[2022.07.28] LOUIS KOO: HONG KONG FILMS SHOULD EXPAND THEIR GENRES

Both Carina Lau and Louis Koo decline to reveal the cost of WARRIORS OF FUTURE

The kind father shows every time Aaron Kwok talks about his daughters
courtesy of singtao.com

Louis Koo says that the investment in WARRIORS OF FUTURE is very large

Sing Sing has been the film festival ambassador for 4 years now
courtesy of on.cc

Carina Lau reveals that Louis Koo invests heavily on WARRIORS OF FUTURE and looks forward to seeing the film at the cinema

Mabel Cheung shares the experience of making TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival will open with two major Hong Kong features WHERE THE WIND BLOWS (FUNG JOI HEI SI)'s world premiere and the largest scale production in Hong Kong history, the science fiction epic WARRIORS OF TOMORROW (MING YUT JIN GEI). The film festival ambassador Aaron Kwok Fu Sing yesterday attended the press conference. He revealed that he just finished the film NOI MOK (INSIDE INFORMATION), during the production of which he injured his ribs. Luckily his two daughters made him feel better. As for WARRIORS OF FUTURE, Louis Koo Tin Lok produced the film. Even star Carina Lau Ka Ling lamented how much the investment cost. Koo Tin Lok stated that Hong Kong film should expand into even more genres and urged viewers to support more Hong Kong films.

Yesterday the press conference took place at the West Kowloon Cultural District's Freespace. The film festival ambassador for the 4th year in a row and the star of WHERE THE WIND BLOWS, Best Actor Kwok Fu Sing, youth ambassador Jennifer Yu Heung Ying, WARRIORS OF FUTURE director Ng Yuen Fai, producer and star Koo Tin Lok and two opening films' actors including Lau Ka Ling, Philip Keung Ho Man, Michael Chow Man Kin, Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling), Tse Kwan Ho, Lam Yiu Sing and Michael Ning (Bak Ji). 3 gala premiere directors appeared as well, including THE SPARRING PARTNER (JING YI WUI LONG)'s Ho Cheuk Tin, TALES OF THE OCCULT (SUT HUNG HUNG GAN)'s Fung Chih Chiang, and the documentary TO MY NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF (CUP SUP GAU SHUI DIK NGOR)'s Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting.

Cheung Yuen Ting shared the production highlight on the stage. She said that the film took almost ten years to produce. When the film was shot the student actors were in their rebellious stage and would get in her face and yell at her, which made her feel disrespected. Thus she asked the headmaster for help and tried to use love to accept them.

The 17 day long 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival would again be held in a physical and online mixed format. With over 200 films from 67 countries and regions selected, 4 would be world premieres and 32 Asian premieres. Almost 300 shows would be screened the cinemas and over 40 would be selected for online platform broadcast. This year's film festival filmmaker in focus would be Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, with a retrospective of 10 of her films and a special program. Kwan Yu would not be in Hong Kong and would be unable to attend, but she also shot a video to show her support.

Aaron Kwok Fu sing shared highlights from the WIND production. This was his second film with director Philip Yung Tsz Kwong. He hoped to be able to set off spark. He also mentioned that he had to play the role in the film from its youth to senior years. In middle age he even had to weight gain, but later he had to lose his belly in a short time. It was quite a challenge for him.

Sing Sing was interviewed afterward. Last year due to the pandemic there was no physical events. He was very happy bout the physical stage's return. He would be able to see many filmmakers again and the atmosphere would be much more cheerful. Mainly viewers would be able to go to the movies and watch. He also revealed that he just completed another film NOI MOK (INSIDE INFORMATION), during the production of which he injured his rib. "In one scene I was spinning on wires. After the 10th take my ribs couldn't take anymore. The doctor said that the ribs did not fracture, but I had to keep shooting in pain for several months. It would hurt even when I turned in my sleep. However now it's much better. No production has been affected." He said that when his daughters learned that Papa was hurt they tried to make him feel better.

Speaking of the luxury home he resided in had an unit that was burglarized, he said that actually it was the neighbors of his parent in laws' unit. He said, "That morning I got home after work, the security guard downstairs already told me. I was prepared. That morning when I went to my father in law's home I saw all the windows opened in the next unit, so I told security to call the police. My staff saw someone jumped to the balcony of my in law's unit to escape. Although no one was caught and the neighbor suffered a little loss. We were already very lucky." He revealed that afterward his wife and daughter were a little worried. The building has already strengthened security and posted notice to remind residents to lock their doors and close their windows.

The other opening film WARRIORS OF FUTURE was produced by and starred Louis Koo Tin Lok. Goo Jai told the reason of making a science fiction film. "Because I like it, don't always watch foreign films. Watch Hong Kong films. We could use more production genres, don't always make crime film, romance, we can more subject. Science fiction films took a lot of time and investment. Someone had to take the first step and widen the genres." Ka Ling revealed that in the film she would play a military officer who was all about efficiency. It was also her first military officer role. She thought the uniform was very cool, and thanked the director and the producer for giving her this chance.

Goo Jai was asked how much the total investment amount was on WARRIORS OF FUTURE? He said, "As long as it's entertaining it's fine, don't ask so many questions. It's all spent, all dried." Lau Ka Ling joked, "Very, very, very expensive! Even the post production cost a lot, because you would be able to see so much future Hong Kong street scenery." Goo Jai said that he has already seen the movie over 1,000 times. Ka Ling said that she still has not seen it yet but she would insist on watching it at the cinema. Was Goo Jai very pleased? Goo Jai said that he already did his best. Of course it had room for improvement. This time a Hong Kong team was used to produce to properly learn the lesson. With the first experience, the second and third times they would improve even more." Goo Jai also revealed that he was planning another space travel subject science fiction film TIN TAI (STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN) and would construct a set in Hengqin for the production and space would be virtual. The technology would be even more complicated. Before hand he would have to go to Japan or the U.S. to study for a month.

Ka Ling said that after completing WARRIORS promotion and the premiere on August 22nd, she would leave Hong Kong to meet up with her husband Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Wai Jai later would head to Canada for a Netflix series. Ka Ling also said that now the expenses after going abroad would be enormous. "I am very afraid of having to quarantine. If you were outside and then come back (to Hong Kong), if you test is positive you would immediately have to go to the quarantine camp. I am very scared."