Roger Kwok Ends TVB Contract; Signs Wong Cho Lam as Agent
After working with TVB for 30 years, Roger Kwok (郭晉安) has decided not to renew his management contract. Roger has signed with good friend Wong Cho Lam (王祖藍) instead. At the costume fitting for his new medical drama White Strongman <白色強人>, Roger explained the reasons behind his decision.
Roger wanted to extend his work opportunities and felt that Wong Cho Lam would be able to help. “It’s not really about more opportunities in Mainland China. An artiste should extend his opportunities. Everyone wants to earn more money, but without opportunities, how would you earn more money? Even if the opportunity does not lead to more money, but can open up other doors, then I should try it. I believe Cho Lam has this ability.”
Asked if TVB was unable to develop his market in Mainland China, Roger responded, “Each organization has a certain direction. If our directions are different, then there’s no need to force it. TVB can do this [for me], but I need a more compatible partner to help me on this path. I will continue to film for TVB [under a per series contract], but I may have less time to do so.”
Entering TVB in 1985, Roger was promoted to first lead quickly. Although he left TVB for three years, his comeback was met with even greater success. Winning three TVB Best Actor awards, Roger has tied the record with Gallen Lo (羅嘉良) and Wayne Lai (黎耀祥). Roger’s upcoming TVB series include Another Era <再創世紀>, which was filmed last year, as well as his current project, White Strongman.
Source: HK01.com
This article is written by Jayne for JayneStars.com.
Although very disappointed that Roger is leaving TVB, he truly deserves these non acting money making opportunities. Has been the longest serving TVB lead, filming series after series. He deserves a good rest. Nevertheless, there will be even less watchable series from next year….
@jimmyszeto Same. I wish him a prosper future, but I’ll miss watching him in Cantonese dramas.
Just wondering, does Wong Cho Lam’s agency only help actors/actresses to get into the Mainland China industry or does he also make dramas/movies that are in Cantonese?
@mi88
It’s technically both, but the Mainland China piece is key due to WCL’s influence over there. Also, WCL’s company is actually under Shaw Brothers umbrella (his is one of the 3 production houses that Shaw Brothers established a year or so ago) so the other piece of this is getting his artists into movies as well (though mostly Shaw Brothers productions, most of which have sucked so not sure how much that helps in terms of building their film repertoire). The one advantage with joining WCL’s company versus remaining under TVB management is that the artists aren’t limited to only filming TVB series – they can participate in other TV stations’ series (example: Power Chan filming a series for ViuTV) and also participate in the numerous web series (both Shaw Bros and non-Shaw Bros affiliated ones) that are prevalent right now….
WCL isn’t really promoting his artists though
@tiffany
Isn’t that why Sheren Tang left?
@anon Yea, WCL basically doesn’t have time to manage his artists’ careers properly, as he is already overwhelmed himself with so much on his plate. To be honest though, Roger doesn’t really need to be “managed” because he already has enough tenure to get decent opportunities on his own….like Sheren, it sounds like Roger is going with WCL mostly because of their personal friendship and not really because of better career opportunities or anything like that. Plus it’s not like Roger hasn’t done Mainland series or movies — he’s done all that already so for him, it’s really more about personal journey and what’s meaningful to him. With that said though, he’s not as picky or as driven about his projects as Sheren is so even if WCL doesn’t have time for him, it will probably be fine…
By the way, this translation left out the stuff Roger said about the TV King award (which was at the end of the original HK01 article) – sure, it wasn’t profound insight or anything but if the article is going to be translated in its entirety (which this one pretty much was), I don’t understand why everything else he said was included except for that part. (@jayne sorry for being picky but just curious, since I do translations as well and tend to be a bit sensitive about this kind of stuff….not sure if that part was just missed or there was particular reason….)
@llwy12 “I don’t understand why everything else he said was included except for that part. sorry for being picky but just curious, since I do translations as well and tend to be a bit sensitive about this kind of stuff….not sure if that part was just missed or there was particular reason….)”
Sometimes we summarize the news item to get to the point quicker and stay on topic. I didn’t feel Roger’s comment on getting the possibility of an award for “Another Era” was that important, since the possibility of that happening is very, very low.
Good for Roger! He’s a great actor that needs to broaden his horizon. He’s been under TVB management for too long limiting his opportunity for growth. Hopefully, I’ll get to see him more in mainland dramas and movie productions.
@anon you right he really stayed too long in tvb. i think he could have achieved much more if he left tvb 10 years earlier. his acting skills is on the same level as movies kings like cheung ka fai or lau chin wan. if cheung ka fai can be movie king,roger also can.
Sigh.. another good actor leave tvb. Who’s going to be next? Kenneth or Ruco?
Bad news 🙁 his acting is just on another level being compared to the rest in tvb now. Well he deserves more, he is right, its time for more opportunities.
Super happy for him but sad at the same time. Going to miss seeing him in TVB drama.. only good thing is he can still do per series if he has free time. Best of luck Roger!!!!
I ‘m from Thailand. I just have look to ” At the Threshold of an Era” ( rerun) on True TVB online .Although very old drama for me. I like him more. I never known him before.He ‘s very good acting. That’s Ok good lucky for him.
Before I want to look HK drama I must be download from Youtube but now TVBI was deleted every drama. I don’t understand Korea , Chinese and Taiwan drama can find download look every time. I think TVBI close market in Thailand already. Now I feel boring drama from China Korea and Taiwan. I ‘m not follow them. Until I have read column interview famously filmmaker ” Conjuring ” James Wan (Chinese-Malaysian) . He was talk about ” Journey to west 1 ” He have look long time when studied Australia. So I’m very happy I buying DVD HK drama. Thank you James Wan.