[2020.10.11] CHEUNG TAT MING WORKS HARDER DURING THE PANDEMIC

Cheung Tat Ming says that since he lived in a squatter shack in his childhood, everything has turned for the better now.
courtesy of singtao.com

Cheung Tat Ming and Ricky Fan
courtesy of on.cc

The film I'M LIVIN' IT (MAK LO YUN) has been in release for already three weeks. Actor Cheung Tat Ming yesterday attended a special screening. Speaking of the film subject reflecting actual life conditions and receiving a lot of response, Tat Ming recalled when he was little he lived in the squatter district in the hills of Shau Kei Wan. Due to the lack of running water, his sister often had to go to the foot of the hill to pick up water. Finally 10 homes chipped in to buy a 300 meter pipe to carry water into a big basin that was enough for usage twice week. Later due to landslide he finally had the chance to move to a resettlement area.

The Hong Kong Film Awards Association earlier announced that the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards due to the pandemic will be postponed a year, for the first time it would have two years in one term. Tat Ming this year with I'M LIVIN' IT won the Hong Kong Film Award Supporting Actor just in time. He said, "It's not just a pain for the awards, everyday life has fallen into a crisis. It would be the best for everything to return to normal. As for the nomination, I don't dare to give too many opinions because the decision makers are the most professional. If next year the awards would continue but the venue would again have no audience, when you would give the thank you speech you would lack that excitement." Was he worried that the Hong Kong Film Award cancellation would impact filmmakers' morale? Tat Ming said, "Everyone instead can work even harder, so more people would join in the competition. If you can beat a superstar and a big movie then you would be even happier. The Hong Kong Film Awards used to have over 100 films in the running, being nominated was already very amazing. If only a dozen or so films participated, the feeling would only be average. So I hope various cultural industry would thrive, produce good work and bring the audience back to the venue. This is even more important than winning an award." Tat Ming also said that he has been attending audience appreciation events for two weeks. He truly hoped that next time when he would see the audience at an event, no one would need to wear masks. The pandemic would end one day.