TVB Issues New Policy Repressing Unnecessary Sexiness for Actresses
Above: Vicky Chan’s sultry performance in “My Ages Apart”.
With TVB’s increasing focus on the Mainland Chinese market, the station is taking precautionary measures to make their programs meet stricter guidelines. TVB’s Deputy General Manager for Program and Production, Felix To (杜之克), issued a public statement repressing unnecessary sexiness for actresses. In addition to inferring rape and sex scenes, variety show hosts filming scenes in a pool or sauna will also be required wear a t-shirt over their bikini.
In response to his new policy, Felix explained, “The main audience for television is families. If a drama has rape scenes and sex scenes, or variety shows have scenes that emphasize a woman’s body, we need to carefully handle it. This doesn’t mean we can’t do it at all. We have content freedom, but just need to be more reserved!”
If an actress experiences any harassment, she is encouraged to report it to the company. When asked whether there has been a harassment incident that instigated this new policy, Felix immediately clarified, ”No! Right now, we are a little tight on artistes. If an actress has to go out for work and there is only male staff, there will be a lot of inconveniences. We are just thinking about the artistes’ needs!”
This sudden announcement is a complete 180-degree from what TVB has attempted in recent years. In several dramas, such as Brother’s Keeper 2 <巨轮II> and Bet Hur <城群英會>, TVB has tested the limitations of television with Grace Chan’s (陳凱琳) rape scene and Samantha Ko’s (高海寧) daring outfits.
However, many actresses seem grateful for the new decree. Ali Lee (李佳芯), who had several sensual scenes in Legal Mavericks <踩過界>, said this announcement will not impact her very much, “I film very minimal racy scenes, but there is of course some limitation. I don’t think there is any harm in this new rule. An actor does not necessarily have to always use their sexuality! There can be many things that can happen to a female artiste. It is most important for an actress to protect herself!”
Known for her busty physique and often seen flaunting her assets in revealing outfits, Samantha Ko also praised the new rule. “I want the audience to see my acting skills and all the work I put into preparing for the role. Personally, I’m happy. The company is also becoming more considerate.”
Grace Chan believes that every person’s definition of sexiness is different. In regards to her controversial rape scene in Brother’s Keeper 2, Grace explained that the scene was necessary for plot development, “It is about a girl who is very afraid of her father, and the relationship changed. I already knew about it when I received the script. [Hugo Ng and I] have also talked about how to film the scene.”
In addition to actresses, producers also seem to be on board with the new policy. My Ages Apart <誇世代> producer Joe Chan (陳維冠) said, “I never use [sexiness] as a selling point. For example, in the first episode where Vicky Chan (陳偉琪) seduces Moses Chan (陳豪), Moses said the champagne [she used to pour on herself] was very expensive. It was only used to depict Moses’ personality. She merely cleaned the table. It was comedic.”
Source: On.cc
This article is written by Huynh for JayneStars.com.
The My Ages Apart scene was sexy ish, daring but also funny because Moses’ character finds her more annoying than sexy and she was desperate.
I have more issue with Heart And Greed 3 and Bosco and the 1st episode or 2nd, can’t remember which where there was quite an extensive kissing/naked/bed scene which was unsuitable for prime time tv and especially for a family drama. My Ages Apart is not a family drama, but Heart And Greed is and moreover, it is very annoying the guy with the best body in that show is not showing but ended up is that one who is so skinny it hurts to see. I bet later there will be more such scene courtesy of Bosco and remember, this IS a family drama.
Which is why Exorcist’s metre brief scene of forced sex turn willing sex etc etc was more appropriate for the scene it was in.
And someone should issue warning to TVB to not waste people’s time with unnecessary scene like 15 min or so of Bosco and Vincent driving around on dirt road or whatever. 15 min. Wasted my 15 min. and the usual atypical WRONG depiction of Malaysians. I seriously find Heart and Greed more offensive than my ages apart which was witty, at least. Heart And Greed stopped being funny when they kept quoting lyrics.
@funnlim Yea, agreed. Heart and Greed may only have aired 4 episodes, but already it’s not doing too well in terms of audience acceptance. The biggest complaints I’ve seen so far is that this third installment is essentially a copy of the first two installments (so no motivation to watch, especially if you’ve already seen the first two) and also that everything looks forced and gimmicky. They’ve got all the older folks (Ha Yu, Louise Lee, Susanna Kwan, etc.) saying all these supposedly “golden quotes”, but problem is, it’s stuff that younger people usually say, so it’s weird coming from the mouths of old-timers. I sure hope Lau Ka Ho and Mui Siu Ching aren’t going down Wong Jing’s path where all they do is rehash old material and up the “gimmick” factor to attract eyeballs. If this kind of “Mainland collaboration” series is the future of TVB, then thanks but no thanks – they can move their headquarters to Mainland and cater to Mainland audiences tastes instead of continuing to torture HK audiences.
In terms of the above article – it will be interesting to see how these rules will be applied to, say, Deep in the Realm of Conscience – which from the getgo has been “advertising” its sexy scenes as major selling points for the series….unless these rules aren’t retroactive, in which case all series already filmed when these rules went into effect are safe but all future series / programs will be impacted. Personally, I don’t mind the sexy scenes as long as it is necessary to the plot/storyline/historical background (e.g.costumes in ancient series)…otherwise it makes sense not to allow these scenes in productions, especially if they are gratuitous and serve no relevant purpose.
If the scene call for it, it’s not an issue.. but if it’s a force sex scene when it’s not necessary, it is just plain awkward.
If sexy scenes are necessary for the show i dont see why not.
@hannah It all depends on who is calling the shot to make these scenes “necessary”. If it were up to me, all these scenes are necessary.
Off the topic a bit. Is there anyone that watching heart and greed 3?? Actually i was yawning while watching it. Puff…. big flop..
I think the new policy is quite good. I have been quite annoyed when rape scenes and pool scene have been just written in just for the sake of it (e.g. Bet Hur).
I had no problem with a sexy scene that is a part of the plot. Vicky Chan has been cast as sexy vixens for both “Dinner at 8” and “My Ages Apart” and I have no problem with her wearing skimpy stuff as it is part of the story. It is more funny than seductive. No problems with Hubert being near naked in “TEM” as it makes sense.
However, I do have a bit problem with TVB making Vincent Wong have a topless scene or a scene in his undies for nearly every series. He does have a great body but is it necessary for every series?
And the “sexy” talk in “The Unholy Alliance” with all the sexual innuendos fpr every single episode is unnecessary. TVB should tone that down as well.
Sometimes it is the media who over exaggerates on such scenes rather than TVB. I do not like to see small clips of East Magazine and other tabloids on youtube to highlight and exaggerate an actress’ body shape or a rape scene. Examples are Samatha Ko’s rape scene in “Friendly Fire” which lasted for 1 min, Kate Tsui’s rape scene in “Highs & Lows”, Moon Lau’s shirt being ripped open in “Four Walls”, Sharon Chan’s legs in “Ghetto Justice”, etc.
@elizabeth I haven’t seen enough of Vincent topless. Rather him than another guy. Please shower scene!!