Relationships come and go. Buddhist scriptures claim that an encounter in this life takes 500 returns in previous lives. Among Seven Little Fortunes, some still maintain close contact while some have lost communication. To the brothers who have been lost for years, perhaps one can only say they were not destined to be close.
Drama And Martial Art Genius, Retired Due To Broken Leg
Among the dozen or so brothers without any news, Yuen Man is the one who everyone misses the most. Yuen Biao says, "Yuen Man was a genius. He was great at somersaults, amazing in drama, he had the whole package. At age seven he was in the lead, as soon as he appeared he was already famous. Master treated him well, but he later couldn't develop in show business."
Everyone regret the genius was cut short. To this little brother who had a hard life, Yuen Bun sighs, "Yuen Man was the youngest and the smartest. He treated all over us very well and made the most money for the school. After he finished school, one year we went to perform in San Francisco with Chor Fung Ming. Several days before the show we went to a ranch for fun. Yuen Man accidentally fell over a horse and broke his leg. The doctor said that he couldn't walk for two or three months. In the end we had to get Yuen Tai who was in San Francisco to take his place. That injury had a huge impact on Yuen Man."
Who knows whether it was due to self blame or the accident determined the remainder of his life to be full of darkness, Yuen Man began to gradually drift away from the brothers. Yet even so, the brothers still missed him no less. Yuen Fai says, "Sometimes I would dream that Yuen Man came back. Every one of us brothers would hold him and keep crying because we really miss him."
King of Somersault, In Over His Head
Sharing a stage then but no connection now, they often sadly miss the past even more. Yuen Bun says, "One brother named Yuen Yum was able to perform somersaults while he was sitting, while he was laying down, he could do all kinds of variations and no one was better than him. Later one time he tried to do a flip but slip. Since then he developed a fear and never dared to do another one. Later one day he for some reason did it again, after he started he couldn't stop. His eyes and nose were all runny from it. All of us brothers had to team up before he would stop. I think he went overboard with his training. His whereabouts later was also unknown."
About the colleagues who were lost for years, Yuen Bun chooses to believe that they are hiding either in the city or in the wild, one day they will meet again. Yuen Bun says, "I wish that brothers and sisters who were lost for so many years, Yuen Man, Yuen Yum, Yuen Cheung, Yuen Chun, Yun Kwun, Yuen Kei, Yuen Lai, Yuen Pau, Yuen Sai, Yuen Fu, Yuen Chiu, Yun Gwun, no matter what the unpleasantness was, this year is the Seven Little Fortunes' Fiftieth Anniversary, on this rare occasion please hurry up and look for us. All of us brothers miss you very much." (34)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
[2009.07.23] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: MAKING MONEY ANYWAY HE CAN TO RAISE THE DISCIPLES
Master Yu Jim Yuen passed away in the U.S. Even though his Beijing Opera dreams went unfulfilled, he unknowingly injected endless life into Hong Kong film and his influence was far reaching. Back then he operated the school and tried to save every cent, it was not for himself but for his group of disciples.
Looked For Financing Everywhere, Swindled Parents
When Seven Little Fortunes lived at the school, Master Yu was like Devil's Wrath. Before he was seen, his cane appeared first. Disciples often saw himself from afar and took another route. Yet years later when Master passed, even if they wanted to see him one more time they could not. Seven Little Fortunes were lost and confused. Looking back at the past, they realized that Master actually was not so frightening.
Back then Master Yu operated a school without any government or financing group backing. With the spirit of the fabled old fool, he wanted to spread Beijing Opera. No matter how passionate and persistent he was, without money he could not achieve anything. In Hong Kong of the 60s and 70s, the economy has not taken off. Money did not come easily. Seven Little Fortunes' performance salary alone was not enough, Master Yu could only come up with ways to get money.
According to Yuen Bun, Master Yu had tens of millions of ways to make money. The more aged the ginger is the spicier it is. The older a person is the more sly he gets. Sometimes in order to make money, even Seven Little Fortunes' long clothes gang (wealthy ones) were not spared.
Yuen Bun says, "Master was very slick. Because a costume was very expensive and cost several thousands, Master sometimes would get the more wealthy families of Seven Little Fortunes to sponsor costumes. I remember when once Master called Yuen Biao's family and said that he would play the lead and asked his family to pay for costumes. His family of course was happy and even bought tickets for an entire row, thinking that they would watch their son in the lead role with friends. When they got there they looked all over and could not see Yuen Biao's face. Later he realized that the lead was someone else."
Lowered himself To Make Money For More Food
Master Yu occasionally had to be sly, but when the times got tough even the Master had to lower himself and pick vegetables to raise this group of misfits!
Yuen Bun learned from Master Lui who taught Seven Little Fortunes kung fu that Master Yu had a tough time that he never told anyone about. "Sometimes looking back, Master is truly very noble. Why would he have to raise us! Actually back then life was truly very tough. Master Lui said, back then Master in order to make a living for the family went to Yau Ma Tei all the time with a big basket. He would pick up vegetable leaves on the ground as he walked and put them into the basket, then took them to be sold. Every time he went from Yau Ma Tei to Tsim Sha Tsui. At the time the basket would sell for 20 cents. Then Master would hand the money to Si Mo for more dishes for us."
Master Yu's hard work ultimately did not go to waste. Years later Seven Little Fortunes did not regret the terrifying days of caning but appreciated the endless benefits that Master provided them. (33)
Looked For Financing Everywhere, Swindled Parents
When Seven Little Fortunes lived at the school, Master Yu was like Devil's Wrath. Before he was seen, his cane appeared first. Disciples often saw himself from afar and took another route. Yet years later when Master passed, even if they wanted to see him one more time they could not. Seven Little Fortunes were lost and confused. Looking back at the past, they realized that Master actually was not so frightening.
Back then Master Yu operated a school without any government or financing group backing. With the spirit of the fabled old fool, he wanted to spread Beijing Opera. No matter how passionate and persistent he was, without money he could not achieve anything. In Hong Kong of the 60s and 70s, the economy has not taken off. Money did not come easily. Seven Little Fortunes' performance salary alone was not enough, Master Yu could only come up with ways to get money.
According to Yuen Bun, Master Yu had tens of millions of ways to make money. The more aged the ginger is the spicier it is. The older a person is the more sly he gets. Sometimes in order to make money, even Seven Little Fortunes' long clothes gang (wealthy ones) were not spared.
Yuen Bun says, "Master was very slick. Because a costume was very expensive and cost several thousands, Master sometimes would get the more wealthy families of Seven Little Fortunes to sponsor costumes. I remember when once Master called Yuen Biao's family and said that he would play the lead and asked his family to pay for costumes. His family of course was happy and even bought tickets for an entire row, thinking that they would watch their son in the lead role with friends. When they got there they looked all over and could not see Yuen Biao's face. Later he realized that the lead was someone else."
Lowered himself To Make Money For More Food
Master Yu occasionally had to be sly, but when the times got tough even the Master had to lower himself and pick vegetables to raise this group of misfits!
Yuen Bun learned from Master Lui who taught Seven Little Fortunes kung fu that Master Yu had a tough time that he never told anyone about. "Sometimes looking back, Master is truly very noble. Why would he have to raise us! Actually back then life was truly very tough. Master Lui said, back then Master in order to make a living for the family went to Yau Ma Tei all the time with a big basket. He would pick up vegetable leaves on the ground as he walked and put them into the basket, then took them to be sold. Every time he went from Yau Ma Tei to Tsim Sha Tsui. At the time the basket would sell for 20 cents. Then Master would hand the money to Si Mo for more dishes for us."
Master Yu's hard work ultimately did not go to waste. Years later Seven Little Fortunes did not regret the terrifying days of caning but appreciated the endless benefits that Master provided them. (33)
[2009.07.23] ONE NIGHT IN SUPERMARKET
courtesy of takungpao.comChina Film Group and Orange Sky Golden Harvest's joint release city comedy ONE NIGHT IN SUPERMARKET (YEH DIM) at the end of June Shanghai International Film Festival received CCTV6 Chinese Film Media awards (Best Screenplay and Best Actor). The film is scheduled for a July 24 national release. Shenzhen is the first stop of the national premiere. Because its Golden Harvest Shenzhen Cinemas was the cinema with the highest box office gross last year in the nation, Orange Sky Golden Harvest arranged for the film to be unveiled at this cinema.
The film director Yang Qing led actors Xu Zheng, Kimi Qian Renliang, Lulu Li Xiaolu and others from Beijing to Shenzhen to attend the press conference. Yang Qing revealed that after the awards brought optimism everywhere and increased Orange Sky and China Film Group's confidence. A sequel is in the works.
Qian Renliang originally is Orange Sky Entertainment top singer who has given up the chance to develop in Japanese entertainment and is currently a spokesmodel for a big Hong Kong company. Lulu Li plays a funny female clerk who eats the most at the store in the film.
[2009.07.23] LOUIS KOO FLUCTUATES WEIGHT FOR NEW FILM
courtesy of singtao.com
courtesy of takungpao.com
The Alan Mak Siu Fai directed OVERHEARD (SIT TING FUNG WON) earlier was promoting in the Mainland. Leads Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) recently were guests on a Mainland talk show and talked about their careers. Ng Yin Cho even revealed when he started he was sweating buckets from being so nervous working with Shu Qi.
Speaking of the start of his career, Ng Yin Cho said that he worked with Shu Qi early in his career. At the time he did not know anything. Every time he worked with Shu Qi he felt nervous and perspired, but the already famous Shu Qi did not keep him at bay. Every time they worked together Shu Qi would chat with him, bring him into his character and provided him with a lot of assistance. Because of that, they became good friends. Now when they work together he is no longer nervous. He also talked about working with Zhou Xun in THE BANQUET. Because they both are Libras they had a lot in common. They even became very close friends, personally he treated Zhou Xun as a "brother".
In addition, Goo Jai in the film had to eat like crazy and gain 30 pounds. Yet after gaining weight he had to lose 20 pounds in a short time for the character. Goo Jai said that the schedule was tight and he could only fast for three days and exercise like crazy. He ran for two hours every six hours. He felt that was the duty of being an actor.
[2009.07.23] AARON KWOK IS HAPPY TO SEE NEW FILM PASS 10 MILLION
courtesy of singtao.com
courtesy of takungpao.com
The Aaron Kwok Fu Sing starred MURDERER (SAT YUN FAN) after 13 days in release passed the 10 million mark at the box office. Director Roy Chow Hin Yeung and Sing Sing thanks the cast and crew for their effort. The director wished that Sing Sing could win Best Actor again with this film.
Sing Sing thanked for the audience for its support and was very happy about such a good box office performance in less than two weeks in release. He hoped to be able to enjoy this result later with the team and wished for the box office to continue to climb. Yam Jan Yut who plays Sing Sing's son is one of the film's focus. Actually Sing Sing took place on casting that day and Tam Jan Yut caught his eyes right away. Chow Hin Yeung praised this child as very smart and has very strong memory. He could memorize three pages of dialogue without missing a word. In one scene Sing Sing threw him into the sea, so he went for swimming lesson. He was able to swim in three days. Although he still cried after being thrown into the water, he was fine afterward and even continued to perform. The child also often joked about wanting a wife very badly.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
[2009.07.22] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: REMEMBERING MASTER'S TRAINING, BE THE BEST IN EVERYTHING
Death and life have their determined appointments, nothing lasts forever. On September 8, 1997, Master Yu Jim Yuen who Seven Little Fortunes both respected and feared passed away in Los Angeles. This Beijing Opera action actor who singlehandedly turned Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu and others into what they are today although was no longer with them, in the hearts of Seven Little Fortunes he only has gone from the then Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park sixth theater dividing wall to another place to continue to keep an eye on this group of mischievous kids.
Yuen Bun recalls Master Yu's passing with a lot of sentiment. "Master was closer to us then our own old men. When we started to get a firm footing in the film industry, he said bye bye to us. He toiled for so many years and cultivated this group of kids for the Hong Kong film industry, but he never got to enjoy the fruit of his labor."
Shocked By Bad News, Keep Working
About Yu Jim Yuen's contribution to the Hong Kong film industry, Jackie Chan also writes in his autobiography, "Master Yu is not only my god father but also one of the god fathers of Cantonese film industry. I was with Master for ten years. To me, he is a cold and absolute image. The most loving he has been with me at most was a light smile or a pat on my head."
Tough guys are always cold on the surface and hot within. Master Yu was like that, Jackie Chan is like that. Jackie Chan says, "The four closest elders in my life: Master, Papa, Mama, (Leonard) Ho Koon Cheung. When they died, I was still at work. Actually Master was sick for awhile, so I was mentally prepared. When I heard the news, I didn't have too much reaction. After I hung up I kept looking at camera positions and working."
If Yu Jim Yuen who once taught Seven Little Fortunes "if you charge you have to be responsible to the audience" knew that his god son remained professional despite the personal setback he would have been greatly pleased. Jackie Chan later kept the sorrow at bay and did not stop working until he completed the shoot. Then he rushed from South Africa to Los Angeles to attend Master's funeral and sent his Master on his final journey.
At the altar was a photo of Master Yu supporting his chin with one finger, meaning "the best in everything". When disciples like Hung Kam Bo remember Master's teaching of always be perfect, they all shed tears. Si Mo lost her old companion and was so grief stricken that she could not stand on her own. She needed others assistance. Yu So Chau saw her old father did not have much burial offering and immediately took off her jade Buddhist beads and her son's watch to give to her late father.
Pallbearers, Head Last, Feet First
When Hung Kam Bo, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao and others carried Master Yu's coffin to the cemetery, they mistakenly carried it in the wrong direction as they went uphill head last feet first. Yu So Chau immediately urged everyone to switch positions. To others, this perhaps was a great disrespect, but to Yu Jim Yuen who constantly urged Seven Little Fortunes to train hard and liked to personally demonstrated moves like hand stand and somersault in his old age, this perhaps was the first in person demonstration for his disciples. (32)
Yuen Bun recalls Master Yu's passing with a lot of sentiment. "Master was closer to us then our own old men. When we started to get a firm footing in the film industry, he said bye bye to us. He toiled for so many years and cultivated this group of kids for the Hong Kong film industry, but he never got to enjoy the fruit of his labor."
Shocked By Bad News, Keep Working
About Yu Jim Yuen's contribution to the Hong Kong film industry, Jackie Chan also writes in his autobiography, "Master Yu is not only my god father but also one of the god fathers of Cantonese film industry. I was with Master for ten years. To me, he is a cold and absolute image. The most loving he has been with me at most was a light smile or a pat on my head."
Tough guys are always cold on the surface and hot within. Master Yu was like that, Jackie Chan is like that. Jackie Chan says, "The four closest elders in my life: Master, Papa, Mama, (Leonard) Ho Koon Cheung. When they died, I was still at work. Actually Master was sick for awhile, so I was mentally prepared. When I heard the news, I didn't have too much reaction. After I hung up I kept looking at camera positions and working."
If Yu Jim Yuen who once taught Seven Little Fortunes "if you charge you have to be responsible to the audience" knew that his god son remained professional despite the personal setback he would have been greatly pleased. Jackie Chan later kept the sorrow at bay and did not stop working until he completed the shoot. Then he rushed from South Africa to Los Angeles to attend Master's funeral and sent his Master on his final journey.
At the altar was a photo of Master Yu supporting his chin with one finger, meaning "the best in everything". When disciples like Hung Kam Bo remember Master's teaching of always be perfect, they all shed tears. Si Mo lost her old companion and was so grief stricken that she could not stand on her own. She needed others assistance. Yu So Chau saw her old father did not have much burial offering and immediately took off her jade Buddhist beads and her son's watch to give to her late father.
Pallbearers, Head Last, Feet First
When Hung Kam Bo, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao and others carried Master Yu's coffin to the cemetery, they mistakenly carried it in the wrong direction as they went uphill head last feet first. Yu So Chau immediately urged everyone to switch positions. To others, this perhaps was a great disrespect, but to Yu Jim Yuen who constantly urged Seven Little Fortunes to train hard and liked to personally demonstrated moves like hand stand and somersault in his old age, this perhaps was the first in person demonstration for his disciples. (32)
[2009.07.22] AARON KWOK AND SHU QI ROAST UNDER THE HEAT
courtesy of takungpao.com
Shu Qi and Aaron Kwok Fu Sing after ten years reunited in a film. Yesterday they started work in Cyberport and ran hand in hand under 33 degrees Celsius. Before they got to their marks they were already sweating bullets, but they had an easier time Square's Brian and James. They fought with stunt people and got bruises all over.
The two best acting award winners yesterday worked on their new film CHUEN SING GAI BEI (CITY WIDE ALERT). Playing a reporter, Shu Qi received help from the superpowered Sing Sing. On the way colleagues found out and chased them. At first he Director only shot them hiding in the bushes. The shoot was easily completed. Then they went to shoot a hand holding "escape", but after two or three takes, the heat seemed to have melted the leads. Director Benny Chan Muk Sing quickly wrapped up the shoot.
Sing Sing who was busy with his Taiwan concert rehearsal revealed that he had to make movies and rehearse so he was much thinner. Sing Sing said that ten years ago he and Shu Qi did not have too many scenes together. This time they are together from the beginning to the end, thus their chemistry and sparks were better than before. As for intimate scene, Sing Sing said, "That's not important, high entertainment value is the most important. In this film I have several looks, the fat look gives me a skin reaction every time. I have to see a doctor and take medicine for that. Luckily those scenes were already done." In September he will work on the Pang Shun directed B+ JING TAM (B+ DETECTIVE).
Brian and James played Shu Qi's assistance. In order to escape they struggled with colleagues. The film company for realism got two stunt professionals to fight with them. After the director yelled cut they were still acting. Brian said, "Since we are fighting we have to get into it. My leg and neck are all bruised! I should've worn pads! (How is working with Shu Qi?) She is easy going, very worthy for us to learn from."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
