Gallen Harbour

Source:  The Standard

(11-28 21:42)
Television Broadcasts has confirmed it plans to lay off about 200 employees, with details to be announced in the next few days.

The layoff will affect various departments except for actors and show hosts. Termination letters will be sent starting on Monday.

External affairs deputy director Tsang Sing-ming said the production resources department will be the worst-hit.

Tsang said the layoffs are needed to maintain competitiveness. TVB has been recording surpluses for the past five years.

STAFF REPORTER   - The Standard

Disturbing, isn’t it?  Apparently nobody is immune from the economic downturn.

Follow up:  12/02/2008:  Anger as TVB Laid off 212 Worker

Other 11 wallpapers are available for download at TVB.com

TVB Calendar 2009 - October. From front, clockwise: Bernice Liu, Gallen Lo, Bobby Au-yeung, and Maggie Siu. Wallpaper: TVB.com. Click on photo to enlarge.

“Making of” clip - Our special thanks to luckymeimei

This is not a news article, please do not re-post elsewhere.  Thanks.

In an effort to correct the mistake done on the series’ sale presentation clip for making the villain look a little too “cute” to be evil, TVB took extra measurements at the costume fitting.

Let’s play “Find Gallen”.  Can you find him in the photos?  If not, chance is TVB has outdone itself in the art of disguise.  Here’s the hint:  look for the goatee!  The goatee, as horrid as it may as well be, is still less unflattering than that grandpa-like sweater underneath the heavy winter jacket.  May this look last for less than the length of the whole drama.

How traumatizing!  Luckily, there are still the classy Jamie, the beautiful Kenix, and the charming Ray to ease my pain.  Especially Kenix!  Her hair is just so lovely!

Photos:  on.cc (Click on thumbnails to enlarge)

Photos:  tom.com

Clip - Our special thanks to luckymeimei

English translation by sehseh.  Our special thanks!

Please visit Sehseh’s Blog for the rest of TVB 2009 Sales Presentation synopses.  Please contact sehseh directly for permission if you wish to re-post the following translation elsewhere.

The Grand Entrepreneur 金錢誘罪

(The Crime-inducing Effect of Money, lit.)

Cast: Ray Lui, Gallen Lo, Anita Yuen, Kenix Kwok, Jamie Chik, Joe Ma, Nancy Sit, Bernice Liu, Kenneth Ma, Toby Leung.

Series highlight: A grand family; a pair of non-blood related brothers rivaling each other, their love, hate, revenge entangled together. In the realm of love they too are victims of fate. Using the turbulent banking industry as background, the series comprises of overseas location shooting, strong cast line up, with the ‘classical’ actors and actresses showcasing their superb acting. The series is astounding and definitely anticipated by audiences.

Synopsis:
The story is based on a grand family in the banking industry, starting from the appearance of a conman who entered the family as the 2nd brother (Gallen Lo). In business, the 1st and 2nd brother rivals each other. Outside the business, each face love predicaments of their own: The 1st brother (Ray Lui) married an heiress (Jamie Chik) from influential family as wife, but developed an affair with a female lawyer (Kenix Kwok) who is considered his one true love. The 2nd brother is in love with the 3rd sister (Anita Yuen) whom he have no blood relations with but could not get together, challenging the limit of incest. On the surface, the two brothers share the same father with different mother. Will they only keep rivaling each other? In the family the 2nd brother felt the importance of family love, but as a conman he could only pick one between wealth and love. Will he be moved by family love, or will he step on the path of no return for wealth? The dear ones are innocent, but wealth is tempting!

Please contact sehseh directly for permission if you wish to re-post the above translation elsewhere.  Thanks!

[HK]  Mingpao Weekly’s 40th Anniversary Dinner Banquet was held at Four Seasons Hotel, HK, last night (November 12th, 2008).

Invitations were extended to many heavyweight artists, among which were Anthony Wong; actress Amy Kwok Oi Ming and husband, actor Lau Ching Wan; TVB executives Stephen Chan and Virginia Lok; singers Sally Yip and Miriam Yeung; actor Adam Cheng and daughter, actress Joyce Cheng; actress Lau Ka Ling;  TVB artists Lei Heung Kam, Bowie Lam and many others.

Actress Dodo Cheng was the MC.

Mingpao for the past 40 years has practiced acurate and factual news reporting.

[Clip]

Source:  Xinhuanet.com

Photo:  Xinhuanet

TVB 2009 Sales Presentation Gala took place today, November 11th, 2008.  Read more at Batgwa.

Here is the very first screen-capture of 金钱诱罪’s sale presentation clip.  Courtesy of QQ.  Stay tuned!

Left:  Ray Lui Leung Wai - Right:  Gallen Lo Ka Leung.  Photo:  QQ

11.14.2008:  More screen-captures have been made available here.  Thanks to sehseh.

11.19.2008:  Clip tudou or youtube

This is not a news article. Please do not re-post elsewhere. Thanks.

I don’t mean to wonder what to expect from US President-elect Obama, or from the US economy. I’m taking a break from all of those issues and now seeking refuge here. So of course, I’m talking about Gallen’s next TVB drama.

We might expect the sale presentation clip as soon as next week on November 11th. It’s a fun time for speculation and to let your imagination run wild.

I bet 10:1 that the current roller-coaster ride in Wall Street will definitely be featured as a key plot twist similar to the way the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s nosediving following Kobe 1995 Earthquake was mentioned in “Cold Blood Warm Heart”, or the post-911 financial crisis featured in “Golden Faith”.

In both of the above-mentioned instances, the events were integrated into the plots to neutralize the antagonists (term used loosely) and lead them to their self-destruction (Tsui Ka Lup) or self-destruction followed by redemption (Oscar).

Little was known so far about Gallen’s character this time, except that he’s “not just simply a bad guy!” That leaves room for plenty! Is he cunning and ruthless in business but protective and considerate to loved ones? Is he hot-headed, selfish and unintentionally destructive to both himself and others? Or has he a knack for always falling for the wrong things, be it love or business interests?

Care to guess? We’ll see whose prediction turns out to be most accurate when the series airs sometimes next year.

Of course, there is always the risk of the drama never been filmed, considering the kind of harsh economic climate we’re all weathering. Just kidding!

Photo: Peace Bird