[2010.09.04] THREE MEN ON JOHN WOO'S FILM JOURNEY

In John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s film career, he worked closely with several filmmakers who at every stage helped and promoted him to his peak. Long time collaborator from A BETTER TOMORROW (YING HUNG BOON SIK) to HARD BOILED (LAT SAU SUN TAM), Chow Yun Fat and he were known as one of Hong Kong film's most perfect on and off screen team. Their chemistry and sparks made Ng Yu Sum's most brilliant performance in Hong Kong, while they too have become good friends. After Ng Yu Sum went to Hollywood, Chow Yun Fat also followed suit and made many Hollywood films to join the international superstar rank. Although they never worked together in the U.S., when Ng Yu Sum returned to the Chinese film industry and early in the RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) production Ng Yu Sum has already decided to work with Fat Gor again. Unfortunately they due to contract issues in the end could not fulfill this golden team. On the eve of the production start, Ng Yu Sum could only cast Tony Leung Chiu Wai.

Back then, after Ng Yu Sum left Golden Harvest, he joined Cinema City at the invitation oF Tsui Hark. Unfortunately soon after the jump Ng Yu Sum's development was not smooth. His career was in crisis. Later Ng Yu Sum and Tsui Hark's Film Workshop collaborated on A BETTER TOMORROW and revived his career. At the same time Fat Gor who was then known as "box office poison" was also revived and became a Hong Kong film legend. Although after the success of the film, rumors about the "fight for credit" between Tsui Hark and Ng Yu Sum were endless. Some said that Ng Yu Sum under Tsui Hark's influence completed THE KILLER (DIP HUET SEUNG HUNG) in an extremely difficult production environment, which made this film Ng Yu Sum's classic. Thus, the Venice Film Festival invited Tsui Hark and Quentin Tarantino who was deeply under Ng Yu Sum's influence to present the award to him.

Ng Yu Sum went from Hong Kong to Hollywood, paving the way was his partner and good friend Terence Chang Ka Chung. Chang Ka Cheung once worked on production and distribution at Golden Harvest, RTV, D & B and Film Workshop. In 1990, he and Ng Yu Sum formed New Milestone Film and made films like ONCE A THIEF (JUNG WAN SEI HOI) and HARD BOILED. During the period Chang Ka Chun paved the way to Hollywood for Ng Yu Sum. The duo in 1993 went to the U.S. and made HARD TARGET, he was one of the producers. Since then, Chang Ka Chun and Ng Yu Sum in the U.S. formed WCG company and Lion Rock production, made many Hollywood films and their collaboration never ceased. Chang Ka Chun was also a manager of Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King) and others as he made a contribution to Chinese actors successfully breaking into Hollywood.