In the past, TVB had always tried to protect Raymond and ensure he gets the market price when he shoots a movie and with the addition of his busy schedule, TVB didn't let him take on Mainland dramas. However, seeing Kevin Cheng, Bosco Wong and Ron Ng making so much off of dramas in Mainland, Raymond proposed to TVB again, in hope they will give him a chance to work in Mainland. As the price is attractive, TVB decided to "let him go this one time".
Raymond accepted the 30 episode costume drama The Purple Hairpin Romance. The script was written by former TVB popular scriptwriter Jia Wai Nam. Raymond will be portraying Lee Yik. As this drama is produced by Michelle Ye, who had previously collaborated with Raymond in 3 series, therefor he is given a 'friendship price'. He will be paid 200,000 RMB per episode, which is comparable to Kevin Cheng's 250,000 RMB per episode. The drama is scheduled to start shooting mid-October in Hengdian and shooting will take approximately 2 months. Yesterday Raymond participated in a concert with Joey Yung in Macau, and reveals he hopes to complete the series by Christmas, so he can get back to HK and prepare for his HK Coliseum concert in January. As he is not sure of the filming schedule, Raymond may not be able to attend the TVB Anniversary Awards.
When asked if he's worried the results may get affected if he's not at the awards ceremony? Raymond said: "If I do get an award, of course I hope to personally accept it back in HK." With that said, if he appears at the awards ceremony, does that imply he's getting an award? He said: "Really? I don't know! When the time comes, I may not be able to come back to HK, then does that mean my chances are gone?"
This year, the TV King and Queen competition is going to be head-to-head. Usually the series broadcasting near the time of anniversary leaves the deepest impression on audience. Raymond's performance as 'Wai Sir' in Highs and Lows is getting better and better and also among the 'TVB biological sons', he is the only one that hasn't experienced the taste of TV King. Each time, he only gets the 'My Favorite TV Male Character' award, so this year his chances of becoming TV King is high. This year Raymond's competitors includes, Kevin Cheng from Ghetto Justice II, Wayne Lai King Makers, Moses Chan The Last Steep Ascent, the dark horses Kenneth Ma The Hippocratic Crush and Chin Kar Lok Divas In Distress. (TN: Hmm, they forgot Bosco in Witness Insecurity.)
Raymond expressed it has been a week since Highs and Lows premiere, the TV ratings for each episode is 30 points or higher. The series is already doing very well on the first week and the core of the story hasn't even aired yet, therefore he has high expectations on the ratings. Recently, TVB series have been ending poorly, but Raymond stressed Highs and Lows definitely won't have a bad ending: "Recalling the days when we were wrapping up on filming, there were a lot of large-scale action scenes, very exciting!"
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