[2023.07.21] EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BRUCE LEE'S PASSING BEGINS

Chin Kar Lok and Andrew Lam both feels that Bruce Lee has far reaching influence on Hong Kong action films
courtesy of on.cc

This year would be the 50th anniversary of Bruce Lee's passing. Many in show business yesterday attended a memorial event and remembered this kung fu superstar's contributions to film development.

An event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bruce Lee's passing held a launch ceremony yesterday in Sha Tin. Yesterday was the anniversary of Bruce Lee's passing, which made the event even more meaningful. A series of memorial events were announced, including a charity memorial publication, the proceeds of which would be donated to the Hong Kong Stuntmen Association; the publication invited Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Wu Fung and others to write articles. In addition, Andrew Lam Man Chung wrote the lyrics to the event theme song with the song writer and former CD Voice member Tam Yat Hong performing it. A children's impersonation contest would also take place to pass on Bruce Lee's martial art spirit and philosophy to children.

Yesterday at the launch aside from Cheung Tung Cho, Ng See Yuen, Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Andrew Lam Man Chung, Chin Kar Lok, Michelle Yim (Mai Suet), Tin Kai Man and Fung So Bo were also on hand. Cheung Tung Cho was a script supervisor and an assistant director on THE WAY OF THE DRAGON (MAN LUNG GOR GONG). Remembering his time with Bruce Lee, Brother Cho said, "He was a big kid who could play but very serious at work. He was a 'foreign kid', actually he might not converse a lot of traditional film workers. Yet when the cameras stopped rolling and waited for lighting, he was still jumping around to maintain in condition. He also didn't drink water. On the set in a wicker basket were a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice." Brother Cho also pointed out that Bruce Lee was an action performer, but he would also bring out books about photography and on the set study lighting to make the resulting shots even better. When he was internationally renowned, he remained very demanding in his filmmaking.

The Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers permanent honorary chair Ng See Yuen said that in the blink of an eye Bruce Lee passed away for 50 years already. Aside from sentimentality, he was also happy that Hong Kong had a group of passionate people who over the years remembered Bruce Lee without fail. "Bruce Lee was someone who represented Hong Kong, Hong Kong's spirit and Hong Kong film industry." Ng See Yuen also has made several movies about Bruce Lee, among them the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers in 2013 made a documentary that took 4 years of preparation about Bruce Lee. It was very valuable because it interviewed over 90% of people who have worked with Bruce Lee on movies like Raymond Chow Man Wai, Ting Pei, even Bruce Lee's widow and daughter.

Lam Man Chung created a theme song and lyrics for the event. He pointed out that he spent over 40 minutes, half hour more how much he normally needed for lyrics. He also joked that his only idol from childhood was Bruce Lee. After watching him he hit people up and down the streets, but when kids hit it would not hurt. Ah Chung also jokingly asked Wong Pak Ming to make an action film for him. Chin Kar Lok joked that he could make the IP MAN film series. Ah Chung joked, "After Chairman Che, I would play Chairman Ip!" Chin Kar Lok said that he has never come in contact with Bruce Lee, but after watching THE BIG BOSS (JING MO MOON) in his childhood he and brother Chin Siu Ho on the way home kept imitating their idol and jumped off a table to see who was more convincing. "In our era everyone went to learn kung fu because of Bruce Lee. In the film LEGACY OF RAGE (LUNG JOI GONG WU) I was a double for Bruce Lee's son Brandon Lee." He remembered the most when he was at the Sammo Hung Stuntmen Association, he worked with the late Lam Ching Ying on a movie. Lam was a stunt coordinator for Bruce Lee. When they designed the fight it felt like actual combat, every punch and kick had meaning and shades of Bruce Lee.