Virginia Lok: TVB Encourages Artistes to Tap Chinese Market

TVB Executive Virgina Lok (樂易玲) divulges that TVB encourages its artistes to seek opportunities in the mainland market!

With the mainland Chinese market’s growth in recent years, there has been an uptick of TVB artistes turning their career focus to the mainland. Replying to media queries, Virgina Lok shared that TVB has always given its artistes space for growth and would also actively help its artistes liaise for opportunities outside of TVB.

Some Artistes Already Stationed in Mainland

She added that the station is also open to inviting external artistes to star its own dramas, such as Emperor Entertainment artiste Carlos Chan (陳家樂) in 2018’s Daddy Cool <逆緣>, a casting she has personally initiated and more recently, Andrew Lam (林敏驄) for hit drama Get On A Flat<下流上車族>. Emphasizing TVB’s focus on the mainland market, she points out that she herself had dwelled in China for a period of time in 2022.

Noting that collaborations started way back, she said, “TVB artistes are popular in the industry, and I frequently receive calls for talents. Since ten to twenty years ago, I have helped our artistes obtain filming chances in the mainland, it is just that there are new platforms nowadays like livestreaming, short videos, etc.”

The 63-year-old also spilled that TVB has a rule now allowing its artistes to be away from office one-third of the time; and that some of its artistes are already stationed in the mainland. “Like Samantha Ko (高海寧), she only comes back to Hong Kong when she has assignments, Celina Harto (陳楨怡), she’s already filmed a few Chinese dramas. Previously we also collaborated with some companies with a few of our artistes specially focused on livestreaming”, she shared, adding that TVB takes an open approach.

Bosco Is Hot Casting Choice
While viewer reception for recent drama collaborations Forensic Heroes V <法證先鋒V> and Mission Run <廉政狙擊> have been mixed, they have evoked netizen discussions and interest. While such dramas do not lack budget, she added that producers have more to consider, first and foremost the preference of Chinese audiences, the casting choices and even policies, unlike TVB’s internal productions.

According to her, the Chinese side would also ask for certain actors to be cast – a popular choice being Bosco Wong (黃宗澤), thus newbie actors usually do not have a chance to lead. Despite difficulties, she believes that with mutual success for both sides is possible with a dose of caution and innovation.

Source: HK01