Thursday, April 19, 2012

Suen Ho Ho Talks About Wayne Lai, Kenneth Ma & Jessica Hsuan

CREDIT IF REPOSTED

This is a translation of the sections in which former TVB copy editor Suen Ho Ho (whose works include "Virtues of Harmony II", "The Silver Chamber of Sorrows", "Marriage of Inconvenience", "When Easterly Showers Fall on the Sunny West", "You're Hired", "The King of Snooker", "Beauty Knows No Pain", "Sisters of Pearl", "L'Escargot", "The Hippocratic Crush", and "Ghetto Justice II") talked about Wayne Lai, Kenneth Ma, and Jessica Hsuan.

It is known that Wayne Lai has been working in TV for many years, but he never rushed to climb up, thereby turning down evil roles, because of this. He would not request to have his character Wu Chengsi in "The Greatness of a Hero" become likable. Thus, the success that he has gained today is not only well-deserved, but also commands public respect and support.

Remember when preparing for "The Hippocratic Crush", lead Kenneth Ma was still filming "Three Kingdoms RPG"...only able to rest for three or four hours every day...basically half-dead, but needed him to come hear the story. This is the first time working with Kenneth...didn't expect him to be so professional. He does not only listen, but [he] also listens attentively. When discussing certain segments, he would be so touched that [his] eyes would become red and teary...extremely immersed. Thus, 'Yat Kin Tau', which was performed by him, became very popular afterward...it's not that there's no reason for it.

Also worked with Jessica Hsuan once a few years ago. Because the filming was rushed at that time, and the series crew was rushing day and night, she did not have time to look at the later part of the script...was not clear about the the story's development, so specially came and asked for an explanation of the later part of the storyline. After hearing it, she was very nervous because [she] was worried that her previous execution was incorrect. As a TV station's first-line fa dan, but was willing to candidly admit that there was a problem with her execution...a person with such an attitude, there are not that many in the entire TV station...the majority would only blame the script for not being good enough.

Personal Note: Always nice to read what behind-the-scenes people have to say about artistes!

*Credits to wenweipo

2 comments:

  1. Full article:
    http://paper.wenweipo.com/2012/04/19/CF1204190004.htm

    孫浩浩: 明星vs演員

     「你在電視台工作,豈不是會見到好多明星?」「你有無見過XXX,他真人是不是也很搞笑的?」「XXX是不是真的跟XXX拍拖?」「XXX是否真的有整容?」新相識的朋友知道我在電視台工作,很多都會發出這一連串好奇而又八卦的提問。正如上回提過,我的工作是需要向演員講解故事,當然會見到不少他們口中的明星,而且還是近距離面對面的接觸。

     個人不大喜歡跟那些「大牌明星」打交道,我所指的只是那些「自以為是」的明星。他們可能因為有一兩套劇集收視較好而跑出,自以為已升格為「阿哥」、「阿姐」,演技爐火純青,認定他們那一套演繹方法最煞食,所以之後就永遠沿用同一種模式來表演,不求變化。對這類「大牌明星」的演出很難寄予厚望。

     曾經有一次跟一位視后講故事,她戴著墨鏡坐在我面前,全程木無表情,我完全無法看穿墨鏡背後的她是否早已悶得睡著了。講完故事之後,她便起身離開,完全沒有任何提問。我在想我真的解說得如此清晰詳盡嗎?故事人物如此複雜、心路歷程如此崎嶇,她真的拿捏得到角色的特質,故事前後期的分別她都能掌握到嗎?結果一如所料,她演繹出來跟之前所拍攝的幾套劇集的分別,只是換上了不同髮型及戲服而已。

     不過,這類演員大不了只是把角色演得不夠精彩和傳神,不至於有太大殺傷力,有另一類演員更可怕,他們自以為自己對戲劇有深厚的認識,不單會批評角色設計得不好,還會建議你將劇本如何修改。

     曾經有一位男演員主動致電給我,開始時只說有些情節不太明白,於是我就給他解釋,但講講下終於入正題,原來他覺得角色不夠討好,還建議我如何作出修改。然而那角色本是劇中的壓力人物,要是變得討好受落,那麼主角何來壓力?不同角色需要發揮不同的功能,才能成就整個故事。若然金輪法王也跑來,要求角色變得討好,那麼整部《神鵰俠侶》豈不是要改寫?

     眾所周知,黎耀祥在電視台捱了這麼多年,但他並沒有因為急於上位,而拒絕做奸角,他不會要求把《盛世仁傑》中的武承嗣一角變得討好。所以他得到今日的成就,不單是實至名歸,而且還是眾望所歸。

     記得在籌備《On Call 36小時》的時候,主角馬國明仍在趕拍《回到三國》,每天只能休息三、四小時,簡直是「魂魄都唔齊」就要他來聽故事。這是第一次跟馬明合作,想不到他如此專業。他不僅是在聽,而且還是用心聆聽,當講述到某些情節時,他甚至感動得雙眼發紅、眼泛淚光,異常投入。所以後來經他演繹出來的「一件頭」大受歡迎,不無原因。

     幾年前也曾經跟宣萱合作過一次,那時因為拍攝期趕,劇組日以繼夜的趕工,她無時間看後面的劇本,不清楚故事的發展,於是專程走來要求講解後面的劇情。聽完之後,她很緊張,因為擔心自己之前的演繹錯誤。身為電視台一線花旦,但肯坦白承認自己演繹有問題,有這種氣度的人,整個電視台沒有幾個,大部分都只會指責劇本寫得不夠好。

     「演員」必須演活角色,才能有望成為「明星」,如果第一步都做不好,跟離「明星」之路還遠。

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great respect for Wayne Lai, Kenneth Ma, and Jessica Hsuan! It's always a treat to read what behind-the-scene crew has to say about artistes.

    [曾經有一次跟一位視后講故事,她戴著墨鏡坐在我面前,全程木無表情,我完全無法看穿墨鏡背後的她是否早已悶得睡著了。講完故事之後,她便起身離開,完全沒有任何提問。我在想我真的解說得如此清晰詳盡嗎?故事人物如此複雜、心路歷程如此崎嶇,她真的拿捏得到角色的特質,故事前後期的分別她都能掌握到嗎?結果一如所料,她演繹出來跟之前所拍攝的幾套劇集的分別,只是換上了不同髮型及戲服而已。]

    TVB Queen who wears shades? I can guess which former TVB number 1 sister, who is no longer a "daughter", it is. ;)

    ReplyDelete