[2014.12.01] WONG CHO LAM SCARES OFF PATRICK OFF WITH HIS SALARY

courtesy of singtao.com

Leanne Li shows off her engagement ring

Joey Man and Roger Kwok promote the series finale

Nancy Sit is afraid to bring a date to Wong Cho Lam's wedding as she is afraid of an on the spot proposal

Bob Lam and Chen Jiajia
courtesy of mingpao.com

Reportedly Wong Cho Lam's asking price is keeping Patrick Kong at bay

Nancy Sit has already put Wong Cho Lam's wedding on her schedule

courtesy of on.cc

The cast of the hit series COME ON, COUSIN (LO BIU NEI HO HEA!) caught director Patrick Kong (Yip Lim Sum)'s eyes. He planned to work with Wong Cho Lam, Ivana Wong Yuen Chi, Chiang Chi Kwong, Louis Cheung Kai Chung and Chen Jiajia and added Pakho Chau for his new film MOOT NUI SUN TAM (WITHOUT WOMAN GODLY DETECTIVE). Yuen Chi will play the title lead while Chiang Chi Kwong will be like LOVE UNDERCOVER's Hui Siu Hung character "Fong Sir". However Cho Lam reportedly asked for HK$ 3 million for salary, keeping Yip Lim Sum and the film company at bay.

Cho Lam and Yip Lim Sum have always worked together. In 2006 Yip already invited the then unknown Cho Lam to take part in his MARRIAGE WITH A FOOL (DUK GA SI OI). In 2009 Cho Lam was on the rise as he starred in the James Yuen Sai Sun directed SHORT OF LOVE (NGAI JAI DOR CHING). At the time his salary was 500,000. Last year Cho Lam and Yip Lim Sum worked together again on DELETE MY LOVE (DELETE OI YUN) and Cho Lam was already make 1.5 million. Yet this year he doubled his price and asked for 3 million. If the film will be a co-production, with the lead's demand of 3 million the film will still have a chance at breaking even. Yet for a pure Hong Kong film it will exceed the budget.

Yip Lim Sum yesterday admitted that the salary issue was still being negotiated. He was contacting Cho Lam's company and himself for a "two front attack" in hopes of motivating Cho Lam with his sincerity. "I wouldn't give up yet. He won't be a guest star, he will have a role. (Will you get someone to take Cho Lam's place?" No, no one can replace himself. I am thinking of ways to take care of the money." Yip did not directly answer if Cho Lam's salary took a big jump, he only said that Cho Lam was busy with a Mainland program and his wedding preparation. He joked that he will give a big wedding gift and reduce his own salary. Although Cho Lam's salary went up, he was not about the money everything. Lately he took time to help many new directors and assist with their script reviews.