The 18th Shanghai Television Festival flourished with TVB artists. Aside from Moses Chan and Ada Choi promoting for TVB's Beauty at War, the other HK artists Charmaine Sheh, Myolie Wu, Kevin Cheng, Bosco Wong and Bobby Au Yeung were all there to promote Mainland dramas. It was said Mainland artists' salaries skyrocketed, taking up 60% of the crew's production costs, and therefore the production companies are forced to use TVB artists because they are "beautiful bargains". Also, TVB artists are respectful towards their work, hardworking and able to bear hardships, and aren't as troublesome as Mainland artists. A producer from Mainland expressed the current TVB artists working in Mainland aren't considered too expensive compared to local artists. The highest paid is Startling By Each Step's Kevin Cheng. He currently makes 25K RMB per episode, but other Mainland artists on his level are already asking for 40K RMB.
As for other HK artists, Ada Choi makes 20K RMB per episode; Bosco Wong 19K per episode; Myolie Wu 13K-14K per episode after she became TV Queen. Steven Ma and Bobby Au Yeung each make 12K RMB per episode and Sheren Tang gets paid separately of 15K RMB for guest starring in a Mainland drama.
TVB's Director of Production Resources Virgina Lok expressed its 'triple win' for those artists developing in Mainland, which includes gaining more fame, broaden acting career and skills. Artists' income also increases along the way, so even she has to make artists' schedules in Mainland a priority.
Triumph in the Skies II cast changes again
As the artists schedules in Mainland are a priority, TVB grand production TITS 2 has to go through changes too. Initially Bosco Wong was part of the cast, but because making money is his priority, he decided to give up on TITS 2. Recently, Kate Tsui was also dropped from the cast because she already accepted a Mainland drama. To avoid hindering her way in earning money, even TITS 2 has move aside.
Source: Mingpao
Translated by: aZnangel @ AsianEU Forum
