Korean Drama Remake of “Bu Bu Jing Xin” Planned for Early 2016
Earlier this summer, it was announced that a Korean adaptation of the famous Chinese period romance novel Bu Bu Jing Xin <步步驚心> is in the works. Kim Kyu Tae (金圭泰), a director working for Korea’s Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), has confirmed that he will be directing the upcoming adaptation for Korean audiences.
Bu Bu Jing Xin, translated to Startling By Each Step, is written by Tong Hua (桐華). It follows a 21st century woman who travels back in time to Qing Dynasty China. She encounters the sons of the Kangxi Emperor and gets entangled in their political struggles. The novel was already made into a television drama, Scarlet Heart, in 2011 by Tangren Media, which starred Cecilia Liu (劉詩詩), Nicky Wu (吳奇隆), and Kevin Cheng (鄭嘉穎). The series was not only a ratings success in Mainland China, it also became a smash hit across Asia, including in regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
The drama also achieved popularity when it aired on Korean cable channels in late 2011. A Korean version of the original novel was then published in South Korea, selling out several reprints.
According to various sources, the Korean adaptation of Bu Bu Jing Xin will be renamed to The Lovers of the Moon. At least 15 billion won will be invested on the project. American production company Universal Studios will co-produce. The Lovers of the Moon will be Universal Studios’ first K-drama project.
Due to the differences in Chinese and Korean history, it is unknown how far Kim Kyu Tae will stray from the original source material, but The Lovers of the Moon will be written with its Mainland Chinese audience in mind. The production team is undergoing its casting selection, and production will officially begin early next year.
Source: On.cc
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
another k idol drama
@m0m0 Or maybe they may use good actor/actresses. Not all K-dramas relied on K-idol/idol actor.
ohhh interesting to see who they will cast as the 4th prince as Nicky Wu OWN that role right now! Can’t picture anyone who can play that role as well as him.
Oh this would be interesting to see. It wouldn’t surprised me they would do this. I’ve seen 3 Taiwanese dramas got Korean remake just recently. Fated to Love you, My queen/defeated queen, and In Time with you got remade into Korean one.
My question is how come I never seen TVB or Hong Kong never try to remake K-dramas, I mean I always thought TVB could remake Master’s Sun to a Hong Kong setting. I could see Kenneth Ma fitting well as So Ji-Sub’s character and Tavia Yeung can nail Gong Hyo-Jin’s character if TVB can remake this.
God even this drama, Two Weeks:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Weeks_(TV_series)
I always thought this could be adapted to a Hong Kong setting if TVB can do it. I can imagine Bosco Wong can pull off the character Lee Joon Gi previously portrayed. There’s a lot of K-dramas that I always thought could be remade/adapted into a Hong Kong setting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_City
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_Identity_(TV_series)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poseidon_(TV_series)
So why and how come Hong Kong hasn’t thought about remaking these when other Asian countries like China, Taiwan, Phillipines, and Japan have done remake of K-dramas?
@mdo7
Simple.
TVB lacks the talent, creativity, and the cost to remake drama’s.
Talent – TVB has little to no talent pool compared to China, Taiwan, and Korea
Creativity – You would be very naive to think that TVB can make a comparable/better drama to the original judging by their amateur high-schoolish script-writers.
Money – Why officially announce a remake when you can just steal their ideas then deny that there’s resemblance? Re-makes requires the cost of purchasing the rights to the original drama, in which TVB is too cheap to pay. There’s been plenty of TVB drama’s over the years that’s blatantly plagiarizing Korean, Japanese and American drama’s in which TVB kept denying their similarities, and never considered purchasing the rights too. Just take a look at the recent talk-show, “Sze You Tonight”, hosted by Johnson Lee. David Letterman rip-off much?
Even when TVB plagiarizes, they are never close to meeting the standard of the original production. Their re-makes always look cheap, and third class.
@anon “Money – Why officially announce a remake when you can just steal their ideas then deny that there’s resemblance? Re-makes requires the cost of purchasing the rights to the original drama, in which TVB is too cheap to pay. ”
Here’s the problem. How is it that the Phillipines (which is much poorer then Hong Kong) are able to remake Korean dramas:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_television_dramas_in_the_Philippines#Localization
Hong Kong is one of the 4 tigers (South Korea is also a member of the 4 tigers), and yet they couldn’t remake K-dramas if they had an opportunity. I don’t understand. How is TVB not remaking K-dramas because it too expensive to purchase a remake right when the Phillipines are able to remake them? Oh and Latin America (which is also much poorer then any Asian countries) have plans to remake/adapt K-dramas in the future:
http://blog.korea.net/?p=20768
If Latin America and Phillipines which are much poorer then Hong Kong are able to remake Hong Kong, then what’s stopping HK from remaking them? I mean 2 Hong Kong films got Korean remake. Are people in Hong Kong going to complain if South Korea decided to remake this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Beauty
@anon “Money – Why officially announce a remake when you can just steal their ideas then deny that there’s resemblance? Re-makes requires the cost of purchasing the rights to the original drama, in which TVB is too cheap to pay. ”
Here’s the problem. How is it that the Phillipines (which is much poorer then Hong Kong) are able to remake Korean dramas
Hong Kong is one of the 4 tigers (South Korea is also a member of the 4 tigers), and yet they couldn’t remake K-dramas if they had an opportunity. I don’t understand. How is TVB not remaking K-dramas because it too expensive to purchase a remake right when the Phillipines are able to remake them? Oh and Latin America (which is also much poorer then any Asian countries) have plans to remake/adapt K-dramas in the future.
If Latin America and Phillipines which are much poorer then Hong Kong are able to remake/adapt Korean dramas, then what’s stopping HK from remaking them? I mean 2 Hong Kong films got Korean remake not long ago.
@mdo7
“How is it that the Phillipines (which is much poorer then Hong Kong) are able to remake Korean dramas”
You need to look at this from a very logical standpoint.
TVB owns over 90% of the public TV market share in HK, and is the ONLY established free-to-air television station that produces and broadcasts drama series year-round.
WHY, and I seriously mean, WHY does TVB care about what the HK audience thinks?
They control and dominate that market. Anything they churn out gets forced down the viewer’s throats. Why should they care whether the content is GOOD or BAD? They have NO COMPETITION in that market place.
With that in mind, unless you completely abandon HK television, which many people do. You have no choice but to watch whatever they churn out, good or bad. In essence, they do not need to care what they produce as long as they can maintain a certain market share of audiences. Look at their financial reports, as garbage as their productions are. They are making more money every quarter.
Now picture yourself in their shoes, why fix if it ain’t broken?
Clearly they don’t give a sh*t about what their audience thinks.
@anon “TVB owns over 90% of the public TV market share in HK, and is the ONLY established free-to-air television station that produces and broadcasts drama series year-round.”
I thought there was another station (I’m not talking about HKTV) that does TV dramas in Hong Kong. I mean are you aware of this channel:
http://blog.viki.com/2015/03/3-reasons-not-to-miss-new-hong-kong.html
It’s not TVB, but I don understand why no TV station in HK hasn’t thought about remaking/adapting Korean dramas.
I mean do people in Hong Kong care if South Korea remake their stuff like 2 HK films got Korean remake not long ago:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Eyes
That one was a remake of this HK film from 2007:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_in_the_Sky_(2007_film)
@mdo7
There’s NO OTHER FREE-TO-AIR station that produces HK drama’s on a full-time basis right now. Viki is NOT a free-to-air HK TV station. It’s just an online broadcasting platform.
People in HK care, hence the HKTV protests and umbrella revolution. But really, what has that really changed? Nothing significant.
You need to look at this objectively and logically.
Your concerns about why no one else is re-making Korean drama’s? It’s anyone’s guess. However, I’ve already listed some of the reasons in another post. I’m not sure if you actually read it or not.
@anon“Viki is NOT a free-to-air HK TV station. It’s just an online broadcasting platform.”
I already know that, I forgot the name of that station that made those dramas that Viki blog talked about.
But it still baffle me that TVB hasn’t really put any thought about remaking K-dramas, when other Asian countries are able to do that.
@anon And if you don’t know what I’m talking about the Philippines remaking Korean dramas, go look up on Wikipedia and type in:
Korean Television dramas in the Philippines
Look under “localization”. You see that country has been remaking a lot of Korean dramas formatting to their own and that country is much poorer then Hong Kong. And yet Hong Kong which is one of the 4 tigers like South Korea can’t remake Korean dramas at all. I don’t think it’s the cost of buying remake, maybe Hong Kong don’t know a good story when they see one.
@mdo7 I think it’s because the people in HK are strange as they will only complain that it’s not an original series but a copy from other countries. As I remember there was a few TVB series before that have similar theme as a Japanese and American drama and the people went crazy saying they were copies!!!
@happybi Quick question: How would people in Hong Kong react if South Korea let say MBC has announce that they’re going to remake War and Beauty:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Beauty
Would people in Hong Kong complain about it if South Korea remake a well-known TVB drama like War and Beauty?
@mdo7 Trust me.. if there is a remake of War and Beauty.. HK citizen will still complain.. they will compare and find it lacking….
@happybi So they would complain about Korea remaking War and Beauty. OK, did they complain that this film:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_in_the_Sky_(2007_film)
Got a Korean remake in 2013:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Eyes
@mdo7 nope not that I know of..
and I agree with @anon TVB won’t fix something even though they know their series are not as good as before. Before the average is about 30% rating.. but now, it average around 22-28%.. hitting 30% is already very good… ATV is the other free to air station in HK and their license is due to end in Nov. 2015 and don’t think they will be reissue a new license as they are going bankrupt… own their employees money…
@happybi – you are so funny!!! Comparison and complaining is not just in dramas, but in every way of life. That is how it is being Chinese. You will be compared to everything and anyone.
@jkfan It’s not even funny how right on you are about this… We do tend to compare everything!
@mdo7 – Most of the Kdramas theme was already done by TVB from the early 80’s onward. Hong Kong has enough original content to keep their fan base happy. Also, Hong Kong’s drama can be dubbed and exported to China, the biggest market in the market currently, so no need to remake another drama. Especially since China and Taiwan has remade Boys over Flowers, etc. Having another chinese Boys over Flowers would be overkill at this point. Maybe in 10 years.
US is remaking/adapting the K-drama, My Love From Another Star. I don’t remember which station and will have to redig the article.
I agree with Anon that TVB doesn’t want to fix (even thought they should) their drama and adapt other countires because they’re making money. They’re not broken and have no competition. Why waste money to pay for remake rights when they can keep their money in their own pockets? From their perspective, there’s no monetary gain for them. On top of that, they can just spin on the story and call it their own without penalty so why adapt and give credit to another country? TVB is sitting comfortable as Big Brother Big, “fat dumb and happy.”
@jjwong “US is remaking/adapting the K-drama, My Love From Another Star. I don’t remember which station and will have to redig the article.”
Sadly that’s not going to happen according to Soompi and Dramabeans:
http://www.soompi.com/2015/03/18/my-love-from-the-stars-and-nine-will-not-be-remade-in-america/
http://www.dramabeans.com/2015/03/u-s-remakes-for-you-from-another-star-nine-likely-shelved/
@jjwong But still I want to see TVB remaking a K-dramas. The storyline in K-dramas could translate well into a Hong Kong setting and it could bring fresh idea rather then some uninspired storyline coming out these day. It seem like South Korea is the only Asian country with a superior storywriting (not counting the one with excessive “makjang”). Boy, would I love to see a TVB remake of Master’s Sun with Kenneth Ma and Tavia Yeung.
@mdo7 Actually.. I find Japanese drama have better production… but Korean drama have lots of eye candies…
@happybi Regarding J-dramas, they’re hard to obtain even people on Dramafever have complain about the lack of J-dramas:
http://www.dramafever.com/forums/threads/why-doesn-t-dramafever-add-more-japanese-dramas/4255c4d6271947e2ba2abdefebd6c109/
Even in Latin America where Korean and Taiwanese dramas are popular, not a single J-dramas was dub and broadcast on TVs in Latin America. I don’t watch enough J-dramas but from what I’ve observed I think some K-dramas looks better then most of the J-dramas coming out. I mean when was the last J-dramas that had a lot of action like IRIS (or it’s sequel):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2c5ZvwuwA4
Has J-dramas ever done a war action like Comrades: Legend of the patriots?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV2-Bwt42Jo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR6yZnytfu4
Again, this is just based on my observation and due to lack of accessibility when it comes to J-dramas.
@mdo7 It doesn’t matter how much you (and it’s safe to say that many others as well) “want to see” something new, fresh and better drama in HK, it won’t happen because there’s no pressure (not from the government or compitetion or viewers) for TVB to change, adapt and make their viewers happy. Why go out of their way when they’re making money/profit regardless if viewers like or dislike their productions.
I disagree that South Korea is the only country with “superior” writer. HK has great scriptwriters. I mean look at the handful of HKTV drama like TBONTB and The Menu. Their scripts were well written and stories were appealing. The difference is that SK had/has want to be better while HK is just passing the day and on cruise control.
And I stand corrected on remaking of My Love From the Star. I saw an article but didn’t follow up hence my misinformation.
@jjwong “South Korea is the only country with “superior” writer.”
Ha! First I heard that! All of K dramas will eventually lead to a love story. No one is ever poor. even if poor they meet someone rich and I mean super rich or I call them super chaebol’s son. Never super chaebol because that’s the father who disapproves. Even if an alien stranded on earth, love is the way. The only k drama that has ZERO love story that made me sit up to watch a bit more is Liar Game until it became so OTT and melodramatic and unbelievably impossible to sustain. That’s K drama story. But there are good ones and there are great ones. One thing I love about K drama is strong portrayal of women. they’re go getters in love, they don’t wait, they go for the man and they protect their man. Someone mentioned Iris here? Spy series in the end lead to love. Relationships is often 1 line even if 2 the lead always is totally devoted to the other lead and no other.
At least now they move on from dying together is happiest storyline and step bro in love with step sis.
One relationship which was different was in the old series, can’t remember the name, medical drama with Jang Donggun and Lee Youngae in a rather strange but in the end different relationship. I love All About Eve. I love Hotelier. Older series. Recent ones not so. Never into that alien series except for super creepy and super cool Shin Sungrok.
I guess see one kdrama see them all. Highly singular and so many episodes. everybody acts the same way. I find J drama more varied and shorter. You only invest 12 hours at most for 1 series. But J drama can be highly stylized but when it is original, it is totally original and engaging.
K drama is just a higher production value HK drama. And some can’t even act. But gotta admit K drama really know how to immerse audience in a couple and it is often a journey of that couple.
@funnlim The problem for J-dramas is that it’s not quite accessible. A lot of people on Dramafever, Viki, and Crunchyroll in the US have complain about the lack of J-dramas. I mean the catalog of J-dramas on streaming site is smaller then Korean and Taiwanese dramas.
This might surprise you, but Korean and Taiwanese dramas are both popular in Latin America, and yet Japan didn’t export J-dramas to Latin America as in I never seen any J-dramas getting dub and shown on Latin American TVs.
Some fans of J-dramas agreed that they never seen a J-dramas which can hold up to K-dramas not only in term of story, but also action and other diverse genre. Has J-dramas done anything similar to IRIS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2c5ZvwuwA4
I never seen Japan or Hong Kong was able to make a war drama like Comrades: Legend of the Patriots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR6yZnytfu4
The same goes for Road No.1 (another great war drama)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeFv6RF7ID0
I’m not sure if Japan (or Hong Kong) ever done a drama in a similar vein to KBS’s Assembly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sted2sWh-0w
Or something similar to President:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mHWmusPs7I
@mdo7 Not only usa. Even putside japan they are not accessible since no subtitles. Their own market is big enuff to sustain their own industry unlike korea, much like china. Japan cant do many war drama. Nhk in the mornings usually show people in war time but not war drama because of sensitivity issue. I am not sure anyone is interested to watch japanese imperia army and their story. So they focus on ordinary lives. One of the best from nhk and shows a little change of attitude towards wwii is carnation. Acting is excellent and they sorta acknowledge war crimes.
As for iris type series which i loath, japan stories are dominated by adaptation of manga hence the stylised presentation and uniqueness. Liar game is a remake of japanese manga story. I am sure quite a few others as well. Their structure is always like this;
1st series 12 episodes. Follow by tv special snf thrn movie and then sequel with another 12 episodes and then another special and more movies. So they dont have time to be diverse but rather is focused. Love story is love story, action is action. K drama is twice as long so they have more time. Just to compare nhk series is like china cctv. They have a main series for broadcast for entire year and to japan 40 plus episodes is already the longest. Brevity is their strength and they almost always finish their stories. Same goes for their movies.
As much as k drama is commendable i feel when j drama is good they r great. HanZawa naoki, galileo, liar game, under same roof, etcetc for movies death note is unique.
There are j drama fans subbing the more popular ones. As to why not more is made available maybe because expensive? Koreans are aggressive in marketing themselves and their tourism industry is almost entirely based on their entertainment industry. In short japan doesnt care.
I am not surprised at all. Winter sonata is still doing its round in latin america! I think j drama is an acquired taste. Hence the lack of worldwide appeal.
But seriously iris is no offense a bad series for me. Never liked it.
@funnlim “But seriously iris is no offense a bad series for me. Never liked it.”
What was wrong with IRIS? I didn’t have any problem with it (unless you’re talking about the Jin Sa-Woo just following order like a robot, that I agree was a bit “makjang”).
“There are j drama fans subbing the more popular ones. As to why not more is made available maybe because expensive? Koreans are aggressive in marketing themselves and their tourism industry is almost entirely based on their entertainment industry. In short japan doesnt care.”
Regarding J-dramas, They’re not even dub and shown in Latin America when Korean and Taiwanese dramas are very popular over there. I never seen this drama getting a Spanish dub despite being popular in Asia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Litre_no_Namida_(TV_series)
Meanwhile I saw another Taiwanese drama, The Fierce Wife got a Spanish dub not long ago. I’m still seeing Korean dramas continuing to get Spanish dub.
@mdo7 Like I said, Korean tourism industry is almost entirely entertainment based so they’re smart to ride the korean wave. Japan is hopeless in catering to the world. I complain also myself.
“What was wrong with IRIS? ”
What’s wrong… melodramatic, lead actress is a terrible actress, not a fan of Lee Byung Hyung, love.. I forgot his name! I forever remember him as Han Tae Jun or Manager Han but the rest .. I am not into such series because at the end of the day it goes back to love. It is just a disguise for love story.
I do watch Korean series and yes Iris is kinda different, but I thought it was pretentious and dull and sound smart but not so. I am not a fan.
@mdo7 And I don’t like Korea filming concept. If it is the same for all or still the same, they film some release them and film as they go. They see audiences reaction and add episodes or change the story. Most suffer from lag and all that. I much prefer HK and China style. Film everything and that;’s that except for under the mercy of editing and censorship.
@funnlim I’m not even sure if Hong Kong or Japan did a drama similar to 3 days:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV1G-dbLkLU
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Days_(TV_series)
@mdo7 It is similar to 24. Hardly original.
@funnlim Yes I know it’s like 24. But beside South Korea, I never seen any Asian country (OK maybe except India which is remaking 24). Neither Hong Kong or Japan has no plan to do a “24”-styled drama.
But still my point is that, I wish Hong Kong regardless if it’s TVB or Radio Hong Kong TV could try putting some effort into remaking K-drama for a local audience. Screw anyone that said Hong Kong is “copying” Korean drama. Nobody in Hong Kong called out South Korea for remaking A Better tomorrow, and Eye in the Sky (which became Cold Eyes for the 2013 Korean remake). I bet if South Korea remake War and Beauty, nobody in Hong Kong would complain about it. They’ll probably say “Oh screw the original, the Korean are better at making period drama then our puny industry. You know what South Korea, please remake all of our TVB drama!!! I hope Suzy (of Miss A) would play Concubine Chun for the remake, I never like Charmaine Sheh. Suzy would blow her away anyday.” If anybody in Hong Kong said this, then all those insults about Hong Kong remaking/copying off Korean drama are just delusional.
@mdo7 Ideas are often shared, vision may be the same. So it is ok to properly remake and acknowledge the source. I called out TVB for sorta remaking Galileo without even admiting it and made a god awful series. Or adapting books but not crediting the source due to royalties I suppose. Every palace scheming series is almost the same anyway but modern day series is harder to run away from accusations of plagarism if you do it so alike.
@mdo7 “Yes I know it’s like 24. But beside South Korea, I never seen any Asian country (OK maybe except India which is remaking 24). Neither Hong Kong or Japan has no plan to do a “24”-styled drama.”
I hope they don’t . They did do a few like oh I can’t remember the titles. TVB can do better than copying format of another series but you know, they’re lazy so they may copy and screw up by taking the bad and discarding the good. Lie To Me I think was adapted with Bowie which wasn’t bad but was so darn obvious. Point is HK can’t do politics or terrorism thing well so 24 does not work in HK. The closest is Ruse Of Engagement and to me it was a different TVB series, to audience.. I think they liked it more online.
@jjwong “I disagree that South Korea is the only country with “superior” writer. HK has great scriptwriters. I mean look at the handful of HKTV drama like TBONTB and The Menu. Their scripts were well written and stories were appealing. The difference is that SK had/has want to be better while HK is just passing the day and on cruise control.”
I’ll agreed that HKTV’s dramas can hold candle to their Korean counterpart. But the sad news, HKTV will not produced anymore drama, I believe this website has mention about it back in June.
So as of right now, nobody in Hong Kong is making any drama that can hold candle to their Korean counterpart since now HKTV is no longer are making dramas that can rival Korean one.
Until I see Hong Kong start making dramas that can rival IRIS, Two Weeks, Master’s Sun, Orange Marmalade, Poseidon, Reply (Answer me) 1997, Assembly, etc… They’re not going to be taken seriously amongst international fans and within Hong Kong.
Until I see TVB either remake or make a drama similar to this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_(TV_series)
Or this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Dramas
Then any drama from Hong Kong will remain inferior and will not hold candle against their Korean counterpart.
@mdo7
“https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_(TV_series)”
Got! Also a parody and not that funny, Screenplay with Bobby Au Yeung. Got another one, also on entertainment industry, also a parody. As you can see, most are parodies but they do deliver a message.
“https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Dramas”
Not similar in content but focus on entertainment world, and a classic except it is a parody that is Old Time Buddy and I bet funnier! Also another at the back of my mind, two super talent agent fighting one another to promote own stars; also a parody but seriously funny, starring Wayne Lai acting as Roman Tam-like character. I can’t remember the title right now.
Now, until Korea can do something like Looking Back In Anger, Journey To The West, any wuxia series done by TVB, Safe Guard, any Stephen Chow series, any Chow Yun Fatt series, any Tony Leung series (not much), and the likes, then we shall call Korea original and exciting and beyond one singular story and that is love story.
I may not love TVB right now, but no one does friendship bromance like them. And I just rewatched Journey To the West and had a great time laughing and basically having great fun. I don’t think I can sit for another viewing of My Love From Another Star, maybe 10 years once.
At their height, HK Drama, whether ATV or TVB or whatever is the tops. Korea has a lot to learn in moving beyond love stories. BUT HK can never produce idols like Korea or stylized storytelling like Japan. That HK has to admit defeat.
@funnlim ““https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_(TV_series)”
Got! Also a parody and not that funny, Screenplay with Bobby Au Yeung. Got another one, also on entertainment industry, also a parody. As you can see, most are parodies but they do deliver a message.”
I never heard of it and I can’t find it on Google. Does this show really exist. If it does please link it to me.
“Not similar in content but focus on entertainment world, and a classic except it is a parody that is Old Time Buddy and I bet funnier! Also another at the back of my mind, two super talent agent fighting one another to promote own stars; also a parody but seriously funny, starring Wayne Lai acting as Roman Tam-like character. I can’t remember the title right now.”
Give the link to the show info when you find out the name because I never heard of it. And I’m a long time TVB fan.
“Now, until Korea can do something like Looking Back In Anger”
I think that’s possible for South Korea to remake Looking back in Anger (I mean nobody has remade this and seeing how South Korea can make a good melodrama, I can see a Korean remake of that). I’m thinking maybe Kim Soo-Hyun could play Felix Wong’s character for the remake. Although I’ve seen K-dramas that came close to outdo Looking back in Anger like SBS’s Endless Love:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Love_(2014_TV_series)
“any wuxia series done by TVB”
I’ve seen K-dramas that can probably match or outdone any drama from TVB. I mean MBC’s Damo seem to outdo any wuxia drama. I can say the same for Empress Ki, The Slave Hunter aka Churno, Warrior Baek Dong-Soo. God KBS’s Hong Gil Dong seem to put TVB Wuxia drama to shame. Also try watching the Night Watchman journal from MBC. That one can rival TVB’s Zu Mountain Saga.
“not forget Burning Flame and working class heroes.”
I never heard of the Working Class Heroes, and I can’t find it on Google. Is that even a show from TVB? Oh and Burning Flame, I think there’s something close to that in K-drama:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Eyes_(TV_series)
@mdo7 – really?? Damo?? You need to look at the 1983 Condor Heroes series with Felix Wong, Barbara Yeung or some of Tony Leung Chiu Wei dramas. Korean doesn’t have wuxia seriously…..
Angel Eyes was a romantic drama and Burning Flame was more about the lives of the Fireman very different.
@funnlim There’s are K-dramas which don’t have a lot of romance in them. Ever watch Angry Mom:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Mom
But my question is has Hong Kong ever done a revenge drama similar to Shark/Don’t look back: Legend of Orpheus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbvRBh-33RM
Or a face swap drama like Ruby Ring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7yDMvukRVk
Any drama Hong Kong or TVB made, they either have a Korean equivalent that seem to be better or didn’t quite turn out good. And if there is a drama that Hong Kong made but never been used in K-drama. Then Korea can remake it.
@mdo7 I am not sure if there is one where the theme dominates the entire series but I am sure there is but I blame my lack of knowledge of TVB series in the many decades. I see you are a huge K drama fan. I stand by my observation. I have a higher regard for TVB series when it is in top form. Yes korea can remake it but it always ends up being overly melodramatic.
@mdo7 – Face Swap – Yes it was done in an ancient series and they literally swapped faces through magic/voodoo etc. This theme was also done in Modern with Ekin (Dior, Noodle) Cheung where Fiona? was a twin and she took on her twin sister role since her mom blamed her for her twins death.
@funnlim “Now, until Korea can do something like Looking Back In Anger”
I almost forgot this other drama from SBS, Giant:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_(TV_series)
This 70 episodes drama can rival or surpass Looking back in Anger.
Then again I wouldn’t mind if SBS can remake Looking back in Anger, but Giant can probably rival Looking back in Anger.
@mdo7
“This 70 episodes drama can rival or surpass Looking back in Anger.”
I have never watched Giant but reading the synopsis, it sounds dramatic. Looking Back In Anger isn’t about dramatic but rather a smaller story in a bigger setting. It is to me TVB’s best modern series and no, I doubt any drama can rival or surpass it. Because knowing K drama, they tend to be overly dramatic and Deric wan isn’t an overly dramatic actor. The first episode or two can still make any grown man cry.
@funnlim “I have never watched Giant but reading the synopsis, it sounds dramatic.”
Then I recommend you watch that drama because that one achieved a high rating when it was shown in South Korea.
“Because knowing K drama, they tend to be overly dramatic.”
melodrama and a good plot/storyline is the reason why Korean dramas has gained a big fanbase. Don’t get me wrong, I grew up watching Hong Kong dramas, but today any drama from TVB can’t hold candle to Korean counterpart. I mean I doubt any period drama from TVB coming out today couldn’t hold candle against let say the Slave Hunters/Churno from KBS.
“I think they’re taken seriously except they’re in a bit of a slump creatively. I don’t get why you think no one is taking HK drama seriously? Why then do you think Jaynestars exist? And they’re popular all over the world except of course like I said they’re not idol making.”
Here’s the problem, despite Dramafever and Viki are getting dramas from TVB, they’re not getting a lot of reviews from people on Dramafever and Viki. Also it seem like TVB dramas don’t attract K-dramas fan to watch it.
But if Hong Kong drama are taken seriously like you said, then how come 2 well-known US producers don’t go to Hong Kong and give a lecture/talk like they did in Korea, I mean watch these video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ESqDLdSJI&feature=youtu.be
http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nSeq=175928
You see these 2 American TV producers has said and acknowledged that South Korea is the next frontier for TV drama inspiration. If you said Hong Kong TV drama are taken seriously, why didn’t TVB or HKTV invited these same TV producers from US to give a lecture? Why didn’t the 2 US TV producers give Hong Kong TV drama the same praise like they did to Korean dramas? Why didn’t they say Hong Kong is the next frontier like they did for Korea?
See that’s why I think K-dramas storyline are probably the dominant and superior over what’s coming out of Hong Kong and Japan and I don’t think these TV producers from the US would lie and make up about it.
@funnlim This Mexican Telenovela producer/director went to South Korea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhaVLcBSt3A
Why did he went to South Korea? Because he’s want to collaborate with Korean TV company to have one of his upcoming telenovelas to take place in South Korea and want Mexican and Korean actors together on the same screen.
Again, if Hong Kong dramas are taken seriously on a global scale. Why didn’t this Mexican telenovela producer make his upcoming telenovela take place in Hong Kong, why didn’t he like I don’t know like cast Hong Kong actors and Mexican actors together (Thalia and Tavia Yeung on the same screen anyone?). Why didn’t he give the same praise to Hong Kong drama like he did to Korean drama?
@mdo7 Oh lets; not forget Burning Flame and working class heroes. Korea is still stuck in their chaebols. Before TVB went mad with everybody who can stay in 1000 sq feet apartments, they once did depict ordinary folks with panache. I am not older than that but I am sure an older generation than mind can name a few more that Korea can never produce because of their fixation at being rich.
@mdo7 Yes, I know that HKTV isn’t making anymore drama. I simply stated that your original statement about SK is the only country with “superior” writers and included the fact that HK does have great writers. Many of those writers came from TVB. Even if there’s no more great drama from HK, there are still great writers in HK. SK isn’t the only country.
HK (not just TVB) DID make drama recently, those were from HKTV. They made great buzz AND had/has both international and domestic recognization. So to say SK is the only country with talents just simply not true. HK has the talent, they’re just not being showcase properly.
/end convo involvement b/c it’s going into a rabbit hole
@jjwong “Yes, I know that HKTV isn’t making anymore drama. I simply stated that your original statement about SK is the only country with “superior” writers and included the fact that HK does have great writers. Many of those writers came from TVB. Even if there’s no more great drama from HK, there are still great writers in HK. SK isn’t the only country.”
Then why aren’t the HK writers using ideas from K-drama and incorporating it into their dramas. I mean I never seen a HK or Japanese drama that have a plot look similar to this daily drama from KBS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7yDMvukRVk
Ever watch this drama:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbvRBh-33RM
So when will Hong Kong have a revenge drama that can be called “Hong Kong’s Shark”.
“HK (not just TVB) DID make drama recently, those were from HKTV. They made great buzz AND had/has both international and domestic recognization. So to say SK is the only country with talents just simply not true. HK has the talent, they’re just not being showcase properly.”
I know, I meant that since HKTV is no longer making drama that can hold candle to Korean dramas. Who in HK can make drama that can rival Korean one. The Taiwanese’s rom-com drama can hold candle to their Korean counterpart. The problem is Taiwanese dramas aren’t diversing to other genre like period drama (unless if you count Prince of Lan Ling which is a co-production with mainland China), or cop dramas. I don’t think I’ll ever see a revenge drama from Taiwan anytime in the future.
But I’ll agreed HKTV’s dramas can hold candle against their Korean one. Had HKTV had lived longer, they might have been able to remake a K-drama. But now since HKTV is no longer making drama. South Korea has now become the dominant drama with a superior storyline.
If Hong Kong drama want to be taken seriously, they need to either remake K-dramas like other Asian countries are doing or making a K-drama inspired plot. As of now (with exception to HKTV’s drama), Hong Kong drama can’t hold candle to their Korean counterpart in term of storyline and innovative plot. I will agreed once in a while TVB can make good drama, but they’re not going to get that much attention outside of Asia unless they can make their story/plotline that can rival Korean one. Then Hong Kong dramas aren’t going to be taken seriously.
@mdo7 The only reason why Taiwanese dramas are gaining popularity outside of Asia is because a lot of people that watch rom-com K-dramas will also watch Taiwanese dramas (which are mosly rom-com). But Taiwanese dramas aren’t going to get critical acclaim outside of Asia if they relied on rom-com. If Taiwanese dramas can diversify beyond rom-com and adaptation of manga, that might help.
There are evidence when Taiwan remake Korean dramas or Korea remake Taiwanese dramas, the original drama the remake was based on will get a lot of attention from K-drama fans. Take Fabulous Boys, the Taiwanese remake of You’re Beautiful. That Taiwanese remake got a lot of buzz from international K-dramas fan.
The same happened to the Taiwanese drama, In time with you. It got remade in South Korea. And people who watched the Korean remake ended up watching the Taiwanese original. The same thing happened to Fated to Love you, Korea remade it and people watched both version (Korean and Taiwanese).
So maybe if TVB could remake a K-drama, that would really help a lot. Or if KBS can remake this TVB drama:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Greed
Then K-dramas may end up watching the TVB original. I mean the Taiwanese-Korean drama remake switcharoo kinda help K-drama fans about Taiwanese dramas. Maybe it can do the same for Hong Kong and TVB if either TVB remake K-dramas or South Korea remake a drama from TVB.
@mdo7 “Hong Kong drama want to be taken seriously, ”
I think they’re taken seriously except they’re in a bit of a slump creatively. I don’t get why you think no one is taking HK drama seriously? Why then do you think Jaynestars exist? And they’re popular all over the world except of course like I said they’re not idol making. I really don’t get your point in this. But never mind. I do see your point in K dramas and their appeal. I don’t however think they’re of better quality story wise.
@mdo7 – Hong Kong dramas have a lot of revenge dramas. TVB alone has done lots. Are you cantonese or are you a foreigner and are just watching what is available on line from TVB or ATV or other Hong Kong staion? That makes a big difference, because what you see on the internet is a very very very small sample of what Hong Kong drama is. Perhaps go to Tudou or go to a store that sells Hong Kong dramas, you will see the vast number and genre that Hong Kong did already. And watching Kdrama nowadays is like watching TVB pre 2005 when they had very good looking stars and stars that can actually act. One thing about Hong Kong stars is how genuine they are which is very different than the K-celebrities that are so driven by image.
@jkfan “Hong Kong dramas have a lot of revenge dramas. TVB alone has done lots. Are you cantonese or are you a foreigner and are just watching what is available on line from TVB or ATV or other Hong Kong staion?”
That’s the problem, we just got TVB dramas just last year on Dramafever, and just this year we got TVB dramas and other HK dramas on Viki. The problem not a lot of people are watching them despite Korean and Taiwanese dramas have gained popularity.
” Perhaps go to Tudou or go to a store that sells Hong Kong dramas, you will see the vast number and genre that Hong Kong did already.”
Didn’t I say I’ve been a long time TVB drama fans? So I know how TVB dramas can’t really hold candle to K-dramas, and I talked with a native HK watcher and he kinda agreed that Korean drama seem to stand out from Hong Kong and I’ll quote:
“The acting does help. I am comparing to Hong Kong dramas which are predictable, corny and old fashioned. Does the actors help? Sure, they are beautiful even if they have had plastic surgery, but even if you factor this out, the plain fact is that Korean dramas have high quality acting, production value (music, cinematography) beautiful scenes and interesting plots. In comparison with what I have seen from Hong Kong dramas, its almost too silly to even compare the two. I watch more k-dramas than American TV.”
Source: https://www.quora.com/Why-are-Korean-television-dramas-so-popular-throughout-Asia/answer/Ken-Tse-1
As I said, I never seen Hong Kong doing a revenge drama, if they did what is the name of it so I can verify it myself. Also as I observe from both Hong Kong and South Korea, I definitely know that Hong Kong has never done a political thriller drama in the vein of Assembly, President, Queen of Ambition, Daemul. Those K-dramas can definitely hold up to something like House of Cards. And I do know that TVB has never done a modern war drama, I never seen TVB doing a TV drama adaptation of this battle:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hong_Kong
@mdo7 – Masters Sun, where a woman sees ghosts? Try the Hong Kong Movie Happy Ghost and its seriess for a funny version, or try Troublesome Nights Movies for a scary option. There are other dramas, but can’t remember which one has ghost so many dramas. Hong Kong dramas both TVB and ATV had done many ghost series before. Hong Kong people are fascinated with the supernatural. Kenneth Ma???? No, just NO!
@mdo7 – Quite Honestly, I would like to see Kdrama take on any of Qioung Yao’s novel/dramas. Take Princess Returning Pearl or Ghost Husband or Seagulls by the seashore. All her stories are all melodramatic and most of all it is the all consuming love that every Kdrama harp on!
I read an article a few months back that FOX (yes one of the major US media conglomerates) plans to invest in HK television by producing a mini-drama series. They will be using local (HK) talent to film American-style drama series. Will begin filming one series per year. Budget will be 1M USD per episode. To put it in perspective, production cost of one episode by FOX will be equivalent to 7 locally produced HK movies (on average).
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1744903/fox-boost-hong-kong-television-industry-us1m-episode-miniseries
@anon That’s cool to hear. So Universal is helping with Korean dramas and now FOX is helping with Hong Kong. You know I’m waiting for a HK-South Korea drama co-production. Maybe TVB could learn a few thing from KBS, or MBC (or whoever would want to work with TVB).
@mdo7 I think HK/TVB did collaborated with SK. Wasn’t a segment of A Time of Love a collab between TVB and Korean production? The one with Linda as the lead. It’s not a full drama series, but just saying they did collab and I don’t see TVB learned anything from it lol.
@jjwong A time of love is the only exception. Until I see a full TVB collaborating with KBS or MBC to do something innovative, I don’t count A time of love as a full co-production. Call me when I see TVB get Jackson of Got7, Lim of Wonder Girls, and Henry of Super Junior M, Song Seung Heon, Choi Soojung appear in a TVB-South Korea co-production alongside Hong Kong stars like Kenneth Ma, Tavia Yeung, Bosco Wong, etc… That would be a big improvement for me.
@anon I’m not surprise FOX is venturing out. They’re one of the less (if not the least) popular and success station. This only refer to their free, public station. Other stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, and even CW) have cranked out successful (both popularity and ads revenue) shows season after season, FOX barely only does it once every blue moon.
I just hope HK doesn’t lose too much of their own self-imagine and culture with this big, new investor.
It’s like when HK was known for their real kung-fu movies in 80s, 90s (i.e. Wong Fei Hong, Bruce Lee era), US was following HK footsteps. Then around 2000s when US excelled in CGI, then all of sudden all the real fightings replaced by CGI effects in both US and HK marktes. Sad.
@jjwong Matrix used pull wire method.
@jjwong – It is pretty sad that CGI replaced real Kung Fu!
Just one sentence “Please, don’t make me hate Bu Bu Jing Xin”
@mdo7 “yet Japan didn’t export J-dramas to Latin America as in I never seen any J-dramas getting dub and shown on Latin American TVs.”
Attack on Titan is now showing in cinemas.
“Some fans of J-dramas agreed that they never seen a J-dramas which can hold up to K-dramas not only in term of story, but also action and other diverse genre. Has J-dramas done anything similar to IRIS:”
Attack on Titan has reached more than 2 million viewership for anime worldwide. Thus they did the movie. Part 2 coming up soon.
“Has J-dramas done anything similar to IRIS:”
IRIS cannot beat Gundam Universe storywise.
“I never seen Japan or Hong Kong was able to make a war drama like Comrades: Legend of the Patriots:”
HK – Actually they did those dramas a long time ago. By ATV.
Japan – Gundam Universe by Sunrise. There are many series within the Universe. Enough said.
Battle Royale and Phoenix Wright movies are good to watch if one has the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-T7yPJVvXw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20xsntIVokk
@kk12345 I never seen this J-drama getting dub in Spanish:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Litre_no_Namida_(TV_series)
And I never seen any J-dramas like a 12 episode J-dramas or a NHK Taiga drama getting any Spanish dub when Taiwanese and Korean dramas are very popular over there.
“IRIS cannot beat Gundam Universe storywise.”
You can’t compare Gundam to IRIS. Gundam is a anime and IRIS is a live-action K-drama. That’s just stupid.
@kk12345 BTW, how come I never see NHK making something like this for Spanish speaking market:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKRFReioPSs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNTqr9p-mw
Yep KBS know about the K-drama popularity, that’s why they made a channel catered for Latin American/Spanish speaking market. How come I never seen NHK making a NHK World Latino??
Resident Evil from Capcom Japan
@kk12345 Also I find it an odd coincidence that you just signed up on this site just to replied to my stuff. You’re not even a fan of Hong Kong entertainment, are you?
Why are all extreme K-drama fanatics the same? So annoying. They always have to use some news article to prove that Kdrama is superior and much better than other forms of entertainment.
Everyone has their own taste in entertainment and its subjective, you can’t say its “better” or more “superior” because you enjoyed it. Also, just because majority of people swayed in one direction does not mean its the truth, ever learned about the slaves in America?
@mihn With all due respect and I reassure you, I’m a long time fan of TVB and HK entertainment. But when I saw Korean dramas started to have story/plotline that seem to outdo Hong Kong or doing concept you can’t find in HK drama (ie: melodrama, war drama, etc..). I was disappointed that TVB and HK TV drama industry in general couldn’t make a drama that cannot hold candle (I mean anything from TVB before 2008 are good, and HKTV dramas can hold candle to their Korean counterpart).
I’m not even sure if TVB period drama coming out right now can hold candle to something like Empress Ki in term of production value and special effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNTXscljZxg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C79v7qQ1IA8
I was also dismayed that TVB hasn’t thought about remaking K-dramas when other Asian countries are doing it. It might have been a breath of fresh air for HK TV industry if they remade/adapt K-drama storyline to a HK setting.
I say this as a long time fan of HK drama.
@mdo7
How is a remake of another drama considered fresh? It makes no sense to me. A fresh story line should be something that hasn’t been done before, not a remake.
On the other hand, I have only watched a few episodes of Empress Ki. The reason is because I’ve watched so many Chinese produced dynasty dramas and Empress Ki is no different imo. Empress Ki isn’t innovative or different from what China has been producing for more than a decade. Correct me if I’m wrong but Koreans have only been more serious in producing dynasty series after the success of “Three Kingdoms” from China being a hit in Korea.
@mihn “How is a remake of another drama considered fresh? It makes no sense to me. A fresh story line should be something that hasn’t been done before, not a remake.”
Because I never seen Hong Kong using a storyline that is found in Korean dramas. I mean the Korean drama, Two weeks has a very innovative plot that I think Hong Kong should’ve been able to remake. Hell I never seen TVB making a political drama like Assembly or President (which South Korea made). I’ve already said that I never seen Japan or Hong Kong making a war drama that can rival these K-dramas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR6yZnytfu4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWauUaqOkE0
The only country that can make a war drama like this is Mainland China. A lot of Asian countries are remaking K-dramas, Hong Kong TV industry such as TVB should’ve done the same. The reason why K-dramas are being remade in other part of Asia because the storyline are fresh and very innovative. If TVB had remade 1 or 2 K-dramas, then I think audiences in Hong Kong would’ve found it a breath of fresh air.
“Correct me if I’m wrong but Koreans have only been more serious in producing dynasty series after the success of “Three Kingdoms” from China being a hit in Korea.”
Uh, you never watched Dae Jang Geum/Jewel in the Palace (which predated Three Kingdoms) have you?
https://youtu.be/s-g0BqNaXIQ?t=2m20s
@mdo7 – Kdrama fresh and innovative??? I like Kdramas too and watch alot of them, but fresh and innovative is not exactly how I would describe it. More that they have lots of eye candy of both male and female stars due to their culture of acceptance of Plastic Surgery.
Take away the eye candy, and pretty much most of the topic was covered by Hong Kong dramas through the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000.
@mihn Also you might want to read this Washington Post article about how Chinese govt officials has admit it on record that they can’t make their TV dramas as good as Korean:
http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/article/3597/heavy-cultural-blow-china-washington-post-runs-article-about-korean-soap-operas
Also I didn’t include this on my previous message. But have you ever watched Queen Seondeok, it’s a 2009 K-drama which pre-dated Three Kingdoms and even by today standard, I don’t know if any TVB period drama can hold candle to that drama, I mean look at this scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2daaoGqyy8
From the recent TVB period drama I watched, I don’t know if they can do a very emotional battle like what you seen in Queen Seondeok.
@mdo7
If you can find and watch a Kdrama, others can too. HK audiences watch dramas from all over the world and remaking a Kdrama is far from being fresh.
A remake is pretty much copying something that already exists. If you consider that fresh then I rest my case.
@mihn “HK audiences watch dramas from all over the world and remaking a Kdrama is far from being fresh.”
Go tell that to other Asian countries that remake K-dramas. HK could’ve gotten more international audiences if they remake K-dramas.
It worked for the Taiwanese when they remade several Korean dramas. When Korea remade 3 Taiwanese dramas, a lot of K-dramas fans that never watched the Taiwanese original ended up watching them.
To be honest, I was very happy that Dramafever (also on Hulu) and Viki. But the problem is that people on both Dramafever and Viki aren’t watching them, just quite a few watch them (judging from lack of reviews on Dramafever, and on Viki, there’s no comment at all for any TVB dramas) when Korean and Taiwanese dramas are getting most of the views and popularity on both of the streaming sites.
So that make me wonder if more people would watch TVB dramas on DF and Viki if one of their drama was a remake of a K-drama or had K-pop idols in them. I mean it really worked when Taiwan remade several Korean dramas (and the same when Korea remake Taiwanese dramas), fans of K-dramas are also falling in love with Taiwanese but HK dramas, not really. So that’s why I want TVB to remake a K-drama, to see how many people outside of Asia would watch a TVB drama if it was a remake of a well-known Korean drama.
“A remake is pretty much copying something that already exists.”
I don’t see anything wrong with that.
@mdo7 Let’s get one thing straight, YOU are the one that is repeatedly claiming its “fresh” to remake kdramas, other countries have never claimed that stance.
I have never said there is anything wrong with remaking a series. But lets make this clear, a remake is not fresh.
I do however have a problem with extreme kdrama addicts that thinks Kdrama is the next best thing since sliced bread. They have to go dig all over the web for links and quotes in every shape or form to prove that Kdrama is “superior” or “Better” than everything else. That is annoying. If it’s so good, you don’t need to prove it otherwise. Do you ever see Americans going to other random sites and saying how their movies/series/dramas are so much better and superior? Only extreme kdrama addicts have this trait.
@mihn “YOU are the one that is repeatedly claiming its “fresh” to remake kdramas, other countries have never claimed that stance.”
Maybe I should re-clarify since you misinterpret my comment, I meant that TVB drama are using the same formula when they do their dramas rather then using K-drama plotline as an inspiration. That’s what other country are doing.
“Its a waste of my time when I can clearly see your intention. It’s not about bringing more popularity to Hong Kong drama, its clearly to show how you think Kdrama is so much more superior.”
If it looks like it then I apologize. But I was upset as a long time TVB drama fan that TVB can’t make a drama that can have a story that can hold candle to their Korean counterpart. I mean it wasn’t my intention to say Korean dramas are superior, but I’m very disappointed in TVB for not making their drama “competitive” to their Korean counterpart.
“Do you know how much money Koreans spend on marketing their dramas? Do you know how much money TVB spends marketing their dramas? Clearly you have no idea, because all you care about is how superior Kdrama is.”
Let me ask you one more question: When will TVB started marketing their drama to Latin America and The Middle East? Latin America is where Korean and Taiwanese drama are popular. I haven’t seen any TVB drama getting dub in Spanish when Taiwanese drama (and some Mainland Chinese drama) are getting them. When will TVB start aggressively marketing their drama the same way Taiwan is doing to keep up with their Korean counterpart.
@mihn “Do you ever see Americans going to other random sites and saying how their movies/series/dramas are so much better and superior? Only extreme kdrama addicts have this trait.”
I’ve seen fans of Hong Kong drama and J-dramas just downright insult K-dramas and also using racial slur against Korean. Also I’ve seen some HK dramas fans attacking Taiwanese dramas. Why did they do that?
@mihn Regarding HK dramas not getting any popularity on streaming site like Dramafever and Viki. Let me put it in simple term: based on my observation on Dramafever and Viki (and also Hulu), this is the popularity ranking of East Asian dramas based on the country of origin:
1. South Korea
2. Taiwan
3. Mainland China (based on the # of good reviews on Dramafever, and a lot of positive comments on Viki)
4. Japan (because J-dramas are so rare to find and it’s limited in the US. that’s why it’s #4)
5. Hong Kong (despite Dramafever marketing/advertisment of the TVB dramas. Not a lot of people watch it, and only maybe 1 or 2 dramas have a lot of positive reviews like for example. the 2007 dramas Heart of greed has only 10 reviews on DF when it got picked up recently. The 2002 Taiwanese drama, It started with a Kiss got over 800 positive reviews on DF and that got picked up recently and that drama was made in 2002. When Viki started to pick up dramas from TVB, I noticed that it didn’t get same “buzz” reception from fans the same way like their Korean and Taiwanese counterpart get when they’re announced. When Viki got War and Beauty, it didn’t make it on Viki’s “most popular drama this week” list at all indicating that not a lot of people watch it except me)
So that’s what I meant by Hong Kong dramas are not as popular as their Korean and Taiwanese counterpart. Also as I said from my observation, any drama from Hong Kong (except HKTV) can’t hold candle to K-drama when it comes to plot/storylines, production value, and special effect.
So how can we get Hong Kong drama to be more popular amongst non-Asian fans outside of Asia?
@mdo7
Sigh. Do you know anything about copyrights? Do you know how sites like Viki are funded? Do you know how much money Koreans spend on marketing their dramas? Do you know how much money TVB spends marketing their dramas? Clearly you have no idea, because all you care about is how superior Kdrama is.
Anyway, I’m done talking to you about this topic. Its a waste of my time when I can clearly see your intention. It’s not about bringing more popularity to Hong Kong drama, its clearly to show how you think Kdrama is so much more superior.
@mdo7 – Back in the early 80’s try watching some of Andy Lau’s or any drama on Empress Wu or Tony Leung’s drama about the ancient Kings of China. They were very well received and very loved. Hong Kong usually flesh out more on the motivation and ambition of the subject (person/main character) and not everything becomes a love story at the end ala Kdrama.
Well, tbh, I dint really like if tvb copies/remake k-dramas. Yes, tvb is losing its vibes, but I don’t think they need to remake k dramas. China line can do all the remake they want. Why must tvb?
@dramadrama Because ever since TVB started to have their dramas shown on Viki and Dramafever (and Hulu). Only quite a few people watch it, and on Viki, TVB dramas didn’t make it on Viki’s “most popular drama this week list”. As I said, War and Beauty on Viki only has 121 fans (and not a lot of reviews on both Viki and DF) when a lesser well-known K-dramas can get over 10,000 fans on Viki. Even on Dramafever, Heart of Greed is barely watched by drama fans.
So how do you get more people to watch TVB drama despite both Viki and Dramafever market them and are not getting any traction. My other question is why isn’t TVB marketing their dramas to Latin America where Korean and Taiwanese dramas are popular over there? Why isn’t TVB marketing their period dramas to the Middle East and Turkey when their Korean equivalent is raking huge rating over there?
But my point is that, would more people (as in non-Asian) outside of Asia would watch TVB drama if TVB remake a well-known K-dramas. I mean it worked for the Taiwanese when they remake some Korean dramas and that got a lot of attention from K-dramas fan. When Korea remade 3 Taiwanese dramas, a lot of K-dramas fan outside of Asia started to watch the Taiwanese original. So that make me question if TVB should do remake of some well-known K-dramas, and also TVB should allow KBS, MBC, SBS, JTBC, and CJ Entertainment to remake some of TVB dramas.
That’s why I want KBS to remake Heart of Greed, the story and setting can be adapted into a Korean setting and Heart of Greed does fit KBS’s weekend drama format (I would love it if KBS can have Tavia Yeung and Linda Chung to be given cameo appearance for the Korean remake). MBC should remake War and Beauty, I mean the concubine thing did exist in Joseon era, so adapt the story and the whole manipulate, betrayal, and even killing other like in the original TVB drama does exist in their Korean counterpart. So I think it can translate well as a K-drama.
If KBS and MBC remake of those 2 dramas got a lot of love from international fans outside of Asia, then those fans may end up watching the TVB original. It worked for the Taiwanese, I believe it can do the same for TVB and Hong Kong dramas. IMO, I think TVB should not only remake K-dramas, but should also allow Korea to remake their drama. It can be a big win-win for both Hong Kong and South Korea, and you guys on this website could get more HK dramas fans by doing that. Beside remake, TVB should take Latin America and Middle East market seriously, the world has already embrace K-drama and Taiwan is catching up to their Korean counterpart in Latin America, and TVB is not taking advantage of these 2 market outside of Asia.
@mdo7 – I think you are mistaking something here. Kdrama has very good looking people due to plastic surgery on dramas while Hong Kong actress either have light plastic surgery or non at all. I remember when TVB dramas are actually dubbed in all different languages, but then again Hong Kong dramas has always kept their own flair culture in their dramas making a translation into English very hard. Hong Kong dramas always put in inside jokes that only Hong Kong people or those that are very familiar with Hong Kong entertainment will understand. Some of the words used, you will need to really need to understand the intent, not just the literal and I don’t mean idioms but just the way Hong Kong people speak is very different and unique to the city.
@dramadrama TVB should also look into marketing their drama to the UK as in having it shown on BBC4, or Channel 4. Because for the last few years, subtitled shows from Europe has gained popularity in the UK:
http://www.comtectranslations.co.uk/culture/the-growing-popularity-of-subtitled-television-in-the-uk/
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jun/07/british-television-subititles
TVB should really take advantage of this. I mean right now, I’m seeing South Korea is persuading and also heavily and aggressively marketing their drama to UK broadcaster, and I wouldn’t be surprised if BBC4 are able to broadcast K-drama on UK TV since Korean films have gained popularity in the UK.
@mdo7 -There is a big Cantonese community in UK, so they don’t need to try to market to the mass in UK, just the Canton immigrant there will be enough.
@mdo7
what made you assume that TVB, or the producers of any dramas, was the one who place her dramas in viki or any streaming services?
It is obvious that you have no idea how these services work.
@mdo7 I dont watch Korean dramas much and I quit TVB dramas for a long ago, I also rarely watch Japanese dramas but all you have said has something similar (or even so much better in my opinion) made by the Japanese. As I only watched few dramas given by you so I will base on the content to give you the similar works of the Japanese
Some fans of J-dramas agreed that they never seen a J-dramas which can hold up to K-dramas not only in term of story, but also action and other diverse genre. Has J-dramas done anything similar to IRIS:
Tons. You must hear about City Hunter of which Hongkong people adapted it into a film called Saviour of the Soul and then the Korean put it in a drama. There are some Japanese film used the concept of City Hunter. Still want to see actions? Just watch Battle Royale, Gantz, Crow and so on. If you want to see some psycho or brain twist, put yourself in Border, Emergency Interrogation Room
Korean 3 days:
I’m not even sure if Hong Kong or Japan did a drama similar to 3 days:
Yes I know it’s like 24. But beside South Korea, I never seen any Asian country (OK maybe except India which is remaking 24). Neither Hong Kong or Japan has no plan to do a “24”-styled drama.
Check https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Medical_Dragon live action. Realistic hospital life. http://asianwiki.com/Emergency_Room_24_Hours_4 is another choice. Code Blue should be referred.
Has J-dramas ever done a war action like Comrades: Legend of the patriots?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV2-Bwt42Jo
So many. You want fake war or real war? Wanna try some thrilling ones like Attack on Titans or Battle Royale. Or as serious as 20th Century Boys.
Ancient theme? Rurouni Kenshin is my first choice. The 13 Assasins if you dare to have some real blood and action time. Definitely no mercy.
In fact, Japan has made many action movies and dramas but their filming style is different to the Korean colleagues. Their ideas are so varied and popular that many countries used their ideas to make stuffs. You know, it is quite clear that Hunger Games must have some link to Battle Royale. Hongkong people never forget to borrow some ideas of the Japanese friends. Korea, I dont think we should say because Korea has adapted many Japanese series into their works, famous ones can be City Hunter, Hana Yori Dango, Hana Kimi, Liar Game and they are trying to make another Death Note. To me, all the Korean of Japanese works are far worse than the original. Watching City Hunter ruined by Korean makes me hurt, but it cant compare to see how HYD and Hana Kimi is killed in the hands of Korean. What did Korean directors do with my Liar Game? They totally ruined it by making it a gameshow, using a terrible actress and the content hinted about love triangle. What is the hell. The smartest twist of Liar Game is definitely underused. It was made by one of the best Korean channel which only make serious drama (that was what said by the Korean themselves).
In fact, I dont think that there is any theme/concept that has not been used in Japan, for manga or movies. If you can find one, I will feel very suprised. On the other hand, there are many things that the Korean has never done before, such as something like Attack on Titans (fighting against titans), Battle Royale (the type of to play or to die), 20th Centuary Boys, Monster and so many others. The only Korean movie that I really like was Old boy which has so good twists. However, the manga adaption seems to have more depth.
For now, the Korean scriptwrites also seems to running out of ideas. My friend told me to watch the Mask Man which is said to be the best drama of 2015 and it is… uhm… not bad but kinda illogic at some parts. That one, I think the Chinese story about a hidden hero like him has done many times. Korean dramas are too draggy but lack the twists and fast-paced character arc. I normally can watch the first and the last episodes to understand everything happened in the dramas.
For your idea of putting Korean actors in TVB series, I doubt it will work. Just look at how the Korean actors do in Chinese dramas and you will know. Diamond lover was a big flop to Bi (Rain) where his acting is highly criticized. YoonA is outshone by Na Zha for her role in ancient series. Park Min Soo is said to look weird next to Zhang Han. Third love ft Liu Ya Fei and Song Seung Hun is criticized for the acting and the unnatural line delivery. So overall, the Korean in Chinese series only can act… the Korean. If I remember right, YoonA is voted to be the most beautiful girl amongst the Korean idols, but look at her in China, Na Zha outshines her with her beauty (Na Zha is a terrible actress).
“So many. You want fake war or real war? Wanna try some thrilling ones like Attack on Titans or Battle Royale. Or as serious as 20th Century Boys.”
Those are films, not 20 episodes dramas. Come back when you show me a 11 episode J-dramas that has the same action like Road no.1 and Comrades.
“I dont watch Korean dramas much and I quit TVB dramas for a long ago, I also rarely watch Japanese dramas but all you have said has something similar (or even so much better in my opinion) made by the Japanese. As I only watched few dramas given by you so I will base on the content to give you the similar works of the Japanese.”
So why are you leaving this comment if you don’t watch enough drama. Trust me, I had a long time experience with Asian TV drama to know which seem better and why western countries are eager to remake them and why Asian and western countries want to co-produce dramas. Until I see Japan doing something like Assembly or President, both politic dramas from KBS, I don’t think J-drama can hold candle to their Korean counterpart.
“For your idea of putting Korean actors in TVB series, I doubt it will work. Just look at how the Korean actors do in Chinese dramas and you will know. Diamond lover was a big flop to Bi (Rain) where his acting is highly criticized. YoonA is outshone by Na Zha for her role in ancient series. Park Min Soo is said to look weird next to Zhang Han. Third love ft Liu Ya Fei and Song Seung Hun is criticized for the acting and the unnatural line delivery. So overall, the Korean in Chinese series only can act… the Korean. If I remember right, YoonA is voted to be the most beautiful girl amongst the Korean idols, but look at her in China, Na Zha outshines her with her beauty (Na Zha is a terrible actress).”
Sources? Because that’s not what I was told. Maybe the international audiences outside of Asia would’ve a different opinion.
@mdo7
“Those are films, not 20 episodes dramas. Come back when you show me a 11 episode J-dramas that has the same action like Road no.1 and Comrades.”
Detective Kindaichi, Liar Game, Death Note (DN live action series, not the movie), Bloody Monday, Tokyo DOGS, Limit, Security Police, BOSS, Gokusen, Crow, Border, Great Teacher Onizuka, Galileo, Mr. Brain, Tiger and Dragon, Kurosagi, Life, Emergency Interrogation Room and so many more. If you have time, you should watch them all.
“So why are you leaving this comment if you don’t watch enough drama. Trust me, I had a long time experience with Asian TV drama to know which seem better and why western countries are eager to remake them and why Asian and western countries want to co-produce dramas. Until I see Japan doing something like Assembly or President, both politic dramas from KBS, I don’t think J-drama can hold candle to their Korean counterpart.”
I dont think that you have experience with Japanese dramas. Watch one dramas called Change or put yourself in 20th Century Boys or check Maou. Ten no Hakobune is not bad. Tamiou is less serious, it is funny. I watched one episode of Assembly and Tamiou won it with more unique humours.
You may forget that Korean is trying to remake tons of Japanese dramas such as City Hunter, HYD, Notre Dame, Hana Kimi, Liar Game, Death Note, Itazura Na Kiss, Antique Bakery, Guess what? None cant compete with the Japanese version. The one to be called the best is Liar Game has been criticized by the audiences due to bad script. I watched it as Im a big big fan of Liar Game and seriously, the main female hero cannot act out the character.
In my opinion, I cant find a Korean actor that can captivate my heart by his/her acting. The best they can do is providing the lines fluently.
“Sources? Because that’s not what I was told. Maybe the international audiences outside of Asia would’ve a different opinion.”
Check weibo and Chinese forums for those criticisms. Diamond lover is pretty new while The 3rd lover is on cinema so you can see the comments about it. For YoonA vs Na Zha, you must see how YoonA looks in ancient costumes, lolz.