[2009.07.28] MICHELLE REIS RETURNS WITH BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

After over three years of intense production, the first New Year film of the year BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (SUP YUET WAI SING) finally wrapped at Shanghai Studio's first 1:1 recreation of 1905 "Central" Hong Kong in history. Although the film included additions of superstars Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Wang Xueqi, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Chris Li Yuchun, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Fan Bingbing, Zhou Yun, Bateer and others, on the day of the production wrap only Michelle Reis (Lee Ka Yun) made an appearance. Even though it was obviously a ghost town, for her first film after marriage she still became the media focus.

Lee Ka Yun carried the load of the BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS wrap. She appeared in a burgundy red long dress and was very elegant. In the film, she played a woman who despite having no direct scene with beggar Leon Lai Ming influenced his life, made him stand up anew from depression and look for his courage to live. Lee Ka Yun honestly said, "When I first read the script and saw this wrap scene, I cried. She made me believe in love and even believe that love is the language that can transcend life and death." This is also the reason that Lee Ka Yun is deeply attracted to the character. Although Lee Ka Yun was reluctant to reveal whether she was "procreating" recently, she expressed that she took the role with the support of her family. She and her family got along harmoniously as each side gave the other room to develop. She would not retire from show business because of marriage.

According to director Teddy Chan Tak Sum, when the project was launched ten years ago he already had the intention for Lee Ka Yun to play this role. Later due to a variety of reasons the project was set aside and kept uncompleted. Although the script has been changing over ten years and the role of beggar kept on changing its casting, but Lee Ka Yun's character never had another choice.

Producer Peter Chan Ho Sun and director Chan Tak Sum expressed, the entire BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS production experienced countless difficulties and twists. Once it encountered a big film crisis. In the emergency, the producers invited Andrew Lau Wai Keung who was preparing a new film. Lau Wai Keung without another word dragged his luggage to Shanghai, joined the team and took over part of the production. Lau Wai Keung humorously said, "After ten years, BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS after such hardship finally started production. Of course I wish for everyone to be able to persist. How I wanted to shoot this city, finally I got the chance!"

Chan Ho Sun honestly said that although the film has already wrapped, post production work would be enormous. For the film to be released as scheduled on December 18, his mind now is filled with numerous problems of post production. Chan Ho Sun revealed that although the film was star stunned, the total star salary occupied less than 25%. It is a "healthy ratio" that would be hard to achieve even in Hollywood. 1/3 of the financing was spent on the set.