Fala Chen Ends TVB Management; to Sign with Huayi Brothers?
Since winning the crown at the Miss Chinese International Pageant in 2005, Fala Chen (陳法拉) stayed under the management guidance of TVB. With 20 television dramas, five films, and two Best Supporting Actress wins already to her credit, Fala was greatly promoted by TVB and has risen to become a top Hong Kong television star in just five years.
Despite the ongoing successes and achievements during her eight-year stint with TVB, Fala chose not to renew her management contract with TVB this year, which expired in early May 2013.
A source told Hong Kong’s 3 Weekly that Fala’s boyfriend, Neway prince Daniel Sit (薛世恒), had been expressing his dissatisfaction at TVB for giving Fala long working hours with low pay. Fala is also reportedly burnt out and exhausted on the idea of continuing an intense TVB schedule. After a long discussion with Daniel, Fala decided that it is only reasonable to discontinue the management contract to avoid the long hours as much as possible.
“Fala hasn’t had a good day of rest in the last few years, and she barely has any time for Daniel,” the source said. “In addition to the low pay, Fala and Daniel decided that it was not worth it to continue the [management] relationship with TVB. If it wasn’t for TVB, Fala would not have reached the success that she has now, so she plans to sign a per-series contract with TVB, for $40,000 HKD per episode.”
According to the per-series contract, Fala is required to film at least one TVB drama per year and is not allowed to promote or serve other television stations in Hong Kong besides TVB.
On her new contract negotiations, Fala said, “Everything has been going well. I want to try something new [with TVB], as my [TVB management] contract was signed after the beauty pageant eight years ago. I really don’t know if I will change it to a per-series contract. After joining the industry I didn’t do much except filming dramas. I really want a break. It is time for me to take a step back and figure out how I should lay out my road, and use some time to study in New York.”
Considers Signing with Huayi Brothers
Following the footsteps of ex-TVB actresses Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼) and Bernice Liu (廖碧兒), Fala hopes to pursue a profitable television career in mainland China. An insider revealed, “Fala doesn’t want to use her boyfriend’s money, and they handle their finances separately. Fala still has a market in mainland China. When news broke out that she ended her contract with TVB, many mainland Chinese companies are looking forward to sign her.”
The insider added that Fala met with a Huayi Brothers executive earlier to negotiate contract details, in which she is very close to signing the deal.
Source: 3 Weekly #709 via ihktv.com
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
Yikes, So much freedom on signing a TVB per series contract.
Sad to see her leave TVB, but wish her best of life in other Tv station. Wish her more freedom
Is she following the steps of second Charmaine Sheh? But I think she would have a smooth transition since she’s a native Mandarin speaker herself. I hope she can rest enough to re-energize herself.
Why ask a stupid question when the article mentions ‘Following the footsteps of ex-TVB actresses Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼) and Bernice Liu (廖碧兒)’
you didnt have to be so mean. Maybe she/he just missed that part.
yup that’s just rude. I think Bubbiez meant it more like…Is she REALLY?—as in perhaps Fala isn’t following anyone’s footsteps…but her own.
It’s the right step for Fala, as there are too many confinements to keep filming for TVB.
I can foresee the following artists signing a per series contract with TVB shortly, while filming mainly in China:
1) Moses Chan
2) Bosco Wong
3) Sonija Kwok
4) Myolie Wu (maybe next year)
5) Tavia Yeung (maybe next year)
It seems that TVB will have to rely on those newbies (Aimee Chan, Christine Kuo, Eliza Sam, Rebecca Zhu, Oceane Zhu, etc.) in the near future. No wonder they promoted them so badly. Eliza Sam got a 2nd lead role to act just after her first brief appearance in “Ghetto Justice 2”, and Rebecca was given a 2nd lead role during her debut. Sad!!!
We will have to watch those newbies speaking accented Cantonese.
don’t forget that fala once had accented cantonese as well
Fala still have that accented cantonese.
There are many talented actors/ actresses from TVB’s acting class. They just don’t get promoted. I think young actresses such as Bella Lam, Tina Shek, have potential.
Who doesn’t have an accent?
I know Fala has accented Chinese, but she improved a great deal in those 8 years, while some of the newbies have been acting for 3 – 4 years, and they still speak heavy accented Cantonese. Moreover, Fala is only one of the 5 top actresses, who speak accented Cantonese, now we have at least 5 newbies speaking accented Cantonese.
Which other 5 top actresses have an accent?
ron, raymond and michael tse contracts are also expiring maybe they might sign a per series contract and roger kwok as well
It’s absolutely the right step, but I’m surprised she didn’t wait for the Best Actress award as many before her have. Perhaps she figured its value was not worth the sacrifices she would have to make, in which case I applaud her good sense because that award is definitely not worth putting up with TVB’s longterm restrictions.
Moses seem pretty loyal to TVB since he won his award a long time ago. Furthermore, if every leading man leaves who will be left? There is also some value in staying around when everyone else leaves. In addition, he has his (real or faux) romance with Aimee that is profitable for him in the HK market.
Bosco, I could see leave. He’s already pursuing other venues so I could see him wanting a less restrictive contract so he’s free to pursue whatever he wants.
Sonija seems to be trying to carve out a market for herself in Mainland and her husband works there too. It would be easy and convenient for her to uproot and focus mainly on that market.
Myolie/Tavia both already have the BA awards so they have achieved the most you can in TVB. However, while I can see Myolie move on, I doubt Tavia will. First of, she hasn’t (as far as I know) filmed any Mainland productions. Whether it’s because she’s not in demand or because she prefers HK, who knows. Second, Tavia has always been known to be very obedient and loyal to TVB and like I mentioned with Moses, it makes sense for some people to still stick around to further establish their position. A good example, is how Charmaine became the 1st Sister when her seniors and peers moved on to other things.
Granted some of these people could just switch teams to one of the new HK stations, but why should they? A lot of people who did move to the other stations, were disgruntled ex-TVBers. Aside from Sonija, the people on this list have mostly been treated “well” by TVB.
@advo: Good analysis.
With Moses though, sounds like a huge possibility that he may leave, since there are already articles out that claim he wants to focus his career in Mainland like the others(word has it that he already has a Mainland series lined up to start filming) and that’s the reason why TVB is thinking of making his lawyer series with Wayne (Will Power) an Anniversary series this year (possibly setting the stage for another TV King award?). Not sure how much of that is true (though I wouldn’t be surprised if it is).
And I believe Tavia has filmed a Mainland series before…can’t remember the name of it though, since I don’t really pay much attention to her news (saw the info about it on one of her co-stars’ Weibos a couple years back)…
llwy12: I read on weibo (?) in passing that Moses has denied leaving tvb for mainland. That he rather stay put in a familiar place and among friends than venture outside. — That’s what is reported – he may change his tune yet. But for now TVB probably gave him a deal he couldn’t refuse.
他表示，自己在TVB成长，那里有他的好朋友好搭档，都是熟悉他的人，知道他的优点在哪里、适合什么角色，所以宁愿留在熟悉的地方.
@ llwy12
Thanks 🙂
Regarding Moses, as Clamine seems to confirm I think Moses prefer the familiarity of the HK market. I don’t expect them to be open about if of course, until they really are leaving but as I said, his relationship is profitable in the HK market.
If Tavia has filmed a Mainland series before, it must have been a while ago? Because I did look up her resumé and skimmed the titles of her recent years and didn’t see anything. In any case, she just won the BA award so if she wanted to transition, now is when she should start getting Mainland dramas lined up.
*open about it of course, until they are really leaving
@advo: I went and looked it up – the Mainland series Tavia was in was后宫 (I think it’s translated as “The Emperor’s Harem”) back in 2011. Don’t ask me anything about the series though (LOL) cuz I don’t watch Mainland series and so didn’t bother to read the details of what the series was about or how significant (or minor) of a role she had (the only reason why I remember it was because I saw info about it on Patrick Tam’s Weibo last year).
@clamine: LOL…yup, I think I saw something about that too, though of course, like advo said, that could very well just be his ‘PC’ response to avoid hassle since his contract isn’t up yet…I wouldn’t be surprised if he does change his tune later…
all the best to fala!
it’s easier for fala because she has her neway boyfriend as backup and safety net and can easily take the risk of going outof tvb. while other fadans may need to think deeply whether to choose low pay, tvb confine and stability or higher pay, freedom and unstability outside. but if you’re good and on demand enough tvb will let you out such as myolie who always film two mainland dramas per year 🙂
How is it easier? What if she loses her boyfriend? Even if they are secretly married, she could risk divorce when divorces rates are so high in general and especially in the entertainment industry. Do you ever post a comment without propping Myolie?!
Fala has had it quite easy at TVB and she hasn’t actually filmed that many series compared to others. I don’t really think the 1 series per year is that much different than her schedule now.
At her age, she can do more then 1 TVB series. I think at least 2 TVB series in a year, just to keep her name in Hong Kong and TVB fans around the world to be known.
Except the HK market seems to increasingly decrease in value so it is no longer important to keep your name known. Furthermore, due to technological developments the markets have become blurred and someone who becomes famous in e.g. Mainland, Korea, Taiwan etc. can easily maintain a level of fame in all of Eastern Asia because people now watch Mainland, Korean, Taiwanese shows in addition or instead of HK show.
Is Fala able to get out of TVB market? She is still not ready, IMO.
I think she is ready because she is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
She should be able to get out of tvb market.
Why wouldn’t Fala be ready? It’s not like Mainland has higher requirements for acting skills than HK and she at least speak Mandarin
Agreed with advo.
Can she really make it out of TVB? That I dont know, her acting is still improving but she not at Best Actress status yet.
I can say the same thing for Tavia, Myolie, etc. Everyone has room to improve.
She knows that she has already crossed the bridge so she can pull the plank away anytime she likes.
Hey I thought Leanne Li was the winner of Miss Chinese International 2005. Gala came in as first runner-up!
Fala*
You’re right Aria 🙂
Can anyone give some context on the 40,000 salary. Is that considered very high? What does Charmaine, Sheren, or Jessica get from TVB these days. If Fala is getting about the same as them, then I think Fala is overvalued by TVB.
It is LOW pay for HK$40k… too low.
I hope you are sarcastic when u said 40000 for each eps is a low pay
It is low pay, HK$40,000 per episode is not enough to maintain her high lifestyle or even give some money to her family.
Lots of TVB actors and actress do have second REAL side jobs like a restaurant business just to save money in the long run.
For one episode, of course it is low.
But if Fala is filming a 20-30episode drama, that’s a different story! Just by filming a 20-episode drama, she earns $114,285k USD (800,000k HKD). So in the long run, it is an alright pay. Will it cover her daily expenses? Maybe. It all depends on herself and how she spends the money.
and sorry for the typos. minus the “k” part.
I think the more correct phrase to use would be ‘not worth it’. God knows how many hours, if at all, of sleep they run on during filming. Not only that, hk is more expensive to live in plus shes an artist with some name. She cant be living in an apartment in a shady area. She cant be wearing clothes from like forever 21. So yeah, I think its just not worth it. LOL.
I agree with you, Crystal.
with $40k.. i can buy so much things.. =P
I think it’s wrong writing. since big sisters got something like that. I think fala have long way to go before she can get 40000 for each eps.
Actually, I think its quite accurate. Since all the generations of top fadans were around that pay. Fala, to you may or may not be rightfully a top fadan, but she is classified as one right now in TVB.
And yes 40k per episode is quite low because living in HK isn’t cheap. Also, you need to take into consideration that TVB’s work environment is endless filming. No sleep. No rest. No nothing. 5.7k USD to not sleep for over 24 hours? Insane.
fala ,,u should consider sign with others mngt companies if TVB filming schedule really affected your health…Fala in past year reveal she got partial facial paralysis due to overworking…so, supports her move if she decided not to sign with TVB as her health more important..
What ever she chooses support Fala…miss her..though..
wait, this is just rumours, hasn’t actually been officially confirmed by fala yet. imagine if linda or tavia left tvb, lolz imagine what tvb would be like, titanic?
If it’s later confirmed that Fala is joining Huayi, that’s a great decision. Huayi has great access to both television and film growth in mainland.
Fala, wish you best of luck in your future endeavours. TVB will lose a pretty actress soon.
I’ll miss watching Fala as I pretty much only have access to TVB shows 🙁 But I think it’s the best decision for her. I wish her luck in whatever she chooses to do!
This has nothing to do with the article but:
I’m starting my summer and what are some good worthwatching dramas?
When Heaven Burns and Master Of Play.
” I really want a break. It is time for me to take a step back and figure out how I should lay out my road, “
This is a very important step. Like Chai 9 said, a person doesn’t have many 10 years. I support Fala to do so. Wish her success in her future endeavors.
This is so funny because it reminds me of what I think steven said in Daddy Good Deeds said “A person doesn’t have many 7 years”!!
Does Fala own or rent her home?