[2026.10.08] NICK CHEUNG RESISTS WORKING IN COSTUMES

Yoyo Mung and Nick Cheung reunite for another film after 26 years

Yoyo Mung, Chung Suet Ying and Nick Cheung play a family of three in the film
courtesy of on.cc

Yoyo Mung (left), Chung Suet Ying and Nick Cheung play a family of three and have set off a lot of sparks

Yoyo Mung (left) and Nick Cheung collaborate again after 26 years and the chemistry remains

Chung Suet Ying (center) says that swinging back and forth on wires in costumes at the forest feels wonderful

Nick Cheung's "Mediterranean" look has been talked about
courtesy of mingpao.com

Nick Cheung Ka Fai and former co-star Yoyo Mung Ka Wai teamed up with the new generation Best Actress Chung Suet Ying through the film GOOD TRIP (NGOR AH DEH SEUNG LUI HUNG). The film was about how a father with cancer on the final trip of his life reconnected his wife with a very different personality and made up for the regret with the daughter with love, so that the daughter had more courage to face life. Ka Fai and the returning Mung Ka Wai last collaborated on the 2000 film THE TEACHER WITHOUT CHALK (LAU MAN SI BIU), 26 years later they reunited and their chemistry remained. Ka Fai in the interview even made fun of Yoyo's "happy fat."

Playing a middle-aged man with a "Mediterranean" (balding) look, Cheung Ka Fai stated that he suggested shaving his head and then putting on the wig for the performance to be more realistic. "Every time I get a script I would consider the part inside and out. I hope to add more dimension to the character and help me get into the performance." Did he gain weight for the performance? He asked, "Did you get fatter? The new film subject is considered light. Maybe it's because we ate as we shot. I didn't notice that I would become rounder." He instantly gave his onscreen wife Yoyo a wicked look and said, "My old lady is here, you still dare to say that I am fat?" Yoyo ignored Ka Fai's ridicule and admitted that she could not slim back to her former appearance.

Yoyo faded out of the scene for many years. Willing to "come back" and make the film, she said that the film company called her and said that Cheung Ka Fai would be in. They have collaborated in the past and her friends have mentioned Chung Suet Ying before. She thought that working with the new generation would be pretty interesting, so it was a pleasure to participate in the performance. When Cheung Ka Fai learned that Chung Suet Ying has only been in the business for five years, he thought of himself leaving ATV just after the fifth year of his career. He praised Chung Suet Ying had an unique personalities and talent. He also joked that when he first met with he director, he joked that he could play a couple with Chung Suet Ying. As for Chung Suet Ying's role as Ka Fai and Yoyo's daughter, in her eyes the two elders' character could be described as drastically different. She admitted that her thinking in real life was more complicated, as she liked to observe and listen to others. From the two she has learned a lot. "Brother Ka Fai prepares very seriously. He would write a lot of notes on the script, I would sneak a peek. He would mark down what the character needs to speak, presence, Yoyo is very relaxed, but once in front of the camera she would be Mama in the film. They would be the couple with very different personalities in he film, putting me with them we would be very harmonious." Mung Ka Wai praised Chung Suet Ying for being detailed and would add settings for the dialogue on the script. Ka Fai also liked this onscreen team, and also only took the role because of the writing and directing team behind the scenes. "This film is the Hong Kong Film Development Council's 'Directors' Succession Scheme' funded. This collaboration is very fitting for the theme of the development fund, with old, middle and young all in one. With young people's ideas, everyone can have the opportunity to interact, and the director is also able to make it happen."

Chung Suet Ying in the film played a film art assistant. She had to wear period costumes to be on the wires and also play a dead body. She said her first attempt in costume was very enjoyable, but the director asked her last minute at the set about the wire scene. Since the experience of swinging back and forth in the woods was rare, she thought it was very fun. Ka Fai and Yoyo also appeared in costumes. Yoyo said with a smile, "When I hear about wire work, I look at the script and it's just Chung Suet (Chung Suet Ying), everyone is immediately very happy!" Actually Yoyo has never tried the burlap costume before. Ka Fai was deeply resistant to making costume films. "Others think that it would be very interesting. The long wigs would stick to the neck. Wearing costumes that are like three or four layers of curtains, you also have to speak eloquently and keep your back straight for two full months. It's very exhausting. Looking back at Director Chang Cheh's era when every movie was in costume and actors had to fight in fine details, it as really very rough. Now with AI, the younger generation of actors won't have it as rough." The Okinawa location shoot was memorable for them, as they ran into a large scale festival with tens of thousands participants. The team chose a safe spot to shoot and receive the passionate welcome from the residents there. "We have to run over to hold a rope and pray, the rope is so thick that we couldn't put our arms around it. Then we would take the cut down rope home. Many residents help out with the cutting. It's pretty interesting."

Mung Ka Wai has been said to have emigrated to live in Japan, which she clarified that she has never left Hong Kong. She would only fly to Japan to handle business on schedule. Now with AI's help it has been much more convenient. Although she had a a happy filming experience this time, Yoyo did not have much of an acting bug. She understood that now making a movie would be very difficult. She was very happy to have the opportunity to shoot, but she would not force it. She would not mind how much the salary would and how much time would be required. "In recent years the film industry climate has been rough. As long as I can help, I wouldn't mind the salary and time." Has her husband Ekin Cheng supported her onscreen "comeback"? Yoyo said, "He has no opinion, the only thing is that he thinks I can lose a little more weight. I have asked him whether I could go out to see people now. He said that I have indeed changed a little more than before, there is room to be thinner." She neither minded nor blamed her husband's evaluation, thinking that she should take this responsibility herself. Actually Ekin has also asked her to lose weight, "But he has to be able to first. Since I eat everyday losing weight is very difficult. Even with pickle ball I can't catch up with the fat absorption." She said that they got along with friends as they were able to talk about anything. "We can talk about anything, basically we have no secret. Whether we like it or don't like it, we should talk about it. This is the most comfortable." Cheung Ka Fai joked, "You used to be so thin, like your ribs would break just from touching you. Next time you can play a wrestler!"

The family of three from the film gathered at the studio to take a warm family photo. In reality Cheung Ka Fai and his wife Esther Kwan Ho Wing have been together for over 30 years. They wed in Australia in 2003, but Ka Fai stated that he was not very focused on the sense of life ceremonies. Although he would buy a cake to celebrate on his wife Kwan Wing Ho's birthday, he has also almost forgotten it. Ka Fai believed that after the audience has seen this movie, they will be deeply touched and understand that the parents' concern for their children is a lifetime thing. He admitted that he has not detected this feeling before he became a father. Cheung Ka Fai admitted that his 20 year daughter has been on his mind the most. As a father his biggest worry was for her to meet a bad guy. He humorously said, "I told my daughter, 'Girl, anyone with money would definitely fool around, anyone without money would still fool around!' Controlling what she runs into would be very hard, so I can only let go and let her experience it herself." He believed that the message that the film wanted to bring out was that even if the couple's personalities were drastically different, they would not have to hurt each other. Instead they could accept each other and find a comfortable way to get along. Just as his and his wife's personalities were equally different but they were still able to live in harmony. He felt that finding another half with the same personality for marriage would be very difficult. "No one would be similar, you can accept finding a comfort zone (get along); not divorce, damage, violence." He also revealed that he has seen a friend who regarded her husband as an idol. When the reporter asked him if he wanted to use it to convey any message to his wife, Ka Fai smiled and said, "I don't think that's necessary, everyone getting along naturally is fine!" As for Chung Suet Ying, she immediately frowned when asked about finding a mate. She said that her family only wanted her to be happy, so they have never tried to play matchmaker for her.