Felix Wong’s Daughter May Have to Give Up on Acting Dreams
Above: Felix Wong and daughter, Adrian Wong, had openly supported HKTV.
Having established a successful acting career both in Hong Kong and China, Felix Wong (黃日華) may not suffer much from the impact of HKTV failing to receive a television broadcasting license. However, Felix’s daughter Adrian Wong’s (黄芷晴) acting career may be cut short.
Due to HKTV’s bleak future, many of the station’s staff considered returning to their former employer, TVB. Although TVB Executive Chairman, Norman Leung (梁乃鹏), said that he would welcome back all former employees, an inside source said,“Unless the artists left the company quietly, there is no chance for them to come back,” while adding, “After all, TVB is so overbearing and wants face. Why will it take back them?”
When Felix left TVB in 2002, he made his dissatisfaction with TVB loud and clear, complaining of the long work hours and low pay. Although his relationship with TVB had soured with certain management, he returned to film Gun Metal Grey <刑警>, mostly because of his good friend, Michael Miu (苗僑偉). During its broadcast, the drama was not promoted properly and Felix complained of the station’s politics.
Felix also supported HKTV in a high profile manner and was allegedly placed on TVB’s black list. Since he has been an established star since the 1980s, Felix fortunately continued to receive job offers in the lucrative mainland Chinese market.
While Felix had only worked with HKTV on a per-series arrangement, his daughter, Adrian is a new budding actress who had signed a two-year contract. Due to HKTV failing to secure a broadcasting license, Adrian’s dramas will not be aired, cutting short her acting dreams.
Virginia Lok: “Who is Adrian Wong?”
Due to the blemished relationship between Felix and TVB, Adrian’s possibilities of joining Hong Kong’s largest station are slim. Senior executive Virginia Lok (樂易玲) made it very clear, “At the moment, TVB is not in need of people because we have discovered many new faces such as Tommy Wong (黃光亮), Louis Cheung (張繼聰) and Corinna Chamberlain who have received good response from viewers.”
When asked if TVB would accept Adrian as a new artist, Viriginia said, “Who is she? I have never met her. I don’t know who she is. Has she attended the artist training class? Does she have acting experience?”
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
Why can she sign up with i-Cable’s Fantastic TV and PCCW’s HK Television Entertainment Co.? Oh, wait… they probably wouldn’t want her up mostly because of her father’s temper. Poor Adrian.
Agree…. I think she’ll have a better career without her father’s “advice” ! Having him behind her at this moment is a liability. He mouth off too often- that upsets the big guns 🙁
who cares about adrian wong ? she got the job because of father’s influence
and she is note even beautiful
She can go back to mainland
she can try other station or go to mainland. Or mayb without her father connection she cant go to other station??
It just means that she does not even have the passion for acting. Not getting the free tv license, doesn’t mean they can’t act at other tv stations. Those that just quit because of this reason makes me feel they don’t have the passion toward acting at all. Alright, she should not followed his father’s acting path in the first place.
agree she can always go to the mainland like what tvb artistes have been doing and get good money for it!
It is not that easy as Adrian is a brand new actress with no name and no experience.
… but if she can act and is talented, she will be soon discovered and made a name for herself.
She is a new and not well known so how can she just go to China? Usually only known and popular celebs go and can make big bucks but she does not even have a series out, so what is the point of going to China?? Unless Felix has connections there, otherwise how would she survive there?
I also wonder if she truly has the passion for acting or not if she quits just because of a station not getting their license. She should not give up so easily.
Agree. Unless Felix Wong has good connections with some Mainland Chinese producers, he cannot help Adrian get a decent acting job there.
she’s not passionate enough, therefore, she should just quit acting
Perhaps her contract with HKTV is limiting her. Is she allowed to film elsewhere, or does she have to wait til her contract is over? Now, that sucks.
I doubt that and since HKTV did not get their license they may shut down so how can they stop her from pursuing other options?
If HKTV does not have a licence to operate as a free TV station, I think its contracts with any artistes will not be valid. Therefore, its artistes are free to pursue their options.
TVB is always in need of new people. And as always 620 fails in the PR test.
We should not be shocked since we should all know how stupid 620 is. TVB is also dumb to keep someone like her. It is no wonder TVB is drinking.
Meant to say “sinking”.
Has she attended the artist training class?
Miss Lok continues to be utterly transparent. Artist training hasn’t been a requirement ever under her leadership so that’s a load of crap.
Anyway, I don’t feel sorry for Adrian. Felix could easily help her into the movie industry but I suspect he doesn’t want to because it’s a far more hardcore and unsavory market. Especially for female artistes.
Hoping someone can tell me what 620 means … i know it’s referencing ms Lok …
It’s her name in cantonese which sounds a bit like the numbers 620 in cantonese.
Lok (6) Yi (2) Ling (0). Of course the actual way of saying her name isn’t exactly 620 but sounds alike.
Thanks Funn Lim for the explaination
she can always go to movies! felix knows a lot of people surely his director friends can help!
virginia lok is so rude and arrogant! how can she not know felix’s daughter!
agree and asking those sort of questions
For once, I really agree with you. I guess that shows how bad Felix’s relation with TVB is. I bet 620 is just playing stupid or is she truly that ignorant?
Or 620 just pretended that she did not know who is Adrian Wong.
I agree with this too. Either 620 is plain stupid or she purposely pretend she doesn’t know who’s Adrian. Hello it doesn’t make sense that a high level TV exec like her doesn’t know and never met Felix’s daughter. No one will believe you 620. That was crass.
you all are right! maybe virginia lok feign ignorance to spite felix!
Well, Felix also has his share of making fun of 620. Some tvb supporting actor openly voiced out that he wish 620 will quit, and that there is a blacklist in TVB. Felix supported his comment and retweeted it.
Well 620 should look at herself and really wonder why people say the things they do about her. I think she is not a bright person and cannot handle things well but TVB gives her such a high position. TVB really promotes the wrong people in front of and behind the scenes. It is no wonder TVB is doomed to destruction.
I think she knows exactly who she is. 620 is just being sarcastic.
I really don’t get the hate towards 620 for her reaction towards Felix’s daughter. It seems like her response was meant to be politically correct with a bit of a sting. Would it have been better if she just straight out said TVB will not hire her? Her father of all people knows that pissing off TVB will result in being ban. And to be fair working with his daughter is pretty much indirectly working with him again so I see why TVB wouldn’t want him back. I really don’t get the artist that bad mouth’s TVB, reworks for them and then bad mouths them again for the exact samething. It’s like a never ending cycle.
Felix had issues with them in 2002 and but agreed to come back. The complaints after GMG are different so why can’t he complain?! In any case, he’s a man who speaks his mind. And quite frankly, I believe he speaks up because of love for TVB, not because he has a vendetta.
@advo: Ironically, Miss Lok was the one who said the exact same thing back then when Felix had his outburst against TVB (her ‘assessment’ of his criticism was [愛之深恨之切], which, as much as I hate to say it, was actually spot on). It’s also the same thing Felix said when he and Michael went on Eileen Cha’s radio show back then to talk about his outburst and the same thing he has reiterated in subsequent interviews.
Alot of people nowadays are too quick to label anyone who criticizes as a ‘hater’, which, in my opinion, is a very unfair and irresponsible label to place on someone. Some people criticize not because they hate a particular person or entity, but rather out of concern for that person/entity’s well-being. It’s like if you see a family member or close friend going down the wrong path, wouldn’t you try as hard as you can to pull them back onto the right path?
For me personally, I understand where Felix came from in his criticism of TVB because I’m the exact same way. Felix grew up with TVB and to him, they’re like family, which is why he was so severely disappointed at what the station had deteriorated into the past 15 years (hence his criticisms). It’s a sentiment that many of the old-timers who were around during the Uncle Six era (70s/80s and early 90s) share. Sure, it might be difficult for people who only know the current TVB to relate or understand, but then isn’t that all the more reason not to just take what the gossip mags say and then start ‘bashing’ the artists over it?
@llwy12,
Totally agree with your comment about “hater” labelers (or control freaks).
@ Ilwy12
That’s exactly what I’ve written further down. Felix is like a parent who is scolding but has your best interest at heart. It’s a shame that not more people can understand this sentiment.
As a TVB shareholder I am only glad to hear this. It means we still have the power to dictate whatever we want now that stupid HKTV is failing. My TVB stocks and dividend are safe now.
tvb will drown with you and you sound like a fake!
AGREED !
LMAO, even IF it’s true that you’re a TVB shareholder, I doubt you hold that many shares. If you did, you’d been busy with something more productive than writing comments on a gossip site.
Getz…for heaven’s sake. TVB is not the only place where people can develop their acting career. There’re choices out there. Virginia Lok is playing dumb, rude and arrogant. She just gave a stupid answer. To be frank, mainland dramas are more attractive and interesting than TVB’s.
Virginia’s words are indeed stupid and rude. I woukd be careful if I were her since her stupidity won’t help her career and now TVB is falling down with all these high quality series coming out from mainland and other countries. Ruco better leave this hell soon since TVB doesn’t treat him well anyway and never give him the awards, recognition and opportunities that he deserves and keep on using the same people in many of their series.
Totally agree
620 only likes people who can make her rich Kate myolie Raymond Kevin bosco ron
give 620 a bit of slack. I don’t like her myself but if Adrian Wong walk around in HK would people recognise her??? felix, Yes, but Adrian NO!
There are many things she could do if she is really passionate about acting. She could start from scratch by joining performing arts. Nobody dictates that acting must be done for TVs only. Stage art is another area good for honing acting and improvisation skills.
I have a disdain for those “descendants” of actors/actresses who seem to think that they should be given the privilege to appear on large screen simply because of their parents’ established reputation. There are a number of people who come mediocre backgrounds and worked their through to be recognised by starting out as an apprentice.
He actually screwed up his daughter’s career to be exact. Full disregarded and burnt the bridge when he left TVB. Serves his right for his unprofessional manner
Agree. His daughter probably learned the hard way people are not always nice out there. Society is cruel a lot of time.
Felix in Gun Metal Grey was sooo good its a pity his relationship went on bad terms with TVB… we might not see another Felix serie in hongkong anymore =/
About Adrian she got roles because of her father… work hard and reach her goals, hate it when people have the easy way!
what’s gonna happen to all the dramas hktv filmed?
Put them on youtube so it won’t go wasted and we can watch them lol! 😛 (joke)
they will try to sell the rights of those drama mostly for mainland and overseas… TVB wouldn’t buy any of it that’s for sure 😛 lol
Looks like her father’s hook up & short cut to stardom back fired. If she has the passion to become an actress she should start at the bottom, get proper training and work hard.
Agreed. Not to follow Felix’s footsteps. Take a good look at Adrian no wonder Virginia Lok made those remarks.
yep she totally doesn’t deserve it… I usually don’t agree on Virginia but what she said was the dam truth… build up your own name and work for it, don’t rely on your famous father.
Is it the media that is assuming that they will have to give up on acting, or have these people actually said so? If they really loved acting, they wouldn’t give up so easily. There are now other stations open as well as movies, and stage plays where they can try and hone their acting. She’s one of the luckier ones because she has her father’s connections.
Finally, someone has brought up an important point. Looks like once again, people are reading these articles from gossip mags as truth when they’re not — the article above was actually ‘old news’ from a few weeks ago and both Adrian and Felix have already refuted the allegations via Weibo. Also, HKTV not getting a license actually isn’t going to affect Adrian as much, since she has other jobs lined up that are independent of her HKTV contract (plus she actually has her own ‘business’ of sorts on the side that she has been actively engaged in all this time).
By the way — to answer someone’s question above….most HKTV artists have non-limiting contracts (even the ones under management contracts), which is very different from TVB. Alot of the HKTV contracted artists actually do work for other TV stations (a few of them host programs for NowTV or i-Cable) — it’s just that the Media focuses more on the HKTV aspect.
Yeah, most people (not saying this website only) just tend to read the headlines, which tend to be embellished to pull in the reader. Gossip mags tend to twist a lot of things, even after something is clarified as false.
I suggest the Jaynestars writers to take the time to browse the reported artistes’ weibo to at least get a feel of the veracity of translated news report. And to be fair maybe append the reported artist’s response to the news.
Especially this being old news and Felix and Adrian have long refuted the allegation.
@claimine: Great suggestion and as an avid reader of HK entertainment news, I thank you for bringing it up. However, your suggestion is definitely easier said than done, especially with the rampant tabloid culture in HK. A lot of times, it’s very hard for most audiences to read beyond the surface and actually take the time to ‘vet’ the news to see if it makes sense – most likely, only those who follow the developments very closely will be able to take the more ‘fair’ approach of clarifying things. Personally, I take everything I read with a grain of salt (even the articles from the most reputable of news sources), since I understand that when it comes to the entertainment industry, nothing is ever as it seems, which is why it’s way too easy for the Media to spin things a certain way (though this can also apply for ‘regular’ news as well). For me, as long as I’ve done my ‘due diligence’ in researching or ‘vetting’ the news that I read as much as I possibly can, then I’ve fulfilled my duties as a ‘responsible reader’ from my perspective.
llwy12: Fair enough. But as responsible journalists to their readers, Jaynestars writers can at least append the involved artist’s reaction to their translated news report. Maybe?
I do think any good writer should do some cross-checking of the source, but Jaynestars really just translate news. As someone who can’t read Chinese, I’m grateful enough for that. Truthfully, even if Jayne’s translators are more careful and only translate from reputable sources, it’s up to the reader to show some critical thinking.
@ llwy12
I’m guessing Adrian has some model/brand ambassador type jobs? I feel like I’ve read that in the past. What is her own “business” that you’re referring to?
@advo: Those who follow Adrian’s weibo will probably know that she is very talented when it comes to making handicrafts and such. She makes her own accessories (jewelry, purses, wallets, etc.) — this has been a hobby of hers even before she joined the industry. She recently turned this hobby into a business of sorts by partnering up with a few of her girlfriends to sell the items online (she mentioned the name of their ‘brand’ on her weibo, but the name escapes me at the moment) — she also has some consistent clientele who purchase the items she makes, so there’s some steady profit there. Sure, it’s probably nothing big compared to what others do, but it’s something — AND she’s putting her talent to good use.
@ Ilwy12
Interesting. I like entrepreneurs. It might not be anything big but you gotta start somewhere, and if she’s already making money off it then it has potential to become bigger. I wish her good luck!
From past articles, I don’t think Adrian is very desperate to be an artist. Before Ricky Wong invited her to join HKTV, there was no news of her wanting to be an actress, or planning to join TVB or other stations.
So, I think Adrian was just exploring this option. She has some interest, but, it’s not a must that she become one.
That’s what I feel.
I don’t know why Felix Wong (黃日華) hate TVB so much…at least i get that from media..there are always news about Felix doesn’t like TVB’s promotion…organization..filming…well, I never find Felix acting very well (I born in 70’s so i watch his drama grow up)…but TVB promoted Felix a lot a lot during the 80’s…so why should he compliant? maybe it is his personality…it is all his fault that his daughter might not work in TVB…well, his daughter can still work at other stations or China since Felix has connection too.
Felix is right to complain, maybe he is too brash in the words he uses but there is wisdom in what he says. He owes his entire success to TVB and TVB owes him the ratings as well but doesn’t mean he can’t complain. Felix is that sort of actor that you rarely come across these days; that natural ability to connect with viewers, not highly educated but fiercely intelligent and in some ways honest. I miss his sort of charisma in front of the TV and TVB is poorer without him. I remember the golden times… funny also because I remember in an interview Michael Miu said jokingly that Felix until todate still rides on the success of one role that made his name, that is so iconic that even Michael himself can’t think of such a role in his own career. Mind you, Felix had such a career high. He may not be the best actor but he is the actor viewers love, same quality like Wayne Lai these days except Felix from the very first was the leading actor.
What Michael Mui said of Felix Wong is all true. Michael was mocking his pal. The role he played in the miniseries Condor Heroes is the same role he played in real life. Just too bad that his wife isn’t the Wong Jung. Living with a cheating wife, only Felix Wong can do. He must love her or the don’t give a **** type. Wayne Lai the man. Felix Wong is no man just baby.
I guess you did not follow the news about Felix back then. First of all, Felix worked with for many many years so he knows how they are. They overworked him to the point that he developed health problems. I remember him saying in an interview several years after he left TVB how he had to sleep in the bathroom at TVB. When he filmed Xiao Shi Yi Lang, they worked him to the point that he had some disease. They did not let him ready either. It is not just Felix complaining, but another veteran Eddie Cheung who just came back and filmed for them was badly treated too. When a company treats you so badly, it is hard just swallow it all let them continue doing the bad things that they do, especially after you leave the company. If you do not speak up then how can a company change for the better? But even when people are speaking up, they still refuse yo change so it is not easy. Therefore, can you imagine them not speaking up at all? It will be even worse.
AC-AKC,
Felix Wong doesn’t hate TVB, as this is the company that developed his career and he is likely grateful for that. However, Felix has strong principles and like Al Wai, Felix is someone who believes that airing one’s opinions is the best way to pave the path for change.
Given the proper production staff and artists involved, I believe that Felix would film for TVB again. But TVB may not so readily extend another filming offer to Felix given his past record of “airing dirty laundry” publicly.
Felix is like the parent who scold you but has your best interests at heart.
Honestly, I’m tired of people saying that you shouldn’t ‘badmouth’ your former employer when they were the entire reason for your success, even if they did you wrong later on and implement harsh policies that in other countries would probably get their management in jail. What is this, some kind of triad society where everything is supposed to be ‘hush-hush’ and any ‘bad treatment’ is supposed to be swallowed out of loyalty?
Oh and the other piece to this is — sure, TVB made Felix (and some of these other artists who have complained) who they are today, but by the same token, these same artists built TVB up to what it is today as well (without the ratings and the money that some of these artists bring in, would TVB have been able to survive this long?). So if we look at things from this perspective, then where’s TVB’s ‘loyalty’ to these artists in at least having the decency to treat them like human beings?
I think this pretty much goes for all industries. If you are going to bad mouth your boss and company don’t expect a red carpet inviting you back. And in the case of this article don’t expect them to hire your daughter either.
Agree with misssy. Other two companies may think twice be4 inviting Felix’s daughter. in this case she needs them more than they need her.
@misssy: Yes, I agree with you in that aspect, but the problem here is that no one is expecting a ‘red carpet’ inviting them back. Keep in mind that alot of the articles out there recently that supposedly paint a picture of HKTV artists being ‘desperate’ to return to TVB have pretty much been Media speculation — so far, none of the artists have said that they want to return (when reporters asked the artists whose names were being thrown around in the tabloids, they said that they won’t rule out the possibility of returning to TVB, but at this point in time, that’s the least of their concerns).
My point is — who said that Felix and Adrian are ‘desperate’ to work for TVB? Since the licensing decision was announced, not once did Felix or his daughter mention anything about working for TVB (or returning to TVB in Felix’s case)….which is why I don’t understand all the ‘bashing’ toward Felix and Adrian about how they shouldn’t expect TVB to take them back, especially when neither of them want to go back to TVB anyway.
To me, this is under classic example of people taking tabloid articles as 100% truth.
Oh that devil witch 620, why wont she quit already???
“Has she attended the artist training class? Does she have acting experience?””
Neither did the artists you pushed hard to promote when they first joined the industry.
Virginia Lok cares about artist having been to training class or not?
agree with kidd! virginia lok tell us what acting class linda chung, tracy chu, rebecca zhu, kate tsui, eliza sam attended when you give promote them like crazy as newbies?!!
LOL, twin comments! I was having a great chuckle over that line too.
Actually you can complain harshly all you want- but if you are the only one, then it looks bad. I’m sure others like Chow Yue Fatt, DoDo or who ever that were super popular back then, work just as hard. But they have more grace, you just cant go over board with negative remarks. It’s just not wise burning bridges.
Where did you get the idea that Felix was the only one who complained? Not sure how closely you’ve been paying attention to the entertainment news over the past 15 years or so, but there have actually been a LONG LIST of artists and behind-the-scenes people who have complained about TVB’s practices throughout the years — not only that, most of the complaints pretty much go back to the same few topics (low wages, harsh / unfair treatment, favoritism, politics, antiquated and unclear policies, etc.). Just because Fat Gor and Dodo don’t complain doesn’t mean the problems don’t exist (they just choose not to say anything because it probably doesn’t matter to them, since everyone’s personalities are different and will view things differently).
I think she should consider to compete Miss Hong Kong Pageant. So she’ll learn something new as role model & sign up for TVB Management.