Thursday, February 28, 2019

[2019.03.01] CARINA LAU CALLS TONY LEUNG CHIU WAI'S LONG VACATION OUTRAGEOUS

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

Carina Lau Ka Ling yesterday attended a jewelry event. She admitted that she would reward herself with jewelry, especially she grew older and her finances permitted her to. She would cheer herself up with jewelry. Earlier on vacation with her husband Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Ka Ling returned to work in Hong Kong first. She revealed that Wai Jai was still on his long vacation. As Wai Jai's manager Ka Ling joked, "He's outrageous, if we rely on him we would be in trouble!"

Speaking Ka Ling turning her Shanghai mansion into the film IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (FA YEUNG NIN WA)'s style? She said that her Shanghai home would be for Mommy. Her place for entertaining in Hong Kong was the one was the IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE decoration. She also revealed that she only had properties in Shanghai and Hong Kong. "Don't make me sound like a landlady. I purchased properties in Hong Kong, I have been buying since I learned to make money!" Would she like to invest overseas? Ka Ling said that she would like to, but no wealth came from no effort. She would have to maintain them but would be reluctant to rent them out. If she would not live in them she would feel they would be wasted. She was better off with jewelry that she could wear at anytime.

Ka Ling and Wai Jai spent the New Year together in Japan on a ski trip, then she went to Australia while Wai Jai kept playing. She said that now Wai Jai has many hobbies like water skiing, BMX and biking. He also did not wear masks but many started to recognize him. Did Wai Jai want to become an amateur athlete? She said, "Healthy hobbies are good!" Reporters joked that she would permit her artist to be on such a long vacation. Ka Ling said, "That's right, he's outrageous. If we rely on him we would be in trouble, but as long as he's happy it's fine. He is looking for a breakthrough point!" Ka Ling admitted that Wai Jai has many offers, has she chosen any for him? Ka Ling said, "I am not qualified, I pass them to him. Actually now he wants to rest and find a new direction. For such a good actor with a score in the 90s, a breakthrough for him would be very hard. He wants to find a new peak!"

The Secretary of Finance Paul Chan Mo Po in the financial budget announced that the Film Development Fund would receive HK$ 1 billion in hopes that the industry would use the new added fund to expand the scale and the financial assistance of the First Feature Film initiative and by half and raise the upper limit of the film production financing plan's production budget to support the domestic mid scale budget film production.

The Lau Ka Ling produced and starred film IN YOUR DREAMS (YI CHING CHUN DIK MING YI) was the 2nd First Feature Film Initiative winner. Ka Ling after learning about the budget's support for film industry development happily said, "That's great, it's good news. It's a shot of confidence so Hong Kong film industry should never give up. Hong Kong has such great natural conditions and many excellent professionals. In the past it has led Asia. It must stay ahead of others so no one should give up. The government should have done this long ago!"

The Hong Kong Film Archives also will receive HK$ 20 million to add technicians and equipment, to preserve necessary sole film copies and digitalize films, and to give the next generation the chance to know and appreciate valuable Hong Kong film cultural artifacts. Ka Ling also showed her support. "Actually a film museum needs to exist, everyone also has the duty to promote the film industry!"

[2019.03.01] KARA WAI OFFERS UP BIKINI PHOTO FOR ANOTHER AWARD

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

Kara Wai Ying Hung and Moses Chan Ho last night attended a jewelry event. Sister Siu Hung said that she already bought her dress for the Asian Film Awards. Would it be very sexy? Sister Siu Hung said, "How sexy can I be? Even if I stick them out no one would look at them. I wouldn't fight with young girls. Young girls should show more. We don't need to. (Let them fight over being sexy and leave the award for you?) No, I would be a little more elegant to match my age. I have been sexy when I was younger, so let someone else try it."

Speaking of many pretty devilish uploading swimwear photos, Sister Siu Hung revealed that she too had many swimsuit photos. Last year while on vacation she took photos in a bikini. "If I win another award I would distribute benefits, then I would give the gift of bikini. I can still do it. My brother lately has been studying photography, he even bought a peach bikini with very little cloth for me."

The well maintained Sister Siu Hung said that while not at work she would swim because she did not want to injury her knees. Earlier when she went for additional shoots in Beijing she injured her kneecap while kneeling down. She had to go to the doctor many times and it still hurts now.

Speaking of the Secretary of Finance Paul Chan Mo Po's financial budget announcement of allocating HK$ 1 billion to the Film Development Fund and raising the upper limit of the film production financing project, Sister Siu Hung happily said, "That's good, in the first ten years of my career Hong Kong film was at its most vibrant. In one year Hong Kong made over 400 films. Now although many are co-productions, overalls Hong Kong makes less than 20 domestically. Hong Kong is the Eastern Hollywood. Actually feel the government should put a little effort into making the industry glorious again. Ultimately Hong Kong isn't a big place. If the government is willing to financially assist the entertainment industry, the return would be much bigger."

The Hong Kong Film Archives also will receive HK$ 20 million to add technicians and equipment, to preserve necessary sole film copies and digitalize films, and to give the next generation the chance to know and appreciate valuable Hong Kong film cultural artifacts. She felt that the effort would be worthy. "Shaw sold 50 of my movies to Celestial, they have already been restored. Only then was I able to collect my own work back. I really want to buy classic films, if the allocation is true then they can be restored. Otherwise the film would easily be broken and scratched. HK$ 20 million isn't a big number for preserving the age of glory. It is worth doing."

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

[2019.02.28] BEN YUEN GETS A RAISE AFTER AWARD

courtesy of on.cc
courtesy of singtao.com

Ben Yuen Fu Wa yesterday appeared on a radio interview. TRACEY (CHUI SZE)'s Golden Horse Best Supporting Actor recently was nominated for a Hong Kong Film Award. He said that he felt normal about winning an award but still would prepare a thank you speech. Would he thank his girlfriend again on the stage? He said that he would worry about it then, but he has asked her whether she would attend with him. She said no so he would walk the red carpet with the team.

Yuen Fu Wa will perform a play in May. Currently he is working on three movies, which fortunately have not had any scheduling conflict. He received more film roles after the award, did he get a raise? He admitted that he got a few percentage more. He also was respected so he has not run into any haggling. He mentioned that in his 20 years he performed a children with disabilities. At the time he saw how the children had to endure pain even in basic life and understood how fortunate he was to have a healthy body, thus so far he has not complained yet. Looking back, the children were like angels who gave him this important gift.

[2019.02.28] JESSICA HSUAN PLANS TO FINISH BACK TO THE PAST BY JUNE

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

Guests Yuen Biao, Daniel Chan Hiu Tung, Nancy Sit Ka Yin, Jessica Hester Hsuan (Suen Huen), Cally Kwong Mei Wan, Qi Qi, Jade Kwan Sum Yin and others attended the Memorigin anniversary dinner.

Suen Huen revealed that this year has been a happy year, so far work has been scheduled until August. She will participate in the film BACK TO THE PAST (CHUM CHUN GEI) and have to go to Guizhou for a costume shoot, but she said that her shoot would have to finish before June. Thus it probably would not be too tough. She also said that the film would have some connections to the television series but she was unsure how the relationships would develop. "(Raymond) Lam Fung and I have read the script. I am excited and look forward to performing very well!"

[2019.02.27] SAMMO HUNG AND AARON KWOK GLADLY CULTIVATE NEXT GENERATIONS



courtesy of on.cc
courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

The 43rd Hong Kong International Film Festival yesterday held a press conference to announce that the film festival will take place between March 18th and April 1st. This year's theme will be "color within darkness" and the opening film will be the world premiere of the Renny Harlin directed, Nick Cheung Ka Fai and Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) starred BODIES AT REST (CHUM MUK DIK JING YUN). The closing film will be the Asia premiere of French director Francois Ozon's Berlin Film Festival jury grand prize winning BY THE GRACE OF GOD. The film festival ambassador Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, and Tony Leung Ka Fai all saw the importance of passing the torch to Hong Kong film new talent. Thus at work they would not hide themselves and they did not prefer individualism.

The 15 day long Hong Kong International Film Festival has selected over 230 films from 63 nations and regions. This year's filmmaker in focus would be a Chinese film industry heavyweight Sammo Hung Kam Bo. The film festival would salute this film grandmaster, look back at his glorious achievements, has selected ten excellent film and published a special program. Big Brother would even attend a form to share and interact with the audience.

Yesterday guests at the press conference included the film festival ambassador Kwok Fu Sing, Hung Kam Bo, Johnnie To Kei Fung, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Wing Shya, youth ambassador Jennifer Yu Heung Yi. Kwok Fu Sing as the first time ambassador said that the film festival in its 43th years has had a long history. It began when he was 10 so he had to shoulder the responsibility and do his part to promote.

This year's "Firebird Award - Young Cinema film competition" added a special Chinese film segment. Leung Ka Fai would be one of the jury members. He felt that the art world like any industry needed new talent to be able to continue on and make the industry successful. Big Brother Hung Kam Bo was a Hong Kong actor representative. He left a lot of art films that were outside the action genre. "Big Brother Bg is the real elder. I am only Ah Wong (Kwok Fu Sing)'s elder. He was the new talent of my time. Now he is taking over, let's see how he will lead new talent Yu Heung Yi!" Ka Fai also said that every Hong Kong actors were well rounded, able to sing, dance, fight and endure. "Big Brother Big even performs Beijing Opera well. I can sing a few verses, and no more needs to be said about Ah Wong. Thus the film industry needs a new generation to continue on and bring the world's film art into the city of Hong Kong. For example now even the Oscars give no face, now it is our turn in Hong Kong!"

Filmmaker in focus Hung Kam Bo said that he has been in film for years, and he of course was the most comfortable with being an actor. Yet he enjoyed being a director the most, as he would be able to have 800 people to yell at and control the situation. The salary was also higher. As for cultivating the next generation, Big Brother Sammo said that he has been giving newcomers opportunities long before now. From his first film as a director he already gave opportunities to others. "I am not a hero, if you want heroism I would leave it to my boy Jackie Chan. However giving opportunities now is harder than before because now getting a movie made is hard already! So I hope Hong Kong film will be able to continue on, I also want to know about the new generation's ideas. More people would support the film industry then, which would make tomorrow even better!"

Sing Sing said that he would support both Hong Kong and international films. Has international films made him any offer to perform? Sing Sing said, "Actually I have always had overseas script offers, with a lot of variety in characters. However I would choose from them carefully. Because a script is the soul of a film, I can't just randomly agree and have to take my time to choose." Leung Ka Fai said that Sing Sing now is an elder and has to lead newcomers. Would Sing Sing feel that he has the duty to do so? Sing Sing said, "Ka Fai is humble. I have always been willing to work with newcomers and new directors. I understand that the torch has to be passed, I was a newcomer too. I know the need to have a chance to learn. So when I work with new directors and new actors I wouldn't hide myself. I would tell them what I have learned for everyone to experience and learn from, this is a form of passing of torch. Even at some film related forums I would share with students and people who like films. Thus I also wish Hong Kong film will have an even better future and will work together!"

What would Big Brother Sammo want to share with everyone? He admitted that he would share all the joy and pain of a film life. The joy of course was from the audience's laughter and applause at the movies, the pain naturally was the moment of being tossed, injured with broken limbs during the shoot. Big Brother said that he was not heroic, his films often were ensembles that enabled brothers of different personalities to perform. Ka Fai also supported Big Brother Sammo's lack of individual heroism. "His boy is, but luckily I am his boy too! Director Hung actually stood on top of the mountain alone. Anyone who would be willing would go up the mountain, but getting into the school would not be easy. You wouldn't be accepted just because you wanted in." Ka Fai explained about what he said about the Oscars no longer "giving face". "I only made a comparison with the Oscars that just happened, movies of the entire world are missing second tier, Hollywood films stand tall as representatives of the film world. Yet they only rely on special effects. Who among the current directors and actors are particularly outstanding? How many viewers have seen the award winning films? No one even knows where this year's Best Actor is from! Hong Kong film once had its glorious age, it truly needed someone with a mountaintop like Big Brother to accept people to the mountain, and people who would be willing to work in order to maintain it!"

Big Brother Sammo stated that he just said to the Hong Kong International Film Festival chair Wong Ying Wai, hoping that the government would be able to do a little more and provide a little support to the film industry. "Now a movie would only get 1 to 2 million in financial assistance. I am not just blaming the government for the lack of support; but even if it gives 30 million to make am movie, the money still needs the right people to use it properly and not putting it into their own pockets!"

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

[2019.02.27] FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24 2019

For the week ending Sunday February 24 2019
Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Movies Hong Kong




10 THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART
    d. Mike Mitchell
    Animation
    English Voices: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett



  9 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD
    d. Dean DeBlois
    DreamWorks Animation
    English Voices: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler
    Cantonese Voices: Elena Kong Mei Yi, Ken Wong Tak Bun,
      Jennifer Yu Heung Yi, Tony Wu Tsz Tung



  8 VICE
    d. Adam McKay
    Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell



  7 THE FAVOURITE
    d. Yorgos Lanthimos
    Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz,


  6 FATE/STAY NIGHT HEAVEN'S FEEL II LOST BUTTERFLY
    d. Tomonori Sudou
  Japanese Animation
  Rating : I
  Length : 117 mins.
  Opening February 21 2019
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/FJrvhCw2BGY

[ HONG KONG MOVIE 6 ]
    "Enemy that I have to fight is still inside the city"

    Mission that the boy chosen, and the desire to save the girl.

    The Holy Grail War -- a battle waged by Masters and Servants over the wish-granting container, the Holy Grail—breaks out again after 10 years in Fuyuki City.

  Because of Zouken Matou, the patriarch of Matou family, the Holy Grail War becomes more chaotic. He summons True Assassin and becomes a master. A restless unknown shadow hiding in the city, and knocks Masters and Servants out. Shirou Emiya, who join the war as a Master, is also wounded and lose his Servant, Saber.

    In order to protect Sakura Matou, Shirou haven't retreat from the battlefield. However, Sakura cannot escape from the predestination of Master.

    "I promise you..."

    I will never betray her.

    Wishes of the boy and the girl are shrouded by the shadow.


  5 THE NEW KING OF COMEDY
  Can : Sun Hei Kei Ji Wong
  AKA : KING OF COMEDY 2
  AKA : Hei Ket ji Wong 2
    d. Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Herman Yau Lai To
    Wang Baoqiang, Vin E Jingwen, Michael Jack (Zhang Quandan),
     Jing Ruyang, Tin Kai Man, Zhang Qi, Yuan Xingzhe, Huang Xiaopeng,
      Cai Zherui, Miao Yilun, Yao Chen, Jelly Lin Yun
   Cantonese Voice: Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi, Fama, Lee Sheung Ching
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 90 mins.
  Opening February 5 2019
  Teaser : https://youtu.be/QOqo4sbzLCw

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Dreamy dreams of becoming a movie star, she has been working hard for years but has not been able to get beyond day player gigs. Her father gives her tremendous pressure and her family tries to convince her to quit. Only her boyfriend Charlie remains supportive. On a movie set, Dreamy runs into Marco, an actor who had once enlightened her. But Marco is washed-up now and his low self-esteem has turned him into a manic depressive. He torments Dreamy relentlessly. She continues to do her job enthusiastically, but finally cannot endure the repeated knocks on her dream and decides to give it up, go back to her parents and find a steady job. But then she gets the call: she has aced the audition she had done for a famous director for a leading role in his major film. Dreamy is now caught between her dream and reality....


  4 COLD PURSUIT
    d. Hans Petter Moland
    Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Micheal Richardson


  3 INTEGRITY
  Can : Lim Jing Fung Won: Yin Mok
  Lit : ICAC Storm: Smoke Screen
    d. Alan Mak Siu Fai
    Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Sean Lau Ching Wan, Karena Lam Ka Yun,
      Carlos Chan Ka Lok, Kathy Yuen (Tong Yi),
      Charlene Chang Qian (Seung Sin), Anita Yuen Wing Yee
  Opening February 5 2019
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/6yIuDIuibGE

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    The multi-year ICAC investigation into the Lida Conglomerate is on the brink of collapse after the CEO’s disappearance and the whistleblower's flight to England. To salvage the case, a top ICAC agent teams with a fellow investigator (who happens to be his estranged wife) and risks their lives to bring the witness back to Hong Kong.


  2 KURSK
    d. Thomas Vinterberg
    Lea Seydoux, Colin Firth, Michael Nyqvist, Matthias Schoenaerts



  1 ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
    d. Robert Rodriguez
    Rosa Salazar, Mahershala Ali, Jennifer Connelly, Christoph Wentz

[2019.02.27] FOR THE WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 23 2019

GLOBAL CHINESE MUSIC CHART
For the week starting February 23 2019


15 STRONG HEART
  Can : Keung Sum Jong
  Pong Pong

14 TWIN FLAME
  Can : Seung Sun Yim
  Jang Zhang Liangying

13 NEW SPECIES
  Can : Sun Muk Jung
  Chris Lee Yuchun

12 KISS FOR THE WORLD
  Can : Ngor Yiu Cup Sai Gai Jui Yau Cheung Dik Sup Mun
  Tanya Chua (Choi Kin Nga)

11 BLAH BLAH
  NEXT (NEX7)

10 LOVE IN TROUBLED TIMES
  Can : Luen Sai Ching Lui
  Leo Ku Kui Ke

 9 A KISS THROUGH 4.6 BILLION YEARS
  Can : Yut Mun Chuen Yuet Sei Sup Lok Yik Shui
  Kenny Chan Kin On

 8 ENDLESS LIGHT
  Can : Mo Jung Guong Mong
  Xu Wei

 7 DO YOU DO YOU KNOW
  Can : Ji Fau Ji Fau
  Hu Xia, Yisa Yu (Yuk Hor Wai)

 6 JASPER NIGHT
  Can : Muk Luk Ji Yeh
  Hebe Tien (Tin Fook Yun)

 5 QUEEN G
  Can : Shui Wong Hau
  G.E.M. (Tang Chi Kei)

 4 TALENT
  Can : Tin Fun
  Joker Xue (Sit Ji Him)

 3 THE WIND RISES
  Can : Hei Fung Liu
  Wu Qingfeng (Ng Ching Fung)

 2 HALF A LIFE
  Can : Boon Gor Yun Sun
  Ashin


 1 LOVE LIVE TO US
  Can : Ngor Moon Man Shui
  Eason Chan Yik Shun

Sunday, February 24, 2019

[2019.02.25] SEAN LAU AND KARENA LAM ARE EXCITED FOR CELEBRATION

Alan Mak, Karena Lam and Sean Lau will attend the celebration
Deon Cheung and Ben Yuen play Nick Cheung's friends
courtesy of on.cc

Last Tuesday the Emperor Motion Picture INTEGRITY (LIM JING FUNG WON YIN MOK) made over HK$ 30 million in Hong Kong and Macau. After 20 days in release, it made HK$ 30,460,118. The actors were excited. Director Alan Mak Siu Fai happily said that he could answer for the Hong Kong box office. Emperor also planned a celebration for Thursday to thank the cast and the crew. Best Actor Sean Lau Ching Wan and Karena Lam Ka Yun would attend. Other actors like Ben Yuen Fu Wa, Deon Cheung Chung Chi, Lok Ying Kwan would also attend, hoping to experience the joy that the film's success has brought. Lam Ka Yun hoped that the company would hurry with a sequel and stated that she would mind what role she would play.

Ching Wan just celebrated his birthday and spent a moment with his friends Francis Ng Chun Yu, Dayo Wong Tze Wa and Cheung Tat Ming for a photo in the elevator. Chun Yu even posted that love was greater than everything.

Playing Nick Cheung Ka Fai and Yuen Fu Wa's friends in INTEGRITY, Cheung Chung Chi was very happy about the performance of his film and said that the Australian location shoot was very enjoyable. "I have never been to Australia, this time was work and holiday. The trip was 10 days and I only worked for 4 to 5 days. The rest of the time I went and had a little fun. Brother Ben was very smart, he knew how to take the bus and the subway and took me to visit Sydney!" As for what he got from the film, he said, "The three of us grew up together, but in the end I had to witness a friend dying for another friend. The performance of the pressure and the conflict was a challenge. The way the director shot it also put a spot of confusion in the film, making people think that Brother Ben and I held Ka Fai hostage. It had to be very precise to have this confusion. This time I really learned something, the director was very precise with details!"

[2019.02.24] CHEUNG TAT MING RELEASES HIS WIFE TO FIGHT CANCER ALONE

courtesy of on.cc
courtesy of mingpao.com

Returning from sickness, Cheung Tat Ming accepted a Radio One Hong Kong program interview with Che Suk Mui and discussed in details his earlier fight against cancer.

Tat Ming produced a film for the first time after his illness and produced A HOME WITH A VIEW (GA WOR MAN SI GAING), unfortunately he was disappointed with the box office. Yet the film received strong praises from Mainland critics, who felt that this was an authentic Hong Kong film with something within. The film was rumored to have finally cut Law Kar Ying's part. Tat Ming apologized. "This was a 1993 award winning play script. Now it has become a movie, many new layers have been added. However too much and too long of the film was shot, so it had to be cut."

In the film, aside from the scene in which the landlord Law Kar Ying hit Louis Koo Tin Lok, Mak Cheung Ching guest starred as a heartless taxi driver who harmed his passenger Francis Ng Chun. It was also cut out as well. Tat Ming said that actually he also wanted to cut his own wheelchair scene but it was saved in the end because Anita Yuen Wing Yi really liked this scene. She thought it was very touching and asked him not to cut it. Tat Ming lamented that he was seriously ill he indeed spent a few days in a wheel chair.

Speaking of his cancer fighting days, Tat Ming recalled that it was the last day of the play RUN FOR YOUR WIFE's rehearsal in 2011. When he got the doctor's report that said that he already had stage three nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Tat Ming said that aside from his wife he told no one. "The show must go on", the professional Tat Ming during the run often had to release the blood from his nose while changing his costume backstage. After finishing five shows, he immediately looked for ways to treat the NPC online as well as a place for his ashes. He was afraid that he would not have enough money to treat the disease. Tat Ming said that he was unwilling to tell everyone because he did not have the time and did not feel the need to. At the time he had a lot to deal with.

Tat Ming due to his diet being affected suffered drastic weight loss, later the media caught him going to the hospital. Tat Ming admitted that he was a public figure so being caught was no problem. However that photo was truly poorly shot, which was a setback for a performer. Friends all visited him after learning about it. Ng Chun Yu was particularly thoughtful and even taught Tat Ming to post standing and Vajrayana treatment methods that included fasting and studying Qi Gong; Chow Yun Fat jogged with him at 6AM in the morning. Tat Ming said that Chow Yun Fat was his idol so whatever he told to do he followed, including not speaking during breakfast. Tat Ming lamented that being sick truly was quite bother but he had to be a little more positive. "Actually nothing is terminal, and medical reports aren't completely accurate. I was very lucky, I was good at school, able to find the stage I wanted and do a lot that I wanted. Suddenly I became a star, won many awards, made a lot of money, everything was beautiful. I didn't have to worry so much; even if I don't know what the future holds, how aftereffect like numbness of the limbs would turn out, I would face it with a pleasant attitude."

He also honestly said that the reason that he and his wife split was the hope that everyone would be a little better. Now he had no new romance, because he did not need it and was not ready. Tat Ming felt that Heaven perhaps wanted him to be a special creator, for him to have different experience to create special stories.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

[2019.02.22] GORDON LIU APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD SPIRIT





courtesy of mingpao.com

The 63 year old Shaw action star Gordon Liu (Lau Ka Fai) in 2011 suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. In 2013 his friend Fan Yik Man helped him with his life and treatment and Lau Ka Fai's condition improved in recent years. Earlier a friend of his Shaw days Lee Din Long returned to Hong Kong and visited Lau Ka Fai and they happily talked about the past. In the photos Lau Ka Fai appeared to be in good spirit.

Lee Din Long was the late director Lee Han-Hsiang's daughter. She has never worked with Lau Ka Fai on a movie but privately they were good friends. Lee Din Long retired from show business and got married in Taiwan. In recent years she made Beijing her home. While on her way to visit family in Taiwan, she stopped by Hong Kong for two days to mainly visit Lau Ka Fai with her husband.

Before his stroke, Lau Ka Fai often returned to work in the Mainland. When he was in Beijing he would visit Lee Din Long, as he became good friends with her husband as well. Lee Din Long after visiting Lau Ka Fai felt comforted. She said that Master Lau was eating and living well, with quite an appetite! She also said that Lau Ka Fai was able to take care of himself and eat on his own, but with friends he would show his mischievous side as he jokingly asked Lee Din Long to feed him.

Since Lau Ka Fai's stroke, not only his health and activity abilities were affected but his mood as well after family and assistant financial disputes. In recent years after suitable care and rest his condition appeared to have improved. Fan Yik Man said that during the Lunar New Year holiday many friends visited Master Lau. Aside from Leung Ka Yan, his friends from Singapore visited as well. Thus Master Lau was in great spirit.

How is Lau Ka Fai's health? Fan Yik Man said, "He is fatter than earlier. Lately he has been willing to go outside for walks, with some exercise he slimmed down a little. Because early after his stroke he didn't receive proper care, he missed his treatment golden period. Thus even physical therapy later he might not be able to regain his mobility. Right now he needs someone's help to be able to walk."

Fan Yik Man revealed that Lau Ka Fai's favorite "sport" was playing mahjong, for which he was the most alert. Because most of his nursing home residents were female, he often played against only women but he still won. "Earlier he said that he wanted to change his image and grow facial hair. The nurse and I asked him not to but he declined to shave. One day his mahjong friend said that he looked very ugly with facial hair, and he immediately asked the nurse to help him shave."

Some said that Fan Yik Man has been noble and loyal for taking care of Lau Ka Fai over the years and helping his condition improve. She said that she has been very busy with work and had to thank the workers at the home for his care. Her friends also constantly helped and would take Master Lau out for tea.

[2019.02.22] STEVEN MA COMFORTS 9 YEAR OLD CHILD ACTOR

courtesy of on.cc
courtesy of singtao.com
Kenix Kwok, Ada Choi, Gigi Lai, Maggie Cheung Ho Yi
Gigi Lai invites Steven Ma to her company's anniversary dinner
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Steven Ma Chun Wai written, directed and starred play TILL WE MEET AGAIN (SUN CHIN YEUK SEI HAU) was a critical and commercial hit. After 11 shows and a period of rest, he immediately jumped into planning for the film of the same title. Earlier he just finished two days of audition, during which he had one after another surprise. A 9 year old child auditioned with an assistant director and was in tears in less than a minute. He even broke down and needed Ma Jai to personally coax him into stopping.

The film version of TILL WE MEET AGAIN will still be Ma Jai written, directed and starred. Since he needed to cast different characters, he would have to expand the search with an open recruitment that attracted many of different ages and backgrounds. Some were experienced professional actors and some included amateur actors with interest in the performing art. The executive director and the assistant director would first conduct the search online, then arrange for auditions. All participants have been very serious and involved. Although they came from different backgrounds, some professional and some amateur, they all were full of ideals and hope toward performing art. They valued and cherished this audition opportunity very much and each left a deep impression with Ma Jai.

Ma Jai said, "Several of them were rather similar to me appearance wise. They would play my friends. I am very happy to be able to find young people who have the look and meet the acting range." Ma Jai also mentioned that the film needed one or two almost 3 to 5 year old and 8 to 10 year old child actors. The participating children's innocent performance surprised him. A 9 year old boy auditioned with the assistant director and was in tears in less than a minute. He were naturally let his real emotions flow, afterwards he could not stop crying and Ma Jai had to personally coax him to stop. He found out that this child's beloved grandmother passed away, was able to sympathize with the character and let his real emotions flow.

Ma Jai said, each person who auditioned were of great quality and memorable to him. Although he regretted that due to limits he could not use all of them, he still was grateful for everyone's participation. Being chosen of course was good, but not being chosen did not mean that they were not good enough. He would not eliminate the possibility of still having a chance to work together, as he would consider them first for many future performance. He truly believed that as long as an actor wholeheartedly played a character, cherished every chance, someone would be able to see him. Thus he hoped everyone would work hard. After confirming the cast, the film TILL WE MEET AGAIN will officially begin production in May and expected to be released in November this year.