Gilded Chopsticks

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Gilded Chopsticks
Genre Historical fiction
Format Serial
Written by Siu Long
Starring Ben Wong
Wong Cho-lam
Nancy Wu
Joey Meng
Louis Cheung
Country of origin Hong Kong
Original language(s) Cantonese
No. of episodes 25
Production
Executive producer(s) Wong Wai-sing
Camera setup Multi camera
Running time 45 mins.
Production company(s) TVB
Broadcast
Original channel Jade, HD Jade
Picture format HDTV (1080i)
Food for the Slaves
Simplified Chinese 食为奴
Traditional Chinese 食為奴
Literal meaning Slave to Eat

Gilded Chopsticks[1] (Traditional Chinese: 食為奴; literally "slave to eat") is an upcoming Hong Kong historical fiction television serial produced by TVB. Set during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, the fifth emperor of a Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, the serial follows the adventures of a lazy but gifted "golden-tongued" imperial chef Ko Tin-po (Wong Cho-lam), whose clumsy activities lead him to befriend Emperor Yongzheng (Ben Wong). The story is inspired by Jin Yong's wuxia novel, The Deer and the Cauldron.[2]

Helmed by executive producer Wong Wai-sing, 25 episodes of the serial will be produced. Production began in Hong Kong in March 2013. The serial will also shoot on locations at Hengdian World Studios.

Production

Casting

A 60-second sales production trailer of Gilded Chopsticks, which was then known as Food for the Slaves, was first unveiled at TVB's Jade Drama segment at the Programme Presentation 2013 on 8 November 2012. The trailer starred Raymond Lam as Yongzheng, Ron Ng as the imperial chef, Fala Chen as Lu Siniang, Nancy Wu as her accomplice, Sharon Chan as Imperial Noble Consort Nian, and Susan Tse as Empress Dowager Renshou. Although the sales presentation cast was only signed on to film the trailer, Tommy Leung, director of TVB's dramatic production department, expressed that the characters in Gilded Chopsticks were written with the sales presentation cast in mind.

In early December 2012, Raymond Lam turned down his role, citing scheduling conflicts.[3] Wong Wai-sing was subsequently announced to be the serial's executive producer days later.[4]

Wong Cho-lam joined the cast in late December 2012. Following the announcement, both Ron Ng and Sharon Chan were reported to have turned down their roles due to a schedule clash. Fala Chen, burnt out from the long filming schedules of Will Power, did not want to pick up another project too quickly and turned down her role.[4] Wong then offered Chen's role to Linda Chung, who turned it down as well.[5] Wong finally settled down with casting Joey Meng as Lu Siniang. As both Meng and Wong Cho-lam were starring cast members in Wong's Inbound Troubles, Wong proceeded to bring the rest of the Inbound Troubles cast over to Gilded Chopsticks, which included Louis Cheung, Bob, and May Chan. Essentially, Roger Kwok was by default set to portray the role of Yongzheng, but as Kwok was booked to film Lee Yim-fong's new Qing Dynasty drama during the production period of Gilded Chopsticks, he had to turn down the role. In late January 2013, Ben Wong was announced to take the role of Yongzheng.[6] In early February 2013, Nancy Wu was confirmed to star as Nian.[7]

Filming

A costume fitting press conference was held on 26 January 2013.[8] The serial began filming in Hong Kong's TVB Studios in early March 2013. Production will be relocated to Hengdian World Studios in later months.[9]

Cast

Note: Some character names are in Cantonese romanisation.

Main characters

  • Ben Wong as Yin-zhen, the Fourth Imperial Prince (四皇爺胤禛) — officially Prince Yong of the First (雍親王), Emperor Kang-xi's fourth son. Yin-zhen later succeeds his father and becomes Emperor Yong-zheng, but his right to the throne is tested.
  • Wong Cho-lam as Ko Tin-po (高天寶) — a poor chef who is later hired to serve in the Forbidden City. He eventually befriends Yin-zhen.
  • Nancy Wu as Nin Yeuk-bik (年若碧) — Tin-po's love interest. Pressured by her family, Yeuk-bik becomes an imperial concubine of Yin-zhen.
  • Joey Meng as Kei Mo-suet (紀慕雪) — a chivalrous "24 to 25-year-old" martial artist who makes a living out of performing in the streets.
  • Louis Cheung as Yin-si, the Eighth Imperial Prince (八皇爺胤禩) — officially Prince Lian of the First (廉親王), the younger half-brother of Yin-zhen. Before Yin-zhen's coronation as Emperor Yong-zheng, Yin-si was a serious contender for the throne.

Other characters

  • Stephanie Ho as Mai Siu-yu (米小魚) — an imperial chef who has a crush on Yin-zhen.
  • Rosanne Lui as Consort Tak (德妃) — Yin-zhen and Yin-ti's birth mother.
  • Matthew Ko as Yin-e, the Tenth Imperial Prince (十皇爺胤䄉) — Yin-zhen's younger half brother and one of the most vocal supporters of Yin-si.
  • Jimmy Au as Nin Kang-yiu (年羹堯) — Yeuk-bik's older brother, a military commander.
  • Bob as Choi Hok-ting (蔡鶴庭) — an imperial chef.
  • Ram Chiang as Wu Si-doh (鄔思道) — a scholar.
  • Chun Wong as The Great Chef
  • Helen Ng
  • May Chan
  • Leo Lee
  • Yu Tze-ming
  • Jacky Cheng
  • Dickson Wong
  • Yu Yang
  • Derek Wong
  • Eddie Ho
  • Ricky Wong

References

  1. ↑ "TVB Programmes 2013 Press Conference Concluded - 2013 FILMART Press Release". TVBI Company Limited. Retrieved 28 April 2013. 
  2. ↑ "Wong Cho-lam and Joey Meng to star in 'Food for the Slaves'". JayneStars. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  3. ↑ "Raymond Lam turns down 'Food for the Slaves'". IHKTV (in Chinese). 29 December 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Wong Cho-lam joins 'Food for the Slaves'". IHKTV (in Chinese). 29 December 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Linda Chung out of 'Food for the Slaves'". Mingpao (in Chinese). 30 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Ben Wong replaced Roger Kwok in 'Food for the Slaves'". IHKTV (in Chinese). 26 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Nancy Wu still on for 'Food for the Slaves'". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 2 February 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  8. ↑ "'Food for the Slaves' holds costume fitting". IHKTV (in Chinese). 26 February 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Joey Meng refused to shoot intimate scenes". Macao Daily (in Chinese). 3 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 

External links

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