TVB Entertainment News

Hong Kong artiste, Ivana Wong, and designer boyfriend, Eric So have had a very stable relationship and have always been very sweet. Earlier, when the two attended a function together and was asked about marriage, Ivana immediately blushed, and Eric stated: "We'll talk about it if she agrees! Not much planning, when the feeling is here, we'll do it!" However, today, Ivana posted three photos on Weibo, one photo was of the two holding hands, and the other two are pictures of the couple together, Ivana wrote: "Too grateful for meeting you, not late nor early. Thank you God, thank you to my parents, thank you to all my brothers and sisters. Thank you everyone. Wish all those that love each other will get there happy ending, and grow old together. Let me the grab the limelight first: "Eric So, you're SO LUCKY!""

Reporters phoned Ivana, and she responded: "At the time, we were both single, and were introduced through friends. Because we both love arts, we were brought together. We started dating mid-2013, and in April 2015, Eric proposed to me at his art exhibition in Korea. We both love art, work with art, love travelling. We have the same values, so we are very suitable for each other." Asked about the proposal ? She expressed: "On the 19th of April this year was the Hong Kong Film Awards. On the 18th, I was in Korea with Eric at his exhibition, but because I had to attend the awards ceremony on the 19th, I had to return to Hong Kong on the 18th by myself. On the way to the airport, he proposed to me." Ivana admitted that when she received the ring, she didn't know what to do: "He had to stay in Korea, and I had to go back to Hong Kong. I felt very agitated and didn't knwo what to do. His thought was he didn't know whether I'd be able to win an award on the 19th, but he wanted to award me with a "Best Hostess" award first!"

Lately, the popular TVB series Inbound Troubles has got the entire cast on a popularity rise. It was announced the series is going to have a sequel and a film edition. As one of the female leads, "Cousin Ching Ching" Ivana Wong expressed she temporarily will not be shooting TV series, instead she will concentrate 100% on being a singer. She wants to focus on the launch of her new album. In June, she'll be participating in a musical. Seems like it's going to be unlikely to have the original cast in the sequel, Wong Cho Lam will really have to spend more time trying to persuade her to come back to the team.

Ivana expressed: "I will temporarily not be shooting TV series because I have a musical in June, Little Hong Kong Season 4 to work on. It's another comedy as well. I discovered I really like watching comedies, after watching Inbound Troubles, the series was actually really funny. I didn't realize how funny it was while we were filming. (Consider being part of the sequel?) Didn't think about that. We, artists, have a discussion forum and often joke about having many seasons to this series, just like American series Friends, which had like over 10 seasons. (Apparently there is going to be a Qing dynasty version and a film edition of the series?) I don't know, the was an artist on the discussion forum mentioning about Food for Slaves, but I want to concentrate on music first, unless there really is a sequel. The film edition, I know they have this idea, but I don't know if it will actually happen. Just leave it to Wong Cho Lam to handle everything, he started the whole thing. I don't currently have any thoughts, just remember to watch Inbound Troubles. One night, I had to go out on a business trip and couldn't go on tvb.com, so I asked a colleague to record the episode for me. I'm afraid of missing out on what's happening."

Surprised by the power of TV Series

Ivana was surprised by the power of TV series, when she first heard her colleagues mention it, she didn't really believe it. Ivana said: "It is all true, my colleagues said before once the series broadcasts, everyone will call me 'Ching Ching'. Earlier when I was at the airport, someone came up to me and said: 'Ching Ching, you came back to HK!' That moment, I didn't know if I should have used my own voice or Ching Ching's voice to respond to her. I really felt the closeness, suddenly felt the distance between me and HK audience had been pulled closer. It's like we became a big family. The power of Inbound Troubles covers all of HK. (Did you get any extra jobs?) I asked my company before, but perhaps I'll just wait for Wong Cho Lam to lead us for a Oh Baby - Classic Song Remembrance Night."

'Brother Song' Actually Dedicated to Ivana's Actual Brother

Actually, Ivana continued to collaborate with the Inbound Troubles cast, such as in her latest album released on Feb. 7th, she recorded a song with 'Chiu Chiu' Louis Cheung entitled Flower of Life (生命之花). Ivana expressed: "When we were filming the series, I listened to Louis' first composed work, coincidentally he was 'Chiu Chiu' and I was 'Ching Ching', the feeling from the song was so romantic and the melody was moving. I suggested that I should be the female lead in his MV. He then changed the arrangement of the song into a duet version. (Will the songs from Inbound Troubles be released?) My first song in the series Brother Song (哥歌) was written for Roger Kwok to sing, but in reality the song was written for my real brother. I will be coming up with new lyrics and record a new version for my Mandarin album. Love will be the new theme. I also know Netizens have praised that the 2 minute Cantonese version was really good. I hope to release a full version when the finale airs, so everyone can enjoy it."

During the great war in the HK television industry, many artists have moved over to Ricky Wong's new free TV station CTI and there has been a lack of Siu Sang and FaDans within TVB. Of course, TVB won't just sit there and do nothing. The best solution now is to promote their 'own people', following Natalie Tong and Sire Ma taking on lead actress roles, handsome and healthy image actor Jason Chan (Chi San) is also being heavily promoted.

Moses Chan, Kevin Cheng, Raymond Lam, Bosco Wong, Kenneth Ma, Tavia Yeung, Fala Chen, Linda Chung, Myolie Wu and Kate Tsui are seen in 90% of TVB's series. However, to compete with the future competitors, TVB will of course have to first put out their 'own people' policy and promote the 'second line' artists.

TVB is now targeting the one who possesses a filial image, Jason Chan. With his success in last year's sitcom Be Home For Dinner, Jason accepted two series and three endorsements shortly after in which he rapidly gained 6 figures in one breath. Since TVB is currently lacking Siu Sangs and Jason is favored by TVB's two executives Catherine Tsang and Virgina Lok, he rapidly gets named as the next 'first line' Siu Sang. Late May, Jason will be starting his first series as a lead actor in new modern series Ferris Wheel Happiness, pairing up with Linda Chung.

In regards to the news of becoming lead actor, Jason frankly expressed he feels blessed: "Since my debut in 2006, my progression had been going pretty well. TVB gave me a lot of opportunities. From the hosting job on the TVB Pearl channel, to shooting series on TVB Jade, the jobs have just been coming continuously. I personally didn't have too many down times, I know some colleagues that didn't get any jobs for several months, I just feel I'm very fortunate. I really want to thank Miss Lok, but I also feel very nervous taking on the lead role for the first time. I'm worried I can't do it, and this is my first time collaborating with Linda. I don't know how our chemistry will be like. However, of course I will try my best to try out different roles and opportunities. I hope my acting in the future will be like Ah Mo (Moses Chan) and Ah Fung (Raymond Lam)." Jason might have a youthful look, but it turns out he's already 35 years old and is only starting to become a Siu Sang now, does he feel it's rather late? He said: "Although I am not considered young, I still have a baby face. Since I've entered the industry, I learned a lot. Perhaps its because I entered the industry late, so I have mature thoughts and whenever an opportunity comes, I will grasp it and do even better."

Aside from TVB's own people, it was said during the series production preparation, the producers are courageously using new faces. Just like Roger Kwok, Joey Meng and Wong Cho Lam's new comedy series Cousin, You Are Good, the search for a female lead had been going on for a while. It was said, Wong Cho Lam saw Ivana Wong's musical performance and immediately recommended her to the producer. Results, she was successfully recruited into the cast. Regarding this, producer Wong Wai Sing admitted: "I did indeed watch her musical. I saw how freely she portrayed the HK Girl role in the music and is different from her usual image. It was truly an eye-opener, but Ivana was reluctant at first because she has never been in a series after all. Later, she learned her role will be a music college graduate and likes to compose music, which is similar to herself and she'll be collaborating with the two artists that treats newcomers well, Wong Cho Lam and Roger Kwok, so she eventually decided to take part in this series."