10 years ago, Sammul was supported by the two big people in the industry Leslie Cheung (Gor Gor) and Alam Tam, but he didn't get to race past anyone and become popular. Until his participation in TVB series Triumph in the Skies and Survivor's Law that his popularily began to rise. It was rumored at the time that because he wasn't a TVB contracted artist that he wasn't able to make it up to first line artists and lost out in the TVB awards. Last year he took part in his very last series Relic before his contract expired and formally ended his relationship with TVB.
Won TV King for 'Schemes of Beauty'
Recently, Sammul focused in the Mainland market. Besides earning a lot of Chinese Yuan, he also won TV King at last year's 2010 'Seoul TV Festival'. His career was finally made certain. What was so unexpected was TVB started airing both of his series Relic and Schemes of Beauty at the same time. As the leading actor, Sammul came back to Hong Kong to do promotions and during one iCable interview, he opened fire on TVB's coldness, which led to constant gossips. Sammul said: "I did not open fire or complain, I have been in this company for over 10 years. That time, I was purely just sharing my own views, voicing out my opinions. There are people in the public displeased, perhaps because I went to iCable to do the interview, but iCable as a TV station has the right to broadcast whatever or delete whatever. In the interview, I talked about both positive and negatives, happiness and unhappiness. Perhaps that will become something negative when it broadcasts, when you watch the interview, it seems like there are a lot of dissatisfaction and anger. In fact, I expected iCable would cut out some stuff."
Has the poker chips, Has courage
Sammul describes himself just like a child. In the past, he was prohibited to go to certain places. Now that he's grown to be an adult, he can go whatever he wishes, naturally will he want to go those places he couldn't before. Does he regret opening this prohibited door? He said: "No, I already said what I had to, regret will not do anything. (Is it because you have the 'poker chips' that are you aren't afraid to take this step?) I do have this element, otherwise I'm just asking for it, but it's not because of the 'poker clips' that I have to do it. It is because I am mature now, I have the courage to share with others, not leave it in my memories."
Sammul continued: "In fact, after so many years, I have more experience. When I first entered the industry, there were a lot of things I didn't dare to do, but now I learned that it should be done at anytime." What did things did you say that iCable cut out? He said: "A lot, I talked about how I grew in the 11 years I was with TVB, otherwise I would not have the jobs I have today. The greatest affect was I have never been in the acting class. I started off as an extra, like Chow Yun Fat. I just stood aside and learned how to act. In some cases, only TVB can give this opportunity to me, every year there are many series produced, to my acting career it is a great foundation."
"Don't trouble friends"
Sometimes, it is best to act more and speak less. Today complaining about his old company, has he become the person troubling TVB? Sammul said: "I am not considered troublesome, using the word autistic fits more closely. I will have self-control, many things I will not just do it, for example I really want to go out late at night, but I considered the affect on my image, what happens after drinking and losing control, so I controlled myself and didn't go. (Less ways to relieve stress?) For work, I discuss with my manager and just share with my family. They just listen to me complain. My sister answered a lot of my complaining phone calls. I know I have my family's final support. In fact, sometimes relieving stress is easy, you can go to the beach and listen to the waves or go spend money. Eat an expensive meal or buy a famous brand watch. Eating ice cream is the stress reliever I often use, I can eat a whole bucket of ice cream."
Don't suck up to Executives
Working in TVB for over 10 years, Sammul is grateful of Lee Tim Shing. "Tim Gor is the first producer that was willing to use me for his series. The other is A Bride for a Ride producer Poon Ka Tak. During shooting, he gave me great encouragement. TVB Foreign Affairs Director Tsang Sing Ming, I also have to thank. It is because of my manager that I know him. He regards me as his child. Before it was said that he was watching for my mistakes at events, but in fact we had a meal before the event, he wanted to accompany me to the event. He wasn't sent by TVB to watch me."
Don't need to thank Virgina Lok or Stephen Chan? Sammul said: "I don't keep in touch with them often. I am not a managed artist, and rarely do I get invited to the executive parties. I also don't like to suck up to Executives. But, they are very friendly people, when we meet in TVB we do greet with a smile and exchange a few words. (Why not pay a visit?) Every one has a different personality, artists have different faces. Other people doing it, doesn't mean I have to too because I cannot past my own conscience."
Hope for a day that's not being silly
Sammul reveals that his future work is already scheduled. He currently has 3 series that he needs to shoot and do something he wants now that he's left TVB. For example, he wants to participate in the HK stage play tours because he really likes that type of close interaction with live audience. "This is a job that I couldn't do when still signed with TVB. TVB did not allow me to leave HK for a long period because there are many series waiting for you to shoot. (Have you thought of winning a Mainland award?) It's hard for Hong Kong artists to win awards in Mainland because it's 1.3 billion people compared to 8 million. Also there are a lot of people in Mainland who are drama professionals. However, I will pull in all the effort I can and hope to win an award within the next 5-10 years based on my skills. I feel that you need to pay a big price and effort for fame, and this type of award is the most valuable. So I dislike 'awards', although people laugh at me that I'm being silly, I hope one day I'm not being silly, but can still reach my goal and desires."
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