Gordon Lam Rejects Filming for TVB
Many TVB actors have been heading to mainland China to dig for gold recently, resulting in the company’s lack of siu sangs. Desperately in need of male leads, TVB has been trying to bring back veterans such as Tony Leung Ka Fai (梁家輝), Cheung Siu Fai (張兆輝), Lawrence Ng (吳啟華), and Gordon Lam (林家棟).
Allegedly, TVB had a script ready and contacted Gordon in 2012, only to be rejected on the spot without further consideration. Gordon firmly said, “I cannot help them, nor do I have the qualifications to help!”
Being in the entertainment industry for 24 years, Gordon was an ex-TVB siu sang with all his dramas hitting over 40 points in viewership ratings. He had been the male lead in the anniversary series for four consecutive years. However, Gordon was eventually tired of the dull work at the company, and decided to quit 12 years ago after filming Country Spirit <酒是故鄉醇>. Signing under Andy Lau’s (劉德華) management company, Gordon often appears in supporting roles in Hong Kong movies. Gordon has been nominated for several Hong Kong Film Awards for his fine acting.
Now 45 years old, he is unwilling to walk down his old TVB path. Gordon revealed, “TVB contacted me last year, but I turned it down without learning further details!” Speaking of how TVB requires help, Gordon expressed, “I don’t see that! Honestly speaking, they are a big company with so many people. There are many new siu sangs every year. I don’t have the qualifications to help out. Actually, it’s better for them to train new siu sangs than to look for outside helpers. Most importantly, they should look for artists with temperament.”
Gordon added that good actors are not all about looks. Otherwise, they are just flower vases. In his eyes, Mandy Wong (黃智雯) has a lot of potential, and Oscar Leung (梁烈唯) has a heart for acting. “Drawing the distance closer between the audience is what a real lead actor does. For example, Ha Yu (夏雨) or Liu Wai Hung (廖偉雄).”
With plenty of other work opportunities awaiting Gordon, he does not see TVB’s offer as something special. Gordon laughed and said, “I’m greedy! If the Magic Lamp allows me three wishes, I hope I can become a director, a producer, as well as the male lead in the future. I wish to be successful in every position.”
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Shirley for JayneStars.com.
“I cannot help them, nor do I have the qualifications to help!”
This sounded really snobbish and sarcastic in my opinion. However, I’m not saying that Gordon isn’t in the position to say such things. He is much successful on the silver screens than in TV dramas. I do wish him all the best.
Yeah, it does sound snobbish. But towards TVB, maybe that’s what they need to hear these days. Poor salary towards employees, annoying-sounding management execs . – no wonder ppl want to leave.
Maybe TVB treated him so badly that he can never forget it and is still mad at them? WHo knows? Since he has better opportunities now, he no longer needs TVB. I guess he has heard of the mal treatment from TVB of other veterans that have returned so is afraid to come back??
With the way TVB treats his current and past artists. I don’t blame him for saying that. It’s obvious that he didn’t depart on good terms.
support him!
I think he has always been snobbish. I never like him in TVB series and very surprised he became a lead for a few series but I guess it shows TVB has always been lacking leads, whether it’s men or women. Haha…I remember he was on the super trio show and he was so snobbish that the shorty host gave him a bit of an attitude i mean not that Eric shorty has a good attitude but he was the host of the show and I remember this guy quickly tried to say something good to back it up. I always find him annoying than the other leads at that time.
It sounds the opposite of snobby in Cantonese – in Cantonese, it sounds intelligent and unwavering.
Please don’t misunderstand me 🙂 I agree completely with your views re Gordon! I meant snobbish in a good way. Not many have the courage and the kind of attitude like Gordon does and this is something I admire about him. With his talent he does not need to depend on TVB.
I think if TVB asks Wong Hei to go back and film for them, Wong Hei might give the same reply as Gordon or worst because I think TVB isn’t a great place to work. I think Gordon is so direct and snobbish is probably he doesn’t wants TVB to keep pestering him. Haha
Omg. Gordon Lam praised Mandy Wong that she has a lot of potential. Yay! He also said that good actors are not all about looks, or it would just be flower vases. That’s good advice from a veteran actor. 🙂 I’m glad that he recognizes Mandy Wong’s acting talents. I love watching Mandy and is her big fan. xD
think he was just being polite in order to reject tvb offer
me too…i am glad that he recognizes Mandy Wong’s acting talents. I love watching Mandy and is her big fan 🙂
And Gordon Lam act good too although i am his big fans…but he is a good actor
yes, I like Mandy’s acting. TVB should give her more varied roles. And she’s nice to see on screen. Oscar is great too I agree.
i think its tvb management’s fault, slave driving and cheapskate bosses at tvb too, lots of actors angry at tvb, between heard that tvb has a new boss now, so former actors do not have any link with tvb
His look now really does suit films more than tv. My favorite series of his was with Kathy chow!
He was a good actor in tvb series but never leading cause tvb had so many good talents back then. Now tvb begging for him to come back to boost the popularity of newbies? He’s got a point bout training new artists and not just looking for veterans to help save the station.
Now I remember he did lead in some series but never understood why he left so suddenly. Oh, cause its getting dull. I can see why with the dull story lines and repetitive stuff
He led in quite a few TVB series during the late 90’s. I’m assuming that he left because he found better pay and opportunities elsewhere. Let’s face it, how many actors have grown with TVB as a rookie to become a veteran and stays in a leading role? None! They eventually all become supporting casts or in minor roles with TVB.
He leaded in many series, not some :P. However can’t say that he left the deep impressions in the mind of audience.
What he has been done as a movie director is a different story.
He has bullshiping TVB many times in the past. His feeling is still unchange, no surprise. He doesnt need to film TVB.
gordaon was the lead in many hit dramaas i only remember watching him as a leading actor.. doing 1 drama wont waste u that much time and effort andy is alot more busy then gordon and his willing to film a drama for tvb andy might be treating it as charity work cos tvb keeps saying its war time
Gordon Lam + Johnnie To = Siiiiiiiick~
dd,
I agree the ‘sick’ part about this guy but I don’t really know Jonnie To? haaha
Johnnie To is one of the two directors (the other being Andrew Lau) who can actually use him properly.
In any case, I don’t think he was on the audience’s wish list, Most people who watched TVB in the 90s want to see gallen, Louis, nick, deric, chi lam, etc.
I dont doubt Gordon’s acting, but he has the star quality and charisma of frankie lam + looks of evergreen Mak.
Gordon is a way better actor than Frankie Lam. Frankie Lam is a one-dimensional actor.
I wasnt comparing their acting, but i agree.
I think it’s hard to judge the audience’s preference who they want to be back in TVB’s dramas. Don’t know what happened between TVB and Gordon to spark off such hatred for TVB, but maybe he could consider that his fame started off in TVB and film one drama with them. Without TVB maybe he’s still an unknown actor, who knows.
Whatever it is, I like his directness and certainty when he said his piece. No indecisiveness about it and it looks like he is not too fond of TVB and would rather be elsewhere. What a snub for TVB.
Given how TVB treats veterans who returns to help them, I don’t blame Gordon for rejecting TVB on the spot. Sometimes I don’t understand why these veterans would bother returning to TVB.
Hmm you guys should read that article about Andy lau and Gordon lam. Gordon lam wanted to film television dramas but Andy lau stop him…..
Do you have a link to the article?
Interested in this as well, is it translated or still in Chinese?
i am one of his fans.. i like him so much when he film for tvb last time.. he is as famous as gallen n nick n bobby in the 80s n 90s’
Oh, how I miss those male leads back in the days.
me too~ ive been waching 80s and 90s dramas! still soooo goood
Haha love his response to the evil empire 😀 yes they have so many talents like the new goddesses LOL
TVB needs some serious reflection. Heard too many of similar case. Gordon’s reaction or response is understandable.
I do agree that TVB needs some serious reflection. There is a real talent drain, but this is not just because talents left, its because TVB is overly promoting people who look good but with no skills too quickly. They need to invest more on serious talent development program or partner with performing arts colleges to uncover new talents.
In my view, what Gordon said – “Actually, it’s better for them to train new siu sangs than to look for outside helpers. Most importantly, they should look for artists with temperament”, is spot on!
Gordon pretty much left because of the same reason most of the others did – his career was starting to get stale and wasn’t going anywhere….I mean, you can only play the same type of roles for so long before the audiences (and the artists themselves) eventually get tired of it. After all, who wants to stay in the same position for 10, 15, 20 years? And you know what, the success that he has been able to gain in the film industry is proof that he definitely made the right move to leave TVB.
Sure, people can say that he sounds ‘arrogant’ for rejecting TVB, but like others here have said, he’s merely ‘telling it like it is’. Unlike in the past, TVB is no longer ‘the only game in town’ and so they can’t expect everyone to cater to their every beck and call or bow and kiss their feet anymore (though of course, there will always be die-hard TVB supporters who believe that going against TVB is an ‘unforgivable sin’).
Whatever the case, kudos to Gordon for having the guts to say ‘No!’ loud and clear, without hesitation! That definitely deserves respect in my book!
I am actually a fan of Gordon Lam. He’s got a comedic side that shines on tv and in movies.
Some of his notable performances:
– time before time (kathy chow)
– show time blues
– plain love 2
– legendary 4 aces
– country spirit
– reaching out
– cold war
– dance of a dream
I guess I have odd taste, in my books, he’s a great actor with versatility.
I won’t know if anyone saw it but in a Super Trio Series, he was very competitive in music chairs and kicked out at a female action actress. I don’t know if the media caught it or not. They tried to cut out the footage when shown on TV but I rewinded it and watched it again so I saw that he did purposely kick out at the actress.
I don’t remember that particular segment of it but i have watched trio shows w/him in it and he does seem snobbish and arrogant in a way when eric the shorty is also very arrogant hahaha….He just doesn’t strike me as someone who seems at least nice on the outside, inside we don’t know but at least on the outside, I don’t find him likable haaha… Since I don’t watch movies I don’t if he’s doing well in that part of his career but my friends did say he got LUCKY w/Andy Lau or something.
Eric always picks on Gordon on the Trio show to the similar extent as he picks on Golden Kong. Gordon shouldn’t be treated so badly on Eric’s show as a guest in my opinion.
Maybe he got really pissed off at Eric in the show he exploded and couldn’t control his anger.
I think Gordon is a great actor though.
I also remember the super trio show. To me, Eric Tsang has always been annoying but this Gordon guy is no gentleman either. Haha…He does come off as a very competitive and a bit conceited and vocal with his opinions. Yes, he did have a few leads here and there but he was never super popular in my opinion but he just sounds quite conceited the way he talks. However, it is also true that TVB probably does treat artists unfairly. Look at all those cameo stars which we see in almost every drama but they are never more than just passbys in the show and alot of them we don’t even know their names even if they are been acting for years and years.
I enjoyed Gordon Lam’s impression of Jacky Cheung in one of the 9o’s show. Think he’s quite talented. But agree with some of you that he may have left TVB upset.
I agree with him on his points about actors. I wonder how badly TVB treated him, for him to outright decline before finding out any details. Must have been an ugly breakup.
To me he does come across as a bit snobbish in his acting, but he is also an amazing actor when given good direction. So I am more inclined to think he is not that way in real life (hopefully).
He deserves some leading parts and I hope he can fulfill his future film dreams cause I think he is a very creative and talented guy with a lot of charisma.
Watever! Hated his voice though!
If Gordon ever wanted to snub TVB here was his chance and he did it with full of confidence and in full measure. That guy certainly has got guts.
I don’t care what other people think, I dun care wut if ppl hates him, I dun even if hes gonna work with tvb anot..I like his acting very much..i still remember when he was young actor & I was a kid..his role was “Koh PEk”…damn funny..He even act like andy lau, jacky cheung..etc..dats talent
At least he came out straight with the decline unlike many artists who say, “Yeah, I’ll do it if it’s a good script, I’ll really do it…” … and actually never do it. Disappointing fans and all just to get TVB moving. That’s sh88tty!! Good for Gordon!
not really a great loss, nor much anticipated. i think most people who grew up with the 90s, want to see gallen lo, louis koo, nick cheung, deric wan, chi lam, lawrence, francis way more than gordon lam.
gordon lam is definitely a good actor, but he really doesn’t have much charm, star quality or looks. he’s like frankie lam.
and his characters in movies did not leave a lasting impact on me, in fact, i forgot he was in most of them until i looked at his filmography. >__<
Oops ignore previous comment, I typed this on my iPad before the 3G went out, then retyped a similar comment on my laptop. When I opened safari today, it submitted itself.
some of my fave … maybe u forgot or disagree
Some of his notable performances:
– time before time (kathy chow)
– show time blues
– plain love 2
– legendary 4 aces
– country spirit
– reaching out
– cold war
– dance of a dream
Exiled
Mad Detective
Election
Ip Man
and….ummmm, you know, probably the biggest movie of the 2000s, Infernal Affairs
Yea, and I watched all those movies, and who do you really remember after a few years? Tony Leung, Sean lau or Gordon lam? I can’t even remember him. Perhaps you watch it multiple times?
Lol, I just checked up mad detective to see what role he played, and I’m not lying here, I realised I remember the character, but I forgot he was played by Gordon lam. He just has a very nondescript face. I’m not asking for good looks, but Sean lau has very distinctive face. Or nick cheung.
Gordon Lam could be a main lead but some people are just damn good at being supporting cast.
As I always say: the world needs gravediggers too.