[2024.06.29] EDDIE CHEUNG HELPS NEW DIRECTORS WITHOUT PAY

At the invitation of producer Gordon Lam, Eddie Cheung returns from the mainland
courtesy of on.cc

Jointly produced by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Double S Entertainment, the film documentary HONG KONG CLASSICS REIMAGINED brings together a number of veterans and new generations in the entertainment industry to shoot 6 short films with 6 of the most well-known Hong Kong film categories and pay tribute to the classic plots and themes of Hong Kong films. The HKTB first released the documentary at the Cannes International Film Festival on May 17th, and is now bringing the documentary back to Hong Kong and to the big screen for Hong Kong audience to experience this documentary's charm of light and shadow. HONG KONG CLASSICS REIMAGINED will be broadcast on the Discovery Channel on July 1st, and the HKTB will hold eight free public screenings at M+ Cinemas on four consecutive Saturdays starting from July 20th.

The Hong Kong premiere of HONG KONG CLASSICS REIMAGINED at M+ Cinemas yesterday was attended by the Chairman of the HKTB, Mr Pang Yiu kai and the Executive Director of the HKTB, Mr Cheng Ting Yat, as well as producer Leung Wai Yee, four producers of the film, Chan Sinn Gi, Gordon Lam Ka Tung, Julia Chu Ka Yee and Cora Yim Ka Lim, three of the film's directors, Wing Shya (Ha Wing Hong), Wong Kwok Keung and Lemon Liu Yik Man, and two of the actors involved in the filming, including movie stars Eddie Cheung Siu Fai and Jocelyn Chan Ming Hei.

The 6 short films of HONG KONG CLASSICS REIMAGINED include the literary chapter ILLICIT, the police chapter DEJA VU, the action chapter LA ROSE NOIRE VS LA ROSE NOIRE 2023, the kung fu chapter THE RAW OYSTERS, the comedy chapter PASSION CALL and the romance chapter SOMEWHERE IN TIME.

Cheung Siu Fai, who performed in the comedy chapter PASSION CALL, said that initially the producer Lam Ka Tung was the one who approached him and asked him to play a police role that he had never played before. Thus he returned to Hong Kong from the mainland to discuss the performance. "I think this time is very meaningful. I can contribute a little bit to Hong Kong films, Southeast Asia has been watching Hong Kong films in the past. I hope that I can continue to support Hong Kong films." Director Wong Kwok Keung said that working with his old friends again, although the short film format is very different, it is very interesting. In particular Brother Fai's serious comedy performance, looking serious on the surface but also very absurd. Cheung Siu Fai even praised Lam Ka Tung, "I admire Ka Tung, he started as an actor, and would have a lot of ideas and persistence; he also has alternative expressions, ideas and practices, with side dishes we just cook like this. Why not try to relax a little."

Ka Tung said that when another producer Chan Sinn Gi invited him, he explained that there was no box office pressure this time. Hence he asked Director Wong to write the script together, and also chose the comedy chapter from the 6 themes. "I love to play with comedy, everyone has pressure in life and want to relax a little, so when we talk about cops on beat would have to relax a little too, we used the Temple Street background as packaging." Ka Tung even joked that due to the lack of manpower, he made a temporary cameo appearance. Although it was only a silhouette, it was very effective. Thus he felt that comedy was viable. Speaking of Ka Tung once supported Hong Kong films without receiving remuneration for filming, Cheung Siu Fai said, "I have always done that, I may only charge a small amount for transportation. I would do everything I should do, but the most important thing is to play what I want to play. The response I would get in the end, like being able to go to the Cannes Film Festival this time, will be worth the price of admission. Hong Kong people have persisted all the way, and have overcome such difficult times, I hope that more people will show their upport when the opportunity arises. Film production is about money, time and the script, now we have talent too. It's all good!"

Chan Sinn Gi, the producer in charge of a number of short films, gave special thanks to Lam Ka Tung. They hit it off at first sight from TIME (SAT CHOOK GOR WONG FUN). "This young man loves Hong Kong films, he is a good producer, he does everything himself. He is an actor as well so he is very transparent, has a great control of the pace of the production, and he has quite a stroke of genius. PASSION CALL (BIT-LEI TUNG) had two screenings at Cannes. Everyone laughed like crazy at the last prt, feeling that it was very creative. Of course I also thought Brother Fai for his performance." Chan Sinn Gi believes that Hong Kong films are certainly viable. "However it is useless for us to do anything if the audience doesn't go to the movies, so the audience must believe in Hong Kong films in order to support them, TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN is a good example, something good would naturally have many people's support!"