[2013.06.25] FRUIT CHAN POKES FUN AT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

On July 1 some chose to march on the street in protest, some cooked up a summer outdoor concert to celebrate the Hand Over. Almost eight years without a movie, Hong Kong Film Award winning director Fruit Chan Gor chose to express himself with satire in film. His new film in TALES FROM THE DARK (MAI LEI YEH) paired the "mic check" expert Lo Hoi Pang who played mobster "Leung Chun Ying" with the Susan Shaw Yam Yam played Canal Road villain hitting aunt and displayed freedom of speech at the excuse of Chief Executive C.Y. Leung. Director Chan Gor stated that on July 1 he will join the street protest march.

The film TALES FROM THE DARK was an Emperor Entertainment investment that was based on Lillian Lee Bik Wa's NIGHT series novel, with Chan Gor, Lee Chi Nga and Simon Yam Tat Wa directing three stories. In Chan Gor's segment, mob boss "ZY Leung Chun Ying" Lo Hoi Pang had someone in his way, thus he went to Canal Road to ask Shaw Yam Yam to hit a villain. Known for his "mic test", Brother Pang not only exchanged foul language with Shaw Yam Yam but also got the name "Leung Chun Ying" from the director. Due to the homophone with the Chief Executive's name, the film obviously had fun at his expense. Even the classic line that C.Y. Leung used all the time to deny unauthorized building works at his home, "As I remember, no" was added in the dialogue and through Brother Pang's mouth the Chief Executive was also called something foul.

Director Chan Gor yesterday said that adding the name of Leung Chun Ying's name meant that Hong Kong still had the freedom of speech. He said, "Brother Pang's character in the original work was only a mobster and didn't have a name. During the shot it was added at the last minute. 'Leung Chun Ying' had no special meaning, it's purely for fun. During the shoot in November, his news was on fire so I added something from the society in there. At the same time it proved that Hong Kong can still afford to mess around, ultimately it has freedom of speech. I don't have any pressure, so far I haven't received any complaint from the boss. I think they don't mind. Since it is a ghost film, it can't be released in the Mainland. We can do whatever we want and make what we want, it's just for fun. If you can take it then take it, if you can't then whatever!" The film will open on July 11th. Although Chan Gor said that during the shoot he never thought its release would be close to the sensitive date of July 1. He said that he would march on the street that day because it was the day for the people to express their demands. He said, "I support the march because the march expresses demands. Now July 1st has already become the day the people express their demands, it's not as simple as anti whoever. Now Mainlanders would come to Hong Kong too, through June 4, July 1 to make demands against unfairness in the Mainland. If I will be at work I won't be able to help it, if not I will march on the streets."

Original worker Lee Bik Wa yesterday said through the film company, although she did not know in advance that Director Chan Gor gave a name to her character, after finding out she thought it was rather interesting. Lee Bik Wa said, "I feel it's pretty interesting and funny, the name has quite of modern feel. In addition Hong Kong is a place with the freedom of speech and hasn't had a ghost film in a long time. Since it is ignoring the Mainland market, it shouldn't need to self inspect." She revealed that she would respond to July 1 March in her own column.