Gallen Lo Ka Leung - A Dragon among Men
TV Series Issue No. 18, Sept 01, 2008
Mag scans: Gallen Baidu Board
Our special thanks to 罗家良友 for sharing
TVB News Tidbits: TVB’s upcoming 40-episode drama, 金装豪门
The cast for TVB’s upcoming 40-episode drama is now confirmed to have Kenix Kwok, Jamie Chik, Ray Lui, and Gallen Lo. Other names include Anita Yuen and Nancy Sit.
TVB has previously insisted that the plot would not be based on the Kwok brothers, but the few early rumored details do make the script look quite similar to the Kwoks’ real life dramas.
According to said rumors, Ray’s, Jamie’s and Kenix’s characters will form a love triangle, with Jamie’s being the lawful wife and Kenix’s being the soulmate - a strong, career-minded, and sophisticate woman. There will be a lot of conflicts between Ray’s character, a successful businessman, and his brother, played by Gallen.
I wonder if, between the two brothers, there will be an evil one. If so, I wish that would be Gallen’s character. It gets a little tired being the big brother who takes care of everyone and is responsible for everything. Let us once again have Gallen as a black sheep of the family. Wouldn’t that be much more interesting? Think Kiu Lik! Think Tsui Ka Lup! 
Updates:
- 09/20/2008: Tentative title: 金装豪门 [Gold-plated Wealthy Family]
- 09/20/2008: Kenix Kwok’s character is a lawyer - Source
Gallen Lo: “Life is now a Cup of Sake”
Source: Sun HK [on.cc]
Photo: on.cc
From left: Gallen Lo’s life is open and aboveboard, carried out with clear conscience [carried out with nothing to be ashamed of]; To lead a single life, he needs time to adapt; His favorite drinks - use them to open up (a passage to) his heart.
[Brief]
Gallen Lo says frankly that he has yet to get used to the life of a bachelor after divorcing his wife. Entering a new stage of life, he admits there are many things to learn and to adapt to. Using wines to refer to life, Gallen likes to think of whisky as prime time, where an internal flame would be required.
His life now is more like a cup of sake.
Gallen Lo on Stephen Chan’s “Be My Guest”, 08/09/2008 - Transcript (3)
Continued from Transcript (2)
The following transcript is not a news article, so please do not repost elsewhere. Thanks.
Photos: Baidu
Behind the Divorce
S: Everything about you is… long-lasting. Your showbiz career has lasted 24 years, with 18 years at TVB. Such a long time. Your love life was quite long-lasting as well. Since the time you two met, dated, got married, and until recently, divorced, this love story had lasted for almost 30 years. What was the reason that had forced you two to make the move, to divorce, to re-evaluate?
G: I have thought, and I have said these: in this world, it’s very difficult to say what is wrong, and what is not wrong. It’s just so hard to separate them, and so the most important thing is having both parties willing to face the problem calmly and to solve it peacefully. Sometimes, the viable solution would be, such as my case, a breakup. Divorce, in the typical eyes of the general public, wouldn’t be a good thing. I meant, everyone would most likely, if not definitely, advice against it. But then in some cases, it mustn’t be a bad thing. For us, even though we are now divorced, but things are still as well as, if not better than, before. We are polite toward one another, yes, but it stems from sincerity. There are many things you wouldn’t see or appreciate when you are inside. Not until you lose them. For me, I’ve lost something, but I’ve also gained something else…
S: What have you possibly gained from this?
G: In the past, I would go home after filming, see my son and wife, and felt nothing so special about it. It was as normal as it should be. Now that we have decided on this move, have parted, I on the contrary begin to think of many ways - of what and how to try - to love my son. I have always been the one that makes him laugh, but I’ve never tried more (than that).
S: What actually happened that brought you to this decision? Was it just time that made you realize it’s more appropriate to go separate ways?
G: I feel, just like our elders said, it was fated.
S: So the problem was that you no longer felt toward one another? How did you approach it?
G: Yes, that was the problem. We talked… As you know, it is I who work in this entertainment business which my wife and son have been innocently dragged into. They don’t work here, yet because of me, she has to share many of my burdens.
S: You had separated for a year before reaching the decision of an official divorce. You must have insisted on keeping the secret under wrap. How did you do that?
G: I must thank all my friends who had helped me (to keep it a secret), I have realized through this incident that they are my true friends.
S: You told your friends?
G: Yes, I did.
S: And they kept it under wrap?
G: They did help me to do so.
S: Are these friends of yours in or out of showbiz?
G: Both, actually.
S: Did you break this to your parents?
G: Yes, it worked out fine one day when my parents came to visit. At first I wouldn’t think my father could come, since he had been suffering from a heart condition. But that day they both came, and somehow Clare and my son were out, as was our housekeeper. It was about 2 in the afternoon and I was getting really nervous. I didn’t know how to break the news to them or what kind of reaction I should expect. I went to the fridge, got myself two beers, and downed them to summon my courage. I found my father watching daily news on TV, so I waited until they were done, then came forward and declared “Mom, Dad, I have something I need to tell you!” I sat down while my parents’ eyes grew as wide as headlights. “What happened? What have you done?” I’d never talked that way to them, and (obviously) made them nervous. I had to start with the… daily news to calm my father down, and finally broke the news about the divorce “I had to so-and-so…” Luckily my parents were quite sympathetic, and they respected my decision.
S: What about your son? How did you tell him? He’s nine, isn’t he? What did you two tell him?
G: Very gently… Not right after the decision was made, since we strictly can’t talk to him in a heavy mood. We had to wait for a while, then told him gently that both Mom and Dad still loved him so much. We had to tread very lightly.
S: Did he accept?
G: He did. But then his personality is very mild. Even when he was little, if a friend pushed him, he would never push back.
S: Just like yours.
G: Yes, he wouldn’t fight back. He is very generous, very accepting. I think his EQ is also quite high.
S: Has he ever said “Mom, Dad, please do not…”?
G: Well, when the problem first emerged…
S: In 2002?
G: (I think) he knew it. He could feel it.
S: Nowadays children are very quick in sensing (such things)
G: That year I was filming in Shanghai, Clare took my son to go visit me. He didn’t say anything, but he tried to imply his hope by holding both my hand and his mother’s hand in his, swinging himself in between us. He tried to talk using his action.
S: It must hurt.
G: It still does.
S: Back in 2002 you two did see the problem, did try to manage it, so that you could stay together?
G: We did.
S: Have you ever thought of the past as so unreal? You loved each other for 19 long years, and then the marriage only lasted for 9 years.
G: It’s really hard to say. I thought it was fated, such divine arrangement. You have what you have, and lose what you lose. What else can I say… But then, in this whole story, the only thing the media cares for is whether or not a third party was involved.
S: Yes or no? Was it a reason, or was it just rumor?
G: I can only say that time will prove everything.
S: You mean there’s no third party, neither from your side nor your wife’s? Only… love has faded?
G: Affection…
S: But then there are so many marriage couples who have come from love to appreciation and even stay together solely because of responsibility. You didn’t think you could do so?
G: If it was just because of responsibility, I don’t think we should do so.
S: So what’s your plan? Will you visit them periodically?
G: Definitely, definitely. I will also try the best to have more time for my son. I’d like to bring him to class, spending more time with him. I just have to try my very best.
S: What about the future? Will you consider marriage if in the future you meet a special someone?
G: The future is unpredictable. If you ask me whether I am suffering from marriage-phobia, then the answer is no. I still believe in fate, and still try to recuperate. It’s a little hard, but I’ll try. I know I am a little stubborn.
Gallen Lo on Stephen Chan’s “Be My Guest”, 08/09/2008 - Transcript (2)
Continued from Transcript (1)
The following transcript is not a news article, so please do not repost elsewhere. Thanks.
Cross-references:
Photos: Baidu
The “Wooden Figure” Lo Ka Leung
S: When you first started, many commented that Lo Ka Leung was (as stiff as) a wooden stick. Upon hearing such criticism, you must have felt terrible.
G: Yes, of course.
S: What did you do to overcome?
G: I didn’t think I was so bad…
S: You thought those criticisms were unreasonable, perhaps?
G: Something like that. I thought since I was trying my best already, it didn’t quite make sense that it wasn’t there. But a year or two passed by and those criticisms didn’t go away. I wanted to cry out - all of us needed a way to earn a living, you used a pen, I sold my act, why couldn’t you possibly leave me a way out? Then later while chatting with a close friend, it suddenly dawned on me “But they might very well speak the truth. If so, I probably need to try even harder, make it even better, right?” Thinking back years later, I thanked them for what had been written. It truly was a motivation.
S: Did you ever think of reaching out, mingling with those reporters, giving them friendlier treatment, and hoping they would not write so harshly about you? Have you ever done so?
G: No, I haven’t. I do, however, have friends who work as reporters. Whenever we meet, we are nice toward one another. But so far I’ve never purposely set up appointments with them. I believe the only one you could count on is yourself. You have to do what you do well, you have to show everyone that you could do it, then naturally people will acknowledge your effort.
S: Which series or scene was it - when you felt that you’d improved and learned how not to be a wooden stick? What was that turning point?
G: “Vengeance”, since…
S: Ah, Kiu Lik!
G: Yes, Kiu Lik. He was an antagonist, very evil, but it made sense how he became such a person.
S: Weren’t you worried about the challenges of (portraying) an antagonist?
G: I wasn’t. The fact is I had stuck with the good characters for years up to that point - 8, 10 years into my career, and…
S: And yet no breakthrough? hahaha
G: No breakthrough, I was so sure I was doomed, haha… So when Kiu Lik came, I just, well… When the series was aired, my character was doing fine. But after that came nothing much, not a single note-worthy role. That wasn’t a very optimistic period of time.
10 Years of Struggling
S: After you finished with Kiu Lik and no other good role came along, you continued to struggle. Has it ever crossed your mind - the thought about leaving showbiz?
G: No. I wouldn’t have known what else I could do (once I left showbiz), would I?
S: Dead end?
G: Yes, dead end! Then I was thinking, no, more like trying to convince myself - This was my job, a job. And the pay was okay…
S: But you were miserable! I’ve read some tabloids who said you had to save a lunch box for both lunch and dinner?
G: Well…
S: That was true?
G: The worst for us actors back then was attending function. Unlike nowadays when everyone has sponsors, back then we didn’t. Whenever there was a function, half of your monthly salary would go into your attire. From about $3000 (HKD) you were left with $1500, and you’re doomed. We dreaded those press conferences and functions, but there was only one option left: you have to act really well, you have to make a name for yourself, or else you’d have to play with the (financial) balance.
S: Someone commented that the reason Gallen Lo Ka Leung had to wait for such a long time for a chance to make his name was because of his lack in socializing skill or rather, his lack of socializing. How do you think? Is it correct?
G: Yes, it was like that for a long period of time. Back then the first floor of the TVB building was for us actors, while the fourth floor was for directors and producers… I can’t remember exactly when, but one day it shot through me… “Hey Lo Ka Leung, shouldn’t you try to come up to the fourth floor more often?”
S: Just passing by so at least the directors and producers could learn about your existence, huh?
G: Just passing by, haha… It wasn’t so bad, was it? But it all depended on your perspective. A very close friend of mine once teased me “Gallen, I was walking so far away and you still said hi? Isn’t it a bit too obvious?” What could I say? He was a friend and I really did want to say hi. I felt okay, and since then I tried to become more initiative.
S: Did it really help?
G: Somewhat. I thought of each series I filmed as a harbour I had reached. Once a person got to know me, he would recognize my ability, and that mustn’t be a bad thing… At least I wouldn’t be out of jobs.
S: At least they’d think of you?
G: Yes, exactly. The most important thing is still how you treat others.
S: You have reached so many harbours, which one was particularly helpful to you?
G: I can’t really pinpoint…
S: Hey, be honest, will you?! Which one?
G: I guess that must be uncle Tommy [Leung Ka Shu]
S: “Cold Blood Warm Heart”!
G: Yes, “Cold Blood Warm Heart”. I talked to him quite often, chatting, asking for advices. When filming of CBWH wrapped up, he gave me some suggestions. “If you would like to earn the audience’s affection, consider switching to comedies!” That was his advice. “Old Time Buddy” had yet been announced at the point, so he asked me whether I’d like to try “I haven’t told anyone”, he added.
S: And he told you?
G: Uh huh
S: I think what he tried to say was “I think you should try, but any consequences won’t be my responsibility!”, wasn’t it? hahaha…
G: No, hahaha… Well, such a chance would revive or it would kill, but I felt since my life wasn’t so significant, let me just give it another try. It went something like this “Geez, I’ve been on this line of business for 9, 10 years and couldn’t make a decent name. I deserve to just disappear. Haizzz, nobody would ever invite me to be on the cover page. That’s it. I’m done.”
S: Even when you divorced, and still, nobody asked you to be on the cover, hahhaha
G: See, I just am not worth it, hahaha… But, well, thoughts like that just… came.
