[News] Lee Seung Gi tearfully leaves "Strong Heart"

MC Lee Seung Gi was seen shedding tears as he completed his final recording for SBS "Strong Heart".

On March 27th episode of SBS "Strong Heart", YG Entertainment artist gathered for the "Strong Heart – YG Family Special". This special also conincided with the last emceeing duty for MC Lee Seung Gi.

A preview clip of next week’s second part of the special, in which Lee Seung Gi’s tearful goodbye was briefly shown, drew the attention of the viewers. In the preview, Lee Seung Gi tearfully saying, "I remember the first time. I wondered if I could lead Strong Heart as the lone MC."

Meanwhile, actor Lee Dong Wook and MC Shin Dong Yup will take over Lee Seung Gi's MC spot starting the new episodes to be aired on April 10th.

Read more »

[News] JQT's Min-sun Leaves, Jin-kyung Enters

The four-membered group JQT is losing a member, and gaining a new one.

According to the girls' reps on October 17th, one of the original members Min-sun will be leaving the group, to be replaced by new member Jin-kyung (age 18, 165 cm, 44 kg). The agency emphasized the newcomer's toned body, singing, guitar and piano playing skills, and overall instrumental knowledge.

As for Min-sun, the agency said that the group was considering Min-sun's departure for awhile, especially so she can then focus on acting.

Currently, JQT is preparing for the US debut, aiming to actively enter the American music scene in January or February of 2012. They will be linking up with top producers that have worked with Lady Gaga and Akon. The girls will be hopefully be releasing their first single
album in November of 2012.

Source

View the original article here

Read more »

Go Left or Right? Sammul Chan leaves

Reality is always ironic. When mom is watching Sammul Chan on TV in TVB's Relic of an Emissary, dad is reading about him promoting an ATV program on the newspaper. Meanwhile, his younger siblings are on the internet rewatching his iCable interview. The same blood and flesh person appears on three different media. Sammul wins it all! Leaving 3 colored blood for several years and trained a good actor, although Sammul says Byebye to his maternal home, he does not regret: "I am very well-behaved in TVB! I am obedient, almost so obedient I didn't have friends! No, actually I have a lot of friends here, Stephen Chan treats me well!"

"Really worked so much can't even vomit"

Unfortunately, this 'obedient son' still decided to leave, Sammul said: "Before I left, I did a Mainland series, but we are still shooting series, how come one side I'm exhausted and the other side I get to rest? Although I am not telling you to shoot an art film, 100% spirit and mental state is required for a good production, we still need to have an explanation for the audience. Why do we not get to rest? If not in a good mental state, how can we make a good production? I don't understand why when shooting in Mainland, you get to rest and since it's like that, is it necessary for me to endure this pressure?" He continued: "Sometimes I worked until it's like beyond vomiting, not actually vomiting, but really am exhausted. So exhausted that I want to sleep all the time. On the next day I am scared I won't be able to get up! I remember when I was shooting The Academy, there was a lot of physical labor, once there's free time, I would lie down to sleep. Ron Ng, Fiona Sit and I would go out running for a round and then once there is time, we would nap. After work, we had to go back again early in the morning and do the same thing over again. Oh My God!"

Denies becoming ignorant

Sammul is a practical person. He feels work and salary should be directly proportional. Unfortunately things do not turn out that way: "The salary in Mainland is enough for me to use, no longer do I need to worry about not being able to pay off my car or house. I don't have to worry about giving housekeeping money to mom and don't have any left for myself! Thinking back, that day when I was in some room at TVB and they gave me a contract to sign, I said it's so many pages and it's all in English, I should be able to take it home and look at it. Unexpectedly, the next day they said I have to decide immediately. I said it's a big event in life! Let me think about it! Later they didn't contact me again! In fact, it's not too bad, I am pretty happy now!"

When speaking of his freedom outside of TVB, Sammul's lip raises up: "In fact before I was pretty comfortable, but after leaving it's much better. At least I don't have to see the colleagues I don't like anymore, and can see how the outside productions are like. See different things out there!"

Epilogue: TV King, when is it my turn?

TV King or money, what does he choose? Despite having proponents on both sides, Sammul goes practical again: "It's more important to have something to eat! TV King gives you fame, although you get more money, but there is only one TV King a year, when will it be my turn? If I can't earn money now, then should I suffer until I become TV King and then earn the money? But, going out to work is risky too, it's like buying stocks, it is possible I will fail!"

Source: The Sun
Translated by: aZnangel @ AsianEU

View the Original article

Read more »

Philippine landslide leaves 3 dead, 40 missing (AP)

MANILA, Philippines – A landslide tore through a remote mining camp in the southern Philippines on Friday, killing three people and leaving dozens more missing as it buried shanties, tents and the entrances to illegal mine shafts.

Soldiers, police and miners were able to rescue 11 people covered when the hillside outside Pantukan town in Compostela Valley province broke away before dawn, but the remote location and other landslides blocking the lone road in were hampering efforts to bring in bulldozers and other rescue equipment.

Army Col. Roberto Domines said dozens of soldiers, police and militiamen have poured in by foot and helicopter to help in the search and rescue.

The missing were mostly illegal gold miners and their families who build bunkhouses and shanties near where they eke out a living by digging in narrow, dangerous shafts, where accidents are common, Pantukan Mayor Celso Sarenas said.

He said the miners have long been warned to stay away from the landslide-prone area.

"We have warned them repeatedly of the danger there, but they wouldn't listen," Sarenas told The Associated Press by telephone from Pantukan, about 580 miles (930 kilometers) southeast of Manila.

It was difficult to verify the number of people missing because the area is inhabited by transients from outlying villages and towns who have temporarily camped out there while searching for gold. Residents estimated more than 40 people were missing.

The dead included a 16-year-old miner, Sarenas said.

View the Original article

Read more »

Charmaine Sheh offered 15 million yuan, leaves TVB and heads north

TVB FaDans are getting fewer and fewer. Charmaine Sheh entered TVB in 1997 and finally decided that she will not renew her contract when it expires in May, breaking the 14 year relationship. Earlier, Charmaine went to Mainland to shoot series and caught the attention of a Mainland producer offering her 15 million yuan for two years. Compared to TVB's HK$20,000 per episode, there is a huge difference. In addition, there are many Mainland rich men that are pursuing her. Having a new place for her career and love life, the 35 year old Charmaine decided to leave her 'maternal home' (TVB) and head north to develop.

It was understood that Charmaine gets paid HK$20,000 per episode in a TVB series, but going up north to shoot a series, she gets a 5 level jump in price, the Chinese yuan is easy to earn. Also, Charmaine's TVB management contract is ending in May and it's of great importance for TVB to convince Charmaine to stay. TVB Executive Virgina Lok already started discussing the contract with Charmaine last October, but unfortunately there was no news that they will take a step forward, so Charmaine was unwilling to sign the contract renewal. Eventually, she ended up losing the TV Queen title to Sheren Tang at the TVB Anniversary Awards.

TVB offers 10 million for 2 years

At an event earlier, Charmaine generously admitted that she and TVB are discussing of a contract renewal and blurted out: "The Mainland market is huge, there is a need of many artists. The salary for shooting Mainland series are also very high." It was said TVB wanted to foster this biological daughter and spared no expense offering her 10 million for a 2 year contract, but this price still differed from the Mainland producer's offer. No wonder Charmaine delayed on picking up the pen to sign the contract.

Faked the injury?

Although TVB tried all they could and offered a generous price to keep Charmaine, she clearly already made her decision, so he suggested some contract conditions that a basically hard for TVB to accept, then TVB can back up. Charmaine is not afraid of losing TVB, last month she borrowed her arm injury to withdraw from Miu Siu Ching's Forensic Heroes III. Charmaine said herself she need a break for 6 weeks for medical treatment and was afraid to hold up the filming schedule, so she withdrew. However, earlier when Charmaine was out on the streets, her left arm seem pretty flexible and really was not as serious as she described. For this reason, rumors started that she didn't want to shoot the series, so she faked her injury.

Initially When Heaven Burns was scheduled to release in April, but it was recently taken out of the schedule and replaced with Michael Tse's Relic of an Emissary.

Besides the money, Charmaine also hopes to find her Mr. Right soon. In fact, she currently has many rich men from Mainland pursuing her. Until now, she still have not chosen one. Since there are new developments in both her career and love life, so she decided to give it a try.

The day before over the phone, Virgina Lok responded: "We are really still discussing. She suggested some conditions, we are considering it." Yesterday reporters contacted Charmaine to confirm, but she has not responded.

-----------

Tell You What: TVB sons and daughters out fighting for the Yuan.

Myolie Wu and Bosco Wong - Their recent Mainland series in Hengdian was 80,000 per episode, which is 4 times higher than TVB's price.

Kevin Cheng - Last month, he took part in a 30 episode Mainland costume drama Startling Steps in Hengdian

Raymond Lam - Started earning the yuan in the recent year. September 2010, he took part in Ad Mania, portraying a villain.

Tavia Yeung - Following Beyond the Realm of Conscience, she got way into her villain role and was recently invited to participate in Mainland costume drama Harlem with Patrick Tam in Hengdian, she continues to portray a villain.

Sheren Tang - Lat year she participated in a 90 episode long series, New Pearl Princess in Hengdian. She plays the Queen, although not a leading role, still 4 million yuan is safety in her pocket.

Sonija Kwok - In July 2010, she took part in Jade Palace Lock Heart in Hengdian, earning 80,000 yuan per episode and sparked love with Mainland martial arts choregrapher Zhu Shaojie too.

Source: Apple Daily [Credit: TVB Channel]

Translator: aZnangel@AEU

Read more »

Wayne Lai leaves all rumors to Ron Ng; Kate Tsui prepared to be on 'bad terms' with Charmaine Sheh

Yesterday Wayne Lai, Ron Ng, Kate Tsui, Nancy Wu, Christine Kuo, Edwin Siu attended the costume fitting for TVB new series Forensic Heroes III (FH3). As female lead Charmaine Sheh is currently in Mainland shooting a series, she was unable to attend and the focus fell on ex-rumored couple Ron Ng and Kate Tsui. The two were posing intimately in front of the camera. Christine appeared in a wedding dress and stole the limelight.

For the third installment of FH, Wayne Lai replaced Kevin Cheng as the male lead. Wayne joked Kevin, Bobby Au Yeung and Frankie Lam are all busy people, so the unoccupied him had time to shoot this series. This is the first time Wayne's collaborating with Charmaine, he said: "This is our first collaboration, I anticipate it. (Have love scenes with Charmaine?) If there are intimate scenes, I have to look at the script first. (Afraid of rumors?) I don't have much experience in this, leave it to Ron, he's an expert in it."

Once had rumors with Charmaine because of a watch, Ron stressed that he bought the watch himself. Ron said he doesn't have that much scenes opposite of Charmaine, he has more scenes with Kate. As for his past rumors with Kate Tsui? Ron said: "I'm already prepared. Also Kate and I have collaborated several times, just treat it as promotions. (Wayne said leave your expert in rumors, so leave it all to you?) Don't fool me, but he has a wife so he's insulated, won't be too bad. The rumors this time, pass it on to Edwin Siu and Aimee Chan." As for Kate, she frankly said she always has rumors with her male co-stars. Asked if she's afraid of rumors getting on bad terms with Charmaine? Kate said: "Already prepared. (Want rumors or gossips?) If I could choose, of course none of it. I'm just focused on my work, won't think too much." (TN: Kate and Charmaine are sisters in the series)

[Source: TVB News] This time, Nancy Wu plays Wayne's wife and a lawyer. Producer Miu Siu Ching said Nancy and Wayne have lots of married couple scenes and even some bed scenes. Nancy said that she has a lot of first times. It will be her first time being a wife, a mother, and a lawyer. Wayne will have a romantic storyline with both Nancy and Charmaine. When asked if it's going to be triangle love? Both Wayne and Nancy said it's not considered to be because later in the series Wayne and Nancy will have their own marriage problems and then a relationship develops between him and Charmaine.

Source: Oriental Daily

Translator: aZnangel@AEU

Read more »

Charmaine Sheh leaves "home country" to earn more money

type='html'>

Charmaine Sheh who has just received the award of the Most Outstanding Performance Actress denied the rumours that she was not dissatisfied with Sheren Tang being crowned the TV Queen hence not renewing her contract with TVB. She also revealed that regarding the renewal of her contract, it is still in the progress of discussion. She also said that she has requested for a pay rise, but she also frankly said that she has thought of leaving her "home country" and develop her career elsewhere.

While attending an event yesterday, Charmaine expressed that she really wanted to personally go and receive the award, she said: "It's a pity that I couldn't go, I feel this award is a very big encouragement." (Consolation award?) "No, my award was outstanding performance actress." (Do you want to receive the award together with Most Outstanding Performance Actor, Moses Chan?) "I don't know who received that award." (Have a private celebration with him?) "I wouldn't have a chance to celebrate for a long time, I have to return to film series until the end of the month, and then I have to film Forensic Heroes 3." (There are rumours saying that Kevin Cheng and Frankie Lam aren't qualified enough hence being kicked out?) "How can it be? Everyone is TVB is a star, saying this way isn't fair to the artistes." (Are you pressured?) "Everytime I accept a series I will have pressure, I have to communicate with the producer, afraid that people would get bored of watching it."

Charmaine denied that she wasn't continuing her contract her TVB because of Sheren Tang being crowned as TV Queen, "Why would I be dissatisfied? There is definitely someone who gets an award and another who doesn't in an awards presentation, it's not that I didn't get an award." (A consolation award?) "How do you consider it a consolation award? Don't tell me there should only be one award, I don't know where did the rumours come from, I'm still TVB's artist, I still have one to two years contract, the next contract is in discussion." (What requirements do you have?) "Increase in pay." (What about the award?) "I didn't know that this could be done, I feel the production quality is needed." (What about your own benefit?) "When the series have good ratings then I will be benefited." (Develop career elsewhere?) "I did think of this, the Mainland's market is very wide, they need Hong Kong artists, income is about the same, there are more series in Mainland, but after including cutting ribbons and advertisements then they're almost about the same, so it's still based on production quality.

Source: Oriental Daily
Translator: Eujean Lee @ TVB Newsworld

Read more »

"No Regrets" celebration No One Leaves Without Being Drunk

Wayne Lai and Sheren Tang co-hosted a 10 table dinner gathering and invited the entire No Regrets crew to have dinner together. The cast who attended includes Nancy Wu, Elena Kong, Evergreen Mak, Susan Tse, Ben Wong and many more. Wayne bought several bottles of red wine with me and said no one goes home without being drunk. Asked if he gave a Christmas gift for himself? He expressed that he didn't, only gave his wife a watch.

Sheren reveals that earlier she went on a mini vacation with her family, and felt so loved. She also expressed that for now she won't be shooting any series. On Christmas, she'll be attending a preach meeting and frankly said that she hopes to participate in evangelization (spread of religion). Asked if she's participating in Church events because she wants to be like Wong Cho Lam and find her other half? She laughed: "Then I'll have to go find more single men when I go for evangelization!"

Producer Lee Tim Sing expressed that they will not be making a third installment. He frankly said: "If want to make a 3rd one, then find a different producer. I don't want to hog it all!" Speaking of the newcomers, Tim Gor frankly said he supports Him Law, but reporters said that he has too many rumors, Tim Gor said: "What are the youngsters doing!"

Source: Oriental Daily
Translated by: aZnangel @ AsianEU

Read more »

Bernice Liu leaves her "ex" and shows off new boyfriend

Bernice Liu who was recently captured with millionaire Alastair Lam was showing off her new boyfriend yesterday and degraded her "ex", Moses Chan from the relationship of good friends to colleagues. Their six years dragging relationship has finally come to an end. Moses was staying at home yesterday to "heal his wound" and frankly said that he would face it like normal. He also said that there is a "big forest" waiting for him out there, and said that he would once again work for improvement be it in relationship and career.

Bernice Liu earlier was captured by Oriental Daily attending a dinner with rich man's second generation, Alastair Lam as a couple. When Bernice returned to TVB city to film "Show Me The Happy" yesterday, she has earlier prepared to be accompanied by artist manager to enter the studio. Regarding new relationship, she immediately said, "No! We're just friends! During dinner there was a group of people, we also went another place to eat crab, after that we also went to another friend's party."

Bernice said that she knew Alastair through a friend and they have known each other for quite some time. She was asked about their progress, she said, "We're all friends, but no one knows what will happen in the future." She also pointed that she studied business management before this, and that group of friends are doing their own business, they are also ABCs who returned to Hong Kong so they have common topic. Speaking about whether Moses speaks fluent English and whether Moses knows Alastair, Bernice said, "We all have our own friends!" (Are you closer with Moses or this one?) "Aiya! I won't say! Don't have to analyse." (You got to know this guy behind his back?) "It's just what the reports say! I've been righteous all these while!"

Source: Oriental Daily
Translator: Eujean Lee @ TVB Newsworld

Read more »