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Tue, April 3, 2007
Will London have me?
I have just one goal this week, one thing that must be completed before the holiday weekend begins. I must complete and dispatch my application to study a (Postgraduate Diploma or MA) degree in Musical Theatre at the University of London.
Henry (the director of "They're Playing Our Song") gave me a list of institutions that he thought would have something to offer me in my quest to improve my acting skills. I checked all of their web sites and only two offered subject courses which I felt would be appropriate to my current needs. After further consideration, I decided to apply to the University of London.
There is no guarantee that I'll be accepted. In fact, it might be a long shot but I have to try anyway. I have no other degrees. All I have is 19 years of experience, acceptable acting and singing abilities, and a desire to learn. Combined with the fact that I would be a foreigner and a 'senior' student, this will hopefully be enough to get me into the course.
I won't know if I get accepted for at least a month. I'll let you know what happens ;-)
For those concerned, rest assured that I will continue to work with TVB. It is simply my hope that I'll be able to expand my horizons and branch out into movies and musical theatre, especially musical theatre. Acting and singing on stage is just so incredible!
Update (April 4, 2007)
The application was completed and handed over to the local FedEx people this afternoon at 5.30pm. Now I need to relax (my vocal chords are still inflamed; my doctor said that I really must shut up for at least a few days) and prepare just in case they consider my application and request an audition.
Update (April 24, 2007)
I have received an invitation to an audition to be held in London on June 23. It's going to be tough but I'll do my best. Six weeks to go…
Copyright 2007 Gregory Charles Rivers 河國榮. All rights reserved.
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Good luck to you! As far as I know, most Universities weigh pretty heavily on work and life experience for 'senior' students, and you've certainly got plenty of that, so I'm feeling pretty confident for you =)
We young 'uns need to push and shove to get our Uni spots ;)
Posted by: Joanne Lee | Tue, April 3, 2007, 22:46 | Respond to this comment
wah UCL!!!! a few of my friends study there...........they say it's competitve to get in.
Posted by: Kit Kat | Tue, April 3, 2007, 23:24 | Respond to this comment
Gregory, any decision you make, I will stand at your side. Just insist your decision and you will succeed at the end. Good luck!!!
Posted by: Helen | Tue, April 3, 2007, 23:27 | Respond to this comment
hey greg,
thats great news if you are planing to take this course, im am from UK, as i know the universities accept good experience, well... most of them do.
I will give you a tip, i think you need to apply through UCAS to get into a university, a good reference will be needed and as well if you any qualifications. please put other universities that you have found that has the course you want to take, the UCAS will require you to put at lease 4 places, im sure TVB would give you a good reference.
i've actually just left nursing, and i want to do IT or to join a drama school, but i have know experience, as my friend said, i would need to take an audition to see if i got talent, but i really dont know.
anyway, GOOD LUCK !
Posted by: dominc | Wed, April 4, 2007, 00:45 | Respond to this comment
sorry, i didnt read you article properly, so you have already applied to university,
well good luck, hope the process will success !
Posted by: dominc | Wed, April 4, 2007, 00:48 | Respond to this comment
Good luck! I hope you get in.
Posted by: Rennie | Wed, April 4, 2007, 01:20 | Respond to this comment
Good luck to your application. Which college do you apply for? I also studied at University of London, but it was back in 1993-1994. Got an MSc at London School of Economics and Political Science. One year concentrate master course is really killing, but it worths. ^^
Posted by: Pegasus | Wed, April 4, 2007, 01:35 | Respond to this comment
Good luck~~
Glad to hear that you want to sharpen your acting skill!
And London is a great place for studying Musical~~
BTW, Apple is unveils DRM-free music in their iTunes store~~
Take a look
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/04/02itunes.html
Posted by: Sammo | Wed, April 4, 2007, 04:50 | Respond to this comment
Hi, mate. Wish you all the BEST! ^__^
If you think you can, YOU CAN!
(sounds familiar, uh? *winks*
Posted by: Ariel Ong | Wed, April 4, 2007, 08:10 | Respond to this comment
hey greg! best of luck with everything!
Posted by: May | Wed, April 4, 2007, 08:50 | Respond to this comment
Hello Greg, I'm so glad that from the experience of "They're playing our song", you've found a new passion and new career direction, I think you would make a good stage performer (well, you already are, from the show I saw), good luck, I can't wait to see you in bigger productions.
Greg, could you tell me the song of the name that you sang after the hospital scene? I really like it, that's my favorite.
Posted by: Julie | Wed, April 4, 2007, 10:08 | Respond to this comment
the hospital song
Julie,
do you mean the song that I sing from the hospital bed?
It's called "Fill in the words". I'm glad you liked it (I hope you're referring to this song). We worked hard to transform it from a boring monotonous song to something that I would enjoy singing and people would enjoy hearing.
Posted by: 河國榮 | Fri, April 13, 2007, 23:42 | Respond to this comment
Yes, Greg...all the best to your application. Upon completion, I'm hoping to see you in a better position than you're now. God help you.
Posted by: st | Wed, April 4, 2007, 10:43 | Respond to this comment
hi there!
i am from toronto~
i just want to say that you are one of the coolest tvb actors!!!
besides, quite a number of people in some forums have chosen u as the most popular foreign actor in hong kong.
keep it up!
finally, i really do hope you can get into the university of london. So, you can show us the "new kwok wing".
Mishie
Posted by: Mishie | Wed, April 4, 2007, 11:53 | Respond to this comment
Greg, you'll have my best! I also want to do a master - but I'll have to complete my undergoing bachelor first :-P
Posted by: Janice | Wed, April 4, 2007, 18:06 | Respond to this comment
Hi Greg!
I've been following you on 寫意人生lately and I must say that University of London would be missing out if they didn't accept you as a student! You're a great actor and God has blessed you with such a talent. All the best!
Posted by: Joyce | Wed, April 4, 2007, 23:46 | Respond to this comment
Good Luck. I am happy for you.
Sam L from Toronto
Posted by: Sam L | Thu, April 5, 2007, 04:09 | Respond to this comment
A tribute to your Enthusiasm and Passion! Bravo.
Posted by: Wade | Thu, April 5, 2007, 08:32 | Respond to this comment
hey greg, watched d interview of u in e-buzz over in my country d other day..
admire ur courage in pursuing ya dream yrs ago..
alwayz wanted to pursue my dream in hk too but dont know how to start... n im not young anymore..
can you share how i can go about doing it??
hear from you.
all d best in ya career.. and hope u got into the course u applied=)
Posted by: wondering | Sat, April 7, 2007, 02:13 | Respond to this comment
May you be blessed with peace and happiness at Easter and always!
Posted by: Christ Follower | Sun, April 8, 2007, 07:41 | Respond to this comment
i have seen you on TV quite often, although i don't watch tv very much
u always look serious (personal feeling)
well, gd luck
Posted by: vic | Sun, April 8, 2007, 18:24 | Respond to this comment
greg dearest,
best of luck mate support ya anywayz
Rox on
Posted by: qwerty | Tue, April 10, 2007, 00:24 | Respond to this comment
Both my kids (9 and 11 years old) recently watched 3 TVB shows (Always Ready, Life Made Simply and My Unreasonable In-Law) and they enjoy your acting very much. They are second generation Chinese here in Canada. They learn quite a bit of cantonese by watching the movies. The very first time they saw your appearance in the show, they couldn't believe that you could speak fluent cantonese. They thought that was totally amazing. Please keep up with your wonderful work. Feel free to drop them a line or two of words of encouragement if time permits.
Posted by: Ernest | Tue, April 10, 2007, 01:10 | Respond to this comment
Hello
This is my first time leaving my comment here ^^
I'm currently in yr12 and also lives in Australia but I came from HK so i seen you in some TVB dramas.
I reckon it will be very hard to work in a difficult culture background place.
I live in Brisbane, what city do you live in?
Posted by: Ryan | Sun, April 15, 2007, 10:27 | Respond to this comment
Hi Greg,
Really admire your passion about your profession. Want to share with you this one(perhaps you've already heard of before and appplogise that I cannot do chinese input...):
What you are is because of what you DID and what you will be is because of what you DO.
Good luck to your audition.
Posted by: Peter | Thu, April 26, 2007, 20:50 | Respond to this comment
hey..best wishes there
tho i will miss u and want u to come back as soon as possible
haha i'm currently in Aus and life here is great too
Posted by: Rason | Fri, May 11, 2007, 22:42 | Respond to this comment
hey, can't believe that it is you....i clicked your blog out of curiousity of an aussie guy in Hong Kong..
Yeah, i have seen you in TVB dramas, you are doing great and i hope that you will be able to do your best in the coming audition in London. All the best to you and hope that you will get into University of London.
Posted by: Michelle | Sun, May 20, 2007, 21:48 | Respond to this comment
Good Luck!
Hi Greg,
Best of luck with the audition!
I'm gonna be in London that weekend on a flying visit too (friend's 30th), so I'll be thinking about you and willing you to do well!
Em
Posted by: Em | Sat, May 26, 2007, 09:01 | Respond to this comment
Hi Kwok Wing,
Good luck for the audition ! It would be lovely to have you in London.
Posted by: Rachael | Mon, June 4, 2007, 05:15 | Respond to this comment
Hello Gregory, I've always thought highly of your abilities to act and speak fluent chinese, and now, after coming across some videos/clips of you singing on your site and youtube, I find that you are also quite good at singing! very impressive set of skills you have there! :] I'm from Melbourne, Australia, it was kind of shock to discover that you're actually an australian too! haha It would be awesome if you could come to australia one day for a mini concert or autograph session, I'm sure you'll be entertaining to watch in real life, just as you are like on screen!!
Posted by: dinmao | Tue, June 5, 2007, 22:56 | Respond to this comment
Greetings from New York
Hi Greg,
I stumbled upon your blog while googling TVB. I've watched you for years on TVB. Very impressive with your Cantonese...it's a very difficult dialect to master. My Cantonese is okay, but I have that American accent which is easily detectable. Actually, I learned most of my Chinese watching TVB serials and listening to Chinese songs.
Anyway, I enjoy your work and best of luck on your admission to the University of London.
Haley
Posted by: Haley | Fri, June 8, 2007, 13:17 | Respond to this comment
Spoke to my brother
who just came back from Hong Kong. He saw you at the airport and you were eating at Burger King or some fast food joint. He didn't want to bother you since you were eating, but he recognized you.
I told him about your blog and e-mailed him the link. :)
Posted by: Haley | Mon, June 11, 2007, 12:22 | Respond to this comment
Good Luck
Hi Kwok Wing,
Good luck for your audition today!
Rachael
Posted by: rachael | Sat, June 23, 2007, 17:48 | Respond to this comment
Good luck!
Posted by: zero | Sat, June 23, 2007, 22:45 | Respond to this comment
Hi
Just want to say you are a very good actor and good to see you are upgrading yourself all the time. Keep up the good work and all the best.
Posted by: Mark | Thu, June 28, 2007, 06:39 | Respond to this comment
how was the audition?
(just a surprise to find this blog along the sponsored link in google email, and i really enjoy reading your posts and getting to know your strong will towards your goals. it must be a wonderful journey!)
Posted by: w_w | Sat, July 21, 2007, 11:55 | Respond to this comment
You Did A Great Job
I just downloaded "This Is The Moment" and listened to it. I have to say this: You did a great job, Gregory! Although I'm not living in HK, but I'm sure if I have to chance to go there, I'll be one of your audiences sitting in the auditorium and appreciating your work. Good luck!
Posted by: Regina | Thu, August 30, 2007, 16:43 | Respond to this comment
hi!
glad to know that you'll stay with TVB! you're one of the most treasured TVB actors! a lot of us grew up watching you on TV.
Posted by: JCYL | Thu, November 1, 2007, 03:25 | Respond to this comment