[2023.04.07] SYLVIA CHANG ENCOURAGES NEW FILMMAKERS TO GROW

Henick Chou gives Sylvia Chang a heart shaped neon light display for her kindness and patience
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Sylvia Chang disagrees with the film industry "shoulder tap" culture, feeling that getting paid for the work you put in is the real healthy phenomenon.

Henick Chou is not only happy to be able to work with Sylvia Chang, but also takes the chance to learn from her

In the film Henick Chou plays Sylvia Chang's apprentice and learns to make neon lights.  

After 40 years since HE LIVES BY NIGHT, Simon Yam and Sylvia Chang reunite on a film again 

In recent years many actors have taken zero salary to support new directors, like LOST LOVE's Sammi Cheng and HONG KONG FAMILY's Teresa Mo
courtesy of mingpao.com

Sylvia Chang (Sister Chang) and new actor Henick Chou Hon Ning with the film A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT (DUN FOR LAN SHAN) were nominated for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress and Best New Performer. Always stringent with her script selection, Sister Chang this time was willing to take less salary to support the new director. However she did not agree with the frequently seen "tap on the shoulder" culture in the film industry. She even admitted that she has always held a grudge against money, over the years she has already turned down many Lunar New Year film money making opportunities. She wanted to promote even more dramatic films so viewers would not have the idea of resisting dramatic films.

When Sylvia Chang took A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT role, she admitted that first she wanted to support the First Feature Film Initiative's new director Anastasia Tsang Hin Ning. In addition the film with the passing of the female protagonist's husband brought out that neon lights were also gradually vanishing from Hong Kong, making people miss their beauty. The subject also attracted her. Sister Chang said that in the past she has worked with new directors in different eras, since Ann Hui On Wa's first movie THE SECRET (FUNG GIP) she has worked with countless new directors. "I instead like this. When I act for too long, I need fresh elements so I wouldn't repeat what I would originally do. Like this time when I again played Mama and wife, the film had ideas that the new director suggested. For old actors like me they instead are fresh!" The role she played this time lost her husband but did not called for Heaven and Earth, but a little reluctance. Sister Chang said, "I wanted to express the emotions inside, even if you cry to death the audience might not be able to sense them. Thus first you have to understand what level your own emotions would reach, this way during the performance you would be able to truly express them."

Speaking of Simon Yam Tat Wa, her husband who passed away in the film, Sister Chang said that the last time they worked together was already several decades ago HE LIVES BY NIGHT (YEH GAING WON). At the time he was still a newcomer who just came the jump from television. This time everyone have already experienced a lot on their own, and the feeling was real joy. However he joined in during the post production and did not have time to discuss the script before taking his mark. Yet they already had a certain trust. Speaking of Yam Tat Wa speaking that he performed for free because of Sister Chang, Sister Chang said, "He knows that to be able to make this movie would be very difficult. One day the Development Council (Hong Kong Film Development Council) people came to visit the set. I asked them whether they would be able to give more money because the film had many past scenery that it wanted to bring back. Everything would require money. I deeply believed that everyone should be paid what they deserved at work. It shouldn't be free. I disagree that every time everyone would have to accommodate. 'Tap on the shoulder' could only be once in awhile. I feel for the film industry to be healthy, it has to have a healthy standard. Starting a production would take at least HK$ 8 million, with such high costs how can actors survive?" However many actors have been "tapped on the shoulder" (asked for a favor). Sister Chang said, "I also hope that dramatic film would continue to exist. In order to cultivate a good actor, we have to keep giving him roles to play. Commercial films have difficulties with giving actors drama to perform." Sister Chang said that even with behind the scene posts, dramatic films would also serve the cultivation purpose. Thus for the existence of dramatic films, everyone would be willing to take a little less. However not every movie should be doing that. "I know now our government's arts and cultural department has many young members, I hope they truly can help the arts and the film industry, find even more markets. Only when the market is expanded, would the industry be able to exist!"

How many "taps on the shoulder" has Sister Chang had? Sister Chang admitted, "Truly too many times since I was young to now. To me salary has never been what I care the most about. I am not here for the money, I only want to get what I should. I wouldn't look at what other people are getting. When you constantly compare yourself with others, all you become is 'greedy'. If I get what I should get I would be very happy, but 'tap on the shoulder' once is OK. Everyone would be comfortable. You just can't do it every time!" Now for Sister Chang to take a role, first she has to have a good script. In the past many big time directors have invited her to make Lunar New Year films and she has turned them all down. "I seem to have a grudge against money, but now at my age, I still have people asking me to play important roles. You can see I am still working hard!" In comparison, when Sister Chang would direct she would try not to "tap the shoulder" of actors because she would not be the person responsible for putting up the money. However earlier Sister Chang directed a part of HERO (SAI GAN YAU TA), reportedly Sammi Cheng Sau Man probably was "tapped on the shoulder". "However I wasn't the one who was tapping, the movie was shot during the pandemic so it wasn't easy at all. In addition it was only 1/3 of the film. I think Sammi probably wanted to work with me, but she too only took the role because of the good script and character!"

As for the changes in the way current viewers watch movies, Sylvia Chang admitted that she too watched Netflix and online information, she felt that film and television were ultimately different. Television headed into home while films went out, so the film world would be much larger, require even more new ideas and new thinking. Thus her screenplay would take her so long to write.

Sister Chang pointed out that actually in recent years Hong Kong has made many dramatic films, many of which were first feature films. She was able to see many new directors had a lot of heart, and shot their own growth process. This situation was a little similar to earlier Taiwan when a pile of new directors talked about their growth. However if the audience would watch stories about growing up every time they would get a little bored, and there would be too much emotion." She hoped to be able to encourage even more directors to make their second film. "Because many people are helping and supporting new directors, why don't everyone continue to support their second film? Actually their actual substance could only been seen by their second film, their greatest challenge. Because when they would work again they would not shoot what they would be the most familiar with, they would have to do their handsome instead of just relying on their natural talent!"

Sister Chang also said earlier she received some happy news. She learned that the AFTERSUN's English director Charlotte Wells had a copy of Sister Chang's film MURMUER OF THE HEART (LIM LIM) at home. In an interview she said that the movie moved her to tears, and influenced the movies she has made since. Sister Chang was pleasantly surprised that her film was appreciated. She never thought that her movie would be able to cross oceans, to such a faraway place and people would still be able to see it. Sister Chang said, "Sometimes I am still examining, our audience has a mental block against many dramatic films. Instead we have been more conservative."

As for new comer Chou Hon Ning, he had many scenes with Best Actress Sister Chang in LIGHT. He did not dare to slack off, even when he was not in a scene he was still learning from Sister Chang. He also fought for the opportunities to listen the elder's talk of life experience. He even found Sister Chang's past work, at which point Sister Chang proceeded to ask, "In the words you didn't watch my movies before, now you are catching up on your homework!" Chou Hon Ning admitted that at first when he met the elder he was a little nervous and scared, but after awhile together he felt that Sister Chang was very friendly. She never even yelled at him once. Sister Chang said that as a director she has never yelled at anyone, unless the actor did not do the homework. However Chou Hon Ning was very nice, during the performance he has only worked too hard and become unnatural. She told him to relax a little. Chou Hon Ning personally made a heart shaped neon light with the English letter S within. He explained to Sister Chang, "The heart shape represents my love for you, the 'S' is the first letter for your English name and also represent you being a 'Super Woman'!" Sister Chang could not be happier and gladly accepted everything!