[2206.10.07] MASTERMIND PREMIERES IN HONG KONG DESPITE MAINLAND RELEASE WITHDRAWAL RUMORS

Ci Sha praises Amy Lo for looking like she is only 18

MASTERMIND's release withdrawal notice appeared again yesterday
courtesy of on.cc

MASTERMIND director James Kong (starting right) leads actors Simon Yam, Eddie Cheung, Ci Sha and Amy Lo to attend the premiere

Louis Koo is absent but makes a video in advance to call for the audience to support MASTERMIND at cinemas
courtesy of mingpao.com

The film MASTERMIND (JING JIN) would open in Hong Kong on October 8th. The premiere was held the evening before (5th), with director James Kong Ling Ching, stars Simon Yam Tat Wah, Ci Sha, Amy Lo Wai Man, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai and others in attendance. Louis Koo Tin Lok was absent due to work, but shot a video to apologized and hoped that everyone would support the film. The actors on stage introduced the role one by one, and the mainland actor Ci Sha said in Cantonese, "Hello everyone, I am actor Ci Sha, Happy National Day everyone!" A lot of fans cheered him up.

MASTERMIND invites the four major Best Actors Koo Tin Lok, Yam Tat Wah, Gardner Tse Kwan Ho and Cheung Siu Fai to hold down the fort. Director Kong Ling Ching joked that the film has relied on "beauty", but actually impressed people with sincerity and the script. "I am considered a newcomer in this industry, carrying the script and knocking on the boss and each actor's doors. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make a film with production, the result has exceeded expectations." He pointed out that when inviting Ci Sha, he only casually drank coffee and talked about the performance. He was not familiar with the mainland internet traffic actors, but saw that Ci Sha was very attractive and handsome, his outline had a sense of film, and the two sides got along great.

Cheung Siu Fai has often worked with the new director, said that he too has also been a newcomer, and knew that without new there would be no old. "Film is a heritage job. We have had opportunities so we need to give time for the new generation to perform, more people to take over, then we would continue to have opportunities even when we get older." He worked with Ci Sha for the first time and felt that he was motivated and smart. "Although he is not very new, he is very motivated and respectful of his elders and other actors. He is very diligent." He understood that at first Ci Sha was nervous, just like Hong Kong people would be nervous when they would work on a movie in the mainland but could not understand the dialect. Yam Tat Wah and Ci Sha have many scenes together; in order to put Ci Sha at ease, in the break room he would communicate with him more, ask him to make more Hong Kong production films, and even treated pineapple bun with butter to melt him with good food. Everyone got along very happily.

Regarding MASTERMIND collecting about 4.5 million yuan in the mainland after 5 days in release, the film on October 5th on the social platform said that "in order to respect the original intention of the creators, maximize the protection of the film content presentation and viewing experience, the company decided to adjust the release plan, officially canceled the round of release and follow up to restart the public release later." However the post was later deleted. Director Kong Ling Ching said that he did not receive official news, but this time he made a Hong Kong-made film, Hong Kong was the main audience. He wanted to make the movie for Hong Kong people, so he insisted on using Cantonese. When he asked Ci Sha to perform he also let him learn Cantonese in coordination. He pointed out that everyone had the intention to make a good Hong Kong production film that would be worthy of support at cinemas; not only this one of his but also every Hong Kong film. The Hong Kong release on October 8th will not be affected, and he gave special thanks to Koo Tin Lok for his encouragement and support when he began the shoot. Yam Tat Wah expressed respect for the decision of the film company to withdraw the mainland release, and believed that everyone wanted what was best for Hong Kong films. Yam Tat Wah was previously caught in the wild by the internet at a restaurant, friendly and playing a drinking game for a photo. The fans only found out that he had already quietly paid when they asked for the bill. He felt hat Hong Kong people have a hospitable way, and hope that tourists will come to Hong Kong to play more.

Ci Sha and Amy were not nervous about the Hong Kong release, but at the beginning of the shoot they were nervous about the performance. After the film was made they would leave it for the audience to comment. Ci Sha had to speak Cantonese for his performance, and he smiled and said that he could only face the difficulties head on. However he has also performed the post production dubbing, and Yam Tat Wah has been teaching him authentic Cantonese. He said on the spot, "Handsome, Big Brother, thank you very much!" He also recalled that the pineapple bun with butter that Yam Tat Wah treated him to was among the best food in the world, but because he was afraid of getting fat he only dared to have one in half a month. Amy referred to herself as a representative of Hong Kong, providing "passion" on the set and bringing joy with laughter and noise. "With Ci Sha present, I feel particularly comfortable and happy. We are both the younger generation. Since it is rare for someone to accompany me and learn from the elders, I feel so happy." She pointed out that when she worked with her elders Koo Tin Lok, Yam Tat Wah, and Tse Kwan Ho, she was afraid to speak. In addition she had to play a villain and maintain a cool look, so she try to overcome the tension as much as possible to perform.

Amy recently spent her 33rd birthday, and Ci Sha praised her for looking more like 18. She smiled and said that before the premiere everyone lied to her about an interview, so she rushed out of the bathroom. The lights in the room have been turned off, as everyone brought out the cake and sang the birthday song to surprise her. Her birthday wish was for everyone to be healthy, happy, MASTERMIND to be a box office hit, the audience to continue to support Hong Kong movies. Referring to the withdrawal of the mainland release, Ci Sha said that the actor has the responsibility and work of the actor. After the shoot was successfully completed, regardless of the release was in the mainland or Hong Kong later, the actor could not do anything about that.