[2024.12.03] SAMMO HUNG DISCUSSES THE CURRENT STATUS OF HONG KONG FILMS: IT'S SO PAINFUL

Sammo Hung spoke to the press while attending the Tokyo International Film Festival. Having experienced the most glorious days of Hong Kong action films, he said that the current predicament has been the most difficult since the start of his career

Sammo Hung in TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN played the villain "the Big Boss". If he would be invited to take part in the prequel, he would gladly accept

Sammo Hung is the action director in the first two IP MAN films and even performs in IP MAN 2

Sammo Hung earlier attended the Tokyo International Film Festival, sharing his action film experience. Actually aside from an actor, he is also a film producer, action director and director

ENTER THE FAT DRAGON was Ngai Hong written, Sammo Hung directed, action directed, starred. The film paid homage to Bruce Lee's ENTER THE DRAGON. Donnie Yen starred in the recent remake of the film

When Sammo Hung attends public event in recent years, his wife Joyce Godenzi would definitely be by his side.
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 72-year-old Hong Kong action film superstar known as "Big Brother Big", Sammo Hung Kam Bo stepped into the film industry at the age of 9 and has been in the film industry for more than 60 years. Earlier he gave the Tokyo International Film Festival Master Class and spoke to the media. Self-deprecating as loving to "BS" and having limited ability, Hung Kam Bo's love of the movies has never changed, especially for action movies. Seeing that Hong Kong films have fallen from the golden age in the 1980s to the trough in the 2000s, and the novel coronavirus pandemic has once again brought the industry into a cold winter, he could not help but lament, "It's so painful". What could be done? Hung Kam Bo said that he could only pin his hope on the younger generation.

Regarding the different opinions that Hong Kong films are often said to be "dead", "entering a cold winter" or "showing a small spring", Hung Kam Bo said, "It's actually very painful." Yet in the midst of the pain he still felt there was hope. "Hong Kong young people still have a passion for Hong Kong films. They must not give up, we must rely on the support of a new generation of filmmakers. Film used to be a big deal in Hong Kong. If you go anywhere in Southeast Asia, even the United States, you know that Hong Kong films are quite a big deal; we had our glory, but now we are in trouble." Regarding the reasons for the lack of Hong Kong films, Hung Kam Bo said that the industry atmosphere was poor, there were many variables due to cultural differences with the mainland. With the novel coronavirus pandemic the film industry has been brought to a halt; the current predicament was the worst period since he entered the industry. "Worse than when counterfeits were rampant; People who sold counterfeits made money, but the film industry didn't come to a standstill; while the government has done a lot, its help has been limited."

Hung Kam Bo agreed that the film and television streaming platforms have stolen a lot of cinema audiences, "Nowadays as long as you have a mobile phone, you can watch the movie anywhere. It seems that Netflix has a lot of good movies, and the price is cheap. A movie ticket isn't cheap in Hong Kong. If you buy something to eat, it is really expensive. If you buy a ticket and get two hamburgers and add a cup of milk tea, many people would go to the theater to watch the movie. Now even a hamburger is so expensive." Hung Kam Bo said that he rarely went to the theater anymore. "I really shouldn't want to talk about others, I myself am like this; watching movies on streaming platforms at home."

When asked what type of movies would be suitable for Hong Kong at present, Hung Kam Bo slapped his thigh and said that he did not know. "If I knew, I would have made them!" In recent years many realistic feature films have won word of mouth. He did not think they were bad, only slower in gaining popularity. The popularity of action movies was stronger. "When you watch TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN, the content is exciting, the story and characters are good, and the production cost is huge, so it is entertaining. Unfortunately not every movie has more than 100 million in production budgets to shoot. I hope that TWILIGHT can start up he Hong Kong film industry, but it still remains to be seen. I hope that bosses of film companies will win the Mark Six lottery a few more times; if they win 100 million or 80 million, they can make a few more movies. Hong Kong movies used to be so glorious, but now they are like this; I really want to cry." He hoped that Hong Kong filmmakers would not give up, add in creativity, and continue to work; but he stressed that "action movies are the biggest deal and the most valuable", citing TWILIGHT as an example.
Hung Kam Bo is not only an actor, but also a film company owner. He has co-founded 4 film companies with friends, and his films have been hits and misses. Hung Kam Bo said: "Over the years I have seen many peers lose money in film. I have also lost a lot, several films together around tens of millions of dollars; but I wouldn't remember which one lost money, if I would my heart would ache." He said that he was never afraid of losing money when he invested in films before, "Because I love movies, I still continue to make them even when I lose money!"

Hung Kam Bo has been in the industry for many years and had no shortage of film awards, winning the Hong Kong Films Award for Best Actor for CARRY ON PICKPOCKET (TAI FONG SIU SAU) and PAINTED FACES (CHUT SIU FOOK), with THE PRODIGAL SON (BAI GA JAI), the first IP MAN films and PARADOX (SAT POR LONG TAM LONG) he has won four Best Action Choreography; he has directed dozens of movies, the LUCKY STARS film series, the Jackie Chan starred MR. NICE GUY (YUT GOR HO YUN) were all big hits; but he did not win after nominated for the Best Director at the Hong Kong Awards with THE PRODIGAL SON and HEART OF DRAGON (LUNG DIK SUM). Did he want to win this award? He said frankly, "It's not that I want to, but I really want to!" He said that he has even received the Lifetime Achievement Award, the only one missing was the best director. He did not shy away from saying that he wants to direct again, but there were many things to consider, "My current mentality is different from the past. I used to be so positive and impulsive, but now I don't have the heart to fight; going with the flow on everything. It would be the best for someone to ask me to direct, but there won't be free lunches now. I'm just talking nonsense a lot of the time now, I don't have the ability to do it." Hung Kam Bo revealed that many stories have failed to start production, such as period costume war films.

Hung Kam Bo was a Beijing Opera apprentice under Yu Jim Yuen, the eldest brother of Seven Little Fortunes. He has also practiced taekwondo, Wing Chun, and began to be a martial art stuntman at the age of 18. To be able to be called an action film superstar he also had to have his own style. He said, "My style is cute, fat, the fattest action movie star. Actually I have been lucky; the audience loves me. I don't think I'm special. I can be whatever you want me to be." As for whether he will start a class to teach apprentices and pass on what he has learned, Hung Kam Bo said, "Where would the successor come from?" He said that there are no action movie to be made, so how could we talk about succession.

TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN was well received, which seemed to bring a ray of light to Hong Kong-made action films. With the announcement of a prequel and a sequel, would Hung Kam Bo participate? He said of course he was interested, "If you pay I will work, I won't be driven away by the stench of money." He also said that what he plays, what he fights, or how much the screen time, nothing mattered and was all up to the director; as for how the role would be played, he joked, "Perhaps a bed scene, I haven't done one before. It's novel enough." Hung Kam Bo said that what pleased him the most about TWILIGHT was giving rise to the new generation of actors. He praised their good performance, and the director should also take credit.

Hung Kam Bo is 72 years old and walks with a cane, but he is in good spirits and has no intention of retiring. "Actually I really want to continue working, but I am a little disappointed in Hong Kong movies; it is difficult to pick up the energy and work. I am interested in acting, but before taking on the role I must know what the role does. There is no work planned for the time being. Many people have asked me to make a cameo appearance for a few days, we are still in negotiation."

Hung Kam Bo married Miss Hong Kong Joyce Godenzi (Go Lai Hung) in 1995, next year will be their 30th anniversary. On the day of the interview, Hung Kam Bo first attended a seminar, then the Hong Kong Film Development Council and the Cultural and Creative Affairs Department organized party as well as interviews with a number of media outlets. When this interview started, it was already past 7 p.m., was he very tired?. He said bluntly, "Yes, very tired." Staying by his side, Go Lai Hung immediately handed over the hot tea and gave him a cushion. Hung Kam Bo was very obedient to his wife. when Go Lai Hung asked him to sit up straight when taking pictures, he immediately straightened his back and smiled. When Go Lai Hung proposed to change the work arrangements, Hung Kam Bo immediately said, "It doesn't matter, your call." He thoroughly showed respect for your wife.