[2024.12.07] PAPA OPENS TO ALMOST HK$ 2 MILLION

Sean Lau and Jo Koo attend an audience appreciation event

Director Philip Yung does not dare to predict whether PAPA will catch up to THE LAST DANCE at the box office
courtesy of mingpao.com

Sean Lau Ching Wan, Jo Koo (Kok Cho Lam) and director Philip Yung Tsz Kwong went to the theater the night before to thank the audience of their new film PAPA. The film company reported the good news on the spot, as its opening day box office (December 5th) received HK$ 1,006,593; together with the previous previews the cumulative box office was HK$ 1,928,847. Hearing the good results, director Yung Tsz Kwong was so happy that he repeatedly "wow". Ching Wan's reaction however seemed to be dissatisfied, as he joked, "Just over a million?! What feeling would I have! It would be the best not to lose money, and I hope there will be more donations!" After sharing the shooting experience with the audience and then completing the group photo, Ching Wan turned around and reminded the audience as he left the theater, "Give more donations!"

Ching Wan and Siu Kok went to a few audience appreciation shows in a row the night before, felt the response of the audience. When asked if many viewers were crying, Ching Wan said that they probably were. By the time he entered the theater, the audience has already wiped away their tears. Some viewers asked him if playing this role was so tragic that he became thinner, Ching Wan pointed out that he was even thinner during the shoot. He was at a normal weight for his age. Siu Kok was also curious and asked him how he stayed in shape? Ching Wan stated that it was determination and the understanding that he could do it. Ching Wan emphasized that PAPA was not a deliberately sensational movie. He got along with the cast and the crew during filming, only in front of camera he forced out unhappy expressions. "The cooperation between the cast and the crew off camera is very pleasant; especially with many new generation actors I have never worked together, they are not familiar with it at first. They don't talk much and think they are alone, then they take a little more initiative." He really hoped to have good box office performance, and he would continue to attend audience appreciation events to thank everyone. "I will continue to thank the audience, everyone has seen how 'wilted' I am!" Kok Cho Lam was grateful to her friends for their support. Because her two daughters were still too little, she was afraid that the subject matter would be too heavy and serious; so she has not planned to let them enter to watch.

Yung Tsz Kwong saw the recent acclaim of Hong Kong films and thought it was a good thing. He found that the audience's tastes were ever-changing, which seems to be able to re-cultivate and ignite the audience's enthusiasm for watching movies. Thus he strengthened his confidence in PAPA. Was he confident about breaking THE LAST DANCE's box office record? Kok Cho Lam immediately rushed to say, "Yes! Yes!" Yung Tsz Kwong said that the films he directed in the past have received more than 10 million box office, and the films he has produced have more than 40 million. He did not dare to make any prediction. "Wong Tze Wah once said that THE LAST DANCE has a serious subject matter, so there are restrictions. The subject of PAPA is also very serious, but it is slice-of-life. I think Hong Kong audiences have made a lot of progress. Seeing them sharing on the Internet like writing movie reviews, they will discuss and analyze it in depth." He said that he was happy to work with Ching Wan and Kok Cho Lam, and looked forward to the opportunity to cooperate with the original team again.