TAIWAN–For decades now, Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) has been at the forefront of Chinese language television programming and the veritable engine behind most of the entertainment industry, notably Hong Kong’s enormous film empire and gregarious star system. TK GUSH ABOUT HOW BIG IT IS
In step with other great and historically-significant talent factories such as Motown and Jive Records, Hef’s Playboy bunnydom and the former Soviet Union’s gymnastic team, TVB has forever plucked eager young wannabes out of obscurity, bedraped them with some Shanghai Tang and greased-up the lens, before setting them before a Cantonese, Mandarin and J-pop audience happily accepting the sound of conveyor belts droning through their television sets and car radios, while their face occupies billboards, bus sides, cereal packets, confectionery, soda cans, clothing brands, printer components… you get the idea.
The pressure of keeping stars in the spotlight, for a life expectancy which shortens with every skin wrinkle, drives TBV’s artists to around four albums a year, a swathe of film appearances (and not just any films – high action and demanding physical work is the norm.) and appearances on nearly every wacky, tacky and dumb celebrities-doing-stupid-tricks show on the television-arm’s roster. It was under these conditions that 21 year-old renown Hong Kong actress Cecelia Cheung was under when she had to drive a car through flame and over 5 parked vehicles for a televised charity stunt, landing heavily and fracturing her spine.
