[2017.04.04] LOVE OFF THE CUFF IS SELECTED FOR UDINE FILM FESTIVAL

Shawn Yue, Stephane Au

DaDa Chan
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The film LOVE OFF THE CUFF (CHUN GIU GAU JI MING) will be the 41st Hong Kong International Film Festival opening film and on April 11th will premiere around the world. The film has been invited to the 19th Udine Far East Film Festival.

The film series reached its third installment. This time Jimmy (Shawn Yue Man Lok) continued to refuse to grow up, girls above all else and as usual a girl automatically threw herself at him. Sister Cherie displayed the true color of women to defend their eight year relationship. A girl even threw herself at Jimmy when he walked the dog at night. With his surfwheel trick he drew the attention of athlete Stephanie Au Hoi Shun. However they did not have any strong physical contact. In addition the director even got Best Supporting Actress DaDa Chan Jing and Shiga Lin Sze Nga to guest star and bring a little spark to Jimmy's life.

However Jimmy has always known how to please, as he was willing to spend time with Cherie's parents. Jimmy went to the market with Cherie's mommy Susan Shaw Yam Yam and chatted over tea. Cherie's father also appeared in this installment as Paul Chun Pui continued his television relationship with Miriam Yeung Chin Wa. The father daughter reunion of course made Chin Wa very happy. However in the film Brother Paul suddenly appeared after disappearing for years and even brought her step mother to be Wang Xiaochen to show off. Cherie was caught off guard but luckily Jimmy worked the father in law policy and won him over.

[2017.04.04] TRIVISA HAS MOMENTUM ON ITS SIDE

Johnnie To

Derek Tsang feels honored just to be nominated

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courtesy of singtao.com

TRIVISA

COLD WAR 2

Yau Nai Hoi and Johnnie To lead three new directors to cook up TRIVISA

MERMAID

SOUL MATE

Ng Man Tat (THE MENU)

Liu Kai Chi (WEEDS ON FIRE)

Eric Tsang (MAD WORLD)
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 36th Hong Kong Film Award will take place on April 9th at the Hong Kong Cultural Center. Today the Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories are analyzed. In Best Film TRIVISA (SHU DAI JIU FUNG) has the greatest chance. Best Director would be a battle between Stephen Chow Sing Chi and Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung. For Best Supporting Actor Hong Kong Film Award rookie Philip Keung Ho Man will face two veteran actors Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Liu Kai Chi, Paul Chun Pui and Ng Man Tat. Best Supporting Actress is almost already in the pocket of Elaine Kam Yin Ling.

This year's Best Supporting Actor nominee Keung Ho Man with TRIVISA's outstanding performance would clash with WEEDS ON FIRE's Liu Kai Chi, MAD WORLD's Tsang Chi Wai, BOOK OF LOVE's Chun Pui and THE MENU's Ng Man Tat.

After 30 years in the business, Hak Jai received his first Hong Kong Film Award nomination and could not hide his excitement. He said, "I have to thank my wife Kam Wai Ying for silently supporting me, encouraging me to do what I like and not caring about the good or bad consequences or the amount of salary. She also tolerated me for bringing my performance emotions home. Actually co-stars are very important in acting, Lam Ka Tung gave me a lot of suggestions. I of course also hope Ka Tung would win Best Actor." Hok Jai was not confident about winning Best Supporting Actor and felt that he was only running along. He sad, "I am very happy to compete with four master class elders, all four are great so the choice is very hard. I feel it would be between Tsang Chi Wai and Ng Man Ta. Brother Tat's THE MENU performance steals the spotlight, as he is no longer the Ng Man Tat next to Chow Sing Chi."

Tsang Chi Wai with MAD WORLD vied for Best Supporting Actor. He felt that biggest competition would be WEEDS ON FIRE's Liu Kai Chi. He felt that Uncle Chi had a lot of screen time, but he remained full of confidence in himself. Chi Wai said, "I have a chance too. This time the character is very different from the previous ones, the change is pretty big. I like the rooftop and the parent sharing scenes. Both scenes have real emotions and don't need deliberate acting.

Although Wong Chun is competing for Best Director with MAD WORLD, Chi Wai stated that he was selfish and hoped that his son would win with SOUL MATE. Then father and son could win on the same stage. Shawn Yue Man Lok of course hoped that Wong Chun would win, but he felt that Tsang Kwok Cheung did very well with SOUL MATE. He said, "I asked Tsang Kwok Cheung how would a man made a woman movie that is so woman. This is the secret of women, even if they told you you might not be able to make it. Men ultimately would have difficulty with what women were thinking. However he was able to make it with such attention to details, it's not easy to talk about the relationship between girls."

Dubbed the "overqualified Supporting Actress", Elaine Kam Yin Ling earlier already won 3 Hong Kong Film Award and 2 Golden Horse Award Best Supporting Actress. One of the Golden Horse Award was for MAD WORLD. Thus this time she immediately became the top favorite at the Hong Kong Film Award.

Kam Yin Ling's competition came from her juniors, including COLD WAR 2's Janice Man Wing Shan, SISTERHOOD's Fish Liew Chi Yu, MERMAID's Kitty Zhang Yuqi and MAD WORLD's Charmaine Fong Ho Man. Kam Yin Ling said that each award's judging standards were different. This film has already brought her a lot of awards and joy, which she did not expect.

This year's Best Director category has two favorites, MERMAID's Stephen Chow Sing Chi and SOUL MATE's Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung. MERMAID with US$ 553 million global box office became the highest grossing non Hollywood film. Earlier it already won Best Director at the Hong Kong Film Critic Society Award; the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild award's Best Director was split between Sing Yeh and Tsang Kwok Cheung.

Tsang Kwok Cheung's SOUL MATE also made both Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun the Golden Horse Award Best Actresses. With its decent word of mouth, it received the most nominations at this year's Hong Kong Film Award, with 12. Would he be able to challenge Sing Yeh and the 3 time Hong Kong Film Award winning director Johnnie To Kei Fung? To Kei Fung's THREE had a one take, six minute long gun fight, 360 degree slow motion actual battle could become a dark horse with its innovative methods. The other nominees were new directors, MAD WORLD's Wong Chun and TRIVISA's Frank Hui Hok Man, Jevons Au Man Kit and Vicky Wong Wai Kit.

TRIVISA is the favorite for Best Film. Producers Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fai led three new directors Hui Hok Man, Au Man Kit and Vicky Wong Wai Kit, created a chemical reaction that received the industry insiders' recognition. At the Hong Kong Film Critic Society Award and the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Award it won Best Film, crushing its competition SOUL MATE, MERMAID, COLD WAR 2 and WEEDS ON FIRE with its momentum.

[2017.04.04] JOYCE CHENG PRAISES CO-STAR BABYJOHN CHOI

Joyce Cheng calls BabyJohn Choi a good guy on and off screen

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Joyce Cheng Yun Yi and BabyJohn Choi Hong Yik in the film 29+1 had a 20 year friendship since childhood; to match the story background, they blew bubbles, rode bicycles, had a walk in the park and brought back a lot of collective memories. Yun Yi felt that the entire matter was very innocent and very first love; Choi Hong Yik described this relationship was even more intimate than first love. They had no ambiguity, no romantic love, but they really understood each other.

They had many scenes together and even a kiss scene. Before the film they did not know each other and they felt that they were very cool. Under the leadership of director Kearen Pang Sau Wai they had rehearsals, so during the shoot they did not feel awkward. Yun Yi was happy to run into this good co-star and praised him as a good man on and off screen.

[2017.04.04] NINA PAW EXPECTS DEFEAT AT THE HONG KONG FILM AWARD

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Nina Paw Hee Ching and Susan Shaw Yam Yam yesterday attended the Hong Kong Film Critic Society new book event. Sister Bau with the film SHOW ME YOUR LOVE (DAI SAU HIN SIU SAU) was nominated for the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress. She said that she was not nervous since it was already her third nomination and she could expect who would win. Sister Bau picked Kara Wai Ying Hung to win, at the same time SOUL MATE's two new actresses Ma Sichun and Zhou Dongyu both performed very well. Did Sister Bau already rehearsed her Best Actress announcement expression? She said, "I already posted on social media still honored in defeated. Actually LOVE ME YOUR LOVE is a small production, I am already very grateful for the nomination." Sister Bau's husband Fong Ping would not be in Hong Kong so he would not walk with her on the red carpet. Sister Bau said that she would walk with her on screen son Raymond Wong Ho Yin and her younger version Michelle Wai Sze Nga. She also felt bad for Wai Sze Nga because the company did not apply for a nomination for her great performance. Luckily she was young and still had many chances.

Shaw Yam Yam expressed regret over the passing of fellow Shaw action actor Philip Ko Fei. Sister Yam Yam said, "We were very familiar, but I forgot whether we have worked together. We had contact way back when. Recently I heard that he was ill but I didn't visit. So when I heard the news of Ko Fei's passing I wasn't surprised." Speaking of Ko Fei's son suffering a stroke, Sister Yam Yam said, "It's very tragic, but I know that many groups spread the news to raise fund for him. Everyone has been very enthusiastic."

[2017.04.03] RAYMOND WONG DENIES THAT JACKIE CHAN WILL BE IN IP MAN 4

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The Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred film series IP MAN has always been popular with the audience. A Wing Chun site yesterday posted on social media that Jackie Chan has already been confirmed for IP MAN 4 along with a photo of him with Mainland star Jing Tian and Yen Chi Tan.

The site even claimed that Jackie Chan has already signed the contract and would play a mob boss in IP MAN 4. Director Wilson Yip Wai Shun was very pleased with the script and hoped to start production this year for a release next summer. Boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming denied the rumor but stated that the film has already started preparation. The script was still in progress but the original team has been confirmed.

[2017.04.03] ELAINE JIN'S ADVICE TO THE YOUNG: WORK HARD

Ng Man Tat works on the Hong Kong Film Award program

Eric Tsang

Janice Man is absent minded.  She once lost a pair of earrings with sentimental value on the set and ended up finding them in the trash.

Elaine Jin: "I feel that whether as the lead, support or in other positions, as long as you work hard and do your part, someone would definitely notice your effort."
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[2017.04.02] FANS REMEMBER LESLIE CHEUNG AT THE 14TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING

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Chan Suk Fun leads a group of fans to pay their respect to Leslie Cheung as usual

Suzie Wong received Leslie Cheung's green sunglasses from Daffy Tong.  It had an eyelash of Leslie Cheung.
courtesy of mingpao.com

Yesterday was the 14th anniversary of the late superstar Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing's passing. Many loyal fans brought flowers to where he lost his life, the Hong Kong Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Over 100 fans held a small memorial to remember their late idol at the Connaught Place park across the street from the hotel.

This year the hotel erected safety tapes for fans to remember their idol. Most of the flowers came from Mainland fans. Others included Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea. The police patrol also spoke with hotel employees to keep the order.

At the Connaught Place across the street form the hotel, fans held a small memorial. The location was filled with fresh flowers and electronic candles in the shape of "LESLIE".

Over 100 fans with candles kept playing Gor Gor's hits. Around 6:42 PM when Cheung Kwok Wing ended his life, everyone held a moment of silence. The overall atmosphere was solemn.

Gor Gor's former manager Chan Suk Fun yesterday along with his son Chan Ka Ho, friends Lin Yim Fai, Mrs. Alan Tang Kwong Wing, Mrs. Chang Chieh and a group of "Gor" fans went to the Po Fook Hill Po Zen Hall to send their blessing to Gor Gor. Several hundred fans from different places presented fresh flowers, cards, origami cranes and other offers to their idol. Mrs. Chan even brought Leo Ku Kui Ke's record dedication to Gor Gor, SALUTE TO DEAR LESLIE and a set of paper mache mahjong to Gor Gor.

"Gor" fans from Japan not only brought their special "Blue Sky" origami cranes to Hong Kong but also presented a pencil portrait of Gor Gor to Mrs. Chan. Mrs. Chan was very touched.

Meanwhile, Gor Gor's beloved Daffy Tong Hok Tak yesterday morning posted an old photo on Instagram with Gor Gor's lyrics from WHERE ARE YOU. "At night the ceiling had this scene, the projector in the heart would never shut off......" Fans felt comments to remember Gor Gor. Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Jaycee Chan, Vivian Chow Wai Man and others also remembered Gor Gor on social media.