[2009.08.05] MICHAEL TSE NEEDED STITCHES FOR TURNING POINT

courtesy of takungpao.com

The Michael Tse Tin Wa starred summer film TURNING POINT (LAUGHING GOR ji BIN JIT) will be released on the 13th. The film's subject is a power struggle between the law and the mob. Laughing (Tse Tin Wa) is a double agent who is working for both a mob boss (Anthony Wong Chau Sun) and anti organized crime superintendent (Yuen Biao) and faces life and death choices. Laughing also falls for another mob boss (Francis Ng Chun Yu)'s sister (Fala Chen), putting in many complex relationships of the law, love and loyalty.

The film production progress has been ideal, but in one scene Ng Chun Yu, Tse Tin Wa and Lee Si Jit's "bottle busting" became true as Tin Wa suffered a cut behind his ear from the candy glass. Tin Wa recalled, "In that scene Chun Yu tied me to a chair and smashed a bottle over me. Although it was a candy glass bottle, the pieces injured the back of my ear. Because the shoot used prop blood, the crew didn't know at the time either. When they cleaned me up they realized that I had a wound that kept bleeding." Tin Wa was worried about hindering the production progress and insisted on continuing the shoot. He waited until after the shoot to get stitched up at the hospital. He said, "When the bottle was smashed, I already knew something was wrong. After that I was deaf and numb, but I didn't want to do another take so I toughed it out. After work I went to see a doctor and got a few stitches."

[2009.08.05] HUANG XIAOMING JOINS IP MAN 2

courtesy of takungpao.com

According to Huayi's latest news, the Wilson Yip Wai Shun directed, Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred gong fu film IP MAN 2 will officially start production next week. Producer Raymond Wong Pak Ming revealed that the Mainland top young actor Huang Xiaoming will join the film as Ip Man's senior disciple, gong fu expert Huang Jin.

Since the sequel with the original cast and crew started, heavyweight actors kept joining the cast. In the sequel an important character, Ip Man's senior disciple Huang Jin, has already been confirmed to be Huang Xiaoming. Ip Man in the first film never accepted any disciple and will develop this relationship this film. Huang Xiaoming will be fighting on the screen. IP MAN 2 will also be another big screen performance for Huang Xiaoming after THE MESSAGE and JIAN GUO DA YE.

Ip Man's Hong Kong senior disciple Huang Jin was based on famous martial art Wong Shun Leung. Among Ip Man's disciple he loved dueling with others the most and never lost. Wong Pak Ming revealed that in the film Huang Jin will be righteous and obsessed with martial arts, but due to his impulsive character he will often get into trouble. Because of him the duel between Wing Tsun and Hung Kuen will start. For this character the team studied many Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan stars and finally chose Huang Xiaoming. Aside from Huang Xiaoming, Sammo Hung Kam Bo and Kent Cheng Juk Si will appear. Hong Kong's youngest world wushu champion To Yu Hin and former child action star Sik Siu Lung will also join the cast.

[2009.08.04] GILLIAN CHUNG'S SUN SHANGXIANG IS REVEALED

courtesy of ent.163.com and takungpao.com

Hong Kong director Jeff Lau Chun Wai's new film YUET GUONG BO HUP (EXCEEDING LIGHT TREASURE BOX) is currently heating up in production. Aside from the already announced stars Ronald Cheng Chung Kei and Betty Sun Li, as many as 60 Mainland and Hong Kong artists like Gigi Leung Wing Kei and Athena Chu Yun performed. A Mainland internet site even learned that after a long hiatus Gillian Chung Yun Tung guest starred as Sun Shangxiang in the film and provided an exclusive look at her costume.

In comparison to Vicki Zhao Wei's tough RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) look,Ah Gil's Sun Shangxiang looked more feminine and gentle. In addition on the internal cast list, Ah Gil's name and photo appeared on the "confirmed actors" column. According to the list, Ah Gil's Sun Shangxiang has at least four scenes with former rumored boyfriend Alex Fong Lik Sun's Guan Yu. Although she was only a gust star, Ah Gil had many scenes with lead actor Cheng Chung Kei.

Reportedly Ah Gil has already worked on some external scenes in Guangdong in early July. She was very low key and mysterious when she arrived. The team only stayed for a day before quickly returning to Hong Kong. During the shoot Ah Gil mostly kept cool under the shade and kept to herself. The team also kept a tight seal on Ah Gil's participation. Thus even most of the actors did not know about Ah Gil's participation. Ah Gil will join the team again in early August.

Emperor management director Mani Fok Man Hei was reluctant to talk about Ah Gil's secret shoot and only said that the film's approval has not arrived yet so nothing could be confirmed. "I am not at liberty to discuss any news about Ah Gil's films." She denied that Ah Gil's guest starring role was a "test" of the market for FANTASTIC WATER BABES (CHOOK SHUI FU YUNG)'s release and stressed that ah Gil was in great condition. "Ah Gil currently is in negotiation with 4 to 5 films as well as television series. Aside from film she will also have many development projects in other areas."

[2009.08.04] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: YUEN QIU'S ROLL CALL COULD NOT MISS ONE

In the film KUNG FU HUSTLE, Yuen Qiu's Landlady character reached the masses. Her lion roar put the fear in everyone, who avoided her like the plague. Yet her character's other side was loyalty came first as she helped the weak and the endangered. In reality, what kind of person is Yuen Qiu?

Perhaps the past from the Seven Littel Fortunes era can give us a better understanding of what kind of person Yuen Qiu, who is originally named Cheung Juen Nam, is.

When Seven Little Fortunes took the bus from the Man Wai Building to perform at the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park, Master Yu in order to keep track of the disciples assigned Yuen Qiu the task of keeping count of everyone before departure. As soon as everyone was present then they departed. Once, Yuen Qiu counted and counted again and discovered one was missing.

Succumbed To the Pain, Yuen Heung Attempted Suicide

The missing was Yuen Heung, who was known as the "China Drama Academy School Flower". Yuen Qiu was in a panic and immediately reported the missing person to the Master. Yuen Qiu recalls, "Master told me to go back and see. As soon as I turned the corner, I saw the metal rack that we used to train our upper body strength. Yuen Heung was hanging from there, almost suffocating. Her eyes and tongue were all popping out. I was so scared that I immediately ran up and brought her down. I kept shaking her to see if Yuen Heung was conscious. Luckily she was fine, how scared was I! She even thanked me, 'Third Sister thank you for saving me!'"

In order to save Yuen Heung, Yuen Qiu did not even realize that she injured her hip. Luckily she disregarded her own well being and saved a precious life. Her heroic personality was thoroughly on display since childhood. Yuen Qiu was always direct. She said that Yuen Qiu survived a catastrophe and was bound to have good fortune later on. If she knew she would have hung herself too.

Those Who Survive A Catastrophe Are Bound to Have Good Fortune Later On

Yuen Qiu says, "Later I asked Yuen Heung, she couldn't take all the daily training and being scolded all day. So she chose to take her own life. However after that, Yuen Heung received special treatment from the Master. Not only was she not only scolded, she did not have to train anymore. She only had to focus on playing the diva well. If I knew, I would have hung myself. Too bad I lacked the courage. Actually Yuen Heung was truly pretty, so Master was favoring her!"

Perhaps Yuen Qiu's father knew about his daughter's personality in advance and named his daughter "Juen Nam" (Turning Male). Indeed, since studying with Master Yu in 1957, Yuen Qiu's personality has not changed. Two years later when the China Drama Academy was founded, Yuen Qiu became the Third Disciple. Always maintaining her principle of "I will not provoke unless I am provoked", she dares to rage and speak her mind. She is one of the Seven Little Fortunes with the most clear cut personality. (41)

[2009.08.04] BARBIE HSU FIGHTS WHILE KISSING LOUIS KOO

courtesy of takungpao.com

Opening Thursday, ON HIS MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (DAI NOI MUK TAM LING LING GAU)'s leads Louis Koo Tin Lok and Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon) play a couple whose marriage was arranged before birth. As Ling Ling Gau Goo Jai often gives the Big S played heroine the cold shoulder, so she can only take the initiative and seduce Goo Jai. In one fight scene, Big S not only has to fend off enemy attacks but also has to protect Goo Jai who has no marital art background and kiss him. The scene is both erotic and exciting.

This fighting kiss scene took over ten hours to complete. Big S said, "Fighting while kissing was already very difficult, I also had to remember my lines, perform wire work and mind action positions. After the third or fourth hour I was already a little dizzy. Finally it took over ten hours to complete. (It took so long that) Goo Jai's facial hair grew and scratched up my face. It was very exhausting. (How did kissing Goo Jai for so long feel?) I was too involved, after that scene I truly fell in love with Goo Jai the whole day!"

In addition, Goo Jai, Lau Ching Wan and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho)'s film OVERHEARD (SIT TING FUNG WON) was a hit in Hong Kong and the Mainland. It was released on July 24 in the Mainland, by the second weekend its box office already exceeded 60 million; since its July 30 Hong Kong release, its four day box office already surpassed 5.3 million and MURDERER's four day accumulation of 5.2 million box office.

OVERHEARD was Distribution Workshop's founding film. The company chief Shi Nansun, producers Derek Yee Tung Sing and Fong Ping decided to hold a celebration this week.

Directors Alan Mak Siu Fai and Felix Chong Man Keung were very excited about this performance. Ching Wan and Goo Jai who were working in Macau were also satisfied. "I hope everyone continue their support!" Ng Yin Cho said, "I was able to work with idol Ching Wan and fulfilled one of my dreams. Now the film receives so many viewers' recognition, to me it truly is a huge encouragement."

[2009.08.03] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: RETIRED TO RAISE A FAMILY, RETURNING 21 YEARS LATER

Everything has its time. People in the opera world naturally has rises and falls. Yuen Qiu who already showed promise at the China Drama Academy was only a stunt double early in her film career, but she was able to apply what she learned and had ample work opportunities. Finally she still put her family first as she decided to retire. After 21 years away from the film industry, she again radiated in KUNG FU HUSTLE.

Food Business Ends In Major Losses

Yuen Qiu sighs that her development back then was not as expected and kept her disillusioned. She says, "At the time I graduated from the school, a company signed me and Jackie Chan; but after two movies that
didn't perform too well, I started to become disillusioned. I thought I might as well retire, then once I went to Korea for a movie and called home to chat with my son. When I heard my son cry over the phone and
kept saying, 'Mommy! Mommy!' my heart was truly guilty. I couldn't help but cry. After some consideration in the end I missed my son, so I decided to retire, go home and raise a family!"

To women, family is their lifelong career. Even Yuen Qiu who plays male roles on the stage with a lot of might is no exception, but how can a martial art actress just sit at home? Yuen Qiu says, "Without
any movie to make or anything to do, I started a small business and tried my hands in food. Wow, I lost so much I couldn't even recognize my mother! Later I tried the bar business, but it mainly catered to familiar friends."

Yuen Qiu ultimately is destined to act. After all the twists and turns she still returns to her old stomping ground. Yuen Qiu says, "Back then (Stephen) Chow Sing Chi's KUNG FU HUSTLE was auditioning and I went with Yuen Ju and Yuen Fai to encourage them. Chow Sing Chi asked Yuen Ju to try some expressions. I hid in the back and read the paper. Suddenly Sing Yeh says, 'The one who is smoking and reading the paper in the back, come out for me'. I didn't know why he would call me, maybe he thought my smoking look was bad enough!"

Unintentionally Catches Sing Yeh's Eyes

Although Chow Sing Chi who was known to be picky picked her, but Yuen Qiu did not agree immediately until Chow Sing Chi gave the everything was negotiable condition and guaranteed KUNG FU HUSTLE would have Seven Little Fortunes members behind the scene. Yuen Qiu finally agreed. She says, "I didn't make a movie in 20 years and had to gain 24 pounds.  Everyday I kept drinking milk to gain weight. With no script and the ever changing title, I was a little out of it. The other thing that is different when I made movies before, now we can look at playback. It's the only thing that is better than before." (40)

[2009.08.02] GUEST STARS GALORE IN JEFF LAU'S LATEST?

Lam Suet, Patrick Tam Yiu Man, Sun Li, Ronald Cheung Chung Kei, Eric Tsang Chi Wai and Alex Fong Lik Sun

Gigi Leung Wing Kei and Stephy Tang Lai Yun
Courtesy of mingpao.com

Courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

The film YUET GUONG BO HUP (EXCEEDING LIGHT TREASURE BOX) two nights ago shot on location in Guangzhou. Gillian Chung Yun Tung was on the press release. If so, she and former rumored boyfriend Alex Fong Lik Sun will reunite. Yet director Jeff Lau Chun Wai has kept his lip sealed, only some actors admitted that Ah Gil has already started on group scenes.

The Lau Chun Wai directed YUET GUONG BO HUP two nights ago shot in Guangzhou. The production is rather large with over 60 Mainland and Hong Kong guest stars. Lau Chun Wai expressed that the investment amount and the release date was still unclear for now, but it will be a comedy. How has Ah Gil's performance been? He was somewhat surprised and pretended not to know. "We are still in negotiation, no decision has been made yet. (Does Ah Gil's participation have to be kept confidential?) No!" He revealed that he will approach CHINESE ODYSSEY actors to participate. Will he approach Yammie Nam Kit Ying? He said, "Earlier I seemed to have, but after writing the script I didn't because her previous character could not be developed. (Was she in poor condition?) I don't konw! I of course would like her to particupate and not bury her, but I myself couldn't get in touch with her."

Actors who appeared two days ago included Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Betty Sun Li, Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Patrick Tam Yiu Man, Lam Suet, Fong Lik Sun and Stephy Tang Lai Yun. The film company press release included Ah Gil and other guest stars like Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, but it did not announce Ah Gil as a lead before. Siu Fong expressed that in the film he would play Guan Yu, Yuen Biao would play Liu Bei, Louis Fan Siu Wong would play Zhang Fei. He had more scenes with Yuen and Fan. Because his father liked Cantonese Opera a lot, he urged him to respect and play this character well. He said that he did not deliberately pray to Lord Guan, but everyday he would present incense. Did Siu Fong and Ah Gil have any scene together? He thought for awhile and avoided a response. "I had scenes with everyone. They were mostly group scenes. Earlier (Ah Gil) was on the set for four days." Did he chat with Ah Gil? Siu Fong said with surprise, "So general, anything could have been possible." How did he feel Ah Gil was? He said Ah Gil was happy. Later he whispered to Sun Li as if Ah Gil's participation had to be kept confidential. Reporters claimed that it was written on the press release, he said, "If it's written then we can talk about it."

Siu Fong expressed that on the first day he worked with Sun Li, she had to cry to him. He was caught off guard and did not know how to react except hold her. He said, "I am very afraid of seeing girls cry normally. My knees would get weak. Very rarely would girls have the chance to cry in front of me though." He knew Sun Li was very famous in the Mainland and hoped that she could elevate him. Sun Lin in the film would play the Rose Fairy and had the most scenes with Cheng Chung Kei. She said, "Cheng Chung Kei is very funny, his eyes are very small and he constantly widens them. I can't help but laugh." Earlier she and Siu Fong worked together in KUNG FU CYBORG (GEI HEI HUP). Although Siu Fong was older than her, he felt like a little brother to her. She also praised him for really knowing how to take care of and be attentive to women, but she honestly said that she was already dating.

Cheng Chung Kei two days ago wore a 20 pound armor. He said that before wearing this he already had heat stroke twice. Once he had to do wire work in a down jacket and fainted from the heat. He had to rest right away and replenish water. Thus he already lost six to seven pounds. later he will continue the shoot in the Yinchuan dessert. Was his rumored girlfriend Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin aching for him? He said, "No, when I am thinner, my endurance is better and more powerful." As for any scene with Ah Gil, he only said that Ah Gil would play Sun Shangxiang.

Tang Lai Yun and Leung Wing Kei were dressed as Western Territory ambassadors. They both bared their midriff in a rather sexy costume. Stephy expressed that she would only guest star for a day as Gigi's little sister. She said, "I didn't even try this costume on before. I too think it's very sexy." Stephy honestly said that for the costume she did not eat the night before.

Gigi praised the costume as very pretty. "I would have three or four costumes. Stephy and I both would play a piece of skin because Sun Li would turn into us after transforming." Gigi also said that she kept exercising and avoid greasy food at home. She also said that in this costume she really wanted to belly dance. "It's very hot here, but many actors are envious of how breezy I am." Gigi revealed that earlier she shot a durian eating scene. Although she has not had it in a long time, she still had some.

Tsang Chi Wai in the film played Zhuge Liang. He joked that he looked like Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), handsome and smart. Did Chi Wai see Ah Gil on the set? He smartly said, "Ah Gil? I didn't see her?" Did he have any scene with her? "No, no scenes." Chi Wai honestly said that earlier he visited Shing Fui On. "After the visit I am at ease, he is in good spirit. We joked around. Earlier I visited him with Miu Kiu Wai. We chatted for two hours. At first we didn't know and thought it was very serious, but actually he was just in the hospital for the a check up."