[2024.11.10] TSUI HARK AND SHI NANSUN ENCOURAGE COLLEAGUES TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS

Sally Yeh (left), Kenny Bee (right), Sylvia Chang (second left) show their support for Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun
courtesy or singtao.com

Derek Yee avoids discussing Johnnie To's sensitive comments. He awkwardly jokes, "Do you want the Hong Kong Film Awards to not happen? No comment, let's go, let's go!""

Johnnie To expressed earlier in his BBC Chinese interview, "Hong Kong and I both have lost our souls."

Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun launches M+'s director exhibition

Sally Yeh and husband George Lam support their good friend Tsui Hark

Kenny Bee mentions his fall earlier during the mainland tour and says that he has recovered from the injury.

Kenny Bee's oldest daughter Chloe and wife Fan Chiang attend the SHANGHAI BLUES 2024 4K Restored edition premiere
courtesy or mingpao.com

The M+ directorial exhibition "Tsui Hark, The Free-Spirited Trailblazer" and the Hong Kong premiere of "SHANGHAI BLUES 2024" 4K Restoration took place two nights ago and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the "Film Workship" Tsui Hark and producer Shi Nansun founded. Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun appeared together in all-black and all-white respectively. The actors of the film, Sally Yeh (Yip Sin Man), Sylvia Chang Aijia, Kenny Bee Chung Chun To (Ah B) attended with many directors, stars and film industry figures such as George Lam Chi Cheung, Chingmy Yau Suk Ching, Derek Yee Tung Sing, Candy Yu On On, Manfred Wong (Man Jun), Lowell Lo Koon Ting and his wife, Ann Hui On Wai, Alex To Tak Wai.

Before the film screening began, Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun gave speeches for the opening ceremony, and Shi Nansun said that she would like to thank Ah B for studying the Shanghai dialect for the film for several days and made Tsui Hark change the dialogue for him. This day was also a little sentimental as well. She said, "I dined with Tsui Hark and Ng See Yuen at noon, and everyone talked about ideals. Their ideals were not to make money or be famous, but to do something for the Hong Kong film industry. I was reminded of registering and opening the Workshop with Tsui Hark on March 23th, 1984. I also wanted to do something for the film industry. I didn't think that after 40 years, we still would be making movies. I wish each and every one has a dream and make it happen with practical actions, because I don't know how it will end." Shi Nansun said with a smile that she had something important to announce. "This night will be like before, after watching the midnight show you can still get a late night snack." Tsui Hark joked that everything he wanted to talk about, Shi Nansheng has already said them. He only said simply, "I hope that everything will be fine with the Hong Kong film industry and Hong Kong, and it will get better and better; I hope we can do something to make Hong Kong better!" Guest Yee Tung Sing talked about working with Tsui Hark and said that in 1995 when he directed FULL THROTTLE (LIT FOR JIN CHEH) they were already in discussion but in the end they could not come to an agreement. They also had a dramatic film that they have discussed for a long time, but due to market issues the collaboration also fell through. He also joked that he was a part of the "bride's family" and was more familiar with Shi Nansun. Among Tsui Hark's movie, Yee Tung Sing liked BLADE (DOH) in particular and said that it was very fiercely shot; as for modern action films he liked the Nicholas Tse Ting Fung starred TIME AND TIDE (SHUN LAU YIK LAU).

Yee Tung Sing said that he only officially worked with Tsui Hark in 2016 when they made SWORD MASTER (SAM SIU YEH DIK GIM). At the time it was a 3D production. Since he made more dramatic films, Tsui Hark's production skills were much higher than his. The visual effects were sharp. He said, "He brought a lot of new stuff to film, and changed this industry. Some stunt people after working with him also changed a lot. In my heart Tsui Hark is the 'the best action director in the world'." Director Johnnie To Kei Fung recently in an interview said, "Hong Kong and I both have lost our souls." Yee Tung Sing avoided the subject and joked awkwardly, "Do you want the Hong Kong Film Awards to not happen? No comment, let's go, let's go!" He then immediately left.

Ah B brought his wife Fan Chiang and eldest daughter Chloe Chung Ka Ching to show their support. "They haven't seen this movie, so I invited them to enjoy it together." Ah B said that SHANGHAI BLUES was Tsui Hark's first film after setting up the Film Workshop. He has always regarded Tsui Hark as an idol and a fan of the Tsui Hark directed THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS (DIP BIN), so he was very honored and happy to be invited to perform back then. "After I starred in LET'S MAKE LAUGH (BIU CHOR CHUT YUT CHING) and PRINCE CHARMING (CHING WA WONG JI), Tsui Hark approached me about working together." He deliberately turned down other jobs for his movie, and it became one of his favorite works that he often revisited. He also praised Tsui Hark for being demanding at work and having a quick wits. His earlier 4K restoration of the film also had an all new voice track and felt crisp and fast pace, unlike his work 40 years ago.

Ah B also laughed about his earlier tour in the mainland of his band the Wynners, when he and bandmates Anthony Chan Yau and Ah Keung all fell on stage in a row. "Because the stage is replaced with a new material floor, it will be very greasy and slippery after spraying dry ice. Originally Tam Wing Lun reminded everyone to be careful, but I had to teach people to dance cross steps so I must dance. As a result, Chan Yau and I both slipped and fell. Ah Keung wanted to come over but did not expect to 'slide' into us, and had a red card ejection, haha. My daughter caught the footage and edited it to look like a comedy, but those 20 seconds were actually very intense. Luckily everyone was fine. After the incident, I went to the doctor. Even the doctor said that I was fine. (Are there any injuries to sensitive areas?) It's sensitive, it's the waist, but it's fine, I can still use it, haha."