Sammul Chan, Shirley Yeung Talk About China Pay Cap

The cast of Elite Brigade IV <火速救兵IV> shared their filming experiences on set at the drama’s recent press conference. A high-budget production, the airing of the series coincides with the 150^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, and is helmed by award-winning director of crime thriller Trivisa <樹大招風>, Vicky Wong (黄伟杰), who is tasked with portraying the selfless stories of real-life heroes on the small screen.

Stephen Au (歐錦棠), who plays a stringent senior station officer, recalled a scene where the plot required perilous hanging from a 13-story height. The director wanted to replicate the risky scene using green screen filming for safety reasons, but he insisted on executing it himself to create a greater sense of realism.

Sammul Chan (陳鍵鋒), who plays a Search and Rescue Specialist, did not have it easy too, as his character was involved heavily in explosion scenes. To prepare for the intensity of his role as well as a bathing scene, he put in due diligence by working out at the gym before shooting commenced.

Shirley Yeung (楊思琦), whose character is rescued from being trapped in debris, is glad that she does not have such a traumatic encounter in real life. The 40-year-old actress is keen to take on the role of a female firefighter if there is a coming sequel, as it will be an all-new experience for her.

When asked about the pay cap on actors’ salaries in Mainland China, Shirley, who has frequent commercial engagements there, said she is watching developments closely. While she has yet to make any adjustments to her filming rates, she said, “The wages I get are now post-tax, I might raise rates if I were to get pre-tax wages, but will find out more from others in the industry first.”

Sammul remarked, “I try to bring value as a ‘useful’ and hardworking actor. Yes there have been market fluctuations with regards to rates, but as a B-lister I’m not affected. My [wages] are very reasonable and everything can be worked out. Production costs and salaries should be well-balanced instead of being skewed towards either side.”

Elite Brigade IV