Chingmy Yau's daughter Shum Yuet courtesy of on.cc
Sammi Cheng courtesy of singtao.com
Carina Lau would consider returning to television with a good script and character
Gigi Lai says that her daughter has no interest in watching her work and has no idea that she is Smarties in YOUNG AND DANGEROUS
Sammi Cheng
Josephine Lau, her mother Kimbee Chan and Alice Ho
Stephen Fung
courtesy of mingpao.com
"The Strongest in the Universe" Donnie Yen Chi Tan and
his wife Cissy Wang two nights ago attended an event. Speaking of
SAKRA (TIN LUNG BAK BO ji KIU FUNG JUEN), the film that he directed
and starred in and would transition to an internet platform release,
Chi Tan said, "The plan has been to do that all along, because the
entire world's film watching culture is completely different. With
more platforms to choose from, viewers are in luck!" He pointed out
that the film company had its own calculations to bring the film to
the most viewers. Would the "internet movie" format release bring
even higher return? He said, "As a creator, the most important for
me is to make the movie its best. Of course the more people watch
it the better. Sharing my creation this way isn't necessarily a bad
thing. (Did the production cost 220 million yuan?) I am not Tsui
Hark, Zhang Yimou, I don't have so much money to make it!"
Chi Tan said that he has been very fortunate to have the
support of the entire team. "I have Best Actresses Cya Liu and (Kara)
Wai Ying Hung, and the entire Hong Kong Film Award winning team
trusting me, I really have to thank me." He felt that the amount of
production budget and the production quality might not necessarily be
in proportion, creativity and putting an effort into work were the
most important. Would the film make its Lunar New Year release? He
admitted that he is very nervous right now. "A lot of post
production haven't been done yet, honestly my entire team has done
its best. Every actor is number 1. The entire team has been squeezed
dry. Now I hope the computer graphics would be done in time." He
joked that his mobile phone had 9 chat groups, when he got up at 5AM
he would begin to busily send out orders.
Carina Lau Ka Ling talked about Tony Leung Chiu Wai's
interest in making television series again. Ka Ling praised her
husband, "That's right, it's in negotiation. He has even more
choices than I do. I can't be too envious. (What kind of script and
character is Wai Jai looking for?) He has already reached a stage of
infinite possibilities, and absorbed years of life and acting
experience. He has already reached the stage of lifting heavy roles
like they are nothing and in full command!"
Speaking of meeting with Sylvia Chang, Shu Qi and others
earlier, Sammi Cheng Sau Man said that she was very happy to see Shu
Qi. They have not seen each other in awhile. With Sister Chang she
has worked on a movie together. She was very grateful to Sister Chang
for giving her a different experience in how she saw acting. Sammi
said, "From now on I wouldn't give myself too much pressure on my
acting. Before I kept demanding myself to improve and break through,
but I discovered that if I performed with a natural state of mind
instead I would be able to achieve the effect even more. Like when I
made LOST LOVE (LAU SHUI LOK FA) my entire person suddenly got it. I
was very happy Sister Chang was able to see the change in my acting.
When I made LOST LOVE I even overcame an obstacle. When I was
younger I focused on showing my prettiest side on camera, but at
the current stage, even if I have to play Mama, old role, weathered
and wrinkled characters I wouldn't mind. At whatever age I would
play the role of whatever age."
Toby Chan does not mind her boyfriend going to sea with other people. She says that love is not prison, and she completely trusts her boyfriend. courtesy of mingpao.com
The Movie Producers and Distributors Association of
Hong Kong and the Guangdong Film and TV Program Production
Association organized 2022 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area
International Film Marketing Certificate Program yesterday held its
graduation ceremony. Artists Fung Yik sum and Hon Yeung are both
graduates. The Movie Producers and Distributors Association of Hong
Kong chief director and course director Raymond Wong Pak Ming,
course instructor Clifton Ko Chi Sum, Guest Presenter Donnie Yen Chi
Tan and others shared their experience. Chi Tan even revealed that
once after his film investment failed, his bank account only had HK$
100 left.
Chi Tan before presenting the certificates to the graduates
also shared his own story of hardship. He said that he has already
been in the business for 40 years, but he was still learning. He
recalled when he was in the business for about a decade or so, he
opened a company for the first time to make movies that he liked.
However it bombed at the box office. He had to borrow money to pay
the debut and his bank account only had HK$ 100 left. He was very
down, and even thought about whether he got into the wrong business
because to him it was quite a tremendous setback. He did not make
money, but he did not receive the reward either. He thought about
whether he should retire, but in the end he decided to persist in his
dream and look for opportunity to continue making movies. He
continued, "What I want to share with everyone is, even with a movie
I really want to make. However without funding, without market
return, I wouldn't be able to go on. So taking this course is right
for you students. Don't be like me, the course can make everyone
understand market need first."
Event master of ceremony Toby Chan Ting Yan yesterday
responded to her boyfriend and a blonde went to sea, which
led to break up rumors. She said that she understood that artists
would have gossip. She was also happy that she still had news value
but stressed that her relationship with her boyfriend. "Everyone
relax, it's fine. I am very happy. The reports haven't affected my
work or emotions, but I wouldn't wed in advance because of this,
otherwise it would become pressure."
Simon Yam plans to write, direct and star in an authentic Hong Kong film
Kathy Yuen praises husband Maverick Mak for being better at acting than she is courtesy of on.cc
courtesy of mingpao.com
Simon Yam Tat Wa, Henick Chou Hon Ning, Maverick Mak
Chau Sing and his wife Kathy Yuen (Tong Yee), Ben Yuen Fu Wa and
others two nights ago attended the film A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT (DUN
FOR LAN SHAN)'s advanced screening event. Speaking of Sylvia Chang's
Golden Horse Best Actress victory with the film, Yam Tat Wa stated
that she truly deserved it. He also praised her for sparing no effort
to help the new generation.
Brother Wa praised this film for being made with a lot of
sincerity and quality. "Cheung Ngai Ga and I, even everyone have
a lot of effort into helping young directors, actors and behind the
scene people. The film's subject was the neon lights of the 60's.
Although this industry has fallen, but now another kind of light
is shining ton this Pearl of the Orient, Hong Kong. It could
continue to radiate and shine, so movie friends around the world
all like to come to Hong Kong and shoot on location!" Brother Wa
even felt that what was special about Hong Kong would not exist
anywhere else in the world, which was where the charm of Hong Kong
lay and also gave rise to the idea of him directing again.
He said that currently he is writing a
screenplay for a Hong Kong film that he would direct and star in next
year. "I would shoot the back alleys of Hong Kong, (the movie) would
be a reflection of ordinary life, and show the beauty of Hong Kong!"
Brother Wa revealed that in the film would be a collaboration
between middle aged actors and young rising stars. He also intended
to ask Yuen Wah and Kara Wai Ying Hung to work with him. "I have
always really admired him. His acting had a kind of charm. In
addition i too want to ask good actor Sister Hung. Later I would
ask some young actors to perform, but first I would have to finish
the screenplay." Would he permit his daughter Ella Yam Ching
Kai to perform? He laughed and said that he would tailor a script
for his daughter next time.
Mak Chau Sing said that it was his first movie role, so he
was very nervous. He was waiting for his wife to give him her
opinion. However Tong Yee said that although acting wise she had
more experience, she still did not dare to give any opinion. She only
joked that he still had room for improvement. Luckily she rehearsed
with him. Tong Yee praised her husband's acting to be better than
hers. "However sometimes during rehearsal he wouldn't be able to
keep himself from laughing."
She actually would not mind working with her husband on a
movie, but instead she would not want to dance with him. Mak Chau
Sing joked, "Then we have to make a dance movie together, I have been
secretly training her in dance, feeling that she is pretty well
coordinated!"
New York's Times Square and Taipei's Taipei Arena both have outdoor advertising for the film
WARRIORS OF FUTURE is released online on Netflix yesterday courtesy of mingpao.com
The Louis Koo Tin Lok produced and starred WARRIORS OF
FUTURE (MING YUT JIN GEI) since its August 25th release has passed
HK$ 81 million at the box office. Since its release viewers
everywhere have been eagerly waiting for it. WARRIORS OF FUTURE
would officially go online on the streaming platform Netflix on
December 2nd. it even at various city landmarks around the world,
including New York's Times Square, London's Storm Cromination, Tokyo's
Shibuya Crossing, Taipei's Taipei Arena and others displayed its
giant outdoor advertisement and brought the world's attention to
this film that set Hong Kong box office record history and opened a
new chapter to science fiction in Asia. The film's producer Koo Tin
Lok said, "Seeing WARRIORS OF FUTURE's outdoors advertising at various
landmarks around the world felt very wonderful and very happy, I hope
viewers everywhere would enjoy this film and would look forward to
the science fiction universe that would be beyond everyone's
imagination from our One Cool Film!"
For the film's Netflix release, OneCoolCollective that earlier
released the WARRIORS OF FUTURE NFT series would also collaborate with
the new generation luxury NFT platform WEAR for a future science
fiction themed virtual space to display the armor and equipment that
have appeared in the WARRIORS OF FUTURE series NFT from December 2nd
to 24th; another spotlight of the exhibit would be the soon to be
released WARRIORS OF FUTURE virtual sneakers NFT. The exhibit would
also have a big screen screening of the film trailer and the discord
invitation link. OneCoolCollective's "chief commander" Koo Tin Lok
would often appear online to exchange ideas of film and science
fiction future with everyone!
In addition, WARRIORS OF FUTURE on December 9th would hold The
Finale and The Future film event and outdoor screening experience at
The Grounds at Central. Key creators including Koo Tin Lok, director
Ng Yuen Fai, Sean Lau Ching Fai, Philip Keung Ho Man and others would
attend to share their experience of battling shoulder to shoulder on
the journey of WARRIORS OF FUTURE with everyone.
Brigitte Lin and William Chang courtesy of mingpao.com
The second K11 Musea's high class fashion exhibit
invited Hong Kong master class art director William Chang Suk Ping to
be the exhibit's design director. In a way that is full of the film
experience, and his classic poetic story narration method he would
write the "script" for the exhibit. With the Nobel Prize poet
laureate Derek Walcott's poem LOVE AFTER LOVE as the concept
blueprint, he would write scene after scene about fashion,
craftsmanship, culture and creativity. He even invited his friends
of 42 years Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha) to preview this generation
crossing legendary fashion collection exhibit.
Chang Suk Ping and Lam Ching Ha knew while working on LOVE
MASSACRE (OI SAK) in California, U.S.A. in 1980, many classic costumes
of Lam Ching Ha's Hong Kong films like DREAM LOVERS (MUNG CHUNG YUN),
THE SWORDSMAN 2 (SIU NGO KONG WU II DONG FONG BUK BAI), ASHES OF TIME
(DONG CHE SAI DUK) and CHUNG KING EXPRESS (CHUNG HING SUM LUM) came
from Chang Suk Ping's hands. He also won the won the Hong Kong Film
Awards and the Golden Horse Awards Costume Design honors. With the
chemistry accumulated from work, Lam Ching Ha absolutely trusted in
Chang Suk Ping's designs. Even her home decorations and the 3 books
that she has published were designed by Chang Suk Ping.
Lam Ching ha once praised Chang Suk Ping for being very
prestigious in his own professional arena. For this exhibit from
stage background, lighting, background music, promotional poster and
film to story narration, Chang Suk Ping would show his persistence in
romantic styling and aesthetics in this project. Thus Lam Ching Ha
paid a preview visit to show her support.
Donnie Yen, Kara Wai, Wong Jing, Cya Liu, Grace Wong and others have a pleasant production and meet up for dinner
courtesy of on.cc
Grace Wong is invited to a beauty salon opening courtesy of singtao.com
Grace Wong says after I'VE GOT THE POWER her relationship with TVB would come to an end courtesy of mingpao.com
The Donnie Yen Chi Tan directed film SAKRA (TIN LUNG
BAK BO ji KIU FUNG JUEN) started production in July in Hengdian and
shot on location on the Mirror Lake and in Shanxi. Early in the
preparation stage, Chi Tan and his wife Cissy Wang scouted locations
all over China and went through a strict selection for a lead actress.
He prohibited any "plastic surgery" as he swore to find a female
star with looks and acting abilities to start. In the end the role
of "Ah Ji" ended up in the hands of the Hong Kong Film Award Best
Actress Cya Liu while the role of "Ah Ju" went to Yukee Chen Yuqi.
When Cya Liu joined the production, Chi Tan also personally
instructed the fight scenes. Although at the time she just won the
Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress and the team wanted to celebrate
with her, she did not give up this great opportunity and focused on
training with Chi Tan. The other lead actress Chen Yuqi gave up her
good looks to appear bald in the film. Each time the skull cap would
take a long time to put on, but she was all in. The entire team
has proven that it spent a lot of effort into making the film. This
film earlier wrapped up production. Chi Tan returned to Hong Kong
immediately to fully jump into its post production work. Nothing was
left to chance!
The audience of course has been looking forward to the film.
However earlier reports pointed out that the film would be just like
Wong Jing's two other film productions last year, the Raymond Lam
Fung starred films NEW KUNG FU CULT MASTER 1 and 2 and be released on
Mainland internet platforms for the Year of the Rabbit Spring Festival
Lunar New Year slot. In other words the film would give up the
cinemas, which would be quite a surprise! Actually in recent years
many big productions have had disappointing releases at the cinemas.
Another one of Chi Tan's film, the 200 million yuan Mainland film COME
BACK HOME (SAU GAU) opened in October. Despite decent word of mouth
but perhaps due to the pandemic the film only made 22 million yuan.
Wong Jing last year also due to the weakened Mainland box office and
the high cinema marketing and distribution costs gave up the
theatrical releases for KUNG. In addition many internet platforms
would welcome new members with discounts on major holidays, aside
from the viewers benefiting the viewership coverage would definitely
be higher than cinemas. So it could be said to be a "win win" strategy
for viewers and film companies.
Reporters contacted Wong Jing about SAKRA being released on
an internet platform. He replied, "More to be announced later." Chi
Tan has yet to respond.
In addition, Cya Liu earlier shot a video and mentioned the
hardship before her fame. She pointed out that once on the set, both
she and the lead actress had to go to the bathroom. The production
assistant ended up stopping her and said that all the shots have to
be done before she could go. Yet at the end the production has yet
to reach her shoot. Such an unfair treatment left a deep impression
with her. She also told herself to have to work hard and fight for
herself.
Grace Wong Kwan Hing who has been a part of the film welcomed
the move to streaming. "I know the film would be released on three
major Mainland platforms, which of course is good. More viewers
would be able to see it. However I don't know whether other places
would get theatrical releases. Let's wait for the company to make the
arrangements and announcements."
She revealed that since working on SAKRA she has received many
film offers. "I am looking at several scripts, some from Taiwan,
Thailand and the U.S. I am pretty happy. If it would happen I could
take the chance to travel the world."
10 BONES AND ALL
d. Luca Guadagnino
Timonthee Chalamet, Taylor Russell, Mark Rylance
9 BLACK ADAM
d. Jaume Collet-Serra
Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge,
Noah Centineo, Quintessa Swindell
8 WARRIORS OF FUTURE
AKA : VIRTUS
Can : Ming Yut Jin Gei
Lit : Tomorrow War Journal
AKA : Mau Tung Jin Jung
Lit : Spear Shield War
d. Ng Yuen Fai
Louis Koo Tin Lok, Sean Lau Ching Wan, Philip Keung Ho Man,
Carina Lau Ka Ling, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Tse Kwan Ho,
Tony Wu Tsz Tung, Ng Siu Hin, Wan Guopeng, Kevin Chu Kam Yin
Rating : IIB
Length : 112 MINS.
Opening June 27 2019 (POSTPONED)
Opening July 2021 (POSTPONED)
Opening August 15 2022 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
Opening August 25 2022
Teaser : https://youtu.be/WCW18rGjIvM
[ THE FILM CATALOGUE ]
In the not-too-distant future, pollution and global warming have left Earth barren, a giant meteorite crashed down and an odd looking vine started to grow from it. While this vine, people called it Pandora, sucked up the smog and began to purify Earth, it also grew at high speed destroying anything in sight. When the genetic map of Pandora was revealed, genetic modification became the last hope for mankind.
7 TABLE FOR SIX
Can : Fan Hei Gung Sum
Lit : Rice Drama Invades The Heart
d. Sunny Chan Wing Sun
Dayo Wong Tze Wa, Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Louis Cheung Kai Chung,
Ivana Wong Yuen Chi, Minchen Lin, Peter Chan Charm Man
Rating : IIA
Length : 119 mins.
Opening February 1 2022 (POSTPONED)
Opening April 24 2022 at the Udine Far East Film Festival
Opening July 23 2022 at the New York Asian Film Festival
Opening July 23 2022 (Preview)
Opening September 8 2022
Trailer : https://youtu.be/k7BdhlOT0ME
Teaser : https://youtu.be/TgfcHM8rHuM
Music Video : https://youtu.be/B_RXfmvKYrE
[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
It is often said that food and meals bring families together, but in TABLE FOR SIX it's clear that not all family gatherings are a cause for celebration. In this melodramatic comedy, three brothers reside in a home that they inherited from their late parents. The eldest brother Steve, theoretically is the man of the house, but he constantly is getting dissed by his two younger brothers Bernard and Lung for the decisions he makes, the inedible meals that he cooks, and his complicated romantic encounters. To prepare for a family reunion dinner, Steve seeks the help of Lung’s girlfriend and foodie Josephine and in doing so, wins back their hearts for a while, until his old flame and Bernard’s new girlfriend Monica shows up. That's a recipe for a disaster waiting to explode! The unexpected visit of Steve's part-time girlfriend Meow not only fails to turn down the heat and cool the awkward situation, but stirs up the sibling conflict even further.
6 LOVE SUDDENLY
Can : Fut Yin Sum Dung
d. Mak Ho Bong
Roxanne Tong Lok Man, Karena Ng Chin Yu,
Edward Ma Chi Wai, Adam Pak Tin Nam, Anson Kong Yip Sang,
Michael Ning (Bak Ji), Chloe So Ho Yi, Shirley Chan Yan Yin
Rating : IIB
Length : 93 mins.
Trailer : https://youtu.be/XXwfWDvdf5Y
ig : https://www.instagram.com/movie_lovesuddenly/
Opening February 1 2022 (POSTPONED)
Opening November 17 2022
[ CINEMA CITY HONG KONG ]
This story is a collection of four love relationships: Geeky Hong who looks forward to romance bumps into Shirley; Rich kid Silver who is socially anxious hires a rental boyfriend Jerome; Chung and Zoe,a dysfunctional pair of social couple; and Ho an indecisive person meeting Tin Tin, a nurse with polyamorous relationships. Following the through line in each story, they encounter unexpected obstacles in their relationships all set on the eve of Valentine's Day.
5 STRANGE WORLD
d. Don Hall, Qui Nguyen
Disney Animation
English Voices: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union
Cantonese Voice: Kaki Sham
4 SWORD ART ONLINE -PROGRESSIVE- SCHERZO OF DEEP NIGHT
d. Ayako Kono
Japanese Animation
Rating : I
Length : 102 mins.
Opening November 24 2022
[ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ]
After two months of being trapped in the game of death that is Sword Art Online, Kirito and Asuna reach the fifth floor of Aincrad. As they wander through the maze-like ruins, they indulge in raiding the floor's treasures. However, upon returning to the fourth floor, they encounter a quest from Elf Lord Yofilis. This quest puts the pair face-to-face with Asuna's most hated monster.
[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
The chaos began at the Winter Solstice dinner eight years ago. The father lost his temper, the son, not able to forgive his father, ran away from home. Eight years have passed, and the family's relationship is still cold and distant. A cousin returns to Hong Kong from England and hopes to gather everyone for a Winter Solstice dinner. The long-awaited gathering prompted everyone to rethink their relationships with family members. Some choose to leave, some are back. When things are about to fall apart, it might as well be an opportunity to mend connections.
[ BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
On the evening of the family's traditional winter solstice dinner, Chun and Ling, their daughter Ki and son Yeung, and Ling's brother Ming gather at Ling's mother's house. Tired of Chun’s incompetence, losing his job when they're looking to repair and move into the house they bought with everything they had, Ling demands a divorce. While attempting to mediate between the two, Yeung gets greatly disappointed and angry with Chun. And Ming, whose business failed, has a fight with his aging mother. That becomes the last family dinner. Eight years later, Ming's daughter Joy returns to Hong Kong, and the family plans for their traditional dinner on the winter solstice again. Can the years of pain and remorse bring the family together again? On this evening of Joy’s first winter solstice dinner, the film shows through the night scenery that a family can be whole even if it is not perfect. (CHOI Eun)
[ HONG KONG ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL ]
Edan Lui, member of Hong Kong pop sensation Mirror, takes on his most challenging role yet in this powerful and unsentimental family drama. Based on the story of director Tsang Hing Weng Eric's own family, Tsang's directorial debut follows a family in a Hakka-walled village eight years after a combative winter solstice dinner tore the family apart. When a cousin returns home and seeks to reunite the family for another dinner, they must rethink their connection. In addition to his fellow Mirror member Anson Lo, Lui is also supported by a cast of both masterful veteran actors and talented up-and-coming stars.
2 THE SPARRING PARTNER
Can : Jing Yi Wai Long
Lit : Justice Cloister
d. Ho Cheuk Tin
Yeung Wai Lun, Mak Pui Tung, Louisa So Yuk Wa, Michael Chow Man Kin,
Jan Lamb Hoi Fung, Gloria Yip Wan Yi,
Xenia Chong Wan Ching,
Rating : III
Length : 135 mins.
Opening August 30 2022 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
Opening October 27 2022
Trailer : https://youtu.be/YZ7g5Gp97B8
[ THE 46TH HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
Adapted from a sensational real-life case in 2013, the intricate story begins when a young man partners with his friend to murder and dismember his parents. Pleading not guilty, the defense attorneys soon turn on each other, as the defendants play the devil and idiot game. Meanwhile, heated debates emerge inside the jury room, where nine jurors grapple with the truth. Crafting a complex, multi-layered narrative with surprising twists and turns, Ho Cheuk-tin sets himself a formidable challenge in this directorial debut.
[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
Adapted from a sensational 2013 family murder, Henry Cheung partnered up with his friend Angus Tong to murder and dismember his parents. In the courtroom, two veteran lawyers Wilson Ng and Carrie Yau were defending the pair pleading not guilty. The prosecutor Allen Chu suggests the murder was a calculated move for money. But the plot thickened when Ng and Yau began to present their case, and when Tong rebutted all accusations on his own. The truth becomes all the more elusive as the defendants played the role of 'genius' and 'idiot' in court. In the breakroom, discussions between the nine jury members spiraled into debates of right and wrong.
1 BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
d. Ryan Coogler
Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke,
Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Dominique Thorne
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