[2023.12.25] PHILIP KEUNG LEARNS TO SCREENWRITE BEFORE DIRECTING

During the pandemic Philip Keung accepts film role after film role.  Recently the movies have been released one after another, giving him a super high.

Philip Keung in THE LOCKSMITH plays the titular character, for which he took lessons before the production began

Samantha Ko and Benz Hui are also in THE LOCKSMITH
courtesy of mingpao.com

Philip Keung Ho Man had a full harvest in 2023. In recent months he had several movies opened, including BURSTING POINT (BAU LIT DIM), THE GOLDFINGER (GUM SAU JI), I DID IT MY WAY (CHIM HUNG), WOLF HIDING (NO CHIU) and the shot in Malaysia THE LOCKSMITH (SOR JIN), and a Lunar New Year film that would open in Malaysia. Hak Jai said that he was happy that he was so busy. "I don't dare to say full harvest, these films were made during the pandemic. Now they are released all at once, which is pretty shocking to me. I remember during the pandemic the market was poor, many people were affected because traveling required quarantine, productions had many restrictions. I continued to struggle and charge ahead, with the 'work as much as I could' mentality. The good news amid the bad news was that the performance was decent." He described the upcoming release THE GOLDFINGER had a cast that would only "come by once every century". His character traversed between superstars Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Andy Lau Tak Wa, he felt like he won a prize; in addition he worked with William Chan Wai Ting for the first time and set off spark in BURSTING POINT, he was very pleased with his performance.

Hak Jai revealed that he, Samantha Ko Hoi Ning, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, and Benz Hui Siu Hung starred in THE LOCKSMITH (SOR JIN). Playing the "locksmith", he in his everyday locksmith job ran into a case, unlocked the demon within people. His character went through a drastic change and gave his acting bug its fill. Before the shoot he took a few days of lock opening skill training. "Opening locks aren't easy, not just taken care of with a skeleton key. Inside the locks are balls and rings that needed to be adjusted, the level of intricacy was very wonderful. Honestly, if the lock at home is broken, with all the equipment I would be able to take care of it."

Malaysia was the home of Hak Jai's maternal grandmother, to him it had a special sense of familiarity. He won the first film award of his life in Malaysia, when he won Best Supporting Actor with SHOCK WAVE (CHAK DAN JUEN GA). He revealed that years later he made two movies in Malaysia, the Malaysian film market thrived and gradually became the general climate; filmmakers there were very willing to work with Hong Kong actors, directors and producers. Hak Jai hoped to play the bridge character and bring everyone out of Hong Kong.

Hak Jai in 1986 joined show business, from television to film his acting has been recognized. When asked if he had any plan to direct or screenwrite? He said, "I have thought about directing. This job isn't simple; it is tremendously difficult. I still need to absorb a little more. Now I am often coming up with stories with screenwriters. Everyone hope to come up with good ideas, and turn stories into movies. I want to make stories that are relatable and social subjects, I would be able to play the small characters under the social problems. I am also interested in special effect make up character, like THE ELEPHANT MAN. After make up no one would be able to recognize me, which would be an enormous challenge for actors."