[2025.02.02] SAMANTHA KO AND KENNETH MA ARE FULL OF CHEMISTRY FROM TELEVISION TO FILM

courtesy of singtao.com

The Wong Jing and Patrick Kong (Yip Lim Sum) produced and directed Lunar New Year film QUEEN OF MAHJONG (MA JEUK NUI WONG JUI NAM JAI) starred first time leads Kenneth Ma Kwok Ming and Samantha Ko Hoi Ning. They took the lead in wishing everyone good luck in the Year of the Snake, and sharing interesting stories about filming to feel the atmosphere of the New Year.

In addition to Go Ling and Ma Ming, Carlos Chan Ka Lok, DaDa Chan Jing, Lee Sheung Ching, Benz Hui Siu Hung, Bob Lam Sing Bun, Juliana Kwok Pui Man, "New Generation Lo Fun" Kris Cheung Kam Ha and others performed. In her first lead movie role, Go Ling played the role of the insurance queen and a natural mahjong maniac. She laughed and said that in reality not many people at home knew how to play mahjong, and she only learned in recent years. She only knew the simple winning hands, but she has never declared any false victory or had too few or too many tiles. Go Ling smiled and said, "I have won with thirteen orphans, it was a self pick win! Just now someone asked me whether I would concede a win. I don't know, I would only look at my own hand and would only make it pretty. So I would always lock up the tiles other people would need."

In order to play the natural mahjong maniac, Go Ling has watched mahjong clips beforehand, learned to stack tiles and other gestures; but she felt that the staff had an even more difficult time. "They have to prepare the tiles for the entire scene, for us to feel the tiles, pick which tile for the hand, toss which tile out, and then pick which tile back, all of them had to be calculated and lined up. They spent a few or two hours to study how to set up the tiles, and let the actor sit down only after they tried it without any problem. Yet the acting had to be appropriate as well, which response to have when picking which tile. Everything had to have drama!" Playing the role of a scientist, Ma Ming invented a lot of things in the film to change the world and benefit mankind but only Go Ling knew how to appreciate them. Ma Ming in the film hated people's mahjong playing, so they would have conflict spots. Although Ma Ming said with a smile that he did not play mahjong this time, Go Ling revealed that he was great at mahjong in reality. Ma Ming humbly said that he only knew how to play. "When my mother was holding me, I was already watching at the mahjong table. I knew how to play since I was little, but I am not great at it! I only play mahjong with family during the New Year, I usually lose. I don't have much luck at gambling, I would lose every time I gamble." On the contrary, Go Ling thought that she had gambling luck, because she has won with a self pick 13 orphans hand. She was so excited that she took a photo when she won the hand.

The two who have worked closely together at TVB. This was the first time they have collaborated to make a movie. Go Ling praised that Ma Ming was comfortable to work with, everyone's expression of drama was so similar. During rehearsal they often understood each other simply from going over the script and went with the flow; Ma Ming smiled and said that he felt that working with her was interesting. As long as the character settings and stories were different, everyone would still have sparks. He also pointed out that the two of them had a hiking scene in the film, and they have both added dialogue. When the dialogue was finished, they naturally had a pause and chemistry completely. Go Ling said, "I didn't expect to be moved by some of the scenes, but when the emotions naturally came up at those moments, people called them 'strokes of genius'." Ma Ming revealed that he had romantic and warm scenes with Go Ling in the film, but the funny aspects were in the hands of Chan Ka Lok and Lee Sheung Ching. Go Ling praised the director's good arrangement, which gave the film tears within laughter and inspiration. Ma Ming said, "It puts mahjong in the family, mahjong in the film is Go Ling and Mama's collection, but I hate playing mahjong so much. FAT CHOI SPIRIT (LEK GU LEK GU SUN NIN CHOI) was a metaphor for life and family, the worse the hand, the more effort the player put into it."

For the first time to play the lead of the Lunar New Year film, Go Ling said frankly that she did not have much pressure, and she was very happy to be invited by Wong Jing and director Yip Lim Sum (Patrick Kong), surprised, excited and looking forward to it. She believed in their choice and rich experience very much. She admitted that if the post-production work had to be done again, she has told the director that she would not mind. Finally the director said that the film was funny and expressed great confidence; Ma Ming also served as the lead actor for the first time in a Lunar New Year film. When he received the director's invitation he immediately thought, "Huh? I have zero box office! Because I haven't made a film before." He also pointed out that the roles of the actors in the film were also very even. He felt that everyone was also the lead, but having the opportunity to perform meant that he had confidence in him. He felt that the motivation was more than the pressure, and he felt very fortunate to have participated.

As for her 2024 performance, Go Ling admitted that it was a full harvest year. In addition to participating in the mainland drama and variety show MEMORIES BEYOND HORIZON 2, she also performed in the TVB drama "Wulin" and the Lunar New Year film QUEEN OF MAHJONG. She also won three supporting actress awards. She said: "I am so grateful, my career is getting better and better. I hope to do every job well, and continue to get everyone's support and encouragement. I will work hard." Ma Ming said that many jobs were suspended during the epidemic, but last year he had many more opportunities to make money such as taking on commercials, dramas and participating in this movie. He hoped that the Year of the Snake will get better and better.

Would the single Go Ling like to find her other half in the new year? She smiled and said, "Ma Ming suggested for me to participate in a dating show, but I don't think I should resist or force anything. Fate has seemingly arranged for my career to be very strong in the few years, I will focus on my career. If I meet the right person one day, of course I won't resist! A lot of people say that it will appear suddenly and you can't stop it. Before it appears no one is suitable no matter how hard I look, so I might as well go with the flow!" Would Ma Ming and his wife Roxanne Tong Lok Man (Pretty Soup) want to have a baby soon? He said that he would leave it to fate, even without one he would have no pressure. He even joked that his wife cared more about the cat than him. Go Ling immediately revealed that Pretty Soup would order food delivery for her husband remotely. Once Ma Ming got a little thinner, Pretty Soup sent message to her and ask if Ma Ming has eaten anything? Then she asked her to double her food delivery order. Go Ling said, "I don't know Ma Ming's taste, so I have to ask him. He is polite and says I don't need to! I say I can't, Pretty Soup asks me to. His wife chooses for him. After I order I tell him, 'Your wife has ordered food delivery for you!' Then he would eat obediently."