Kenneth Ma is Frozen by TVB?
TVB held its traditional 48th Anniversary Lighting Ceremony as a prelude to year-end festivities. With many A-list actors and actresses leaving TVB one after another, the company is in dire need to retain their current talent.
Recently, it was reported that the company requested for an emergency meeting, inviting many of their current contracted artists to attend. Management reportedly pressured their artistes to sign long-term contracts in exchange for heavy promotion by the company.
Of the many artistes in attendance, it was reported that Kenneth Ma (馬國明) did not yet renew his contract and has been frozen by TVB. At the Anniversary Lighting Ceremony, Kenneth responded to the recent reports, “I didn’t ask the company. But if I’m frozen every year between May and September, that would be quite nice. Having to film ancient series in the summer is really quite difficult. I wouldn’t mind being frozen every summer. My contract still has more than a year left. They have not talked to me about the details.”
Kenneth, who remains a bachelor at 41 years old, was asked to respond to on rumors regarding good friend Kevin Cheng’s (鄭嘉穎) impending flash marriage with Grace Chan (陳凱琳). Kenneth responded, “If they’re really going to get married, then of course I’ll wish them happiness. But they haven’t told me anything. Kevin has a successful career. He has everything now except for a wife.”
Source: On.cc
This article is written by Huynh for JayneStars.com.
if i’m kenneth i wouldnt renew any contract with tvb anymore. keep in mind that you are already 41 and at the end of a 10 years contract you will become 51,by then if you still have any dreams to become a moviestar like myolie is already too late.moreover tvb seldom makes good series this days,only two or three series is worth to watch in a year, heavily promotion isnt a key to succes anymore.so the chance that your star status will rise is drastically decreased. so after 10 years you will become a veteran actor who only may act as green leaves
@kolo does KM have anywhere else yo go but TVB? I haven’t heard him being popular anywhere else besides TVB drama. Does he have plan B? It seems like others go into businesses and then cut their ties.
@jjwong
I heard he was invited to take part in productions there but it was TVB that did not allow him to go. I think he also acted in movies too. I guess if Kenneth was to to be successful,he can leave TVB after his contract is up and go look for opportunities elsewhere. If it does nit work out,I am sure TVB would be willing to allow him to come back. But then again they may reduce him to more minor roles. Life in the business is truly hard.
@jjwong im not telling him to cut all ties with tvb.like HTS said he can always come back if he fail to succeed. yes he is popular with tvb series but it doesnt mean he will always be popular if he stay with tvb, there are no guarantees in this industry he need to gain his momentum to reach higher ground.yes there are other choices than tvb. he can try mainland or movies or maybe pccw in the future,if he doesnt try now he will never know how far he can reach.
look at tvb ratings the prospect of tvb is seriously in danger now, thats why tvb wants to throw a chain on their actors/actresses to stop the exodus of their top fadan/sui san. hk tv industry will face a huge change in the coming years, he will miss opportunities if he sign a long term contract with tvb.
I totally agree with you. Since you do not have children will take the chanllenge to venture outside. If you stay in TVB what is your potential of your growth? What is TVB movies market?
@kolo @hetieshou I’m not saying he’ll fail 100% if he leave. It’s just the one who left have something lined up before they leave, i.e. other production invited them or venture into side busiensses. Yes, some left without a life jacket, like someone mentioned Ron and Hawick, but they both have the look. Those without look have acting skill. KM is limited in both.addition, he has past his prime-age being 40 and all.
I just don’t see him being marketable. He doesn’t seem like an aggressive type either. Anyways, what do I, or any of us for that matter, know, right? Oh well. If he leaves, then there’s all the power to him. Wish him success. If he doesn’t, it’s not a stupid choice either.
In all honesty, KM doesn’t have the looks, neither can he act. His appeal mostly lies in his nice guy image which I can’t fault cos I’ve seen him in person and he does look like the friendly type IMO.
@isay
I personally think Kenneth has the potential to do well in China since I did hear that he was invited to take part in productions there,but TVB would not let him go due to his contract. There are plenty that do not act that well nor have the looks,but they still manage to do well. Hey,we all know it is not just looks and talent,but timing and connections as well as luck all play important roles in anyone’s success.
@hetieshou not going to debate with you on this. Your guess is as good as mine. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Take a risk if he has the appetite for that.
@isay
Yup and time will. Thanks for being more open though instead of some that just automatically wish failure on anyone before even giving them a chance. Some were already saying that Ron will fail in China but I bet none of them even watch any China series. Therefore.they do not even know how his performances are like but just wish bad luck on him. I find that so mean. Wallace Huo took a chance and look at him now. Of course, everyone is different but none of us know the future. Anyways,wish Kenneth and everyone the best!
@hetieshou thx for yr comments. Yes I’ve seen kenneth 2 or 3 times. He seems like a nice approachable guy to me unlike some celebrities who think too highly of themselves. Even though I’m not his fan and didn’t approach him, he had a smile for me.
@hetieshou Sorry to interrupt but honestly, Ron doesnt meet his success in China so far. I like Ron and I think his roles in China are much better than what he had in TVB but his career in China is still stuck at C list. He doesnt fail in China but he doesnt success as well. He only can appear in small budget series as supporting. The Chinese investors only put him in 3rd level of investment.
So I kinda doubt that other TVB actors, after leaving TVB, can do better than Ron. With their age, it is harder to them to make big in China.
@alluka “So I kinda doubt that other TVB actors, after leaving TVB, can do better than Ron.” time will tell but one thing is sure if you dont try you will never know,as wayne lai said how many 10 years does a men have?
@kolo Should leave at younger age. If not, they will be stuck at supporting and old man role. Time is telling. You should look at the list of investment value in the eyes of Chinese TV investors. In that list, the most valued artists including the ones who ventured in China for many years and young Chinese boys (the so-called xiao tian rou). Was being TVB main actors? We only has Lam Fung in level 2, Bosco and Sammul Chan in level 2.5 and Ron in level 3. Those 4 guys worked in China for long while but their status is only there.
@alluka agree that how younger you leave the more opportunities you can get,very realistic thought. but dont underestimate supporting and old man roles,even those roles could give you a breakthrough if your acting is good,(example patrick tam). the four sui san of tvb you named i think they didnt that bad at all since they leave tvb? even though the chance is low, if you think it is imposible then you make it impossible.
@kolo I dont underestimate them, I only point the fact that they will not get much investment. As HTS took Ron as example, Im aiming to say that Ron has not been that famous in China yet. Ron is the lest invested right now amongst the 4 sui sangs has ventured out in China. One of the famous bloggers in C-biz has mentioned that Ron is not known as much as LF, doesnt have any significant series as Bosco and he only can get supporting roles in medium budget series. Only the series with small budget will find him to be main lead. It leads to the fact that Ron is still unable to make his name in China market. The biggest one he has had so far is My best Ex but it isnt that successful.
For the older men, the one who seems to have the best careers now is Alex Fong. He is quite welcomed by the investors but he is limited by his age. Benny Chan is kinda successful but he cant be big name. He is stuck at comedies. Patrick Tam is having series but none can bring him a big asset as he is also limited by his age.
C-biz is even more into look and role than acting. They also has the priority to their own artists than the ones from Taiwan or Hongkong. Hence it will take longer and more opportunities to the Hongkong artists to be famous there. Look at Sammul Chan, he ventures out China for several years, even has a significant product (Mei ren xin kei) but after that, he falls down slowly and right now, he is only in level 2.5 with Bosco (who has just had a lovable role in Destined to love you).
LF and Bosco seem to have better future in China due to their previous product (they are invited to medium-big budget series to be main lead) but they both see that fact so they choose to base in Hongkong and only go to China for series. It is a better way than going to China fully and left the Hongkong market. Bosco lost his chance to be invested by 夏空 so now he gives up his idea to 100% base in China. For LF, he has his music career to support him so he wont leave the Hongkong market. He signed with EEG of which a Hongkong company for that purpose. They both know that in Hongkong market, they are still more marketable. Not all famous guys in China, even with Hongkong origin, can be marketable in Hongkong (for example Wallace Chung and somehow Hawick Lau). Of course, it isnt a matter for them because they have the huge Chinese market. But for the guys like the TVB siu sangs, losing Hongkong market while hardly venturing into Chinese market is never a smart decision.
Overall, I dont think that the top siu sangs of TVB should go to China to start at zero. The guys who is demoted like Ron and Matthew Ko should go (better to go) because TVB doesnt mind them anymore. Anywhere they are put aside, therefore in China is better as the price is higher. But for the heavily promoted siu sangs of TVB, they know they should not.
@isay
You met Kenneth in person? Was he friendly? He does have the nice and friendly look.
I agree KM have pontential for China market. He might have the look for Hollywood but China I do say Yes.
Well, don’t think he have the face that China would like. And now China is full of Kpop stars and already very popular tvb celebs, all already digging gold there. It would be hard for him to shine there…. He can be TV king in tvb. But where else can he go? Might as well sign with tvb and be HK king….
@dramadrama
Well being successful should take much more than just physical appearance. If everyone thought that way then who would go to china anymore?
@hetieshou Well, you can’t deny those HKies that go China, how many of them succeed? Ada, Raymond, Charmaine and many more that is good looking.
And they don’t choose to go China. China needs to offer them first. It’s good to try out, just that tvb will be 1 good male lead lesser. And can’t guarantee that tvb will still let him be lead once he left for China. And he is not young anymore….
@dramadrama he still looks young thats more important,and who say china needs to offer them first? look at hawick lau,when he went to china he had nothing and now he come back to hk with a beautiful wife and is a A-list actor in china.
The problem with Kenneth is he doesn’t have the looks nor the acting skills. Like someone else had mentioned, all he has going for him is his “nice guy” image, which imo, is not enough to succeed in Mainland.
I get it, not everyone that finds success in China has looks, but they sure damn well can act. If you don’t even have this, you have nowhere to call home, but TVB.
If William Chan could succeed in China, any decent actor stands a chance. I can’t see the appeal of William at all.
@genxx11 He has the youth and the BL fans.
@genxx11
LOL…That’s funny. I do agree somewhat, I mean he’s cute but hes not all that. But then again, you have to think besides HK, it appears young men are in trend still?
HK – all oldies actors, well actresses are younger since they are MS. HK. But do they have like younger audience market? I don’t see any. Korea-Japan-Taiwan-China – They seem to still have those boy band types as LEADS? Chang Han is not young young but still like boyish looking types or now they have Boran or Yang Yang? sigh…. so I feel like boyish types still have market?
Kenneth Ma – I don’t know anyone else but to me he’s always been the so so, ok, too goody goody types to be any sort of manly lead but in HK like I said might still have market. But China I am not too sure. I am not saying just LOOKS he doesn’t have, it’s just something missing I feel. Not that HOT actors in China will all make it cuz obviously Qi Ji is hot but he’s still underrated. So I am not saying KM is lacking in looks alone but something else. lol.. I don’t know thou. Ron Ng- AS someone pointed out he made in China? I don’t see it. I don’t watch much of C/Series at all so I don’t know how popular but even if he does get roles I don’t think he made it like big yet??
Hawick & Wallace Chung – they are the early ones that got away, HL didn’t make it until 2011 w/that only c/series that I finished from beg to til. He was just another HK actor until that year and then the IT girl wife so I guess I can say HL and WC are the lucky ones that also happen to have the LOOKS. Well, in a way…So final verdict, KM – if someone offers him roles, sure he can still give a shot. B/c let’s face it, if you don’t try how will you know.
So the dude is already 41 and has yet to establish himself.
Now that he has been frozen so I guess he will never be able to move out of his mom’s basement. LOL!! What a loser!
you have nothing to say don’t say…calling people loser…RUDE