[2016.11.28] JOSEPH CHANG HAS NO PERSONAL CONTACT WITH AMBER KUO

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The Ringo Lam Lan Tung directed SKY ON FIRE (CHUNG TIN FOR) has already been released, Taiwan hunk Joseph Chang Hsiao-Chuan had fight scenes after fight scenes. He contributed to truck chases and a variety close contact action scenes, and they were all "real". This was already the second time that Chang Hsiao-Chuan worked with Lam Lan Tung, the first time was the 2015 WILD CITY (MAI SING), in which he played a vicious killer. This time in the film he played a truck driver who was protective of his sister. Chang Hsiao-Chuan said, "In one scene 'Big Wolf' Li Haitao and were fighting in a tunnel. Li Haitao had to hit me then ram me into a wall. We practiced it six times before, but because Ng Yin Cho (Daniel Wu)'s earlier injury we didn't dare to fight for real. No matter how we worked it didn't feel right. Director Lam showed us the playback on the monitor and said it was 'too fake'. He hoped that we would do it for real. Finally one scene was especially memorable for me, Haitao dragged me to ram the wall. When my head really hit the wall, I felt dizzy and really collapsed."

Aside from the action scenes, Chang Hsiao-Chuan and Amber Kuo also had an ambiguous relationship that seemed to be there but was not. Earlier Chang Hsiao-Chuan announced his break up. The beyond cool Chang Hsiao-Chuan heard the reporters joked that many women were eyeing the newly single him like crouching tigers and finally flashed a smile. Did he have a chance with the also single Amber Kuo? Chang Hsiao-Chuan awkwardly smiled and said, "Actually dating has its advantages but being single has its too, since I am in no hurry to find someone and Mama has never rushed me to get married. As for Amber, after finishing the film we had no contact personally and felt nothing special."

[2016.11.27] THE 53RD GOLDEN HORSE AWARDS

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Best Supporting Actor Lin Po-Hung

Song Seung-heon, Ariel Lin

Stefanie Sun
courtesy of mingpao.com

Best Actress winners Ma Sichun, Zhou Dongyu

Best Supporting Actress Elaine Jin

Best Actor Fan Wei

Best Director Feng Xiaogang

Michael Hui

Peter Chan, Sandra Ng

Leah Dou

Leah Dou's Grandmother Dou

Best New Performer Kong Weiyi
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The 53rd Golden Horse Awards took place last night in Taipei. This year SOUL MATE's Mainland actresses Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun both won Best Actress, Best Actor was MR. NO PROBLEM's Mainland actor Fan Wei. Best Director went to I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY's Feng Xiaogang. Best Feature Film was THE SUMMER IS GONE, which was also the big winner with three awards; Hong Kong film TRIVISA (SHU DAI JIU FUNG) received Best Film Editing and Best Original Screenplay awards.

Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling) with MAD WORLD (YUT LIM MO MING) won Best Supporting Actress again after 22 years. When she was announced to be the winner, Eric Tsang Chi Wai immediately embraced her and helped her to the stage. Kam Ying Ling broke down and said, "I told myself not to be too emotional when I participate in the Golden Horse Awards, but that is really very hard." She also said that winning an award in her own place was a type of recognition. A lot happened over 22 years, as an actress she was very grateful for having many opportunities for her to work. She also lamented how difficult the journey has been. She said that she did not come from academia, and understood that she had to perform well to be able to have the next chance for work. Kam Yin Ling said that she never thought about winning. Because MAD WORLD was a Hong Kong film with HK$ 2 million production budget, she only worked for a day but she put a lot of effort into her performance. Chi Wai asked her to help. She also said that last year with PORT OF CALL (DAP HUET CHUM MU) she wanted to win but did not. With her past six nominations, twice she was the surprise winner.

Best Supporting Actor Lin Po-Hung with the film CAFE NO. 6 defeated the pre race favorite Tsang Chi Wai. Lin Po-Hung held back his tears during his speech and was very emotional. He said that he has longed for the Golden Horse Award and promised to keep risking his life for each character. He would continue to passionately love film. After his victory Lin Po-Hung excitedly picked up the award, danced and jumped for photos. He revealed that backstage he broke down because he never thought that he would win. He really admired his fellow nominees who have acted longer than he has lived. When he passed by Chi Wai he really wanted to salute him, but before he could react Chi Wai already stood up and congratulated him.

When Michael Hui Koon Man presented the Best New Performer award, host Matilda Tao asked if he was very confident about winning Best Actor. He joked that being the favorite might not necessarily be a good thing, like the U.S. Presidential Election and leaving the U.S. currency standard. Later he also sad that the last time he was nominated for the Golden Horse Award was already 38 years ago. At the time he thought he would have a lot of opportunities. He never expected the next time would be 38 years later. He sad, "In the past 38 years how have everyone been? A lot of your probably weren't even born yet." He presented the award to THE SUMMER IS GONE's 10 year old Mainland child star Kong Weiyi. Because he was not tall enough, the event brought him a chair. He thanked the Golden Horse Award jury and his mother. He also thanked Hui Koon Man for giving him the chance at fame because when he presented the award he said, "Today's new performer, tomorrow's big star!"

When Fan Bingbing presented Best Sound Effects, Best Supporting Actor nominee and Taiwan artist Nadow joked that he was Taiwan's Wu Dalang. He brought out Binging, who after hearing his self introduction said, "But I am not Pan Jinlian (I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY's Chinese title)!" Bingbing won the 44th Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress with THE MATRIMONY. At the time due to work she was unable to attend. When she received her call she went crazy and was surprised that she still won despite not attending. Host Matilda Tao jokingly responded, "You just revealed a lot of secret rules!"

During her performance, Stefanie Sun Yanzi performed many classic film songs. Yet not long into her performance she often went off key on her high notes due to the flu. On the other hand when Faye Wong's daughter Leah Dou performed the Best Original Film Song nominee (IT'S NOT A CRIME) IT'S JUST WHAT WE DO, she was fully focused, her singing and stage presence all had shades of Faye Wong as she danced with the microphone and played air guitar and air piano. Leah's grandmother clapped along in the audience in support.

Peter Chan Ho Sun and Sandra Ng Kwan Yu talked about SOUL MATE not being released in Taiwan yet. Kwan Yu jokingly asked how many people actually saw the movie? Chan Ho Sun said, "No one, only 12 people (the jury) have seen it. If tonight (Derek) Tsang Kwok Cheung can directly win Best Director, then (the movie) can directly be released in Taiwan." When they presented Best Adapted Screenplay the film that Chan Ho Sun produced, SOUL MATE, did not win. Kwan Yu joked, "I told you to throw it (envelope) out." Chan Ho Sun said that her pronunciation was off and taught her again, Ng Kwan Yu kept making it sound like foul language. Later when they presented Best Supporting Actor, Kwan Yu joked that she wanted to just give it to Tsang Chi Wa and ripped up the envelope. Chan Ho Sun said, "That envelope you just ripped up was the result of the previous award."

When Shu Qi presented the Outstanding Filmmaker Award, host Matilda Tao hinted at her pregnancy and asked her why she was still wearing heels. She also asked everyone to check out Shu Qi's figure and the crowd was in an uproar. Shu Qi awkwardly smiled and lightly touched her belly without any reply. Matilda Tao joked that Shu Qi did not have to be in a hurry to deny the news, since it could still be speculated for three months.

THE 53RD GOLDEN HORSE AWARDS (http://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/awards/nw/?serach_type=award&sc=8&search_regist_year=2016&ins=45&r=en)

BEST FEATURE FILM
THE SUMMER IS GONE

BEST DOCUMENTARY
LE MOULIN

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
A SUNNY DAY

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
WANDER IN THE DARK

BEST DIRECTOR
Feng Xiaogang (I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY)

BEST LEADING ACTOR
Fan Wei (MR. NO PROBLEM)

BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Zhou Dongyu (SOUL MATE)
Ma Sichun (SOUL MATE)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Lin Po-Hung (AT CAFE 6)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Elaine Jin (MAD WORLD)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Wong Chun (MAD WORLD)

BEST NEW PERFORMER
Kong Weiyi (THE SUMMER IS GONE)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Loong Man Hong, Thomas Ng, Mak Tin-Shu (TRIVISA)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Mei Feng, Huang Shi (MR. NO PROBLEM)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Mark Lee Ping-Bing (CROSSCURRENT)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Douglas Hans Smith, Sam Wang, Sam Khorshid, Strilen Lu (MOJIN THE LOST LEGEND)

BEST ART DIRECTION
Chao Shih Hao (GODSPEED)

BEST MAKEUP & COSTUME DESIGN
Stanley Cheung (DETECTVE CHINATOWN)

BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY
Wu Gang (DETECTVE CHINATOWN)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Lim Giong (CITY OF JADE)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SONG
ARENA CAHAYA (OLABOLA)
Lyric: Zee Avi, Rendra Zawawi
Composer: Zee Avi, Rendra Zawawi
Performer: Zee Avi

BEST FILM EDITING
Allen Leung Chin-Lun, David Richardson (TRIVISA)

BEST SOUND EFFECTS
Fang Tao, Hao Zhiyu (CROSSCURRENT)

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY

FIPRESCI PRIZE
THE SUMMER IS GONE

LIFETIME ACHIVEMENT AWARD
Chang Yung-Hsiang

[2016.11.27] THE 53RD GOLDEN HORSE AWARD RED CARPET

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Kai Ko

Song Seung-Heun

Michael Hui

Lee Sinjie

Karena Lam

Juliette Binoche

courtesy of mingpao.com

Zhou Dongyu, Ma Sichun

Fan Bingbing

Eric, Bowie and Derek Tsang

Shu Qi

Tiffany Hsu

Ariel Lee

Kwai Lun-Mei

Coco Lee
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The 53rd Golden Horse Award took place last night, but the weather did not cooperate as the red carpet ceremony began with a drizzle. However it did not dampen the brilliant star power and the heated atmosphere. This year's Golden Horse Award chair, the already 63 year old Sylvia Chang appeared in an elegant black evening gown and gave a friendly wave to the crowd. Taiwan star Tiffany Hsu Wei-Ning was asked about rumors of getting back together with Ethan Juan. She said that today the Golden Horse Award would be the focus and changed the subject.

Taiwan hunk Kai Ko Chen-Tung was nominated for Best Actor with THE ROAD TO MANDALAY. The team appeared together in a show of presence and many fans screamed for him. Ko Chen-Tung said that while shooting in Myanmar, the language barrier and the not so great environment made the production very tough but the film was well worth the effort.

Eric Tsang Chi Wai walked the red carpet with son Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung and daughter Bowie Tsang as a family. Chi Wai was asked about not taking a cent for his work in MAD WORLD (YUT LIM MO MING), he felt that it was rare for an actor to run into a good script. Thus he would make the movie even if he had to pay. The nomination was already a reward. The Tsang Kwok Cheung directed SOUL MATE had decent box office and word of mouth. The host asked if he really knew about women. Kwok Cheung said that he had to thank his mother and sister because when he directed his sister influenced him a lot. Did Bowie want her father or her brother to win more? Bowie directly said, "Of course Papa, the last time he won was already 18 years ago. My brother is still young, he still has many more 18 years."

Feng Xiaogang and Fan Bingbing competed with his film I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY. Director Feng said that Bingbing was the "most beautiful village lady". Despite claiming that he would not mention any gossip, he asked Bingbing whether "Big Black Bull" Li Chen would cheer for her. Fans screamed "Get Married". Bingbing joked, "I won't until I win!" Shu Qi was asked about the price of her jewelry and dress, she joked, "I am priceless!" However she pretended not to hear when asked if her husband Stephen Fung Tak Lun came.

In comparison to the Chinese film stars, Korean star Song Seung-heon was the most popular. He also showed his friendly side and kept posing for selfies with fans in the rain. Seung-heon presented the award with Ariel Lin and he said that Ariel was popular in Korea too.

Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun both were nominated for Best Actress with SOUL MATE. They walked the red carpet with performer and Best Original Film Song nominee Leah Dou. Leah appeared a little shy on the red carpet for the first time, as she kept hiding behind Zhou and Ma. She still had a smile on her face. Zhou Dongyu said that she was already very happy to be nominated. Ma Sichun said that originally she was very nervous but because they came as a group she was a bit more relaxed. The host asked if Faye Wong would cheer on Leah, Leah replied in a low key manner, "She just said let's go!"

[2016.11.26] LOUIS KOO SAVES THE "NO TAIL CAT"

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The Benny Chan Muk Sing directed, Louis Koo Tin Lok starred science fiction comedy MEOW (MIU SING YUN) yesterday held a Beijing press conference. The 180 centimeter tall giant cat was officially unveiled for the first time. Goo Jai led the cat to play games with the audience. He threw a bone off stage and the cat rushed into the audience to find it. It even took someone's selfie stick to take selfies. The more the cat ran though the more tail it lost. After returning to the stage it became a no tail cat! Goo Jai and the director immediately lent a hand and placed the tail back on its proper place.

[2016.11.26] ELAINE JIN REMEMBERS CHOW YUN FAT'S SLAPS

Fan Bingbing

Tony Leung Ka Fai

Elaine Jin, Eric Tsang

Derek Tsang and girlfriend Venus Wong
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I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY received five Golden Horse nominations including Best Film, Director, and Actress. Director Feng Xiaogang led Fan Bingbing and the team to attend the Golden Horse red carpet night two nights ago. THE ROAD TO MANDALAY two nights ago was the Golden Horse Film Festival closing film, director Midi Z, actors Kai Ko Chen-Tung and Wu Kexi appeared together. The Golden Horse Best Actor nominee Ko Chen-Tung joked that he would wear the red underwear from when he was nominated for Best New Actor five years ago for added good luck.

The 53rd Golden Horse Award will take place tonight in Taipei. Small budget film MAD WORLD (YUT LIM MO MING) with an outstanding script, production and actors Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling), Shawn Yue Man Lok's excellent acting was nominated for the Golden Horse Best New Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress. MAD's actress Kam Yin Ling, director Wong Chun, screen writer Florence Chan Cho Hang yesterday held a media tea in Taipei.

Kam Yin Ling in the film played a mother who erupted into madness withou reason. Her exhausting yet explosive acting earned her the Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress nomination. Tsang Chi Wai worked with director Wong Chun before and appreciated his talent. Thus when Wong Chun asked him to be in another flm, Chi Wai not only showed his support for no charge but also asked Kam Yin Ling and Yue Man Lok to perform for the director. Kam Yin Ling said that she has been friends with Tsang Chi Wai for over a decade. She agreed when he asked. Yet when she first met the director she was surprised by how young he was. In the end his work wholeheartedly won her over.

Kam Yin Ling had many fights with Yue Man Lok in the film. She revealed that in the film she hit Yue Man Lok for real. "When I worked with Chow Yun Fat on the film LOVE UNTO WASTE (DEI HA CHING), Chow Yun Fat slapped me too. Chow Yun Fat's serious slap made me see stars and dizzy. I performed that scene very well because real emotions flowed."