[2009.08.07] MICHAEL TSE: DOING HIS PART IS ENOUGH

Fala Chen

Michael Tse Tin Wa

Courtesy of mingpao.com

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Michael Tse Tin Wa and Fala Chen have been busy with promotion for the upcoming release TURNING POINT (LAUGHING GOR ji BIN JIT). Reportedly Tin Wa and Fala had a kiss scene, but they stalled when they talked about it. Tin Wa explained that the film company did not want them to reveal too much. When asked whether Fala was good to kiss, he said, "It felt pretty good."

Did Tin Wa have any pressure as the film's lead? Tin Wa said, "No. Although my previous film was Taiwan's THE SEQUENCE OF UNDERGROUND (DEI HA DIT JUI) six years ago, film didn't feel completely strange to me." He even pointed out that in acting performing his best was enough, the result was no longer important. As for the film may not pass the Mainland inspection for release, Tin Wa expressed that he expected it. The subject ultimately would be an issue. As an actor he had to follow the laws of the nation.

In her first film, Fala had plenty of action scenes. Luckily she had advice from the elders. She said, "At first I wasn't familiar with (Franics) Ng Chun Yu, I didn't dare to chat with Chun Yu. When we became familiar I asked him how to perform and he even demonstrated to me how to. He also brought me into character." However, Fala said that throughout the shoot no elder has scolded her. Kate Tsui Tsz Shan already won a New Actor award with her first film, Fala frankly said that she would like to as well. At the same time, after making this film she actually fell in love with action film and will head toward becoming an action actress in the future. Tin Wa felt that she absolutely could achieve that.

[2009.08.07] OCEANE ZHU GETS RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BIG SCREEN

Oceane Zhu Xuan
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Director Yonfan yesterday met with the Hong Kong media along with PRINCE OF TEARS lead actresses Oceane Zhu Xuan and Terri Kwan Wing and even invited Elaine Lok Yi Ling to promote the poster as the opening ceremony guest. Actually at first Yonfan intended for Gigi Lai Chi to play the general's wife, but Lai Chi at the time decided to retire from show business. Thus Ms. Lok recommended 2008 Miss Chinese International Zhu Xuan to Yonfan. Zhu Xuan appreciated Ms. Lok's recommendation very much as she received an opportunity for the big screen. Yonfan pointed out that Zhu Xuan's character was similar to Maggie Cheung Man Yuk's in ROSE (MUI GWAI DIK GOO SI). He hoped that her future endeavors will be like Cheung Man Yuk's because this film will participate in the Venice Film Festival.

Zhu Xuan in the film had a love scene with Joseph Chang Hau Chuen. She honestly said that the shoot certainly was awkward. They were so nervous that they did not have lunch. The director first left them in a room to properly communicate, which enabled this scene to be completed smoothly. As for Kwan Wing, her new book mentioned a man that led to speculation with one of Chiang Kai-Shek's descendants. She denied that the book made any mention of the person's identity, the media was playing a match game. When she saw the rumor she too was surprised. As for whether she knew him and any chance for development, she said, "I am not at liberty to discuss that! (How is your love life now?) A complete blank. Now I am busy with work and I hope that the new book can be published outside Taiwan."

[2009.08.07] JOHNNIE TO IS FED UP WITH HONG KONG SUPERSTARS

Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Michelle Ye

Simon Yam Tat Wa, Johnnie To Kei Fung, Anthony Wong Chau Sun

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Hong Kong's Summer International Film Festival 2009 opened two nights ago with the Johnnie To Kei Fung directed VENGEANCE. To Kei Fung led actors Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lam Ka Tung, Maggie Siu Mei Kei and Michelle Ye (Yip Suen) in attendance. Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) and boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok came in support. The actors shared the production experience. The host asked how To Kei Fung felt about working with famous European singer Johnny Hallyday. He said, "This is my official foreign production. Working with Johnny was very pleasant because he didn't have a lot of complaints, that is different from Hong Kong superstars." Chau Sun immediately joked, "I thought he was referring to me, actually he is talking about superstars." Ka Tung pointed out that Chau Sun had superstar quality without superstar ego.

Later To Kei Fung was asked which superstar was he referring to. He joked, "I have no idea what I was saying after I said it." Then Ah To praised Johnny as a very famous European artist and working with him was a pleasure. His tolerance level was rather high. He said, "I only found out how amazing Johnny was when I got to Cannes. He was rather famous there. His concert this year was already sold out in 2006. His fans chased his car and got into accidents." Again Ah To was asked which superstar had a lot of complaints. He only said, "Actually it's hard to say good or bad. Like Johnny, he does very well. He was already very happy with a broken chair, a cup of coffee and a bowl of noodles; unlike superstars nowadays, being prissy all the time and wanting several dozen assistants in person. He was fine all by himself."

Did Ah To suffer a lot of petty annoyance? He joked, "Then we compete to see who is more annoying." Which artist has the most assistants? He joked, "My entire company is assistants, I have the most. I was only talking about my own experience." Which actor is the nicest? He said, "That depends, (Stephen) Chow Sing Chi can be very nice, (Andy) Lau Tak Wa sometimes isn't nice." As for Chow Yun Fat, he said, "Who would object to Fat Gor, he definitely is great." Ah To expressed that he and Fat Gor have talked about working together for years. He hoped to have the chance again, like on a Lunar New Year film. He has not made one in over 20 years.

Yam Tat Wa was very upset about the countless financial company calls that he received. "I feel the government should keep an eye on this. When I got these calls I asked whether he had 500 million to loan me, he even told me how the interest was calculated. It's a waste of my time." Siu Mei Kei expressed that she lost a lot of weight. Aside from dieting she also spent a lot of time on exercises. She even said that communication was the hardest part of working with Johnny because her English was not fluent enough. She also praised Johnny for coming such a long way for a movie and still was very nice.

[2009.08.06] TIN KAI MAN CONFIRMS JAY CHOU AS KATO?

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Since Columbia Pictures announced its GREEN HORNET remake, Stephen Chow Sing Chi's part as the film's director and actor has caught media attention. After over a year, while the film has been scheduled for a release new year its production has not started yet. After Chow Sing Chi resigned as a director, last mont he also bid farewell to the role of Kato and the film company had to find another actor. Yesterday the media found on Chow Sing Chi's collaborator Tin Kai Man's blog that THE GREEN HORNET role has gone to Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun).

Tin Kai Man wrote on his blog yesterday, "The film company has already found its choice for THE GREEN HORNET. He is Chow Kit Lun." Later he very confidently expressed, "I have my ways! Actually Sing Yeh has never said that he wanted to be in THE GREEN HORNET, everyone was just spreading rumors. Now it's better, I said it and saved everyone from bothering Sing Yeh." As for why the film company chose Chow Kit Lun, Tin Kai Man on his blog revealed that in memory of Bruce Lee, the American company wanted to find a Bruce Lee fan to play Kato. At the same time this person had to have certain recognition. Finally Chow Kit Lun was finally chosen. Chow Kit Lun's manager yesterday responded, "I am not sure, I can't confirm." Tin Kai Man told reporters though that after the director completed PANDA MAN (HUNG MAU YUN), Chow Kit Lun will head to the U.S. for THE GREEN HORNET.

Meanwhile, GREEN's new director Michel Gondry reportedly was interested in Korean star Kwon Sang-Woo for the role. Also, Warner was interested in remaking Bruce Lee's ENTER THE DRAGON with Korean star Rain in Bruce Lee's role. In the new version, the Shaolin monk would be a FBI agent and the remote island would be an underground fight club. The English title will also be changed to AWAKEN THE DRAGON, with THE SHIELD's producer Kurt Sutter as its writer and director.

In addition, to commemorate the 27th anniversary of martial art superstar of a generation Bruce Lee's passing, Star TV released the first Bruce Lee classic Blu-ray video series, the first of its kind around the world. The first two films, THE CHINESE CONNECTION and FIST OF FURY will be released today.

[2009.08.06] ERIC TSANG AND LAW KAR YING ACT WITH BODY HAIR

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Eric Tsang Chi Wai and Law Kar Ying in the Jeff Lau Chun Wai directed science fiction film KUNG FU CYBORG (GEI HEI HUP) had a scene in which they held body hair, which cracked both of them up.

Alex Fong Lik Sun is the high technology research center's first generation artificial intelligence robot K-1. Chi Wai's Chief Lin in order to ensure K-1's safety in society decides to secretly send it to a small town for testing. Brother Kar Ying plays a scientist named Ying Ming. Since the story called for it, Chi wai asked Brother Kar Ying to raise his arms and grabbed his underarm hair. Brother Kar Ying screamed and Chi Wai pulled off Brother Kar Ying's wig. During this shoot, Chi Wai pulled black hair from Brother Kar Ying's body and was all red from holding back his laughter.

[2009.08.06] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: DUNG TO THE MOUTH, NEVER DISOBEY THE MASTER

Russian drama master Stanislavsky pointed out that an actor has to have ironclad order, otherwise he cannot possibly have any excellent dramatic performance. Why is considered ironclad order? Under Yu Jim Yuen's order, Yuen Man is willing to eat dung. He should be considered the ironclad follower of the ironclad order.

Caught Red Handed, Punished On the Spot

The matter actually had a lot to do with Yuen Biao. Yuen Biao says, "Yuen Man, Yuen Tak and I are close in age. We were the youngest ones at the school so we were particularly close. At the time our school was at Tsim Sha Tsui's Mirador Mansions 13th floor. Many coffee shops were downstairs. Once Yuen Man said to me that he was taking me downstairs to buy a beef bun, so I followed him. Before we even got to the coffee shop, from afar we already saw Master enjoying tea there. The two of us immediately darted back upstairs and prayed that Master didn't catch up. We thought if Master didn't know then we were fine. Who knew that we couldn't fool him."

Yuen Man and Yuen Biao who Yu Jim Yuen caught red handed could only faced the music with Master Yu. Yuen Biao says, "Master returned to the school and asked Yuen Man, 'Yuen man, where did you go?' Yuen Man was already shaking when Master asked. He said, 'I......Yuen Biao said that he wanted beef fun, I took him to buy it.' Luckily Master was sharp and scolded him, 'You bought it just because he asked. If he asked to eat dung, would you? Yuen Tak, hurry up and get Yuen Man some dung to eat!' Yuen Tak heard Master calling his name out of the blue and was scared witless. He really went to the bathroom, but all of a sudden how could he go when he was still shaking from the fright! Yuen Tak later brought out when he could and stuttered to Master, 'Master, I......I....I am done!'"

Master's Order, Never Disobeyed

This ancient history might seem like ages ago today, but Yuen Biao was still shivering from the recollection. The disciples obviously have seen Master's order as the golden rule that could not be violated. Yuen Biao says, "Master told Yuen Tak, 'Hurry and give it to Yuen Man to eat!' Yuen Tak walked over to Yuen Man. When Yuen Man was about to put it in his mouth, Master immediately smacked him from behind and screamed, 'You eat dung too, worthless!' Yuen Man finally did not eat any, but this matter showed you how afraid of Master we were. When Master told you to eat dung, no one would dare not to. When Master told you to go, you go even you don't have to. Master, Master, I am only telling it like it is. Please don't be mad in Heaven!" (43)

[2009.08.05] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: STUNT DOUBLE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVENT, "FILM BACK" OF A GENERATION

Back then top Shaw tops Lily Ho and Ivy Ling Po looked fragile but in martial art films appeared heroic. How did they perform the highly difficult stunts of walking on the walls, the roofs and mid air flips? Actually, everything relied on "film back" Yuen Qiu's help.

With China Drama Academy's hellish training, Yuen Qiu was well prepared. In addition her father was a stunt coordinator who had a lot of work in the industry. Yuen Qiu thus got the opportunity to be the female lead's stunt double.

Comeback Performance, Pleased To Make Extra Income

Yuen Qiu says, "The school had a tradition. In the first year after school, all salary went to the Master. This tradition was called helping the teacher, like the teacher appreciation banquets now. Back then I was very lucky. Because an elder brother was a stunt coordinator at Shaw and my toughness, many people liked to ask me to help since I said OK to any stunt and did everything. At the time the salary was decent, HK$150 a day. I gave all of it to Master."

On the set, Yuen Qiu was capable of anything. Stunts that others thought was hard she was able to achieved easily and cleanly. Yuen Qiu says, "Back then I held the spear for Ling Po and the sword for Lily Ho. I just had to change my hair accessories, so back then I had a nickname of 'Film Back' (sounds like Best Actress)."

The nickname of "Film Back" since then refused to leave the industry. All of the disciples called her that, which Yuen Qiu still rather enjoys today. Because Yuen Qiu was obedient and useful, even after her apprenticeship ended, Master Yu Jim Yuen often asked her to return and perform at the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park. The already stringent of finances Master Yu also gave Yuen Qiu a rather decent salary. This was not a money issue, but that Yuen Qiu finally received recognition from Master.

Yuen Qiu recalls, "After officially leaving the school, master every Saturday would ask me to help out at the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park for a day. Every month the salary was 350. At the time Master was willing to pay me, which made me very happy."

Agile And Capable, Enjoyed Helping Others

Master Yu valued Yuen Qiu not only for her abilities but also her personality. Back then during school training, Master Yu every once in awhile would ask all the disciples to perform 200 tumbles. Tumbling expert Yuen Qiu immediately became everyone's lifeline. Yuen Qiu says, "Back then all of them asked me to cover for them, for example they would do 100 together then I would do the rest. That was very tiring, so I always had to beg each of them to do one or two more. Then I didn't have to have such a hard time."

Yuen Qiu after winning the title of "Film Back" as a stunt person suffered a lot; even the on screen success Yuen Biao had a "bitter history". In the next few days, Yuen Biao will tell the tale in person. (42)