[2024.05.09] PHILIP NG "HOPS" TO FIGHT SAMMO HUNG

Philip Ng reveals several neighbors called him by his character name, which warmed his heart

German Cheung, Tony Wu and Raymond Lam promote TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Raymond Lam has a little fun at the expense of Philip Ng over his audience appreciation incident

German Cheung, Raymond Lam and Tony Wu share their experience with students at the film exhibition
courtesy of mingpao.com

The fresh out of the oven Hong Kong Film Award-winning director Soi Cheang Pou Soi's new film TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) has recently set off a long-lost craze for Hong Kong action movies in Hong Kong and the mainland. In the 8 days since the film was released, its Hong Kong box office has exceeded HK$ 27 million, and the mainland box office has grossed 380 million yuan RMB; it even became the single-day box office champion for two consecutive days. The attraction of the film was not only the re-creation of the Walled city scenery, but also the breathtaking action scenes and the delicate portrayal of human nature. It was a Hong Kong action film with a dramatic flavor. In the film, Philip Ng Won Lung changed his acting style and portrayed the villain "Wong Gau" in an exaggerated and crazy style; from which he also received great praise and was even expected to compete for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Ng Won Lung hoped that the success of TWILIGHT would create more opportunities for action actors, and said that taking the action film baton would depends on the opportunity. He was not afraid of "being challenged."

Ng Won Lung has a close connection with "The Walled City". Eight years ago, his portrayal of the quiet "Cat Boy" in the TVB series A FIST WITHIN FOUR WALLS left a deep impression on the audience. This time, the role of "Wong Gau" in the movie TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN made the audience look at him differently. Ng Won Lung also said that at dinner with his mother in Mong Kok a few days ago, someone recognized him and even said to him, "You have changed from Cat Boy to Wong Gau!" What warmed his heart the most was, "As an actor, I have a role to play. I wouldn't think about the results when filming. The director gives us direction and we do our jobs to help the director tell the story well."

Ng Won Lung frankly said that he has always been a loyal fan of director Cheang Pou Soi. Looking back on the first and second meetings with him, he did not mention having a role for him. He only revealed that he would make a Hong Kong action film and needed to find Hong Kong kung fu actors to perform. By the third time they met, Cheang Pou Soi formally invited him to play "Wong Gau", but explained that it was a villain role. He wanted him to play it so that even the audience would not be able to recognize him, which made him even more excited. However, he has been criticized for his stiff acting in the past. This time as "Wong Gau" he was bad in a crazy and exaggerated manner. Not only did the audience not feel disgusted, but they were also optimistic that he would be nominated for the "Best Supporting Actor" at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Was he proud of this time? He said bluntly: "I have made more than 40 movies. In the past, I always played traditional action heroes that had certain framework; I might have to be relatively silent and not expressive. T his time, my exaggeration almost crossed the line. The first attempt actually had its danger. If it went too far it would be gross. If it was not done enough, it wouldn't meet the director's demands." However, on the first day of shooting, he admitted that he was not able to get into the character yet. It was not until the second day that he saw the director's reaction, the on-site staff impersonated him with a smile. He then knew that everyone would feel this kind of performance was interesting. He said that during filming, Director Soi would ask him for five versions of "Wong Gau"'s reaction, and then choose one from them. "We didn't push the actors like the rumors said, we just played very seriously. He also communicates with every actor in this way. He is a very different kind of director, so everyone's performances are very different too."

Regarding the final battle with the "Four Sons of the Walled City" Lam Fung, Wu Tsz Tung, Cheung Man Kit and Lau Chun Him, did they have any "give and take" in it? Ng Won Lung said that he would not hold back because the audience would be able to tell that they were not in a duel. Everyone would use all of their own skills and strength to cope with it. In addition, the quartet accepted a month of action training before and had enough preparation. While performing, they were not much different from working with martial arts actors. This time, Ng Won Long did not participate in the action design mainly out of respect for the action director Kenji Tanigaki. "I have requirements and experience on the action. At first I knew that my action would require "strange moves", which is not the hardcore kung fu I am good at. I had some concerns, but in the end, a balance between the two was achieved through communication.

Ng Won Lung was used to filming fight scenes, and this time he had the honor to fight with "Big Brother Big" Hung Kam Bo again. He praised Big Brother Big as a good "dance partner". "Fight scenes, like dancing, is about the rhythm. When working with Big Brother Big, if you can't do the moves he would help you complete it. I felt very comfortable working with him. He is a very experienced partner." When working with senior actors, his biggest worry was to not injure the elders. Big Brother Big was very professional and the filming was always very smooth. On the contrary, when he was filming an action of leaping over three steps of stairs, he heard a "pop" and could no longer stand up. The hamstring muscle that has been injured during previous filming was torn again, and he had to rest for a week before he was able to return to work.

TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN brought attention back to Hong Kong-produced action. Elders like Sammo Hung Kam Bo and Louis Koo Tin Lok even introduced a group of the younger generations to pass the torch to. Would Ng Won Lung be ale to take over the important task? He pointed out that taking over the baton would depend on the opportunity. Making a large-scale action film such as TWILOIGHT or RAGING FIRE (NO FOR) earlier is expensive and requires huge production budgets. Investors would be afraid that they would not make their money back, so they hoped that TWILIGHT would be successful and lead to even more mid-budget action film productions; which would be able to increase opportunities for more action actors to perform. Ng Won Lung said that he has previously set up a production company to promote scripts to different investors, but when the epidemic hit no one took any interest. At that time he felt very depressed. Later a foreign producer said that it did not matter if he heard a hundred "NO"s; just one "YES" was all it took. It was very encouraging, and finally someone came to discuss scripts; and the movie MO MING FOR (NAMELESS FIRE) was completed. Regarding the lack of action actors to take over, Ng Won Lung admitted that it was somewhat lacking but there were also many people in Hong Kong who were good at kung fu; just being good at kung fu and filming action scenes were two different matter, and more importantly, acting skills were also important, "However the birthplace of kung fu movies is Hong Kong. Hong Kong really needs to strive for success, and I hope this time would be able to revive the craze of action movies in Hong Kong."

Speaking of Ng Won Lung's demonstration of the "inch impact" at an audience appreciation event a few days ago, a male audience member raised his hand to fight Ng Wong Lung and then took the initiative to "take advantage". Before Ng Won Lung was ready, he punched and kicked him and pushed him down; which became a hot topic online. Ng Won Lung had strong support for his martial art ethics. He smiled calmly and said, "I believe this viewer was too immersed into the movie and thought that I was the character 'Wong Gau'. This wasn't the first time that has happened." He pointed out that it happened to him before while promoting ONCE UPON A TIME IN SHANGHAI (NGOK JIN) in the mainland a few years ago. Something similar has happened before, but this time the actors were very surprised. "Even I wasn't prepared; but since no one was really hurt, I just wanted to resolve it as soon as possible. I had to go to the next theater for audience appreciation events afterward. Our goal is to promote the film, the most important is for the audience to like it."

When asked if this incident happened when he was younger, would he fight back? Ng Won Lung said with a smile: "The most important thing is to know what you were doing at the time. You were promoting a movie at that moment, you weren't trying to defend the martial arts gym. I believe that the other party was a little impulsive and had no ill intentions, but his way of expression wasn't the most appropriate." He would continue the audience appreciation tour in the future; he admitted that he would be more vigilant, but would not deliberately keep a distance from the audience. Ng Won Lung's father once opened a martial arts gym in the United States, and challenges to the gym often happened. "Of course it's not like in the movies. They usually came to test our martial arts skills. Often I was sent to meet them, Papa wouldn't take action." He said that he was used to competing with different sects, for those who came to "take advantage" he have to deal with them on behalf of the martial arts school. "The purpose of the competition is not to defeat the other party, but to understand through the competition what moves you are lacking. After the competition, everyone will gain something. It's not just about winning or losing."

Raymond Lam Fung, Tony Wu Tsz Tung and German Cheung Man Kit attended the TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) film exhibition yesterday and interacted with the students on site to share details of the film production. Lam Fung revealed that the most unforgettable scene was a fight scene with Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai). Not only did the ligament in his foot snap in half, but when he was trying out his position and the cameras were about to roll, he took a wrong step and accidentally fell straight from the second floor to the first floor and flew out of the shot. Fortunately, it was just a near miss. He got up and ran back to the second floor to continue the filming.

TWILIGHT's Hong Kong box office exceeded HK$ 27 million. Cheung Man Kit said that he has been watching the box office like the stock market everyday. He also joked that when he saw director Soi Cheang Pou Soi a few days ago, even he asked, "What kind of movie did I make? Why would it be like this? Even I wouldn't have guessed this." Were they confident that it would break the highest box office record for a Hong Kong movie? Lam Fung said, "Everyone has already done their best and their fullest, I hope the audience will continue to support us." Wu Tsz Tong said, "We will let it to fate. Our goal isn't necessarily on the box office, but to start filming a sequel or to perform with the original team." Lam Fung said that of course if the box office would be better, the chance of getting another movie would be greater, but it is up to Director Soi to decide what to make. They would not mind what role they play. "We can make whatever, but if the team would be wasted on a dramatic team." It would be the best to continue making action movies to keep him moving, only that would be passionate enough; not to mention action movies are one of Hong Kong's specialties. "TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN took 4 months to make, the fighting was ferocious. During this period everyone got along very happily, so it didn't feel long at all." Lam Fung revealed that the film would hold a celebration in a few days, but believed that getting all the actors together would not be easy. Wu Tsz Tung pointed out that due to the epidemic they did not have a production wrap banquet. Cheung Man Kit immediately responded, "I have always minded not having a wrap banquet!" Wu Tsz Tung joked, "Don't make it hard on the director!"

As for Philip Ng Won Lung being "surprise attacked" by a male audience member and falling to the ground during an audience appreciation event but luckily was not injured, Lam Fung had a little fun at his expense. "A Master! Actually everyone consoled him. This time was unexpected. The audience really getting involved, people call me by my film name on the street. I am happy about that though." Would they keep a distance from the audience or cancel the interactive session in the future? Wu Tsz Tong believed that audience appreciation events were the best way to interact with the audience. However, after this incident, each actor would know how to be more vigilant. If something did not feel right, they will immediately keep their distance from the audience. The on-site emcee will also take care of the actors. Lam Fung joked that after filming TWILIGHT each actor have had certain level of skills, and they also know how to protect themselves. As for whether he would let children watch his performance, he said that his daughter was too young and he would not let her watch it for the time being.