Barbara Yung's accidental photo exposure
Why make a fuss over artists "finding extra work"? Hong Kong's TVB is making a mountain out of a molehill.
Barbara Yung's accidental exposure photo
Hong Kong TV artists, tempted by high salaries from the film industry and nightclubs in Southeast Asia, constantly take on outside work. If you want to stop this, why not give everyone a ten-fold raise? Furthermore, the best strategy would be to forbid artists from having any contact with the outside world.
Publications need the cooperation of artists, artists need the publicity from publications, and the audience/readers can satisfy their curiosity from this. These are mutually beneficial relationships. No one truly owes anyone else, nor is there any real sense of obligation.
However, when things go too far, problems arise everywhere, and conflicts occur.
For instance, the recent "accidental exposure storm" over a cover photo has sparked quite a bit of controversy.
The protagonist of this storm is TVB's valuable asset, Barbara Yung. Although she didn't make the top three in the Miss Hong Kong pageant, she was still signed by the station. Starting from being chosen to play the role of "Wong Yung" in the TV drama "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", her career soared. She took leading roles in numerous period and modern drama series. Through her progressively improved acting skills, and moving past initial criticisms of her performance, Barbara Yung, under planned promotion, has been molded into a youthful, playful, and innocent "girl-next-door" image.
Within a year, her name became a household word. Besides audiences in Hong Kong knowing her, she also gained a certain level of fandom in Southeast Asia. For Barbara Yung, this is an achievement worth being proud of. From an unknown girl living in the UK, a graduate in textile design, to her current cherished and envied status, it can be said to be a testament to her success. The TV station is also happy to have such a star in their hand. Because of this, maintaining Barbara Yung's innocent image is extremely important.
In March, a weekly magazine featuring Barbara Yung on its cover appeared on newsstands. Normally, this wouldn't be strange – this weekly always uses the most popular, newsworthy personalities for its cover. So lately, it's either Cherie Chung, or Maggie Cheung, or Barbara Yung. However, this time, the Barbara Yung was "different".
She was still fresh and beautiful, with a gentle glance back, quietly resting her chin on her hand – this was the usual "pure" Barbara Yung. But, beneath her apricot-colored clothes, there seemed to be a problem. Because the clothes were loose-fitting, and because of the camera angle, her chest area had an "unintentional exposure" (穿帮).
Perhaps, for some nude stars, sex symbols, or stars known for their bold and open style, this level of "exposure" might be considered child's play, not worth mentioning. But for the always innocent, "body-guarding" Barbara Yung, it was no small matter. It even attracted the attention of the TV station, fearing it would damage her pure image.
When this incident happened, Barbara Yung was performing overseas and didn't learn about the news immediately. But after it attracted widespread attention, the news naturally reached her ears. Her initial reaction was disbelief, later turning to anxiety and unease. She couldn't believe that this photoshoot had caused such a big storm, and moreover, she herself didn't even know the extent of that "exposure".
Barbara Yung's side stated that originally, she was just taking an ordinary, proper cover photo. Because the neckline was large, and to avoid revealing her innerwear which would affect the visual, she decided to go without, but still instructed the photographer that if any revealing shots were taken, they must not be published.
TVB's reaction was even more sensitive and intense.
Recently, some female artists, seeking a breakthrough, have – whether intentionally or unintentionally – had slightly bolder expressions and clothing. Because television is a more mass-market, popular medium, and actors' images enter family homes, the TV station is particularly cautious about maintaining the pure image of its artists. For example, after artist Rebecca Chan Sau-Chu previously took some sexy photos, she was immediately removed from her role as host of "World of Sports".
The TV station stated that regarding artists' bold exposure, there are two ways of handling it. If it's self-abandonment, willingly ruining their own prospects, they are left to their own devices, or even have their contracts terminated. But if it's caused by carelessness or being tricked, they receive the company's full protection, and the company will step in to resolve and clarify the situation on their behalf.
There are many weekly magazines on the market, but only one entertainment circle. To compete for readership and increase sales, the competition among these weeklies is very fierce. Thus, they sometimes need to "break insider stories" to create stimulation and attraction. In terms of photography, asking artists to pose in sexy ways is also one method. As long as it has aesthetic appeal, it's not entirely without justification.
But to prevent similar situations from happening again, the TV station immediately issued a clear order: all female artists must obtain company consent before doing photoshoots for magazines, otherwise they will face internal discipline. They were also instructed to pay attention to their "appearance" during photoshoots to prevent "excessive exposure".
This counts as a method of "mending the fold after the sheep is lost". Will it actually work? Can it curb unnecessary trouble? Who can guarantee no further "accidents"? This is merely a question of perspective and "angle".
But ultimately, will this "cover girl" incident trigger a wave of photoshoot phobia among female artists? That remains to be seen.
何必对艺人"接外活"斤斤计较？香港TVB小题大做
翁美玲拍摄走光照片风波
香港电视艺员们受到电影界和南洋一带夜总会的高薪诱惑，不断外出赚取外快。若要禁止，何不将他们的薪水普遍提高十倍？再者，禁止艺人与外界接触方为上策。
报刊需要艺人的合作，艺人需要报刊的宣传，而观众和读者则可以借此满足好奇心。这些都是互利的关系，谁也不欠谁，也谈不上谁该领谁的情。
然而，当事态发展过火时，便会危机四伏，引发冲突。
例如最近发生的封面照片"走光风波"，就引起了不小的争议。
这场风波的主角是香港无线电视台的当家花旦翁美玲。尽管她在香港小姐竞选中未能进入三甲，但仍被电视台签下。自从在电视剧《射雕英雄传》中被选中饰演"黄蓉"一角开始，她便一路走红，在多部古装和现代电视剧中担任主角。凭借日益精进的演技，并逐渐摆脱了初期受到的表演批评，在公司的有计划宣传下，翁美玲已被塑造成一个青春、俏皮、清纯的"玉女"形象。
在短短一年间，她的名字已家喻户晓。不仅香港观众认识她，在东南亚她也拥有不少影迷。对翁美玲而言，这值得骄傲——从一个旅居英国、毕业于纺织设计系、默默无闻的女孩，到如今拥有备受宠爱和羡慕的地位，堪称个人成功的印证；电视台也因手握这张王牌而欣喜。因此，维护翁美玲的纯情形象变得至关重要。
三月份时，报摊上出现了一本以翁美玲为封面的周刊。这本来并不稀奇——该周刊向来以最走红、最具新闻价值的人物作封面。故而近期封面不是钟楚红，就是张曼玉，再不然就是翁美玲。然而，这次的翁美玲却"与众不同"。
她依然清新秀丽，轻轻回眸，默默托腮——这还是一贯"清纯"的翁美玲。但在杏色衣服下，似乎出了问题：由于衣服宽松，加上摄影角度的关系，她的胸前"穿帮"了。
或许，对于一些脱星、艳星或作风大胆开放的女星而言，这种程度的"暴露"可能只是小儿科，不足挂齿。但对一贯纯情、"守身如玉"的翁美玲来说，则非同小可，甚至引起了电视台方面的关注，唯恐破坏其玉女形象。
事发时，翁美玲正在外地登台表演，并未立即获悉此事。但在消息引起广泛关注后，自然传到了她的耳中。她起初反应是不敢相信，随后感到惶恐不安——没想到这次拍照竟引发如此大的风波，而且连她自己也不清楚那种"暴露"究竟到了何种程度。
翁美玲方面表示，她当时拍摄的只是一张普普通通、正正经经的封面照。因领口较大，为避免露出内衣影响观感，才决定不穿内衣上场，但已嘱咐摄影师，若有任何走光的镜头，均不可刊登。
而无綫电视台方面的反应则更为敏感和强烈。
近期一些女艺员为求突破，有意无意间在表情和衣着上都略显大胆暴露。而电视作为更大众化、普及化的传播媒介，演员形象深入千家万户，因此电视台在维护艺员纯情形象方面尤为谨慎。例如，此前女艺员陈秀珠拍过性感照片后，立即被调离《体育世界》的主持工作。
电视台方面表示，对于艺员的大胆暴露行为，有两种处理方式：若是自暴自弃、甘愿自毁前途者，便任其自生自灭，甚至解除合约；但若因不小心或受骗造成，则会得到公司的全力保护，并代为出面解决和澄清。
市面上的周刊众多，而娱乐圈只有一个。为争夺读者、增加销量，周刊之间的竞争非常激烈，于是时常需要"爆内幕"来制造刺激性和吸引力。在摄影方面，要求艺人摆出性感姿态也是方法之一——只要具有美感，本也无可厚非。
但为避免类似情况再次发生，电视台立即明令：所有女艺员在为杂志拍照前，必须获得公司同意，否则将受到内部处分；并嘱咐拍照时要注意"仪容"，以防"曝光过度"。
这可谓"亡羊补牢"之法。究竟能否奏效？能否遏止不必要的麻烦？谁又能保证不再有"意外"发生呢？这不过是观点与"角度"的问题罢了。
但究竟这次"封面女郎"事件，会否引发女艺员的拍照恐惧症呢？那就不得而知了。
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