[2024.05.03] SOI CHEANG LEADS THE WALLED IN FOUR TO THANK THE AUDIENCE

 

German Cheung, Terrance Lau, director Soi Cheang, Raymond Lam and Tony Wu shoot a video to thank the viewers
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Josev Lau and Philip Ng visit over 10 cinemas for audience appreciation shows

Louis Koo hopes that domestic film professionals would systemically continue to develop and pass the torch, so the industry would have steady and quality production rate, continue to elevate the Hong Kong film creativity level and competitiveness
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Hong Kong Film Awards winning director Soi Cheang Pou Soi's new film TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) officially opened and rapidly passed HK$ 5 million, with advanced screenings its total box office was HK$ 5,020,529, broke many records and became the 2024 single day opening box office champion, the total Hong Kong film opening day box office champion in the past 8 years, and second place in Hong Kong film opening day box office only behind COLD WAR 2 (HONG JIN II) in 2016.

The film in the past week held many preview shows. The audience response was enthusiastic and raves came in like waves. Aside the crazy comic book style action that left the audience with endless praises, viewers also savored the brotherhood that moved them to tears.

The film's near perfect replication of the 80s Kowloon Walled City told a story of Hong Kong nostalgia that could not be "left behind or held on to", both became highlight for viewers. The opening advanced sales and same day sales figures both reflected the film's popularity with the audience. The opening day admission reached 73,070 people, the highest admission of a Hong Kong film opening day in the past 8 years. Many shows were all red and almost sold out.

For the opening box office rapidly exceeding HK$ 5 million, director Cheang Pou Soi led the quartet of Raymond Lam Fung, Terrance Lau Chun Him, Tony Wu Tsz Tung and German Cheung Man Kit and shot a video to thank the audience for the support. Cheang Pou Soi said, "I am very happy to learn that TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN reached second place among the Chinese language film opening box office." The quartet asked in unity, "TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN has already opened its city gate, we hope everyone would strongly support it."

As for actors Philip Ng Won Lung and Josev Lau (Kiu Ching Fu) on the opening day visited over 10 cinemas in Kowloon and the New Territories in an audience appreciation show marathon. Each time they appeared they received the passionate applause from the audience. Everyone declared the film as entertaining. Ng Won Lung and Kiu Ching Fu also interacted with the audience and played games. Ng Won Lung even demonstrated the "inch impact" for viewers to personally experience the action up close. The response was overwhelming.

In addition, the Louis Koo Tin Lok led Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers yesterday announced the new screenwriting apprenticeship project. As the Hong Kong film market suffered numerous setbacks in recent years, small to medium sized film production companies' resources have been tightened and had difficulties to bear the responsibility of hiring full time screenwriting positions. At the same time many young screenwriting talent due to the lack of stable income have not dared to fully immerse themselves into film creation, thus a gap has appeared and impacted the potential of Hong Kong film's future development. The new screenwriting apprenticeship project would be the Film Development Fund financed, with the full support of Create Hong Kong. They hoped that through direct salary compensation to support Hong Kong film production companies' hiring of full time screenwriting apprentices, hence creating an opportunity to join the business for a new generation of creators and responding to the industry's dire need for film screenwriters.

President Koo Tin Lok said, "Currently screenwriters mostly could only work with different companies through offering their services or freelance formats. They are unable to steadily create and mesh with production team in the long run and lack actual experience. Every year each higher education institutions' related departments have created their shares of creators, but many graduates or new creators who are interested in developing in the film industry all express that they have 'no door to get into the business through'. I hope that the 'new screenwriting apprenticeship project' would be able to provide resources to the industry, attract and employ this new generation that is full of passion but lacks opportunity." The first period of the project would last 18 months, with a maximum approval of 5 domestic film production companies' assistance applications. Each company would be required to hire two full time screenwriting apprentices, a total of 10 screenwriting apprentices maximum. Each position would receive a maximum assistance of HK$ 324,000 for the period, with each apprentice's salary no less than HK$ 15,000. The project would provide new screenwriters with the opportunity to practice and learn; from creating, planning to production and execution as well as other stages, they would have the chance to work with experienced creators, expand their horizon, understand the film industry more and maintain their passion for creating.

Apprenticeship applicants must hold a Hong Kong permanent residence identification card, and graduated from their university or higher education institution for no more than 5 years. At the same time applicants must have never work on any film as a "screenwriter" or "joint screenwriter", which would ensure the project to be able to truly cultivate new screenwriting talent.