Tuesday, January 7, 2020

[2020.01.08] DANTE LAM, EDDIE PENG WITNESSES RAVES FROM THE FIRST AUDIENCE



Xin Zhilei and Eddie Peng
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courtesy of singtao.com

The first Chinese film to focus on at sea rescue, THE RESCUE (GUNG GUP GAU WOON)'s director Dante Lam Chiu Yin led three stars Eddie Peng Yu-yan, Ian Wang and Xu Yang at the movies to personally experience the most realistic response from the audience. The audience included many firefighters and other first responders. They all said that they "knew how they felt"!

Director Lam Chiu Yin said, "The movie's protagonists are a group of heroes who ensures safety at sea. They directly face the fear of nature. They overcome all difficulties with their courage!" The first audience gave the film generally good reviews and applause. The rescue at sea as usual was awe inspiring, but the character relationships this time absolutely should not be missed either! The first audience strongly agreed, "Each character is incredible realistic! With both comedy and tragedy, the film while gets the blood pumping also remembers its warmth and emotions!"

This was Peng Yu-Yan and Lam Chiu Yin's fourth collaboration. In the past they have displayed different visual impact and ferocious image. This time Eddie stated that he experienced "fear" for the first time! "Our clothes could withstand several hundred degrees of heat, but they still needed another layer of fire retardant coating. While waiting for the shoot, I experienced fear for the first time! We had oxygen tanks. Each time I had to inspect it once myself. Unknowingly I was already in (the actual) condition. Thus for each shot in the fire, none of us were performing as we were experiencing it with our bodies! When the fire burnt on my body, I could sense the heat on me for five minutes without being able to leave. It was still burning all over my body!"

Lam Chiu Yin is known as the "demon director" in the industry. His latest production special "high level training chapter" showed the cast in order to transform into the most professional rescue team had to accept a series of difficult special training before the shoot, including above and under water rescue basic training, helicopter rescue skills, theories and planning, deep water rescue diving training, deep and shallow water rescue obstacle training, deep water physical extreme training. Peng Yu-Yan, who director Lam praised as loving to challenge himself, remained fully focused in all the training and attended many different courses. He kept learning rescue team skills and safety precautions from the instructors. He admitted, "The training actually was the most exhausting. During the shoot I showed all of the past training fully on film!"

Saturday, January 4, 2020

[2020.01.05] KARENA NG DECLINES TO COMMENT ON RAYMOND LAM




courtesy of mingpao.com
Lisa Ch'ng
Louis Cheung gets to do the "lowly stuff" and leaves the "cool" stuff to Julian Cheung
Karena Ng
Maggie Yu
courtesy of on.cc
courtesy of singtao.com

The Lunar New Year film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2020 (GA YAU HEI SI 2020) two nights ago held its production wrap banquet. The director and actor Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Louis Cheung Kai Chung, Chrissie Chau Sau Na, DaDa Chan Jing, Karena Ng Chin Yu, Toby Chan Ting Yan, Lisa Ch'ng Si Ming and Patrick Tam Yiu Man attended. When asked about old flame Raymond Lam Fung's marriage announcement on New Year's Eve, Chin Yu still refused to say congratulation and said that she was concentrating on work.

Ng Chin Yu only said about the news of Raymond Lam Fung's marriage. "You are asking again? I have already answered. I feel that the focus shouldn't be on me. Since I have replied before, I have no comment." Would she like everyone to congratulate her soon? She said, "It will happen one day, when I have good news I would inform everyone. Now I have many people who care and love me, but I haven't gone to the next level yet. I would definitely share any good news I have." Chin Yu said that she was concentrating on work, in particular she would like to establish a personal fashion label in athletic wear.

Cheung Chi Lam and Cheung Kai Chung played brothers. As for the box office, both hoped that every film would have good box office for a full bloom. They would leave the pressure to the boss. Of course it would be the best for their movie would become the box office champion. The film was suitable for the whole family. Would they like bonuses? Cheung Chi Lam said that he would not talk about that, because when the boss made money everyone would continue to have a job.

Ah Chung this time played the baby of a swindler family, only responsible for driving and supplies. He left the "cool" for Cheung Chi Lam and Raymond Wong Pak Ming to play. He had a rather comfortable shoot because the action and the heavy lifting scenes were left for Chau Sau Na. However Ah Chung had a scene in which he had to "coax" tourists in English. He had to remember his lines for 2 days. He said, "Because I had to deliver them in front of a group of foreign actors, I had to look very confident. So I was a little nervous."

Maggie Yu Miao, Aliya Fan Man Nga, Chong Si Ming in ALL'S play nurses to seduce Cheung Chi Lam. Yu Miao joked that Chi Lam was lucky but she was no match for his electrifying eyes. She said, "People just finished hating me, I too want to play some comedy for the audience to be a little happier."

The Mat Yeung Ming invested soup shop was vandalized on New Year's Day. Yeung Ming's girlfriend Chong Si Ming two nights ago revealed, "When We were just informed, we indeed were a little upset. However this was unexpected, we could only make repairs as soon as possible. We don't want to affect the neighbors and the usual clients."

How much damage was done? Si Ming said that no calculation has been made yet, but her boyfriend's business partner that night already rushed back to the shop to handle it. Would they strengthen security? She pointed out that for the repair they might not use glass again, as they were afraid that the broken glass would hurt the clients. They would use some safe material. Now that the repairs were done they have not affected the shop's operation. Only that it was not as "handsome". Has their business been affected? She said, "Under the climate everyone has been affected. We are still OK." Would she be more gracious with the online criticism? She replied, "I am very gracious. I would try to understand and reflect, hoping to improve the quality of the food."

Toby Chan Ting Yan two nights ago was the host for the Lunar New Year film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2020 (GA YAU HEI SI 2020) production wrap banquet. In the film she guest starred as a casino dealer. Before the performance he first went to learn how to deal cards. Earlier her boyfriend Benny Yeung Chun Yuen was accused of "cheating" with Yu and Christy Chan Kit Ling, but he posted a photo of a kiss with Ting Yan online. Ting Yan replied, "I didn't know that he was posting picture. It wasn't deliberate. He also had other third, fourth, fifth, sixth parties' photos, but they were all shabu shabu (her pet parrot)'s." Did her boyfriend assure her? Ting Yan said, "No, he would always post photos, he posts what he likes." However some online said that if her boyfriend had a third party and still was able to accept that then she truly would be a silly Miss Hong Kong. She said, "A 30 something being called silly is pretty cute. Everyone worry about me too much. Now there are a lot of information. The ones posted of me are the most correction." Earlier she also clarified for Yu and Chan Kit Ling, saying that she and Yu were closer. Because Yu was Benny's friend, she met her boyfriend through Yu. "I have been there before, it's definitely unpleasant for girls. Don't talk about them anymore!" Bills labeling her boyfriend as "cheater" were all over the streets. Ting Yan said that many on the streets had many accusations and involved a little politics, which were not too good. She said, "Now the community has too much negative energy. Even when I posted about my parrot politics would be involved, my bird is blue originally but people are saying I am blue. I understand human's lives would always have differences, but my wish for the New Year would be a little more love and tolerance for everyone!"

Friday, January 3, 2020

[2020.01.04] GLADYS LI WRITES THEME SONG FOR HER LUNAR NEW YEAR FILM

courtesy of on.cc
courtesy of mingpao.com
courtesy of singtao.com

Music new comer Gladys Li Ching Kwan yesterday released her new film CLIMB HIGH FOR LOVE. The song was also the Patrick Kong (Yip Lim Sum) directed Lunar New Year film YOU ARE THE ONE (NGOR DIK SHUN POON NAM YAU)'s theme song. Gladys was not only the lead actress but also wrote the film theme song for the first time.

Using the film as her musical inspiration, Gladys while making YOU ARE THE ONE (NGOR DIK SHUN POON NAM YAU) worked with Pandora's lead vocalist Tony Huen and Fabel's Jimmy on the film's theme song CLIMB HIGH FOR LOVE. The song was an emotional exit for her character in the film. Gladys in the film played stinky tofu vendor Bo. She said that on and off screen aside from professions, Bo's personality was drastically different from hers as well. In the film Bo was a naive girl. Because of her innocence and directness, she seriously treated love. She put 200% effort into her relationship. In reality this impulse that believed in love moved Gladys. Thus during the creative process she came up with a love story of "break up, reunion, love" as the core of the song in hopes of writing a sweet yet heartbreaking theme song.

In order to elevate the completeness of CLIMB HIGH FOR LOVE's story to be even closer to the film's, the lyrics came from lyricist Cheung Chor Hiu and the film's director Yip Lim Sum. Gladys pointed out Cheung Chor Hiu excelled in writing about love as she has written many romantic hits. She believed that even more tragic love song would not be hard for her; director Yip Lim Sum also added a lot of the film's elements into the song.

Gladys admitted that during the record she had pressure. On the first day of the recording, she realized that she could not master the swelling score. Yet during the recording process, she gradually knew this character Bo and her love story even more. She was almost able to sense her emotions. After letting go of the tense emotions she finally was able to finish the recording and created this song that Gladys was very pleased with.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

[2020.01.03] LAU SHEK YIN IS THE MOST AFRAID OF KISS SCENES

courtesy of mingpao.com

Lau Shek Yin yesterday worked on the film SIK YUN KONG MOR (MAN KING MANIAC) with two new comers Pang Sze Yin and Shum Yu. In the story Lau Shek Yin played a pervert boss who sexually harassed his female subordinates in his office. He had to touch and kiss Pang Sze Yin. Lau Shek Yin stated that he was the most afraid of this type of scenes. Although it was limited to above the shoulder it was still very awkward. He said, "I may be more comfortable if you ask me to jump from the second floor."

He said that because the director said for one take straight, he really had to kiss instead of using displacement. Lau Shek Yin shook his head. "Of course I don't enjoy it. I also had to adjust to the cameras. I had ten takes."

Lau Shek Yin praised the two new comers as smart and cooperative. Pang Sze Yin said that she performed according to her role. She was a little nervous but she was very happy to work on her first film. Lau Shek Yin taught her a lot; Shum Yu said that she could give her all to her performance for her movie.

[2019.01.03] MEDIA ASIA BECOMES BIG WINNER AT ULTIMATE AWARDS

Charmaine Fong
courtesy of singtao.com
Media Asia artists win 9 awards
Creative singer gold prize winner Chan Kin On breaks down in tears
Tang Siu Hau gathers herself after getting emotional when accepting her award and even smiles for her picture
Eman Lam thanks her late friend Ellen Loo for her love 
Sammy is disappointed with the results
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 2019 Commercial Radio Ultimate Music Pop Chart Award presentation two nights ago presented 43 awards in an alternative format. Despite not appearing at a music award show for years, Sammi Cheng Sau Man with WE ALL GREW UP LIKE THIS won the Ultimate song award. The popular "rookie king" To Keung won the New Power Bronze Prize. In terms of record companies, Media Asia took home nine awards.

Under Media Asia not only Sammi won Ultimate song, but Tang Siu Hau also won the female singer silver prize, Chan Kin On (On Jai) won the creative singer gold prize, his song A KISS THAT CROSSES 4.6 BILLION YEARS was in ninth place of the Ultimate Top Ten, "Media Asia Baby Girl" Feanna Wong Suk Man's first single DREAM MY DREAMS landed fourth in the Ultimate Top Ten, the band Nowhere Boys also won the Group silver prize, its song TO ME ON THE JOURNEY won third place in the Ultimate Top Ten, Chiu Fung's 28 DAYS won eighth in the Ultimate Top Ten.

On Jai with his first solo album won the creative singer gold prize. He was the most emotional as he cried and said, "I can't speak! I always feel I am the first runner up person, but this time I got an A. It's like I am dreaming, the feeling is great. I really want to have several good brothers, I remember that we had a drink one night after going solo. A brother put his arm around my shoulder and said, the songs you write can win, you have to go to the stage. At the time I couldn't answer him, now I can thank him here. I have to give special thank to the fans, everyone can send your screams to me later."

Remaining very calm before, when Feanna accepted the award her tears burst. "I never thought that I could have a song in the top ten. I had a lot of changes in 2019, I had enormous mood swings but music saved me once again. Thank you very much to the fans, family and friends for recognizing my persistence on my musical journey. I did it Mommy! In 2020 we will keep going!"

Never thought about winning the female singer silver prize, Tang Siu Hau broke down when she accepted the award. Her colleagues even jokingly called her Silver Girl (Ngan Mui). She said, "I really am very, very happy! I am planning to fly to a small island to find myself, study yoga then prepare for work this year!" Winning two awards for the first time, Nowhere Boys' lead vocalist Van also could not hide his emotions.

In addition, Keung To was very surprised to receive his award. "Because I never thought that I would win. In the past I had no concept of winning, so when I really won I first realized that each award was a huge motivation for the singer. This time the new power bronze prize is very encouraging and inspirational."

[2020.01.03] INTEGRITY IS THE HIGHEST GROSSING HONG KONG FILM OF 2019

courtesy of mingpao.com
courtesy of on.cc
INTEGRITY is the top grossing Hong Kong film of 2019
courtesy of singtao.com

The Hong Kong Box Office Co. Ltd. yesterday announced the 2019 Hong Kong film market overall condition. Total film box office revenue showed that Hong Kong film consumer market declined slightly, as total film revenue was HK$ 1,923,196,382, a drop of 1.75% from HK$ 1,957,519,527 last year. 326 first run films were released in 2019, 46 were Hong Kong films and 280 were non Hong Kong films. In comparison in 2018 353 first run films were released, 53 were Hong Kong films and 300 were non Hong Kong films.

The Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Sean Lau Ching Wan and Karena Lam Ka Yun starred INTEGRITY (LIM JING FUNG WON YIN MOK) accumulated HK$ 31,360,754 to top the 2019 Hong Kong film box office. In second was the Andy Lau Tak Wa and Louis Koo Tin Lok starred WHITE STORM 2 DRUG LORDS (SO DUK 2 TIN DEI DUI KUET, cumulative box office HK$ 24,813,706). In third was the still in release, Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred IP MAN 4 THE FINALE (as of December 31st 2019 the cumulative box office was HK$ 22,542,990).

As for 2019's highest grossing non Hong Kong films, the top three were AVENGERS ENDGAME (cumulative box office HK$ 221,895,530), TOY STORY 4 (cumulative box office HK$ 88,537,419), and SPIDER-MAN FAR FROM HOME (cumulative box office HK$ 84,788,927).

2019 TOP TEN HIGHEST GROSSING HONG KONG FILM (CUMULATIVE BOX OFFICE):
10
CHASING THE DRAGON 2 WILD WILD PUNCH, HK$ 9,152,244
9 LINE WALKER 2, HK$ 9,362,524
8 A LIFTIME TREASURE, HK$ 11,109,229
7 MISSBEHAVIOR, HK$ 12,994,058
6 P STORM, HK$ 17,811,248
5 STILL HUMAN, HK$ 19,811,169
4 NEW KING OF COMEDY, HK$ 21,969,874
3 IP MAN 4 THE FINALE, HK$ 22,54,990 (in release)
2 WHITE STORM 2 DRUG LORDS, HK$ 24,813,706
1 INTEGRITY, HK$ 31,360,754
2019 TOP TEN HIGHEST GROSSING NON HONG KONG FILM (CUMULATIVE BOX OFFICE):
10
HOBBS AND SHAW, HK$ 37,350,103
9 THE LION KING, HK$ 38,369,228
8 ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, HK$ 45,649,548
7 FROZEN 2, HK$ 55,345,274 (in release)
6 ALADDIN, HK$ 59,754,798
5 JOKER, HK$ 60,896,272 (in release)
4 CAPTAIN MARVEL, HK$ 76,043,088
3 SPIDER-MAN FAR FROM HOME, HK$ 84,788,927
2 TOY STORY 4, HK$ 88,537,419
1 AVENGERS ENDGAME, HK$ 221,895,530

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

[2020.01.02] 2019 COMMERCIAL RADIO ULTIMATE MUSIC AWARDS


Juno Mak shares his music concepts
Dear Jane goes to a school to jam with students
courtesy of on.cc

Charmaine Fong wins My Favorite Female Singer and My Favorite Song Awards as the favorite and becomes the big winner
Kay Tse is happy about winning the Ultimate Female Singer Gold Prize


RubberBand lead vocalist Number 6 (center) gets emotional with the award in hand and succumbs to tears as he remembers his ailing mother
ILUB asks Juno Mak for a walk in Mongkok but has not told him about the award yet
ILUB tapes the Ultimate Album Award on the door of Juno Mak's company
Keung To, Terence Lam and Gladys Li with their "New Power" awards
Dear Jane gladly accepts their Ultimate Group award
Jason Chan and Alfred Hui with their Ultimate Male Singer silver and bronze award
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 2019 Ultimate Music Pop Chart Award presentation earlier announced that it would be unable to ensure the safety of participants and those in and outside the venue, thus canceled its large scale award show at the Convention Center last night. Later it announced that it would take place as scheduled but air on ViuTV and online instead. Last night Commercial Radio in alternative recording format presented 43 awards. Charmaine Fong Ho Man became the big winner, as the favorite she won My Favorite Female Singer with the social topic song HUMAN LANGUAGE won My Favorite Song. When she accepted the award she wished peace and joy for the people of Hong Kong in 2020. She would continue to fearlessly sing and write songs. My Favorite Group winner RubberBand also urged everyone to keep their faith. Hins Cheung King Hin and Sammi Cheng Sau Man did not participate in the taping as he won the Male Singer gold prize and she the Ultimate Song award. Kay Tse On Kay repeated as the Female Singer gold prize winner.

Commercial Radio last night aired videos that DJs shot in advanced or music videos to announce awards. Most singers were arranged to participate in the recording in groups. Charmaine Fong Ho man's controversial song HUMAN LANGUAGE qualified for the nomination last year in time and had the deep support of many listeners. She became the favorite in both My Favorite Female Singer and My Favorite Song awards, as expected she won both.

Commercial Radio arranged for Fong Ho Man and RubberBand to perform together after the presentation. She sentimentally said after accepting the award. "Thank you to all those who voted for me. I feel 2019 for me was a huge challenge, whether in life and creatively. No one knew how Hong Kong's future will be, but I always reminded myself I had to bravely take every step forward in order to be able to answer to my original intend to create. Thank you to all the musicians I worked with. My abilities are limited, and we went past a lot of highs and lows. With the passing of 2019, I wish peace and joy for the people of Hong Kong in 2020. I will keep fearlessly sing and create, write what I want to write."

RubberBand's SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE lost to Fong Ho Man but received My Favorite Group. Lead vocalist Number 6 said thank you to the people of Hong Kong. After June this year everyone has been very perturbed and unhappy. He once thought when it would be better, but he had to persist in his belief. When he remembered his ailing mother he succumbed to tears. Endy Chow Kwok Yin received My Favorite Male Singer but was not in Hong Kong to personally accept the award.

As for the Ultimate Music Male/Female Singer Gold Prizes, Hins Cheung King Hin and Kay Tse On Kay repeated as winners. Cheung King Hin did not appear to accept the award. Male Singer silver prize went to Jason Chan Pak Yu and Bronze to Alfred Hui Ting Hung. Female Singer silver prize went to Tang Siu Hau. She broke down emotionally. The Bronze award went to AGA. Sammi Cheng Sau Man with WE ALL GREW UP LIKE THIS won the Ultimate Song award. She also did not attend to accept the award.

The very popular Keung To only won the "New Power" bronze award. The winner was Terence Lam Ka Him and the runner up was Gladys Li Ching Kwan. Keung To in the My Favorite Final Five was arranged to play the piano with Tse On Kay. When he sang Tse On Kay played the accompaniment for him. Singers shared their impressions of 2019 with DJs during the presentation. Because how long they took, many online called the segments dull.

Before presenting the Ultimate Album award, ILUB asked winner Juno Mak Chun Lung for a "walk in Mongkok" and went to a Mongkok record store for the shoot. Yet at 4AM on January 1st they finally reached Mak Chun Lung's company and taped the award on the door. Those who paid attention noticed a lot of shots and words that had political metaphor, for example the music video a man and a woman held hands while holding tightly to a pen as their connection. It reminded people of the secondary school student started "human chain" to express their plea. Jan Lamb Hoi Fung's narration before presenting "My Favorite" award mostly started with "how". Finally it ended with "2019 how to end", "2020 vote with you".

2019 COMMERCIAL RADIO ULTIMATE MUSIC AWARDS
ULTIMATE MUSIC MY FAVORITE SONG:
HUMAN LANGUAGE (Charmaine Fong)
ULTIMATE MUSIC MY FAVORITE MALE SINGER: Endy Chow
ULTIMATE MUSIC MY FAVORITE FEMALE SINGER: Charmaine Fong
ULTIMATE MUSIC MY FAVORITE GROUP: RubberBand
ULTIMATE MUSIC MALE SINGERS
GOLD:
Hins Cheung
SILVER: Jason Chan
BRONZE: Alfred Hui
ULTIMATE MUSIC FEMALE SINGERS
GOLD:
Kay Tse
SILVER: Tang Siu Hau
BRONZE: AGA
ULTIMATE MUSIC GROUP
GOLD:
Dear Jane
SILVER: Nowhere Boys
BRONZE: Lil'Ashes
ULTIMATE MUSIC CREATIVE SINGER
GOLD:
Chan Kin On
SILVER: AGA
BRONZE: Panther Chan
ULTIMATE MUSIC NEW POWER
GOLD:
Terence Lam
SILVER: Gladys Li
BRONZE: Keung To
ULTIMATE MUSIC ULTIMATE ALBUM:
the album and the rest of it...(Juno Mak, Kay Tse)
ULTIMATE MUSIC SONGWRITER: Cousin Fung
ULTIMATE MUSIC LYRICS Wyman Wong
ULTIMATE MUSIC PRODUCER: Edward Chan
ULTIMATE MUSIC SONG ARRANGEMENT: Edward Chan
PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDED ULTIMATE TOP TEN
ULTIMATE MUSIC ULTIMATE SONG:
WE ALL GREW UP LIKE THIS (Sammi Cheng)
2 FINAL RELIGION (Eman Lam)
3 TO ME ON THE JOURNEY (Nowhere Boys)
4 DREAM MY DREAMS (Wong Suk Man)
5 WORK HARD STRUGGLE GO (Jan Lamb)
6 FORGET AND REMEMBER (Juno Mak featuring Leon Lai)
7 THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND LOVE (Alfred Hui)
8 28 DAYS (Andy Leung)
9 A KISS THAT CROSSES 46 BILLION YEARS (Chan Kin On)
10 ONE SECOND (Mag Lam)