[2024.09.11] ALL LOOKS AND NO SUBSTANCE, TERRANCE LAU IS DETERMINE TO LEARN KUNG FU

Terrance Lau played the role of a new stuntman, and his performance was praised with a passing grade.

Philip Ng
courtesy of on.cc

Philip Ng hopes to continue to be an action actor with acting skills.
courtesy of singtao.com

Philip Ng, Stephen Tung and Terrance Lau promote their new film STUNTMAN in an interview together.

Stephen Tung praises Terrance Lau for being highly demanding of himself, and has the quality to become an action actor.

Philip Ng passionately loves being an action actor. Even if he is hurt all over, he would not give up action movies.
courtesy of on.cc

The Stephen Tung Wai, Philip Ng Won Lung and Terrance Lau Chun Him starred movie STUNTMAN (MO TAI DOH) will be released on September 26. After retiring behind the scenes for 20 years, the martial arts and action director Tung Wai played a stubborn has-been stuntman in the film. He denied that he only agreed to return because the new film paid tribute to stunt people, purely a story attracted him. It told the progress of the times, from the past to the present. Everyone should look forward and not rest on the past. He praised Lau Chun Him, who had no background in kung fu, for his potential as an action actor, with surprising performances in both TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) and STUNTMAN. Ng Won Lung revealed that someone once told him to do more dramatic films and create a path for dramatic films. Expressing himself through action was his strong point, so he insisted on making action films. He hoped to become an action actor who everyone thinks has acting skills.

Tung Wai participated in many TV dramas in the early 1980s and received great reviews. However, he later decided to focus on action directing and occasionally made guest appearances in movies. Today it has been seven years since he performed in front of the screen again. Tung Wai felt that STUNTMAN paid tribute to the filmmakers of the 1980s. "Action movies are more brilliant in this era, but an action movie cannot be completed by stuntmen alone. Like Jackie Chan and (Sammo) Hung Kam Bo's movies, they took a group of stunt people and staff to work together to make them happen." Having witnessed action movies of many eras, Tung Wai felt that the biggest difference between the past and now was the problem of funding. "Now there is not enough money to shoot with. Movies require money, and action movies require even more money."

Ng Won Lung only had two or three fight scenes in the film, but he still showed his best, "I love this industry very much. The new film tells the stories and hardships of heroes behind the scenes. Although resources and time were limited, everyone tried their best to make the movie its best. This time I am the happiest to be able to work with Master Tung (Tung Wai) in front of the camera. We have known each other for 20 years, and we have worked together behind the scenes." When asked about making action movies for many years, has it been tough? Ng Won Lung said, "I can't say it's tough. I feel a bit regretful. The birthplace of kung fu action movies is Hong Kong. The technology still exists and flourishes, not in Hong Kong but in other countries."

Having established a studio, Ng Won Lung will make some medium to low-cost films with less risk in the future, giving new action actors the opportunity to develop and gain experience. Will new action actor Lau Chun Him be given a chance to act? Ng Won Lung joked, "Tell him to give me a chance." When asked about Lau Chun Him's skills, Ng Won Lung said that he did not dare to show off in front of Master Tung. Tung Wai praised Lau Chun Him's potential as an action actor. He has performed surprisingly well both in TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN and STUNTMAN. "If he is a stunt actor, he is absolutely qualified. He is highly demanding of himself. This is the requirement for an action actor and a stuntman."

With a background in kung fu, Lau Chun Him has a background in modern dance but it is completely different from martial arts. Before filming, he practiced with the director and a group of stunt people. During the filming, he learned on the job. "The training process brings me, an outsider, slowly into the world of stunt people. I have a better understanding of them. (Is it very tough?) This profession is tough. As Tung Wai and Ng Won Lung said, this is the duty of a stuntman, and no job is comfortable."

Lau Chun Him said that the more action movies he is exposed to, the more he understands that he must practice martial arts. The movie he is filming also involves a lot of action scenes. He admitted that recently he has been approached to act in more action movies. He said with a smile, "Maybe people think I know how to fight, but actually I don't." Speaking of witnessing his girlfriend Cecilia Choi Sze Wan's wedding in the movie, he was asked about how it felt to see her wearing a wedding dress. He said, "It was pretty fresh, I haven't seen that before. (Would you be tempted to wed?) She looks pretty good in a wedding gown, as for marriage let's talk about that later." Ng Won Lung revealed that Lau Chun Him and Choi Sze Wan were very affectionate and happy in private, which made him a little envious.

Ng Won Lung was exhausted from filming action films, but he never thought about not making action films again. "My strength is to use action to express myself and tell stories. Someone once told me to do more dramatic films, so that I can have the opportunity to make purely dramatic films. I am an action actor, there are some scenes where I have to act while fighting; which is not an easy process. Just like in TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS, people praised my acting skills instead of my action. My heart was warmed, I hope to continue to be an action actor with acting skills everyone thinks I am."

When asked whether Tung Wai will participate in more on screen performances in the future, he joked that he often worked as "grass" and "leaf" (support roles) and would be better to stay in his profession. He revealed that he would still perform. There are many enthusiastic young directors and he will participate in their first feature film. "Nothing is bad about that, I only have to contribute a few days. Now it’s very difficult for them to make it. Many people behind the scenes are still working in the industry. They still have the fire, which makes me very touched. Only because of their fire, the film industry still has a chance. Big production is difficult now. I hope the development would be like South Korea in the future, when the government would provide some tax incentives for filmmaking consortiums; then there will be more resources for filming. A scene that obviously would take four days to shoot now has to be completed in two days. Other countries spend 3 months to make a dramatic film, we only shoot for 20 days. Even if the director can fly it would be useless. I hope the audience will support Hong Kong movies more and give everyone a chance."