Winner of 2009’s Miss Chinese International Pageant, Christine Kuo (苟芸慧), initially had a great start to her career at TVB as one of the most heavily promoted rookie actresses. Unfortunately, things went downhill in 2013 when the 32-year-old artiste was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and helplessly reached a body weight of 170 pounds. Struck with a depressed mood and forced to stop work, Christine left many of her fans in worry. At the peak of her TVB career, Christine allegedly received a salary reaching $100,000 HKD. However, now that her management contract has expired and considering she had taken a long hiatus from work, the station reportedly demanded that she pay a 6-digit sum as a fine. According to tabloids, TVB finally relented after several rounds of discussion. The company allegedly decided to put Christine on vacation but extend her contract until mid-October. In addition, they reportedly proposed several options for the actress while the 6-digit sum is placed on hold. However, sources claimed that Christine had not been paid at all in the past nine months. There were also speculations that other companies had contacted Christine for work opportunities in the meantime, only to be rejected by TVB. Opens Up Own Business Despite taking a long break from filming, Christine apparently found other ways to keep busy. Earlier, she and a friend opened a dim sum café in Tsim Sha Tsui called Dim Sum Icon. Christine would often visit the café to take on the job of a waitress. When recognized by customers, she did not appear stunned and only continued to smile at them warmly. In a telephone interview, Christine was pressed for comments regarding her lack of salary from TVB and their demand for a 6-digit sum. She simply exclaimed, “I don’t want to talk about this too much, but the company takes good care of me.” When asked if it was true that she invested over $100,000 HKD in her dim sum café, Christine replied, “Haha! You’ll find out later! I’ll keep it a secret for now.” Creds: Oriental Daily
I thought she just recently filmed a drama. But this is why TVB-contract is so questionable. Some people are allowed to have work outside of TVB while still being contracted with TVB, but some people aren't allowed to do shit and TVB rejects all outside industry-related work like in her case. Like come on, she gotta survive too. If you don't give her work, why reject the work offers that other companies give her?
TVB should be the one going down instead of ATV. I love the actors and such, but its the management and the OLs that just take too much advantage of everything. Really sucks to see that kind of business and their cover up.
This is true... has been reported on many times over the past years. It's coming to light more and more now because of the lack of work they have for all the actors/actresses because they seem to keep favoring the newbies to try and promote them. It's a total BS contract considering they're not allowed to do shite outside of TVB but then arent' given much to do at TVB. This is the problem when tvb is a monopoly and controls so much of the media/advertising/sponsors in HK.....
The problem is some artists while being contracted with TVB, are allowed outside jobs (like acting gigs in mainland) but some artists are not allowed. The pattern seems like the "higher tier" people have special permission, like Ron Ng/Bosco, but anything lower than mid-tier, like Christine, aren't allowed. Rich get richer, poor get poorer.
HIgher tier = longer standing tvb actors/actresses who are still relevant and pulling viewers... AND who haven't been too outspoken in their support for HKTV/umbrella movements/politcal view etc.... tvb is just "do as i say ... not as i do"
Unless you already made a name for yourself (at least even a little bit), you're stuck in the TVB dungeon unfortunately.
It does seem like TVB is trying to find a way to distance themselves from her and eventually let her go.
Yea, seem like HK have a serious issue with women who are a bit heavier, even a skinny woman in my view, they would call her fat. I still remember going back to China and than HK, I had a few people that said I was fat and I was like, WTF, these are muscles...OMG. I weight like 150 to 155lbs. If they can talk to me like that, I can only image how they talk about women.
My aunt said i look like an elephant LOL . Women who look like two chopsticks are considered pretty but women with boobs and ass are fat?! WTF lol
It's so true, Asian countries are like that or some Asian mindset is, sticks are pretty. But If you are so skinny that you fit into childrens' clothing is not pretty, airports are not pretty, women needs curves.
And yet we some what support them by continually watching their stuff...which I know can't be helped... At least she's smart enough to be her own boss to make the $$$ Good for her!
Total monopoly .. leads to lack of choice. If only ATV or HKTV did some decent series then we'd all jump to those
I thought HKTV had decent series. But their problem is most concepts are not suitable for all ages (sensitive to younger people). I never watched one HKTV series. Even though TVB have cliche storyline, at least most of the time it's family-friendly.
I never finished a HKTV series, starting watching a few but got bored of it mid way through. Something about the TVB ones make me finish it even if it's total crap
