[2022.08.08] CHOW YUN FAT, LOUIS KOO'S NAMES USED IN A FILM INVESTMENT SCAM

Someone is using Chow Yun Fat and Louis Koo's names in a film funding scam

The Dicky Cheung and Chingmy Yau starred FUTURE COPS is quite a classic, but Wong Jing denies that he is making a sequel.

Louis Koo rides his e-bike all over the set
courtesy of on.cc

Recently two "blockbusters" appeared online to raise funding, one was said to star Chow Yun Fat and Louis Koo Tin Lok; the other was a sequel to one of Wong Jing's earlier films. However both film projects were fake, obviously scammers were using artists' names in their scam! Wong Jing called the swindlers despicable, while Julian Cheung Chi Lam urged everyone to be more alert.

In recent years due to the pandemic every step in the film industry difficult to take. Many directors wanted to start productions but often due to the lack of funding their projects were scrapped. Famous director Ann Hui On Wa earlier in an interview said that she shot one of the segments HEADMASTER for the film SEPTET (CHUT YUN LOK DUI). Actually that segment's script was originally a movie, unfortunately due to the lack of funding it could only be set aside until SEPTET. When she was invited to shoot one of the segment, she shrank this script into a short film and her work could finally be seen.

Even a big time Hong Kong Film Award winning director has difficulties galore, one could imagine how risky the situation has been for the film industry. In recent years many scammers made the situation worse, as they pushed out many "fake movies" to raise fund. Some also wanted to repackage scrapped film projects into "new films" that would not be released to swindle money, which made finding funding for filmmakers who truly wanted to make movies even harder!

Recently two "blockbusters" were rumored to be raising fund in the Mainland online, one was said to star film superstar Chow Yun Fat, with Louis Koo Tin Lok, Francis Ng Chun Yu, Julian Cheung Chi Lam and Mainland star Sweet Li Qin in MAI JUI (MYSTERY CRIME). The directors would be Alan Mak Siu Fai and Felix Chong Man Keung. The project claimed that it would be another crime suspense film since the directors' classic film INFERNAL AFFAIRS (MO GAN DOH). In addition it had script content and character break down. Another film was FUTURE COPS 2 (CHIU CUP HOK HAU BA WONG 2). The film claimed to be the sequel to the Wong Jing directed 1993 film FUTURE COPS that starred Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Dicky Cheung Wai Kin, Chingmy Yau Suk Ching and others. It also had detailed script content and character break down, and even cited that Cheung Wai King and Yau Suk Ching would not be a part of the new film. Hence Mainland artists Wong Yibo and Li Qin would take their parts. Two film projects sounded convincing, but the plot thickened in the end. The author said, "The film company in order to actively respond to national policies and the implementation of the Film Promotion Law allows individuals or enterprises to participate. Currently many general producers have already participated in it from all over the world." Obviously there is a desire to raise funds from individuals and small businesses.

Reporters contacted the related actors and directors for confirmation about two "blockbusters". Reportedly in the cast of MAI JUI, Francis Ng Chun Yu's management company said that no one has contacted them. Julian Cheung Chi Lam and director Alan Mak Siu Fai also said that they have never heard of this project and reminded everyone to be careless to avoid being scammed! As for FUTURE COPS' director, Wong Jing denied a plan for a sequel and called the poster a swindler, the action despicable and urged everyone not to fall for the scam.

Koo Tin Lok's film industry position is getting higher and higher. In recent years he invested and starred in numerous films, perhaps thus he became the target swindlers utilized. Goo Jai lately has been busy with his new film WARRIORS OF FUTURE (MING YUT JIN GEI)'s promotion. As actor and producer he "did everything" during the shoot, he even had his hands on props. He also often rode the electric bicycle all over the set, observing every corner of it. Also in the film was Sean Lau Ching Wan. He, like Goo Jai, even when not in a scene would loved to linger on the set and help out, no wonder Goo Jai praised him as a very thoughtful good actor.

Speaking of the production, Goo Jai pointed out that because the costume was armor, he was constantly at the air conditioner and drank a massive amount of cold beverages to lower his temperature. However Ching Wan shook his hands and head, as he joked, "He can easily get sick like that!"