But here are the scans and translations of the Top 10 Artistes. ( I apologize if my translations aren't that good, I did it in a rush :S )
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#1 Raymond Lam
#2 Ada Choi
Adding Sauce to Plainness
The last time Ada Choi was in the top ten of the Next TV awards was in 1999, the same year as "Healing Hands".
Seriously?
In the time between now and then, she has also participated in "At the Threshold of an Era" and "Dance of Passion". Ada has never left the industry, yet it seems that she is so far away. Why? Perhaps, this is due to the fact that she isn't always in the media and is quite low-key, hence lessening her chance to be on magazine covers and newspaper headlines.
In the series, "The Gem of Life", which consists of 82 episodes, Ada portrays a character who is wealthy, disliked, yet leaves a lasting impression in the audience's heart. "Maybe some people find that success is from materialism, and if a comedy is welcomed by the audience, then they continue to work in comedies. If a tragedy is disliked, then it is ceased. I like fresh things, I think television should have a variety, why not try adding some sauce to it? Win or loss is not judged by ratings." Ada says.
In "The Gem of Life", there are too many scenes that leaving a lasting impression, for example, being conned by my husband or when I had to use tricks to catch a tycoon's attention.
"You remember that after Elliot Yue died, in one scene, I'm crying after reminiscing about watching a concert with him? Actually, this scene was not written into the script, it was just added after another scene in which it is about my date with Elliot. Hence, I had to quickly switch my mood from happy to sad. Don't really know how I did it, but just from imagination, my tears kept flowing."
Is it acting skills? Or is it substitution?
Ada announced her marriage early last year marry mainland actor. There have been many cases where a TV Fadan slowly fades away from the TV screen after getting married.
"I don't see how marriage affects my work. It is true that you put more time on family, but luckily, my husband is also an actor working in Mainland, so there is not really a difference from before our marriage. It's the same - we constantly go between Mainland and Hong Kong - wherever a good script takes us."
The only married front liner TVB fadans left is Ada Choi and Teresa Mo. Do you not believe so? Look at Michelle Yim, Louise Lee, Liza Wang, Nancy Sit, Susanna Kwan - they are all currently single.
#3 Tavia Yeung
Using Ten Years to Step Over Identification Danger
Every year, there are definitely new artistes who get into the top ten. This years artiste with the most gratifying results is Tavia Yeung.
The story starts from a long time. In 2002 was the first year I participated in the Next Awards. In one of the winning series, "the Awakening Story" with Liza Wang, Daimen Lau, Maggie Cheung, and Louisa So, Tavia was only known as the counterfeit Maggie, not as Tavia. Within my classmates, they were all envious that I had the chance to interview Flora Chan and Charmaine Sheh. One guy said, "Lucky. You get to meet Tavia."
Tavia? Who's Tavia?
Being the main character's younger sister, Tavia was already noticed by the audience. I thought she was going to become really famous soon. In the end, waiting until 2009, many Miss Hong Kongs and Miss Chinese Internationals have surpassed her. Tavia is walking slow.
"This time, I feel wonderful. Being in the industry for 10 years, I've always wanted the audience's reassurance. This award is from the audience's votes. To me, the value is huge. I feel very happy, very happy."
I feel like I've been waiting for Tavia to appear. For ten years, it wasn't that she did not have the change to jump up a level. But, even in the highly-spotlighted "Heart of Greed", we could only see that Tavia was following Bosco Wong around. Definitely not very noticeable - which makes it no surprise that her identity is at risk.
"Hence, "Moonlight Resonance" was a great surprise. There are so many characters, to capture an audience's heart is simply an uneasy task. Especially if you want to stand out and be liked! Thankfully this year, I was able to join the big family. I feel so relieved."
When shooting for the cover, the cameraman showed many poses to Tavia, some standing, some sitting, and some kneeling. Every time she kneels, her face changes color. "A few days ago, being a palace maid (she is refering to the filming Beyond The Realm of Conscience) I kneeled all day. My knees are so sore."
Happiness, sadness - they are all accumulated. I couldn't help but tell Tavia that she secured the top 3 spot the first time she entered the top 10.
#4 Moses Chan
I'm rich, I'm just like Lee Jak Gai
For many years, Moses films comedies. Even if the series was not meant to be funny, he somehow makes it comedic.
For example in "Moonlight Resonance", he was a person who constantly carried a timed bomb since he carried illnesses, was under pressure from all the conflicts, but somehow he turns this tragedy comedic. "I think that maybe I should have died. Humans are weird, they forget happy things quickly. As for sad things, people tend to remember it by heart. If I died, love will become grand and lasting, much more romantic. The audience will remember for sure." Ha ha ha. If the stocks were $133, everyone would be ecstatic but will soon forget. What if it turned $33? I'm sure even after 10 years, people will remember. Seriously, dying is much better.
In "Moonlight Resonance", Moses was not able to become a tragic hero. Yet in "The Gem of Life", he becomes a wealthy man again. Having not worn branded tuxedos and suits or travelling around the world with red wine and yachts for a long time, it feels like Moses has returned to where he started, just like in Healing Hands.
"At the beginning, I was worried that portraying the character of a wealthy guy would be really boring. Son of a wealthy tycoon, lots of women, no choice of freedom...that's so boring. Thankfully, the script designed my character to be very ambitious, not like the typical rich guy. He ruins not because he enjoys it, but because he wants to be able to reach his goals through his wild character. Yes he is wild. Before we started filming, I purposely found clips about Lee Jak Gai to watch. In real life, I think his background is most like Terrance Ho."
#5 Michelle Yim
Practicing Skills on How to Slap a Person and Cause their Glasses to Fall
I tell Michelle Yim, the photograph is going to be of a person holding up a teapot. She hesitates for a second, "isn't that like 2 years ago?" She has good memory. Two years ago, Michelle won the award from a sponsor. Because she was filming "Moonlight Resonance", she was only to come for her photo shoot for a very short period of time. In "Heart of Greed", Michelle portrays a character who stays out of triad matters. Yet in "Moonlight Resonance", she has to change her kind face to become a creepy villain.
In "Heart of Greed", Susanna Kwan acts as the villain who is really just a jealous little woman. Yet, when Michelle becomes the villain, she is a witty and responsible strong woman. "Being a villain, it was no surprise that the news will leak. For success, I had planned early from the start that I will be a person who conceals my feelings. Stress? No really. everything was planned, i do what was planned. Actually, it was quite relaxing."
What design?
"Perhaps before, I constantly filmed martial arts series. Little movements such as picking up the phone or counting money, I do it differently from normal people. When audience sees this they think I'm extra evil. Or perhaps when you see me slap Louise Lee until her glasses fly off - I also used what I learned from martial arts to do that. She had earlier loosened her glasses, so when I slapped her, all I had to do was use my fingers to flick it. When her head moved, the glasses flew towards the camera. After filming, the crew was very happy. They didn't expect the results to be this good."
#6 Linda Chung
Fake is good, But Why Not Genuine Naughtiness
An open women turns around and becomes a great mother, a nice girl turns around and becomes a flirty, promiscuous woman. This is an era without jade girls anymore. Fourteen year old girls who announce her pregnancy on her blog is regarded as a hero. What we wish for is real, honesty, and straight-forwardness.
Linda Chung's non-naughty image has already been integrated into the audience's heart. It truly is time for a change. In "A Journey Called Life", she acts very as a naughty girl, but in "The Gem of Life", she further takes it up a notch. Removing her bathrobe, she climbs onto bed with me. This is completely different from her previous portrayals, making her look more real and have more character. "Wah. When I first started, I really had no idea how to act. I'm naturally not naughty at all, you know, I don't spoke or drink, I haven't even been to Lan Kwai Fong. For me to jump to another extreme, it really is quite a challenge!"
Her only choice was to go with some friends to Lan Kwai Fong to see hat it was like. She was truly amazed, when women are lonely, they will do anything - from being flirty to just plain open! "I really did learn their actions, gestures, and expressions, especially the way they look at people. I believe this is true acting."
Unfortunately, no matter how much Linda tries, she cannot wash away the sweet image the audience has already held of her. In "Heart of Greed", she portrays a sentimental girl who is liked by all the audience and in "Moonlight Resonance", she is just as cute. Just how can the audience hate her?
"I improved, starting to learn the tactics in acting. But I also deteriorated, because I cannot be like before anymore, showing my true emotions however I feel. I guess I have to learn slowly. Before I enter another stage, there is always a process."
Moses, acting as a rich tycoon's son, uses Lee Jak Gai as his reference. Linda has to act as the third generation of a tycoon, using Paris Hilton as her reference. "I watched a lot of her [paris hilton's] reality shows. Sadly, I don't think she is that hated, not as scheming as Elise Song (her character in the Gem of Life).
#7 Ha Yu
Glorified Because of a Nomination? Yeah, right.
I genuinely am envious of Ha Yu. He is proactive in going after what he wants, I'm not even half of what he is. For example, if I'm at a formal dinner, the waiter asks, "Anyone want the last bowl of Shark fin soup?" Even if I wanted it, I'll politely shake my head. Needless to say, this applies to relationships and work.
What about Ha Yu? From his experience, he had exceeded the stage of fighting with the youngsters. Yet, he is the one who is restless, not afraid to be talked badly about or laughed at.
"Don't use your mouth to praise me. I want actual reassurance. As a person, I am very straightforward. If there is a bowl, I'll say a bowl, if there is a plate, I'll say a plate. Gloried only because of a nomination? Yeah, right. I like to watch Olympics, joining into the competition, the goal is to win. For friendship only, just go to parties at night!"
Ha Yu says, as a human, you must be honest. Honestly renders respect. But, even if he shows that he wants an award, it doesn't mean the award will fly to his hands from the sky. This means, if you loudly say it, you must have the actual qualities to support it.
What are the actual qualities? Ha Yu says that most importantly, you must be creative. For example, in "Moonlight Resonance", he was supposed to be the useless man. Yet, he was able to use the scene where he delivered the cake, lost in the streets, to change his image in the audience's heart from looking down upon to sympathy.
"Yes, it was me who requested that it must be as sympathetic and brutal as possible. A lot of new artistes know this. Doing "Moonlight Resonance" after "Heart of Greed", having cooperated with many different artistes, I learn that these artistes improve by heaps in a short amount of time." Even though he says they improved by heaps, they are still probably not at the same level as Ha Yu.
#8 Charmaine Sheh
Eight awards in a row. Yet still one award, one surprise.
Helping Charmaine Sheh choose a wedding dress for the photo shoot was not for the purpose of mocking her rumors on the relationship of her with Kevin Cheng. Nor is it an alarm for her to say she should get married soon. Reading or watching the media, audience just loves to watch and read while scolding. Sometimes, they think the reporter abuse their rights as a writer and talks nonsense. I don't, choosing a wedding dress for Charmaine was simply because the costume designer is originally a wedding dress designer. The reason is simple.
Of course, designing Charmaine's image is a difficult task. Scoring 8 Next TV Awards in a row, being the female queen, to give a refreshing and new image, just wearing low cut clothes and short shorts is still not enough. She has to wear something that she has not worn before, how about a scuba-diving suit? Or a snow jacket. What do you want to see?
You must think that a person who can garner 8 awards in a row must think that getting another award is expected. However, Charmaine still feels surprised each time.
"Sometimes I'm not scared, for example, during the time of "War and Beauty", I was full of confidence. However, with the strong series "Heart of Greed" and "Moonlight Resonance" without me in the cast, I don't feel as confident."
Without "Moonlight Resonance" holding her up, last year, with "Forensic Heroes 2", she acted as a strong, independent, policewoman. Only caring about work and lacking the skills to express herself, this image is completely different from the audience's image of her girly and flirty personality. After "Drive of Life" where she takes revenger for her mother, Charmaine once again challenges herself. If winning and losing is based on awards, Charmaine should never be afraid, at least she still has the hopes to beat Bobby Au Yeung's 10 year consecutive roll. Especially since in "Beyond the Realm of Conscience", Charmaine portrays a character of absolute goodness, according to Charmaine's theory, on the same day next year, Charmaine's award should be absolutely stable.
"Sometimes, looking at my award case at home, I want to add a new one each year, collecting a whole set."
#9 Louise Lee (Lee Sze Kei)
Eating Big Meals Everyday, No need to Digest
After the success of "Heart of Greed", leading to "Moonlight Resonance", the biggest pressure goes to Lee Sze Kei. This is because in the days of "Heart of Greed", Lee Sze Kei was the one who rose the to the highest. If "Moonlight Resonance" is not well received, she will also fall down the hardest.
"I was also worried. "Heart of Greed" was very organized, there was a very clear climax, making the audience's emotions go from low to high. However, in "Moonlight Resonance", every episode was full of ups and downs. It's like telling you to eat expensive food everyday. Won't you get sick of it? Won't you think it's overboard?"
But, the script writer was very good at discovering the likings of the Hong Kong audience. As long as it's full of noise, conflicts, and more noise, people will like it. Lee Sze Kei once again portrays the character of a loving and wise mother, her "golden words" becoming gags. "Being a person mother, I thought that was the end of it. I never thought that I could portray a mother again on screen."
In "The Gem of Life", she portrays a mother who devises her daughters to marry rich men, and in the end, losing her memory.
"Before, in Singapore, I once acted in a series, portraying a character who gets dementia. Hence, towards this illness, I'm already immensely familiar with. Otherwise, I don't know how to portray this character in "The Gem of Life." Using a DV to film myself in order to remind myself of things? This is beyond what I knew. I'm a person who is very well grounded. I like to walk step by step, never flying. To portray this character of an aggressive mother was truly a challenge."
No need to fly, just acting skills is good enough. In fact, although this mother and her schemes are extreme, she is truly performing these actions out of benevolence.
#10 Myolie Wu
In life, there is a moment where you need to be yourself
Myolie is regarded as a regular on Next TV Awards. She has walked into the Top 10 circles for 4 years in a row, having acted as a flight attendant, a chinese opera star, a fat girl, and this time, she says she wants to be herself.
"All along, I have many worries. I'm afraid that no characters would suit me, afraid that any changes will make the audience unwelcome me. For example, I really want to cut my hair short, however, if I cut it short, does that mean I can never film ancient series again? I have too many worries, so I have not done many things that I want to."
Thankfully, humans do not like boredom. When you reach a certain stage, you will feel unhappy about the halt in your life, and then you will perform some actions to make life run along again. "I'm starting to believe that I shouldn't wait for characters to find me, I should go look for characters that suit myself. I want to become myself again, whether in fashion, costume, or even lifestyle." Now, she is even a singer with her own CD. However, it is quite embarrassing to be listed as a New Singer together with 17 year old G.E.M.
What's the matter though? A lot of people like to sing, but not a lot of people are able to sing on the awarding stage, and even less are able to get good feedback, like Myolie.
- bling*bling
wow.. that was hard work scanning and translating stuff.
hope you guys enjoy it. now it's time for me to get back to work ;| i'll translate the rest tomorrow or the day after.
Update (14/04/2009): Translations all updated.
Please give credit and provide a link to this site if reposted. Thank you.
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