[2024.10.24] MICHAEL HUI: EXAGGERATED COMEDY IS OUTDATED

Michael Hui

Michelle Wai openly minds her fiancé.

Emperor boss Alberty Yeung and his wife led their artists to support the film.
courtesy of on.cc

Dayo Wong and Michael Hui work together again after 32 years. Boss Albert Yeung shows his support.
courtesy of singtao.com

Dayo Wong wants to work with Michael Hui again, making movies with authentic local characteristics.

Dayo Wong, Michael Hui, director Anselm Chan and Michelle Wai raise little wooden swords to unveil THE LAST DANCE premiere.

Michelle Wai reveals that for each audience appreciation event, she has been so nervous that she has pain in her stomach

Chung Suet Ying is happy to work with Dayo Wong and Michael Hui and has benefit much from it.
courtesy of mingpao.com

The movie THE LAST DANCE (POR. DEI YUK) two nights ago held a charity premiere, two generations of comedians Michael Hui Koon Man and Dayo Wong Tze Wah, Michelle Wai Sze Nga, Catherine Chau Ka Yee, Tommy Chu Pak Hong and Chung Suet Ying attended. Boss Dr. Albert Yeung Sau Sing and his wife Lu Xiaoman, as well as a number of Emperor artists like Carlos Chan Ka Lok, Chan Kwok Bong and newcomer Hoi Yee showed their support. Tailoring the theme song for the film, singer Terence Lam Ka Him also made an appearance. Hui Koon Man frankly said that he wanted to make a new comedy, tears within the laughter and a release from life. Wong Tze Wah joked that the two would make a movie with Hong Kong cultural characteristics, "hitting the villain". They looked forward to Hong Kong being excited again and returning to the peak era!

Hui Koon Man revealed that when boss Yeung Sau Sing sent him the script, he said that he would definitely like him to play the Taoist priest. It was not until when he read the script that he realized that it was the world's first comedy without jokes. "However the audience will cry after watching it. When you leave the theater you would be very happy, the world is prettier, life is even more beautiful, tomorrow will be even better. I believe that future comedies will head toward this direction." He said that director Anselm Chan Mou Yin insisted against making a comedy with too much tendancy toward laughter, while he tended to lean more toward laughter more. "Actually now whether you laugh or not doesn't really matter, no matter how funny you are you won't be as funny as the several minute long videos on social media. When even the old lady at the market knows how to make them, what kind of comedy to make becomes a problem." Michael also pointed out that he has not made a movie for more than 10 years. He has been seeking a new form of comedy, and this time LAST was very close. He pointed out that the previous exaggerated comedy has become outdated. The audience needs to have something new; after crying when they feel that life is worth living, then it would be powerful enough, then it's the comedy angle! In the future when I make my own comedies, I must have this meaning; but I will add more funny material." Speaking of all of the audience were moved to tears, Michael admitted that he also wanted to cry when he read the script. After reading it he was suddenly felt a release and a lot more comfortable. He laughed and said, "Hong Kong people need to 'break hell', but actually Hong Kong itself needs to 'break hell'; which means leaving everything in the past, the pride and hatred of the past, and re-embarking on the road to seek new breakthroughs. For example the Chief Executive often talks about 'transition', so the seven million people in Hong Kong should not be afraid. As long as we plug the loopholes and arrogance of the past, and get back on the road then we would be fine. There must be a way, because Hong Kong people are very strong!" Tze Wah also absolutely agreed with Michael. He humorously suggested for the government to conduct hell breaking ritual in the middle of the Victoria Harbor on major holidays. Hui Koon Man has already said that he was willing to perform the chanting part, while Wong Tze Wah would be the funeral worker again. He joked that Hong Kong needed to be reincarnated. "Michael's deeper meaning is to be reborn from the fire!"

Working with Michael again this time, Tze Wah bluntly said that it was a wonderful journey. More than 30 years ago they each went on their own journey then got together to make this film, which was a wonderful arrangement of fate. Now this movie is completed for everyone to see, which was also a wonderful journey. "This movie would take us to the Tokyo Film Festival, and I hope it would be able to go around the world." Michael pointed out that the filming of THE LAST DANCE this time was a Hong Kong characteristic, like kung fu films in the past were also Hong Kong characteristic. He has also set his sight on the world, and hoped that Hong Kong films will continue to make their own characteristics. Tze Wah pointed out that Hong Kong still has many iconic features, but we must work hard to discover them. He thought that the second thing that could be filmed was "hitting villains". "I announce that I will shoot 'hitting villains' first, no one shall fight me for it, OK! I don't know if I will dress like a woman, if we won't be the ones to shoot "hitting the villain then someone has plagiarized us." Would he be responsible for "hitting villains"? Tze Wah replied with a smile, "I am talking about Michael doing the work, I would be the villain!" Tze Wah was called "Tze Wah God", he immediately said that was blasphemy, only Michael was "Michael God". "Hong Kong has its variety of comedies today because Hui Koon Man started it, all kinds of comedies have his DNA in them, carry his blood in them. Michael is a blood donor, only he is the god!"

Wai Sze Nga was not only the female lead in the film, but also had a very heavy role. So for every audience appreciation event, she had stomach aches due to the pressure. "Making this movie has been very wonderful. Each time after interacting with the audience, I feel as if I have redeemed others with a sense of mission." She revealed that she has watched the film nearly 30 times, but she only officially watched the general release version at the premiere the night before. She also specifically invited her parents and fiancé to show their support. Although it was not the first time that her doctor fiancé has accompanied her to a movie premiere, only this time he was able to sit next to her. The boss said that originally there was no more seat, but he made special arrangements for him. Wai Sze Nga said that in the past, she always asked her fiancé for his opinion when filming but she usually did not listen; she just pretended to. Earlier he even tried to take the initiative to rehearse with her at home. "My fiance is very funny, he would insist on rehearsing with me at home. Actually I don't want to rehearse with him, because I feel it might be even worse after. At the time we just met and I didn't want to turn him down and set him back. Now I wouldn't pay him any mind." Sze Nga laughed and pointed out that her fiancé had no potential to be an actor at all, but he started to become interested in social media platforms. She could help him analyze comments, and they have become much closer. However, earlier her fiancé uploaded the photos of their church wedding rehearsal to social media platforms without showing her first. "I don't mind him sharing it with everyone, but the angle of the photos he took is really bad!"

Lam Ka Him actually shared a birthday with Hui Koon Man. Has he thought about working with him? He said, "Of course I want to; I too want to try acting, but I don't dare to guarantee that I would be able to handle it."

Playing Wong Tze Wah's assistant in the film, Chung Suet Ying was able to see her elders Hui Koon Man and Wong Tze Wah filming important scenes on the first day of work. Even if someone paid a lot of money they might not be able to watch their superb acting skills. Working with Tze Wah God for the first time, she said with a smile that she worried that he would be very mean. Yet on the set, he would take the initiative to talk to her. In addition, she would compete for the Golden Horse Award "Best Actress" with the movie THE WAY WE TALK (HONG NGOR GUM TIN JUM MOR SUET). Chung Suet Ying said that everything was normal. "I treat it normally. I am very happy to be able to be nominated with (Sandra) Ng Kwan Yu. I hope that she would win. I want to more watch movies more. I would take a big suitcase and bring back more Golden Horse souvenirs back."