TVB’s Head of Drama Production, Tommy Leung, Retires Due to Company Politics?
Head of TVB’s Drama Production division, Tommy Leung (梁家樹), has announced his retirement. On February 28, 2014, TVB organized a farewell dinner for Tommy Leung at TVB’s cafeteria. Over 200 artists attended the banquet, including Liza Wang (汪明荃), and former managed stars Michael Tse (謝天華), and Jessica Hsuan (宣萱).
Tommy Leung, who served TVB for 37 years, has produced many recent TVB classics, including Triumph in the Skies <衝上雲霄>, Lives of Omission <潛行狙擊>, Ghetto Justice <怒火街頭>, and Inbound Troubles <老表，你好嘢！>. Though retiring from producing TVB dramas, reports say that Tommy Leung is interested in the mainland Chinese market and will be working as a senior consultant for Shaw Brothers Studio.
Currently, Tommy Leung is helming the production for the movie version of Triumph in the Skies, which will begin filming in April 2014. With a production budget of over $100 million HKD, the film will star Francis Ng (吳鎮宇), Chilam Cheung (張智霖), and Louis Koo (古天樂). A female lead has not been decided yet, but Tommy Leung hinted that he intends to cast a mainland Chinese actress so the film can have more international appeal.
Tommy Leung to Establish Own Production Company
A source revealed that Tommy Leung is in the midst of establishing his own production company, and plans to sign Michael Miu ( 苗僑偉), Francis Ng, Michael Tse, and Jessica Hsuan under his wing. “He is tired of TVB politics,” the source claimed, implying that the power struggle among TVB’s high executives stressed him. “After producing the Triumph in the Skies film project he will retire from the scene completely.”
The source continued to say that it is highly likely that Jessica Hsuan, Francis Ng, Michael Miu, and Michael Tse will sign with Tommy Leung. Reports argued that Tommy Leung was the reason why Francis Ng agreed to film Triumph in the Skies 2 in 2013, and when Tommy Leung proposed to him about his plans of a new production studio, Francis immediately agreed to help out. Michael Miu and Jessica Hsuan have both developed a close relationship with Tommy Leung over the years and are likely to follow in Francis’ footsteps. Michael Tse also immediately agreed to lend a hand, as it was Tommy Leung who had advocated in promoting him as Laughing Gor, the role that shot Michael Tse to unprecedented fame.
After Tommy Leung has resigned from TVB, the station is left with executive manager Virginia Lok (樂易玲), Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍), and Sandy Yu (余詠珊) to hold the fort. After Sand Yu joined TVB’s executive team in 2011 as TVB’s Director of Non-drama Production, Virginia Lok’s influence on TVB productions began to wane, and there were reports saying that Virginia Lok would soon be transferred to TVB’s mainland China branch. Although these reports were later claimed to be false,Virginia Lok only managed to stay because she was able to convince Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼) to return to TVB to shoot The Apostle <使徒行者>.
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
If Tommy really establishes his own company, I would give it a welcome. Always like Tommy’s series and his taste of series.
Can’t wait to see the power struggle over his empty seat now. I doubt non-drama production head will have much say in drama leads and so it will be a power struggle between 2 parties.
It will suck to see Michael Miu leave though. I hope that doesnt mean he will only be in mainland dramas from now on. They generally suck unless its a costume drama. He doesnt do those anymore.
Woah, can’t believe I never noticed. Has Michael filmed any ancient dramas since he came back? If not, anyone know why?
I think he may have a cameo or 2 for some costume dramas, but not more than a few scenes. The only one I can remember offhand is “Devil’s Disciples” with Bosco.
I think ancient series is more work. Perhaps Michael prefers the modern cop dramas.
Didn’t 3 Gor open a company with Eric Tsang?
What do everyone thinks of TVB dramas lately? Especially the plot.
For the past few years, I can’t seem to find any good TVB dramas. TVB golden age has died, it is not the same as the 80’s and early 90’s anymore.
LeilaFan,
TVB also realizes that 2013 was a horrible year for them, with few hits and mediocre ratings. This year, they are trying to bring back bigger stars such as Charmaine Sheh and Kevin Cheng.
I think 2014 will be a year that TVB will try new things for their series. They’re at a crossroads, as older executives are taking heat for what is not working as well.
It died in 2013. TVB dramas sucks!
With Tommy Leung gone, what lies ahead for TVB’s direction in future directions?
All up to Catherine Tsang. And Sandy Yu.
TVB dramas lately so terrible. The 2 recent on with Dayo Wong and that coffee drama with Bosco and Eliza. Such terrible script, terrible dialoge. Too much imply sex dialog, and too much nonsense talking between characters.
Can TVB at least for once do a serious drama for mature audience like Korean drama?
Ah, HK audience only like comedy, light heart drama. Sigh
I personally liked that coffee drama with Bosco and Eliza. The ending was definitely not expected, but it was an okay drama.
And not all Korean dramas are well done. It really depends on which ones you pick to watch and which ones are your “cup of tea”. There are really mediocre ones or with repetitive elements used in Korean dramas.
I personally find the coffee drama of Bosco and Eliza okay too, one of the better drama from last year. The script wasn’t bad and the acting was good and unpretentious. If something was bad it were the camera equipment and editing.
And with him gone, what lies ahead for Toby Leung?
I wonder too … … 🙂
Haha I was thinking about that too.
the people who should be leaving are virginia lok, catherine tsang and sandy yu
I second that! TVB needs to get rid of all the current management (and that includes Mark Lee as well) and bring back the previous management as consultants — May Fung still has a lot of connections to the 80s stars, as does Ho Lai Chuen, though he’s thriving at NowTV right now, so probably won’t come back…bring back Ho Ting Kwan as General Manager and also Robert Chua and Lau Tin Chi…not sure how I feel about Ng Yu returning considering his connection with EEG, but he’s still better than the current batch of executives. Oh and of course, TVB would need to change their restrictive policies and completely clean house (meaning they reverse whatever stupid rules that Mona Fong and her cronies had created)…perhaps then, TVB might be able to get many of their good scriptwriters and producers back, which is really what they need more than inviting former popular artists to participate in mediocre series.
With all that said, I know it’s just wishful thinking on my part — probably never going to happen in my lifetime….
Sometimes we put too much blame on TVB scriptwriters. All the scripts/ideas have to be approved by TVB producers and senior Management. Therefore, if TVB wants to change, I think they should do something to their senior executives first.
@sandcherry: That’s very true…which is why I mentioned about ‘cleaning house’ in the executive ranks first, since the good scriptwriters won’t want to come back if their freedom is restricted like it was back when they were with TVB. Even the producers don’t really have a whole lot of say in their own productions — most of the time, they have to play the ‘politics game’ with the executives in order to be given a little bit of freedom to shape the production in the direction they desire. It’s actually quite pathetic the way the process works….
I agree,
Popular good artist but bad scripts storyline is still boring to watch.
I think Bosco is good actor, but that coffee drama with Eliza Sam is just a waste of his time, such a terrible written drama.
I also love Michael Miu, great dramas he did for TVB in the 80s and 90s are gone. Recent TVB dramas he did is mediocre, if it weren’t for Michael Miu, I wouldn’t be watching.
Guess that next step is Herman Ho (Sandy Yu’s husband) will take a position.
I think so too.
For Triumph in the Skies (film), hope they choose Tavia, Charmaine, Myolie, Joey Meng, Annie Liu, and/or Hu Jinh as lead actress(es).
and Nancy Wu
If Annie Heung was to film for TVB again, she would be quite fitting to the air attendant role too… I think ^_^
Anne Heung might be too old to be an Asian flight attendant as they do have an age limit, unlike North American.
@sandcherry –
I don’t understand why asians have that age discrimination to flight attendants. Seems to me, they value appearance over experience … quite sad.
As a passenger, I also like to see young and pretty flight attendants. Flying used to be a luxurious and expensive service (not any more now). There are some very old and ugly flight attendants in North American airlines. Some of them are even in their late 50s. How can they help/serve passengers when there is any plane crash (or accident)?
In most cases, if a plane crashes there’s really no difference if a flight attendant helped you or not because you are already dead. Let alone if the flight attendant is old or young, pretty or ugly.
You are right then!
But still a young flight attendant can help those sick passengers or lift heavy hand luggage up easily than old ones.
@sandcherry, I rather have good flight attendants than good looking flight attendants. It should be based on individual merits rather than look. You’re right though, some in the late 50s are not strong enough and should not be selected. But, some 50 year old are stronger than the lolly pop supposedly good looking stewardess and should continue to work.
Puff:
We should have both good looking and capable flight attendants!
There’s a weight and size limit on hand carry luggage, so being old or young, pretty or ugly there’s no difference in helping the passenger. As for helping out a sick passenger, they have protocols and handbooks which they all have to pass and renew their knowledge every so often, being old or young has no effect since their knowledge is pretty much the same. Let’s just say you are just shallow, prejudice and a hypocrite.
I don’t know, but I speak for myself. I rather a 50 year olds woman attendent help me with my luggage than a 90 lbs (40 kg) young Hong Kong girl.
Most HK girls are very thin, the wind blow them they would fly, being 100 lbs or under I dount if they can atch a bigger weight man if he was about to fall down on the plane.
So there age limit in HK attendent, how about weight? I bet they only select those thin beautiful girls to work on their plane.
@Kristy
Let’s just say you are just shallow, prejudice and a hypocrite.
—————————————————————
You were very mean in the above statement. I was only joking and not being serious. I am sure young and pretty girls are always more eye-catching than those old and not-pretty women. I have travelled quite a bit in the last few years, and I found that young flight attendants were always smiling vs. those old and experienced ones. I have also met some 250+ lb. male flight attendants on the planes flying domestic routes.
What will happen to his daughter Toby Leung? Whom I heard from my mom that she just got divorced from a short marriage due to her extramarital scandal with Ron Ng?
She did divorced but she is still ok. Filming Line Walker.
i wonder what genre tits-movie version will get,i hope it will be something like hollywood movie “non-stop”,a very good airplane hijacking thriller with liam neeson,one of my favourite hollywood actor.
About time, as HK TV series have became sterilized, boring and repetitive. TVB needs new blood, someone with better and bolder and forward looking visions to lead them.
After Tommy leaves, does this mean we don’t need to see Toby casted in tvb drama anymore?
Toby should go in to bootleg category 3 movies…
TVB drama is now boring and not enjoyable. Its pretty much a waste of time.
I would play some console games instead
TVB is doom.
With the garbage pile management of 620, Catherine, Sandy, Mark… TVB is a sinking ship!. Good luck to ex-TVB employees.
Already doomed. Go watch Jap/Korean drama instead. TVB is finished.