[2009.06.25] LEON LAI GETS HAIRY IN THE CITY

Leon Lai Ming, Liu Kai Chi (left)
Wilfred Lau Ho Lung
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Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai)

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After the earlier Tsim Sha Tsui mad dash and Mongkok four story billboard climb, Leon Lai Ming yesterday appeared on Kimberley Road in Tsim Sha Tsui for the Dante Lam Chiu Yin directed film FOR LUNG (FIRE DRAGON). Yesterday at noon the film company was already on hand for preparation. Lai Ming still appeared with the facial hair look and even had a little scar make up. Also present were Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Charles Ying Cheung Yau and Liu Kai Chi.

Because it was a street shoot, many people looked on and closed traffic jam nearby. Yesterday the scene was several cops on an investigation in a building, after which they put handcuffs and a black bag on a suspect. Yesterday was hot and the actors were either in a suit or long sleeve clothing so they were sweating bullets. When he was not in a scene, Siu Chai immediately removed his jacket. Lai Ming went to a nearby shopping center to "enjoy the air conditioning".

Siu Chai two nights ago turned 43. Due to the film production he could only celebrate at work. Yesterday the crew prepared a big birthday bun and cake for him. Siu Chai received a big bun with 43 little buns in it and a Hong Kong Film Award shaped cake with the words Best Actor on it. Siu Chai said to the director, "Wow, Best Actor? Then it's all on you Director! Haha."

As for birthday wish, Siu Chai said that health and safety for the family was the most important. Siu Chai said that around the Duen Ng Festival he already received homemade birthday cakes from his children. He would properly store such treasures every year so they could be the best memories when he turned old.

[2009.06.24] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: 6 TO 11 HELLISH TRAINING WITH NO ROOM FOR ERROR

Truth becomes known to us early or late, each excels in his field career or trade. Yu Jim Yuen although according to each disciple's qualification and quality assigned them to different positions and characters, but on stage no matter the role their basic foundation could not be missed. This is the meaning of what Beijing Opera actors often called "the act does not leave the technique".

According to second sister Yuen Po, Master Yu's intense training back then was disheartening. She says, "Getting up at 6AM, first we did laps on the roof, then performed hand stand for a hour, then basic training until 12PM lunch. At 1PM we started again, somersaults, carpet work, crouching tiger, tiger leap, hand stand, then 100 sweeps. We didn't stop until 5PM. If we had to perform at the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park, we often left at 6PM, started the show at 8PM. After the show the Master would perform a live review. When we returned to the school it was almost 11PM."

Training Secret, Everyone Screamed
After months and years of energy expenditure only exhausted the body. What had the children cowering was Master Yu's unique training secret. Yuen Po says, "Sometimes Master would put a piece of gum on the tip of your nose and you had to kick it off, which trained your kicks. He also asked you to form a duo to perform a split back to back. The most terrifying was Master would put you horizontal on his lap and pull you waist back. It was so painful that everyone for screaming for help, but what could we do. Everyone experienced that. Master would not soften because you was screaming."

About this inhumane period, Jackie Chan in his autobiography I AM JACKIE CHAN revealed, "If you try to use illness and injury as excuses to reduce training, they never work with Master. In the eyes of Master, as long as you can still move, you can fly. Thus, using illness to explain lack of training or improper movement would not be accepted."

To be fond of an easy life and averse to work is ultimately human nature. Although Master Yu was strict, Seven Little Fortunes had their opposing strategy. Yuen Qiu says, "Don't you think Master knew who was cutting corners? Who was only doing half leg sweeps? Yet 100 truly was too much, we kids couldn't care less. When we could cut corners we did, we worried about punishment when it came."

Forced Out Teacher, Soldier Replaced
Children loved to jump around. Although it was tough, once they were used to it they could handle it. Yet the worst was having them sit still and study. According to Yuen Biao's recollection, Yu Jim Yuen later hired a teacher to teach Seven Little Fortunes for five hours. It was the biggest punishment. He says, "Master hired teachers to help us with learning and recognition words. Which one of us liked studying? Then all the children got together to pick on the teacher. Master felt that teacher was too soft. Later he switched to a teacher with a military background, we immediately were out of luck." (11)

[2009.06.24] POKER KING STARTS PRODUCTION

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(left) Louis Koo Tin Lok, Heung Jor, Jo Koo (Kuk Cho Lam), Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Josie Ho Chiu Yi, Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Wong Yau Nam, Lau Ching Wan

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The film POKER KING yesterday held its production start ceremony. Actors Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Josie Ho Chiu Yi, Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Jo Koo (Kuk Cho Lam), Stephy Tang Lai Yun and Heung Jor attended. Ying Choi Yi expressed that recently she and boyfriend Jordan Chan Siu Chun both returned to Hong Kong to make separate movies. She said while dating Siu Chun for two years they have only worked together in Hengdian and Beijing, but never in Hong Kong. Ying Choi Yi pointed out that Siu Chun will work with Michelle Ye (Yip Shuen) in the film FEI SA FUNG JUNG JUEN, which worried her. Was she concerned about Yip Shuen's rumors? She said, "I know, I already warned Siu Chun and told him not to have any (rumor)." She would not follow Siu Chun 24 hours a day, but she knew that he and Yip Shuen would have intimate scenes. As soon as they saw each other she would hug and kiss, which she joked that she and Siu Chun have not done. Was she and Yip Shuen close in age? She said, "We should be, but if I am not worried I wouldn't say it. Siu Chun has to brush first when he gets home, otherwise he can't kiss me." Ying Choi Yi pointed out that this film will be Siu Chun and Cheng Yi Kin's reunion ten years after YOUNG AND DANGEROUS (GOO WAT JAI), so she did not ask him not to make it. Did she lack confidence in Siu Chun? She said that she was afraid that news would come out of nothing. Actually if she would ignore and not respond to it then nothing would happen. She said, "Actually Siu Chun was afraid himself, he said that during intimate scenes he would not stare."

Lau Ching Wan expressed that in the film he would play a casino manager who was a little manic. Did he gamble in real life? He said that he would only play mahjong during the Lunar New Year and rarely went to the casino. As for stock investment, he said, "I invest a little. I have to understand what the economy is doing. I am not apt to speculate in real estate." Ching Wan expressed that now he learned to play with chips and gambling. Earlier Ching Wan was caught dining with Lai Yiu Cheung. He expressed that they knew each other for over a decade. Both came from TVB so they maintained contact. He joked that Lai Yiu Cheung's character "Chai Gau" was amazing and had more movies than him.

Koo Tin Lok in the film played a poker master and competed with Lau Ching Wan. Stephy played his girlfriend who was addicted to gambling. Goo Jai in the film played an aloof poker master. Before the shoot he had to spend time to study the game and practice some card and chip playing tricks. His arms were a little numb for it. After training for over a month he finally had some result. Goo Jai said, "I everyday practice with chips. Even when I eat and chat with friends, I have to continue to train. Now I finally learned several tricks."

In the film playing Goo Jai's girlfriend, Stephy had no intimate scene with Goo Jai. Stephy expressed that she rarely worked with many experienced actors, so she was nervous in front of Goo Jai, Lau Ching Wan and the others. Stephy expressed that she did not like to gamble or like guys who gamble. As for what she disliked the most in a boyfriend, Stephy said, "I don't like boyfriends who only play video games because I am not really interested. I also don't like boyfriends who force me to keep his company playing. He should compromise."

[2009.06.23] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: YU SO CHAU TOOK A BEATING FOR YUEN QIU

Make a name for yourself and glorify your father and mother. This originally is a filial piety that children should have. As Yu Jim Yuen's daughter, Yu So Chau was the glory of the Yu family as a "martial art star" outside. Inside out of her busy schedule she took time to help her father with female disciple training in Beijing Opera. Yet this silver screen famous heroine indirectly due to Yuen Qiu took a beating from hre father at the age of 30. Seven Little Fortunes still remember that day as if it just happened.

Having performed the highly difficult 12 spear kick on stage, Yu So Chau in the 50s turned from the opera a stage to the film industry. With her years of Beijing Opera action actress background, she rapidly became a hot new heroine on the silver screen. Yet she could not change her tough on the exterior, gentle inside personality.

Famous But Not Proud, Morning Lessons

Yuen Qiu recalls her lessons with this top film "heroine" back then. She says, "Several sisters and I were fortunate enough to have studied under her. She isn't mean at all. Back then she taught a skit called '13TH SISTER'. At the time I had to get up very early to go to her Prince Edward Road home. Back then she would put on make up while teaching. There was no script at the time. Sister would first sing a few lines, then asked me to memorize them. She would say, 'Pay attention and listen, memorize it well, properly practice when you get back, work hard and sing it back to me next time'. Sister was very nice. She would never hit me, yell at me, so I particularly like studying with Sister."

Yuen Qiu liked to study with Yu So Chau of course also due to other temptations. Yuen Qiu says, "On many occasions when I went to Sister's home, I would run into her maid Sister Juk making breakfast. Sister would take the initiative and said, 'Sister Juk, pour a bowl for her'. Then I got a share too. At the time I only knew that studying with Sister I didn't have to train outdoors on the roof and I got good stuff to eat. so I worked very hard when I studied with Sister. After she taught me, I would never forget anything at the next lesson!"

Silver Screen Heroine, Disaster Spared No One

Although Yu So Chau took great care of her little disciples, but once Yuen Qiu indirectly caused her harm. Yuen Bun said, "At the time we were rehearsing, Yuen Qiu's use of the whip was poor no matter how hard she tried. Coincidentally Yu So Chau got back from her movie so Master asked her to demonstrate, but Sister dropped the whip in the process. Master didn't say a word, picked up the whip and sent it toward Sister. Every one of us were stunned. WHITE BONE YIN YANG SWORD's Yu So Chau, at the age Sister was almost 30, still had to take a beating from Master. After the beating she had to say to Master, 'Pa, sorry'. After that time, Yuen Qiu never dared to drop the whip again." (11)

[2009.06.22] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: MASTER UNCLE TAUGHT SINGING, ERHU TAMED DISCIPLES

A school could not have just one teacher. Although Yu Jim Yuen's ability was outstanding, he relied on his brother Yu Jim Sin for singing. Each member of Master Yu's teaching team served a purpose and advantage. Master Yu was responsible for acrobatic training; Si Mo was in charge of daily living and student order; teaching the students singing had to be the extremely talented Master Uncle.

High Pitch Noise Highly Damaging

Perhaps without Master Uncle, Jackie Chan would not have his Beijing opera singing voice today. Every one of Seven Little Fortunes are able to sing and fight completely because of their hellish training back then.

Master Yu's teaching attitude was strict, the cane against habitually mischievous disciples could take off the matter after several dozen lashes. Yet it was not match for Master Uncle's "spiritual torture". He carried with him a "explosively noisy" weapon erhu, the damage which it caused was no less than Old Evil Wong's jade flute song.

The erhu and Master Uncle were one and could not be separated. He only played erhu for Seven Little Fortunes' voice training. Yet students who were not occupied would always make noise and disturb Master Uncle's teaching. When he could tolerate no more, he would play noise on his erhu to shut everyone up.

Yuen Ju and Little Brother Yuen Lun recalled, "Master Uncle was very neurotic. Sometimes when we were amazingly loud, he would play the erhu by our ears so it sounds like thunder. It was quite a bother and scared us quiet."

Actually Master Uncle was so neurotic only because he cared so much about Seven Little Fortunes' learning progress. In order to train an opera player who would play both action and drama, martial art training alone was not enough. Yet training already took up most students' time. With education and performance who had time to sing? Master Uncle could only sacrifice his personal time and deliberately taught late at night. He indeed meant well.

Second sister Yuen Po said, "We spent seven full years performing at the Lai Chi Kok amusement park every night. Master Uncle taught all of the singing. We had no script either and relied on memorization for everything. So Master Uncle often woke us up to practice in the early mornings of 2 or 3."

Leaving Home, Contributing To Opera

"It takes ten years for tree to grown but a hundred years to bring up a generation of good men." In the life of Yu Jim Sin, perhaps helping the younger generation was more important than family. Back then, he was determined to leave his wife and child in the Mainland and came to Hong Kong alone to help his brother educate. Before the two, he chose to spend the energy of his life on contributing to opera.

Yuen Po said, "Actually Master Uncle was pretty tragic. Leaving his wife and kids and coming to Hong Kong alone, he had to face us screaming kids. He didn't even get to sleep."

Personal sacrifice for the big picture indeed was Yu Jim Sin's mantra. If time went backward, when Yu Jim Sin returned to the fork on the road then, would he choose to be with his family or educate Seven Little Fortunes? If Master Uncle Yu chose the former, Seven Little Fortunes' fate definitely would not be the same. (10)

[2009.06.22] LAUGHING GOR NEEDS STITCHES

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Michael Tse Tin Wa's LAUGHING GOR ji BIT JIN has completed 1/3 of its production. Earlier in a scene in which Francis Ng Chun Yu and Lee Si Jit teamed up to torture Tin Wa, Tin Wa was injured but still insisted on completing the shoot like a serious professional.

Tin Wa said, "In the scene Chun Yu tied me up in a chair, Si Jit smashed a bottle over my head. Perhaps due to the angle, although it was candy glass the shrapnel cut the back of my ear. At the time the crew didn't know because the scene had prop blood. When they cleaned my wound they realized that I was bleeding. Director (Herman) Yau Lai To immediately opened a bottle of water to wash my wound."

Although Tin Wa was injured he still was worried about the production progress. He said, "When the bottle was smashed I already knew what happened. After it my ear was ringing and numb, but the scene was done in one take. I didn't want to stop and do it again so I toughed it out. The doctor gave me a few stitches and told me that the wound should close in four or five days. Luckily this time my face wasn't injured and could keep shooting the close up shots first."

"This was my worst injury, but when it happened my wife was still sleeping. I didn't want to scare her so I didn't tell her right away. (Cheng Yi Kin and Jordan Chan Siu Chun will work on a mob film, are you afraid of the comparison?) I don't mind any comparison. The film industry is on a rare revival, I am OK with cameos. Any exchange is fine." The "abuser" Lee Si Jit yesterday said, "I worried about Tin Wa's injury. Action films sometimes have to expect this. The angle is very hard to predict."

[2009.06.22] HEIGHTS HAVE LEON LAI WEAK AT THE KNEES

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The Dante Lam Chiu Yin directed film FOR LUNG (FIRE DRAGON) after the road block production in Tsim Sha Tsui earlier shot a thrilling scene five stories above ground in Causeway Bay yesterday. In this scene cop Leon Lai Ming climbed down from a five stories tall billboard. Yesterday the team started its road block early on for the shoot. Around 4PM, stunt doubles and action director Chin Kar Lok first tested the positions and observed the location. The double also first climbed onto the billboard to test for the best position. Around 5PM, with his fake beard Leon appeared. Although he was busy with his concert next month, he was in great shape as he climbed all over the five stories tall billboard with a lot of agility.

Before Leon climbed onto the billboard he took the full safety precaution with wires. After Leon climbed up he looked very focused and serious and the audience below had no effect on him. During the shoot he even had the time to remove a rope from his waist on the billboard. After 20 minutes the shoot was completed.