[2011.07.31] DEREK YEE JOKES THAT ZHOU XUN IS A WILLING VICTIM

Andrew Lau, Derek Yee, Manfred Wong hope to cultivate the next generation of directors

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild sold its old location in Ho Man Tin for a good price then purchase a new and larger location in Kwung Tong. Yesterday it held a relocation worship ceremony. Attendees included current Film Directors' Guild president Derek Yee Tung Sing,

vice presidents Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Manfred Wong (Man Jun), Alex Law Kai Yui and secretary general Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting.

Siu Bo revealed that the old location sold for a good price and even had money left over, which hopefully would be able to maintain the organization's financial condition. Since the organization's establishment in 1989, its membership has already grown to over 250 people. However most have already retired and only 30 to 40 people are still truly making movies. As for the new location, Man Jun said that companies of Andy Lau Tak Wa, Peter Chan Ho Sun, Lau Wai Keung and others were in the same district. The feeling was that it was like the film industry's Hollywood. Now some of the Film Directors' Guild new location will be provided for the offices of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers. Siu Bo also said that although there was competition between directors, he still hoped that friendship came first as they protect director interests together and hopefully cultivate the next generation of director successors.

As for the recently piping hot Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi marriage troubles, Siu Bo said that with love and children involved the matter was very hard to comment on. He thought that Ting Fung and Pak Chi were still young. Siu Bo also worried that outside reports would affect how they would handle problems and hoped that they would handle them in peace. When Pak Chi made her comeback she turned down Siu Bo's new film and caused some unpleasantness. Would Siu Bo ask Pak Chi to perform again in the future? Siu Bo said, "There wasn't any unpleasantness at all, this is minor. Film productions is also about fate, everyone has the right to choose." Siu Bo's new film THE GREAT MAGICIAN (DAI MOR SHOOK SI) is in its post production stage and planned for a Lunar New Year release. Lead actress Zhou Xun joked that Siu Bo swindled her because she thought she would be in a romance with two Best Actors Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Lau Ching Wan, so she agreed to perform without reading the script. She did not expect to fight from the beginning to the end of the movies. Siu Bo said that Zhou Xun had a lot of fun on the set because she was able to work with her favorites Wai Jai and Ching Wan. In addition they in the film would fight over her. Siu Bo also praised Zhou Xun as very special, getting along great with Wai Jai and Ching Wan. In addition she absolutely had no star arrogance.

Cheung Yuen Ting revealed that she was planning a new film that would take place in the 40s and the 50s. The family of a little guy escaped from Anhui to Hong Kong and struggled to survive. The around 30 year old lead would have two sons and thus needed to have a mature and masculine weathered flavor. She would like Ting Fung to play the role. Ting Fung has already read the script but they needed to work out the details.

Would Ting Fung's marriage troubles help with his performance? Cheung Yuen Ting said, "Life experience would more or less benefit the performance, I of course don't want anything to happen to his family. (Ting Fung is already in the Best Actor class, has his salary climbed?) I am not responsible for dealing with that."