[2014.05.22] DEREK YEE'S I AM SOMEBODY APPEARS ON FILM MAGAZINE COVER

A group of extras appears behind Derek Yee at the Hengdian World Studios
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Derek Yee Tung Sing invested film I AM SOMEBODY appeared on the film magazine The Hollywood Reporter's Cannes Film Festival cover. The photo was taken in the Hengdian World Studios, behind Yee Tung Sing was a group of extras. Although the film's team did not appear in Cannes, the report caught many overseas filmmakers and media attention. Bona was responsible for the film's global distribution. CEO Yu Dong went to Cannes to promote I AM SOMEBODY to the overseas film companies.

The Japanese media described the Hengdian World Studios as the world's largest film studio. Yee Tung Sing said that this place attracted actors and productions from around the world like the Shaw Studio of the past. Only that it was larger and more modern. Among the crowd, no one knew which extra might run into a star. Everyone was excited.

When he visited Hengdian in 2012 he was already interested in the location. He had face to face exchanges with over 300 extras to get an understanding of their jobs and lives. After collecting information he decided to make this film in 2013. The film's protagonists were real life extras, some played servants and even corpses as they performed life of tears within laughter. Yee Tung Sing said that through the extras' angle the small town changes were seen. It was also a microcosm of the modern China's youth, he hoped to be able to inspire and they could relate; in real life everyone was "Somebody".