Producer Lee Tim Sing Considers “Rosy Business 3”

Crime thriller, Detective Columbo <神探高倫布> is currently filming in TVB’s Republican Street drama studio. Produced by TVB golden producer, Lee Tim Sing (李添勝), Detective Columbo was previously reported to be his last production before retirement. However, recent reports indicate that TVB has successfully convinced Lee Tim Sing to stay with the company for a few more years by raising his pay and lessening his workload to filming only one drama per year.

The Rosy Business <巾幗梟雄> producer revealed that he has already discussed contract renewal with TVB executive, Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍). Tim Gor said, “I am turning 66-years-old next year. I have talked with the company [about the contract renewal] already, and the contract promises me a 9-month production deadline per drama, allowing me at least three months of rest. It’s a little fairer, and I will only get nine months of pay. As for making a Rosy Business 3, I am still considering.”

Wayne Lai Stands Fifty Feet High

The Rosy Business and No Regrets <巾幗梟雄之義海豪情> Best Actor, Wayne Lai (黎耀祥), was filming for a fight scene forDetective Columbo last night. The scene had Wayne falling into a swimming pool after a gruesome fight with costar, Pierre Ngo (敖嘉年), who also starred with Wayne in Rosy Business, No Regrets, and the upcoming political thriller, King Maker <造王者>. The frequent costars shared impeccable chemistry in Detective Columbo, and they completed the entire fight scene with just one take.

When Wayne accepted his role in Detective Columbo, he did not expect the drama to have much action scenes at all. Yesterday, Wayne was required to stand on top of a narrow memorial arch that stands fifty feet high. Although he had wires for support, Wayne exclaimed that it was one of his most dangerous acting experiences of his career.

“Although I have filmed many scenes that required wire-work in the past, this scene in particular was the most terrifying,” said Wayne. “The platform was very, very narrow, and my two feet had to slant sideways in order to stand firmly. There was nothing for me to hold onto around me. Although I was strapped onto a wire, I had to rely on my balance! I was really scared. The whole scene took about 20 minutes to film, but it felt like hours up there. Throughout the entire time, I was thinking about what I should hold onto to lessen the injuries if I fall down! My brain kept on flashing me with different scenarios. Of course, in theory, I should be safe, but accidents are accidents.”

Wayne also had to film scenes where he had to fall off a building. “Compared to standing forty to fifty feet in the air, those scenes were considered simple. I’ve filmed more frightening scenes in the past. I had to fall from a 38-floor building in Greed Mask <謎情家族>. There was also another time where I had to fly across mountain peaks in Ma On Shan. Although I’m not afraid of heights, once I was on top of the edge of the cliff, I immediately burst into cold sweat. If the wire snapped, I would have fallen to my death.”

Wayne Considered Retirement

Many sources claimed that Detective Columbo will be another representative work of Wayne’s, and it may win Wayne a third Best Actor award. Wayne said, “The only thing I know is that this drama is pushing my acting, my physicality, and its level of difficulty to my utmost limit. I never thought that a non-action drama would have me filming so many action scenes all at once. It is difficult to talk about how challenging this drama is with just a pen and a piece of paper. I actually considered retiring after filming this!”

Wayne Does Not Have High Hopes for Third Best Actor Win

With Wayne’s upcoming palace drama, The Confidant <大太監>, promoted as a TVB Anniversary drama, and critics deeming Detective Columbo to be TVB’s secret weapon, many TVB siu sangs will have to go through Wayne first if they hope to win Best Actor. Wayne disagreed, and expressed that it actually gets harder to win Best Actor each year. The award-winning actor explained, “Winning Best Actor gets harder each year. There is a lot of game play involved. Also, many of the greatly anticipated dramas such as, Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles <名媛望族> have not even begun airing yet. There may be many changes once they do come.”

Wayne continued, “If I win Best Actor again, the encouraging factor behind the award will be less effective. These awards give encouragement to actors. Asking me if I want to win the award again is like asking you if you want to win the lottery again. Of course, I would want to, but I will not impose on it. Besides, having different actors receiving the encouragement is a happy thing.”

Source: Ming Pao Weekly # 2281 via ihktv.comJessie