[2024.12.25] MICHAEL HUI AND DAYO WONG PLAN TO MAKE A COMEDY IN 3 YEARS

Dayo Wong jokes that Dr. Yeung once told him to open the red win when his daughter is born, so he immediately started recruiting for a partner.
courtesy of singtao.com

Michael Hui hopes to work with Dayo Wong on a comedy again

Dayo Wong hopes THE LAST DANCE would run until the Ching Ming Festival next year

The boss' speech moves Michelle Wai to tears

Michael Hui, Dayo Wong, Michelle Wai and Anselm Chan dot the lions' eyes for the lion dance

Michael Hui receives a luxury watch from Albert Yeung (center), while Dayo Wong receives fine wine

Albert Yeung said that he would give a home to director Anselm Chan as a reward
courtesy of mingpao.com

Since the film THE LAST DANCE (POR. DEI YUK) opened on November 9th, it has repeatedly broken as many as 11 box office records including "the highest box office of Asian and Chinese films in Hong Kong history", "the highest single-day box office of Hong Kong films in history", and "the 2024 highest single-day box office of Chinese and foreign films". As of two days ago the cumulative box office of THE LAST DANCE in Hong Kong and Macau reached HK$ 144.37 million. In order to celebrate the repeated successes of THE LAST DANCE, Emperor Motion Pictures held a "Breaking Records 1,000 People Celebration Banquet" the night before, with the boss Albert Yeung Sau Sing leading actors Michael Hui Koon Man, Dayo Wong Tze Wah, Michelle Wai Sze Nga and director Anselm Chan Mou Yin to attend. 1,000 lucky viewers whose ticket stubs were drawn were entertained as well.

At the celebration banquet of 1,000 people, a group of actors followed the dragon dance into the venue in batches, and presided over the lion dance eye dotting to wish for the movie box office's continuing rise. Boss Yeung Sau Sing thanked the actors and director on stage, and said that the film results have been very satisfactory. The Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland box office received HK$ 140 million the night before. Since the mainland opening the box office has risen in the past two days, because the Greater Bay Area has responded well. The mainland film scheduling has increased, successfully attracting audiences from different cultures and customs in the north with word of mouth. "I really want to thank Hui Koon Man God and Tze Wah God, the performance truly cannot be toped, the performance is excellent, moving, and surprising. If I ask other people the salary might be a little cheaper, but I believe that the box office results are not be 1/10 of what it is." Yeung Sau Sing also revealed that Wai Sze Nga said that she has waited for this opportunity for 16 years. He could not help but get teary eyed when he heard that, and he was happy that she won the Best Actress. Then he hugged and congratulated the actors.

Yeung Sau Sing in order to reward the "championship team" presented 16 gold medals to the actors on the spot, and specifically presented his treasured "Rolex Limited Edition Green Submariner Watch" to lead actor Hui Koon Man, and "Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Red Wine" to the lead actor Tze Wa. Yeung Sau Sing said that before the movie was released, he has promised Tze Wa that as long as the box office would make "100 bucks" he still would present this treasured red wine to him. Tze Wa joked, "When I drank this wine with Boss Yeung at dinner before he again said that he would give it to me, but I can't afford to drink this wine. The boss said, 'It's fine, open it when your daughter is born', so today I ask everyone if anyone is willing to have a daughter with me? If not I wouldn't be qualified to drink this wine!" Yeung Sau Sing joked that the ladies must be fighting to line up. As long as Tze Wah would be willing the line would reach Shau Kei Wan. Hui Koon Man also joked that he disgusted the boss before. "Two months ago when I had dinner with Boss Yeung, I wore a 50 buck watch I bought in Shenzhen, Boss Yeung said that how could you wear such a crummy watch out!" Yeung Sau Sing interjected with a smile, "I said Hello Man, when you go out don't tell people you know Mr. Yeung. When you wear a watch like this I really lose face. How can I be friends with you, I am the king of Hong Kong time pieces!" Hui Koon Man immediately joked, "At that time I asked the boss how did he know that my watch was crummy, and he said that do you think I sell pork? However I never in my dreams would guess that he would give me an expensive watch. I don't dare to wear it, as I am afraid that someone would cut off my hand!" The audience burst into laughter. Tze Wah joked, "Tonight when I take the taxi home I would finish this bottle of red wine, so no one would have any design on this bottle."

Later Yeung Sau Sing and director Chan Mou Yin were interviewed together, and Mr. Yeung revealed that he has already given a gift to Director Chan long ago. Was it a home as rumored? Mr. Yeung pointed out that it would depend on whether the director was willing to talk about it. Speaking of whether he would give a film contract, he pointed out that this was to ask him to make a movie. As for Director Chan's plan to work with Tze Wa and Hui Koon Man within 3 years, Mr. Yeung said with a smile that he would definitely invest, and if he was kept from investing he would be upset. The current box office trend of THE LAST DANCE was still strong, and it should be able to be in release into 2025 and even to the Lunar New Year. Would the director consider releasing the extended version for the Lunar New Year? Chan Mou Yin pointed out that all the post-production companies were rushing to work on the Lunar New Year films. The post-production companies had no room on their schedules so he had to wait in line, but of course he hoped that the film would be able to continue its run until next Christmas. Mr. Yeung was also full of confidence in the box office this time, and the tentative target was 150 million, and to be able to exceed 200 million would be the best. He revealed that in addition to the brilliant box office results in the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, overseas including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and even the United States and Canada have made a lot of box office, and in many foreign cities the film was also first at the box office. It was rare for a Chinese film to win the first place at the box office in many places.

Hui Koon Man was in good spirit and raised his thumbs for photos with Wong Tze Wa. Hui Koon Man smiled and pointed out that he just had two glasses of red wine. It was his first time being interviewed half- drunk, but it was really worth celebrating. He hoped that the box office will rise steadily. According to the box office trend the film could still continue to be in release into next year, Tze Wa smiled and said, "That's right, it's crazy to break hell during the Lunar New Year. I hope to go past the Lunar New Year!" He pointed out that in the past he questioned whether the subject might not be able to celebrate the New Year, but with the high acceptance of everyone nowadays there was no taboo. It could compete with other Lunar New Year films. "Like everyone everyday is the best day for me, so the film can celebrate the Lunar New Year. It would be the best to go until the Ching Ming Festival." Hui Koon Man also agreed that at least half of the audience would not mind the subject for the Lunar New Year films. As long as the movie was entertaining it was fine. The audience now would not definitely demand madcap. "We like comedy with a sense of humor, even if we make it it wouldn't be like the comedy before. The impression THE LAST DANCE has given me is that the audience might not need to be so crazy. It only has to make sense and has meaning. You don't have to laugh once every minute. As long as the film is interesting, you can cry once a minute." Speaking of the two of them planning to work together again in 3 years, Tze Wa said that "chief helmsman" Hui Koon Man was in charge of everything. Hui Koon Man pointed out that Director Chen said that he wanted to make a comedy, and this movie has been a great inspiration for creators. Smart audiences like to watch new subjects. Tze Wa said that the success of THE LAST DANCE was because that it saw the "hell" that many people had. Everyone had mountains and valleys, so their comedy would face everyone's mountains and valleys and resonate with the audience. "THE LAST DANCE has given us great lessons, to take care of our own feelings, the mountains and the valleys, the happiness and unhappiness." Hui Koon Man said, "The movie has given everyone a little inspiration. I wish that in 2025 the whole Hong Kong can "break hell", start over and take off!"

As for the decent box office around the world, Tze Wah said that was worth being happy about. With this subject the sense of satisfaction has been doubled. He joked that he hoped the movie would be able to be released in Africa. If Africans could relate too then it could not be topped. Hui Koon Man said, "My dream is that Hong Kong film can go all around the world, without using too many dialogue. As long as people can relate it would be just as popular. Like the 1980s African comedy THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY was a global hit." Tze Wah revealed that he and Hui Koon Man went to Africa to learn from GODS' director.

Hui Koon Man was asked about his confidence for winning the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor next year, he humbly said that he was underqualified. He heard that several films were decently made, and actors performed well too. He picked Wong Tze Wah to win the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor. "In the film Tze Wah was extremely philistine, always messing around but had a little conscience. This role is so difficult to play. I think Tze Wah performed better than me, and I disagreed with some viewers who say that Tze Wah has a shade of his stand up comedy." Tze Wah said, "Awards are very subjective, whether there are awards or not, even more important is to make a good movie. I hope to make another good movie next time. Of course, thank you very much Hui Koon Man for so subjectively picking me."

Michelle Wai Sze Nga, Catherine Chau Ka Yee and Tommy Chu Pak Hong while dining at the Tokyo Film Festival earlier guessed the box office of THE LAST DANCE. Recalling that the film has not yet been released, Wai Sze Nga said, "The director and Tze Wah guessed HK$ 50 million. When I guessed 100 million, I was already getting cursed out for guessing randomly. Pa (Michael Hui Koon Man) guessed 120 million, Brother (Chu Pak-kang) guessed 150 million. In the end Brother won." Dayo Wong Tze Wah's guess of HK$ 53 million was very conservative. Chu Pak Hong admitted that he was a "madman", the director and Tze Wah were conservative so he won. Chau Ka Yee joined later with a guess of 220 million. Regarding how to celebrate the box office success, Chu Pak Hong suggested for Wai Sze Nga to sing and sing 3 full songs. Wai Sze Nga chuckled and pointed out that she would already become a singer if she was good at singing. Even her manager Mani Fok Man Hei told her that she might as well concentrate on acting, because she was completely off key. Wai Sze Nga instead told Chau Ka Yee to sing because she has always sung well; Chau Ka Yee joked that if Chu Pak Hong danced the ballet in tights to accompany her she would agree. Chu Pak Hong said that Wai Sze Nga had to sing for him to be willing to dance.