; on the other hand, very intimidated. Because this was my first song, and an Emil Chau’s masterpiece, at that; I vowed whatever it takes, I had to do a good job of it!

Following immediately after the recording session was the photo shoots for the album packaging and for promotional purposes. To me, everything was so new and so exciting. And I was introduced daily to many things that I had never experienced before. As to the promotional events, they were definitely a challenge to me.

At this juncture, I not only had to interact with new colleagues, and the employees from the audio and video recording studios, respectively; but also radio DJs, news reporters, and various faceless strangers. I felt fortunate that prior to this, I was in sales; because during that period, I too had to frequently interact with strangers and to establish relation with them. That training was now put to good use.

My first album was successfully released at the end of 1993, and it actually sold about 10,000 copies. For a newcomer, the sales result was certainly very respectable. My first album instilled in me confidence and optimism for my future in the entertainment circle. Conversely, the company promo slogan dealt me my first serious blow since entering the entertainment circle.

p/s Steven awarded a 1993 JGS bronze for best new male artiste.

baidu video: Steven’s 幸运就是遇到你 the title song of his first album - audio only
music etpop.com: songs in Steven’s 1st album
tudou: singing a CNY song & 幸运就是遇到你 live
tudou: Collections of Steven’s videos including 1993 JGS award night
youtube: Emil Chau周华健 - 花心

next: 8. Break-out

8. ~~Breaking into the Music Entertainment Scene~~
My debut album was planned for a September release. Management hoped its timing would help it break out in the music awards ceremony; so, much thoughts and efforts were put into its promotions. (Translator’s note: The said album secured Steven’s a bronze award for best male newcomer; but at a cost) At that time, Management came up with this slogan: He’s not Hok-Yau (Jacky Cheung); he’s not Lai-Ming (Leon Lai); he’s not Hak Kan (Hacken Lee); he’s Ma Chun Wai (Steven). When I heard it, my face instantly turned deathly pale. My thoughts reeled: Ma Chun Wai is but a newbie, a complete nonentity to the public. If and when they heard this slogan, they would immediately perceive him as a braggart; if I were a neutral observer, I would think so, too. I might be a greenhorn in the music industry, but I had worked in the society for many years; based on my own human relation experience, I could predict these words would surely incite a huge backlash.

Actually, I wasn’t the only one concerned; my manager also felt that the slogan could jeopardize an artist’s image. If the public believed that this newcomer, one Ma Chu Wai would actually dare to compare himself to the heavenly kings, then that perception would definitely provoke a negative reaction. As such, Frankie and I, on separate occasion, sought out Management to voice our concerns, but to no avail. Its reasoning was that, since the promotion on my album would only begin on December 3rd, and the cut off date for the awards nomination list was the very next day; in order to get a placement on the list, it had to create the biggest waves possible within the time constraint. Moreover, newcomers were aplenty that year. The competition was truly fierce. Besides the slogan, Management could not think of a better gimmick to successfully achieve its goal.

During this period, I was constantly on edge. I knew this move would harm more than help me; but upon pondering, this wasn’t my fault. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t in anyway a fault. Since the ruling had been so decided, I could only comfort myself to let it be, and to concentrate instead on recording the rest of the album conscientiously. Therefore, because of this promotional strategy, but more so because of the slogan, my career path in the upcoming years was truly three times more grueling to travel than any new artistes’.

9. ~~Boos~~
As newcomers in the music entertainment, they constantly had to face the unfamiliar and the unknown, as well as, the extreme competitions; it’s a given their roads would be arduous. And so, just as I had predicted, that controversial promotional slogan provoked loud disbelief: “How dare this fellow compare himself to the elite of such heavenly kings as Cheung Hok Yau, Lai Ming, & Lee Hak Kan?” At that time, I was torn in two; on one hand, I was delighted by my album’s sales; on the other hand, I had to repeatedly face the hostility of some spectators. Ever since the album hit the market, I heard constant booing during my performances. I comprehended that nobody could please the whole world; and that an artist while supported by fans, would at the same time, be rejected by detractors. Actually, since debuting, despite experiencing occasionally hecklings and hostile looks, I clearly discerned that the clamor of boos came mainly from a small section; and that on the floor, generous applause was still aplenty. This genuine support became the propelling force behind my efforts to constantly strive harder.

And so, my journey down this grueling road lasted for more than 3 months. I thought with the passing of time, my hard work and efforts would dissipate the public’s misconception of me, but just when things seemed to be looking up, a gigantic wave once again rushed towards me. Moreover, this big wave, unprecedented in its ferocity, was impossible to withstand...

In 1993 Christmas night, 尖东某广场 (?) held an outdoor celebratory concert. The sponsoring committee invited many music entertainers to perform. Besides me, there were Linda Wong(王馨平), Kevin Cheng and the relatively more senior, Winnie Lau (劉小慧). To be able to celebrate a universal festival with the fans was undoubtedly a joyous occasion. That night I was truly excited. I arrived extra early at the venue to prepare for my performance. Passing through the stage floor, I saw some early arriving fans. They kept waving at me; every one of those familiar faces was like a heartening syringe injecting me with encouragement. My performance would soon start; I got ready. Standing erect on the backstage, I waited for the MC to announce my name.


translator: Tamaya
Chinese article source: Steven's Memoir

i like steven! he's HOT. hahah.
ilove to see him with Bernice esp in TBOL & Steps.
Can i ask, does steven really wear specs?
i always see hiim wearing specs in some pics..

Yes, Steven is short-sighted. On his ophthalmologist's advice he has taken to wearing glasses lately in public, so as to let his right eye (which was injured last year) rest from the long hours of contact lens' wear. He is seriously considering doing lasik surgery to correct his myopia. I’m really not fond of his black frame glasses- they aged him a bit. I much prefer that pair in TBOL.

On the side: Galores of his TVB 40th anniversary pixs posted in温馨马仔小屋 & 马浚伟Baidu website



pix source: tvbblog & 温馨马仔小屋

http://blog.tvb.com/artistes/media/51/3G%2...Ma%20Steven.mov

can someone figure out why were they laughing so hard?
it's so cute.
oh. okay la. i think he looks kinda cool with specs. yepp.

AWWW

i love steven ma =)

i've been a fan ever since i can remember.. been rooting for him ever since i saw On the track or off.. too bad he didn't win an award this year =(

For some reason, I can't access those videos posted on his tvbblog, but if it is the same as this one posted in youtube, I've no idea why they were cracking up with laughter. Maybe it was the Malaysian food, water or air. Maybe they were just plain happy to be with their Malaysian audience. Who knows? The dialogues themselves weren't that funny. I guess it's the situation when you had to be there to understand. Anyway, they all seemed to be having a great time, along with their audience.

For those who can't access his tvbblog videos: here's two of them
More laughter in this youtube
and some more: dancing with mc




Yeah, more Steven's fans dropping in.

I simply love On the track or off, along with Better Halves and Where the Legend Begins. Steven was outstanding, as were the main casts in all three series.

source: singpao

Steven Ma, Sonija Kwok, Michael Tse, Susan Tse Suet Sum谢雪心 (note: a renowned HK Cantonese Opera artiste) and Dexter Young (note: son of renowned HK actress Connie Chan Bo Chu) did a full dress rehearsal for the theatrical play of “Tale of a Prince’s Revenge” (Hamlet) yesterday. The whole cast made an appearance in full stage make-up and costumes. After his make-up, an inner double eyelided Steven duly became triple eyelided. The makeup artist had deliberately magnified the size of his eyes ten-times, to which he had difficulty adapting all at once.

Ma Zai, who has had never worn stage makeup before, did a double take when he belatedly saw his 10 times enlarged eyes, shadowed nose, and outlined lips. The makeup artist explained that it had to be done this way, so that the audience seated on the 3rd floor can see his eyes, mouth and nose. Tomorrow is the play’s opening night. Besides having to get use to his makeup, Ma Zai can’t help but be a bit nervous. Every night at home after rehearsal, he would replay the recording of the day’s rehearsal to do a self-critique. He would only sleep when it almost daybreaks. He laughs: “Well, good thing about this thick make-up, it covers up my haggard looks from people.”

His performance is part of the Greater China Culture Global Association (GCCGA) charity fundraising drive; the opening night will consist mainly of dignitaries and celebrities. However, what pleases Ma Zai the most is that his alma mater has purchased 200 tickets for the show. Teachers and schoolmates will be there to support him.

Already at the eleventh hour, this morning Ma Zai still has to attend a TVB’s ceremony of hair shaving for his new Qing TV series. This will be his third time getting his head shaved but is not worried that his hair will not grow back. “After shaving, stubbles will sprout quickly enough. Every day as usual, I will wash my head, put on some hair protection, and pat some baby oil on it. This will protect the hair follicles.”

When he heard the show has plans to go on tours in China, if time permits, he would like to participate in them, too.

Chinese? by that did you mean Mandarin? FYI, Hamlet will be performed in Cantonese. But yes, Steven can speak Mandarin fluently. As for English, I've never heard him speak English, but you can judge his singing in English here and determine his English for yourself: Miss you Finallya sub-theme song of Healing Hands 1

胜雪鹽棧: Steven and Tavia's new series costume fitting ceremony held on November 21st, 2007

check out other pixs in 温馨马仔小屋
and baidu

10.
Christmas- should be a universal joyous season, but, that Christmas day nine years ago was to me, an absolute nightmare. On December 25th 1993, there was this big outdoor concert held on the east side of Tsim Sha Tsui. The MC made this announcement: “The next singer performing for us is …….Ma Chun Wai!” But my name elicited not a round of applause but an uproar of boos. Boo! Boo! Boo! The jeers were like pins jabbing into my ears. Actually, swept into the swell of boos were some cheers of “Steven!” “Steven!” However, this heartwarming sound of cheering, drown as it was by the deluge of “Down with Steven” heckling, came across desultory and feeble. At that time, I thought: “Who else, besides myself, would have heard it?” I stood like a block of wood backstage, forgoing even a grimace. I was torn: “Should I go out to perform?” or “Should I dig a hole to make a fast escape?” Taking several deep breaths, I could only step out with my back straight, right onto the front stage. Apparently, that promotional slogan did indeed antagonize not sure which singers’ supporters. For no matter how much heart I put into my singing, they still responded hostilely with boos.

As a professional singer facing this kind of shocking, personal attack, I could only bear it. Fortunately, in the audience was also a small section who felt my effort. Under such an adverse situation, their smattering of clapping provided me with the only consolation and support, enabling me to finish my performance. When I returned backstage, I put down the mike, took off my costume, and as for that frozen look of forced smile pasted on my face, that too, slipped off. And, I promptly broke down. I did not return home after leaving the venue. Instead I headed straight to a nearby bar to drink. A glass of cold beer clutched in my hand, tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. I jabbered incessantly, “Why? Why?”

11.
I’m the kind of person who likes to introspect. Ever since young, be it encountering defeat or rejoicing a happy event, I would quietly contemplate the causes behind each occurrence. As I attacked the reasons for the heckling, my hurt could not have been more painful. That night as I drank to drown my pain, I kept on questioning, and I kept on brooding over and over again. Finally, I came to a conclusion. I felt that ultimately people do have to grow up. After this ignominious incident, I believed I would come back stronger than before. Actually, all along, I did understand Management’s point of view. It had to cultivate a newcomer in an intensely competitive environment. So naturally, it had to rack its brain to concoct a publicity stunt that could, in the shortest time, effect a break through in this rat-race. Conversely, I could also understand the public’s point of view: He’s only the new kid on the block, and yet dares to compare himself to the superstars? What arrogance! That kind of big talk was a big turn-off. Seeing each side’s point of view further depressed me to the very pits of despair. A person caught in a distressing situation, yet unable to even find a target for his grievances! All the more painful without a venting outlet or a de-stressing retreat!

For the whole year after my album release, I practically lived in trepidation and lonesomeness. Anxiety; it permeated my every live performance. That Christmas heckling incident haunted me, as I carried its memory into every live performance, always worrying if it was going to repeat itself.

Actually, I should have gotten use to it; because ever since my debut, loud and soft boos had never completely left my ears. And it seemed my panic attacks were getting worse. While standing backstage waiting for the MC to introduce me, I would prep myself, visualizing in advance of rotten eggs flying through the air towards my face. Time passed; the public’s aversion towards me seemed to have lessened considerably, plus my first album’s sales volume was good, so at this time, the company decided to cut a second album for me. It would be a remix album of new and selective old songs. Immersed in work, I slowly gained back my equilibrium. I thought the incident was behind me, but it was not to be, for at this time, I would soon be blind sided by an unexpected even more painful incident.


Translator: Tamaya
Steven's 2002 memoir baidu

eta: Young Steven's photo collage

2007-11-24
Ma Zai’s Theatrical Play Won Applause.

“Tale of the Prince’s Revenge”, (Chinese Hamlet) a theatrical play whose cast also included a group of TVB artistes consisting of Steven Ma, Sonija Kwok, Michael Tse, Dexter Young & Lo Chun Shun, debuted the night before (Nov. 22nd). TVB bigwigs, Ms. Virginia Lok and Ms. Chen (曾勵珍) attended the play to cheer on the cast and show support. Connie Chan Bo Chu was also there to support her son (Dexter). Other good friends who attended included Joyce Koi and Emily Kwan (關寶慧). Despite Ma Zai’s earlier appeal to friends to substitute the customary congratulatory flowers with fruit baskets, he still received plenty of flowers that night.

After the show, Zhen Jie and Ms. Lok went backstage to congratulate the cast. Zhen Jie demonstrated to Sonija, a first timer in theatre performance, on how to gesticulate more naturally and subtly. Sonija was so nervous she was not even aware that she had stepped on Susan Tse’s robe during performance

Also making their theatre debut, Steven and Michael overcame their nervousness to successfully complete their performances without a hitch. They were very into their characters. Steven was very elegant and graceful in his period costume. His intense histrionics scenes elicited loud applause from the audience. Michael’s performance was also very well acted.



credit to: wenweipo papers
dakungpao
translator: Tamaya

From Steven TVB blog:Steven's tvb blog

Nov 26, now that “Tale of the Prince’s Revenge” is over, I can breathe a sigh of relief.
There’s this feeling of having accomplished a mission impossible

Seeing this collage of photos, I felt my acting career being greatly enriched by the experience. I’m so happy.

After this stage play, I’ll go on to film a new series.

Look closely at the photos; yep, I'm bald. Will be in Brother Tian’s (director) new series, 胜雪盐栈 – Salt Traders.

Yes, very busy indeed yet very vibrant.




p/s more photos in his blog

Eta : Hotlinking prohibited so browse sneak snapshots taken during the performance below

Salt Traders' customes fitting ceremony.


Lots more in Steven's Baidu