[2024.05.15] PHILIP NG IS VERY PLEASED WITH HIS MAD VILLAIN

Philip Ng has no idol baggage.  He agrees to play the villain out of admiration for director Soi Cheang

Philip Ng has won word of mouth with his extraordinary performance, wonderful martial art and acting skills

Philip Ng shows his feats in his decisive battle with the "Four Youths of the Walled City'

Philip Ng has many scenes with Sammo Hung in the film.  Although he has a lot of pressure from it, he also benefits a lot from it
courtesy of mingpao.com

The movie TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) was released on the 14th. Driven by word-of-mouth, the box office exceeded HK$ 46 million as of 3 PM yesterday. Ng Won Lung, who played the villain "Wong Gau" in the film, has soared in popularity. In addition to his outstanding performance, he still maintained his demeanor and was praised for his moral integrity after a viewer attacked him at an audience appreciation event. He was also "Wong Gau" when promoting the film: "What? You haven't watched TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN yet? Are you kidding! The box office has exceeded 45 million! Hahaha!" The film was selected for the "Midnight Screening Section" of the Cannes Film Festival. Louis Koo Tin Lok and director Soi Cheang Pou Soi led the "Four Young Masters of the Walled City" to Cannes. Today, Philip Ng Won Lung takes the lead and brought Nine Bamboos (Chu Pak Hong) to a 10 consecutive "Return to Righteousness" audience appreciation shows.

Ng Won Lung has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He has been in the industry for 23 years. He played the domineering role of "Wong Gau" in TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN, and his wonderful martial arts has won him word of mouth. Ng Won Lung described the film as one of the most interesting roles he has ever played, "This character is so crazy, he does a lot of strange tricks, he will bite off a knife and use it to stab people. Wow, when I first thought about how special the scenes were, I was excited before filming. The results turned out great, I'm so pleased."

Not all actors are willing to accept the role of a villain. Ng Won Lung said that he had no idol baggage. In addition, he has always admired director Cheang Pou Soi and liked his film style. Even though it was their first collaboration, he was very confident in his casting arrangement and agreed to perform right away. "Director Soi felt that I have already made a lot of movies. Since everyone knew me, he suggested that it was time to try something new. In addition to coming up with very crazy ideas, he also knew how to explore the potential of actors. When filming dramatic scenes, he always let me try to act with different emotions. After making this movie I have fallen in love with Director Soi even more, out of a scale of 10 I love him 18."

During the filming Ng Won Lung risked his life for the performance, tore the ligaments along with muscles of his right leg. He said that the injury was innocent. "I was filming the stair jumping scene in the alley of the Walled City. I thought the action was very simple, so I didn't change the prop shoes and keep on my leather shoes for the shoot; but the leather shoe soles were too thin, and there was no insole to relieve the force. I jumped to the ground and bang I was hurt. Fortunately, I rested for a week after the injury. Only then I was able to film the chase scene on Nathan Road." He said that he could take painkillers and bandage the wound to treat his injuries. Instead, when he filmed the battle scene Raymond Lam Fung, Terrance Lau Chun Him, Tony Wu Tsz Tung and German Cheung Man Kit he accidentally kicked Wu Tsz Tung on the chin. Wu had to be hospitalized for 15 stitches and he felt guilty, "When I treated I bought Wu Tsz Tung 15 drinks to make up for it. He was great and had a strong character. Because he was a professional baseball player, he didn’t blame me. I'm very grateful to him. It was the first time I kicked and hurt someone in my film career, I have to blame the leather shoes."

Speaking of the action scenes in the film with elders "Big Brother Big" Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Koo Tin Lok (Goo Jai) and Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) (Siu Chai). Ng Won Lung said that although it was his second film with a fight scene with Big Brother Big, the pressure was also very high. He did not want to see any injury again, but he had to support his body from behind for balance and also had to take into account his acting. He was stumped and relied on the guidance of an experienced elder Big Brother Big, "He is very amazing, he would explain how to achieve the scene the director wanted. The positioning was very accurate and very safe, and the shoot was completed in one take." As for the action scene with Siu Chai, which was only one scene, Ng Won Lung laughed and said that he and Siu Chai talked a lot outside the scene, "Siu Chai is a super nice guy. We have many mutual friends in Taiwan, such as Ng Kin Ho (Vannes Wu)." Having filmed several movies with Goo Jai before, this time they met again and Ng Won Lung said that he felt comfortable and relaxed, "There was a scene in which I had to chop his back repeatedly, and I felt sorry. Goo Jai very readily said that it was no problem and asked me to do it as directed."

Hung Kam Bo earlier publicly stated that it was difficult to find a successor for action films, was Ng Won Lung ready to take over? He said he did not dare to take it; but since his contract with Wong Jing's management company expired in 2019, he formed his own office to develop his acting career independently. He previously went to the United States to serve as an action director for Hollywood movies. He recently returned to Hong Kong and completed the first project of his own company, the action film MO MING FOR (NAMELESS FIRE). He said, "Being an actor is very passive. Setting up your own company gives you greater freedom, and you can make the production international. The team uses my contacts in Asia to do what they want; like if I prefer to package kung fu with science fiction subjects, I can. The funding can come from all directions."

The 46 year old Ng Won Lung after going to Hollywood to develop his career doubled his net worth. Has he saved enough money to get married? He said that financially he had a foundation and he hoped to tie the knot soon. "Now I have no date. I have tried to go out and meet different people, hoping to find someone compatible. I have always been in a hurry, but I'm also picky. Of course I hope to find a caring and beautiful wife, the most important thing is that she has to love me. (Do you regret missing out on your ex?) No, I think this is God's arrangement, or it’s fate. However long two people can be together is however long, most of those I have dated have become good friends and have kept in touch. (Are you still good friends with Linda Chung Ka Yun?) Don't name names, I don't want to involve others and don't want to affect other people's lives either. In short, I take every relationship seriously. I wouldn't do anything to hurt them; but when some parts of the relationship just don't fit together they turn into break ups. I think marriage depends on timing."