[2009.12.26] BERNICE LIU WORKS ON IP MAN PREQUEL

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Bernice Liu Bik Yi yesterday brought her dog to attend a Christmas charity event for raise fund for Doctor Pet. Bik Yi expressed that lately she has been working in the Mainland on a series and the film IP MAN CHIN JUEN (IP MAN PREQUEL), in which she worked with Crystal Huang Yi and Du Yuhang for the first time. Did she have to learn Wing Tsun? She said, "I don't need to. I wield weapons. During the shoot Yuen Biao also taught me a lot." Bik Yi said that she did not know any kung fu so she had to be more careful with weapons. She suffered bruises on her arms and legs. Luckily she had a dance background so the learning was simpler.

[2009.12.28] HUANG BO HAS A "CRAZY" CHRISTMAS IN XIAN

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New Taiwan Golden Horse Best Actor, Mainland actor Huang Bo during Christmas performed the play CRAZY CRAZY with fellow Golden Horse Best Actor Liu Ye in Xian. The stage these pair of old partners kept creating comedy and even showed off hypnosis dance, as they were fully "crazy".

CRAZY CRAZY's story is from the Mainland director Ning Hao's hit film CRAZY STONE and CRAZY RACER. The Huang Bo played racer Geng Hao who on a television program revealed a stimulant scandal and thus suffered from insomnia. His 18 year old student fan Liu Xiaodu (Liu Ye) after drinking a beverage prize aged prematurely. A female lawyer who returned from the U.S. claimed that she could help Liu Xiaodu with a meeting with Geng Hao and avenge himself. Unexpectedly they were swept into a series of absurd misunderstandings and traps.

This play after performances in Beijing and Shanghai has already passed 1 million at its first round box office. Reviews claimed that it was one of the only play with such a "strange encounter". Gaining popularity along with the CRAZY film series, Huang Bo has played small characters all along, but with his excellent performance that is full of grass root color in COW he shared the Golden Horse Best Actor honor with Nick Cheung Ka Fai. Did he feel that the "double yolk egg" was lighter? Huang Bo stated that this award was more important than others because it was the first time that happened in the Golden Horse history. He personally appreciated Cheung Ka Fai's performance very much.

Singing for money late in high school, he was well honed in dance and entered the film and television industry with bit roles. Huang Bo now joked that he only won the Golden Horse Best Actor with "countless misunderstandings". Huang Bo also stated that from now on he will never hide in the bit role framework and try different styles.

[2009.12.26] NICHOLAS TSE DRIVES INTO A GOLD STORE

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Soon to be a father again, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung risked life and limbs and personally "robbed a gold store". Not only did he exchange fire but he also drove a car into a barrier.

While Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi was busy with her pregnancy, as the family pillar Ting Fung continued to struggle for his career. He did not even ask for Christmas off. Instead early in the morning he appeared on the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui with Deep Ng Ho Hong, Jin Gang, Lu Yi and Keung Ho Man worked on the new Emperor Motion Picture STOOL PIGEON (SIN YUN)'s major gold store robbery scene.

Director Dante Lam Chiu Yin for realism not only used nearly 100 extras to play pedestrians but also "constructed" a gold store. Due to the holidays, the shoot attracted many onlookers. Some even overlooked safety and ran to the middle of the road to take pictures.

Because the previous film gave Nick Cheung Ka Fai a taste of Best Actor, early in the production Lam Chiu Yin already stated that this time he would "blow up" Ting Fung. Finally he arranged for him and Ka Fai to switch "identities" as Ting Fung turned from cop to robber. Yesterday he even drove into the gold store's barrier and ran to the street. Although he had a double, he chose to personally perform.

At the director's order, the crew stopped oncoming traffic to free up the road for Ting Fung to "exchange fire". Finally he escaped in the getaway vehicle. During bad takes, Ting Fung and the others did not want to waste time as they got out of the car and ran back to the "crime scene" for another take. In great spirits, he often chatted and joked his cast mates to ease the tension of the shoot.

STOOL's production is already nearing its end. After resuming work in days Cheung Ka Fai will fulfill his promise to treat the cast and crew to a meal and to celebrate his Golden Horse and Asia Pacific Best Actor honors.

[2009.12.25] ZHANG YIMOU RECEIVES OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD

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Scheduled to take place on March 22 at the Hong Kong Convention Center, the 4th Annual Asia Film Award will present its Asia Film Outstanding Contribution Award to international director Zhang Yimou. All of Director Zhang's work has had certain artistic quality, as represented in RED SORGHUM, RAISE THE RED LANTERN, NOT ONE LESS, HERO and his latest film A SIMPLE NOODLE STORY. The 2008 Beijing Olympics' elegant opening ceremony put his artistic abilities thoroughly on display on an international stage.

Hong Kong International Film Festival Society executive director Shaw Soo Wei expressed that on the international stage, the Asian film industry is maturing day by day and plays a pivotal role. The Society is very pleased that Director Zhang as one of the China film scene representatives accepts this award and hopes that it would be able to encourage even more China film scene talent to have even greater breakthrough and contribution in the international film development. China films scene from the silent era to new China film development has never lacked talent, but in its world stage recognition and role, Director Zhang deserves much of the credit. He with his delicate ways describes the Chinese people's culture and the era's changes. His recent films also show variety and innovation. He is a film professional who continuously seek change.

Director Zhang felt very honored to receive this award. He said, "As film professionals, we believe in and are loyal to art. Art not only reflects the world, but we also hope to change the world through art." He thanked the event for recognizing him and hoped to continue to promote Asian films.

[2009.12.25] ETHAN RUAN AND MARK CHAO ARE FORCED TO KISS AGAIN

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Niu Chen-Zer in order to promote MONGA, his Taiwan film about the mob, two nights ago led the cast Ethan Ruan (Yuen King Tin), Mark Chao (Chiu Yau Ting) and Rhydian Vaughan (Fung Siu Ngok) to the VARIETY SHOW OF MR. CON & MS. CSI. Host Little S was not afraid of the guys and even asked them to act like thugs.

Little S took advantage of Chiu Yau Ting's personality, flirted with him and asked him to teach her how to be bad. Chiu Yau Ting said that the key of being a thug was the "attitude". Little S immediately began to flirt and even used him like a pole as she started dancing. The masculine Yuen King Tin was a hot tempered guy in real life. he said that once he saw a car that he liked stopped on the road. After a few glances, the driver suddenly rolled down the window and flipped him off. He returned the favor. The driver turned the car around, got out and came after him. He naturally struck back. However he expressed that if his girlfriend was next to him, he definitely would protect her first and ignore them.

Little S also asked Chiu Yau Ting and Yuen King Tin to air their kiss scene in the trailer in its entirety. Niu Chen-Zer fanned the flame and encouraged them to give it a try to promote the film. They could only close their eyes and kiss with admirable professionalism. The host later asked them to demonstrate the film's action scene as Chiu Yau Ting kicked Yuen King Tin realistically.

[2009.12.25] JAY CHOU RECOMMENDS LIN CHILING FOR HOLLYWOOD

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Kevin Chu Yen-Ping

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The film TREASURE HUNTER (CHI LING) two nights ago held its Hong Kong premiere. Leads Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), Lin Chiling and director Kevin Chu Yen-Ping attended. Chiling after the premiere immediately returned to work in Taiwan.

Chiling deliberately wore flat shoes to the event to avoid being taller than Jay. Chu Yen-Ping mentioned that TREASURE HUNTER's European and American sales have been decent, which might have something to do with Jay being in GREEN HORNET. However he joked that after Jay became famous in Hollywood he was afraid that Jay would never work with him again. Jay said that he never thought about rising in Hollywood because he was not used to that environment. He also said that Chiling with her fluent English would be more suitable. He even praised her to be more distinctive next to European and American female stars. Now the only issue was opportunity. Chu Yen-Ping pointed out that although Chiling and Jay did not have any intimate scene, their relationship performance was great. Chu Yen-Ping also mentioned that in the film Jay would sneak a peek when Chiling was bathing. He felt that they performed the scene very well.

Chu Yen-Ping also mentioned that the big scenes were no problem for him, but he felt that due to the generation gap he had difficulties with young people's dialogue. He even claimed to be an old hand at relationship scenes. Luckily Chiling at the time wrote to him with her opinions. He felt that she had a lot of potential for screen writing. Chiling humbly said that she never thought about that and dared not to. the film's action director Yuen Woo Ping also would like to work with her again. He expressed that she looked forward to it. As for her first film theme song performance that people criticized her "chick voice" for, she immediately said, "That's it! Don't say anymore!" She even said that although Jay did not give her any opinion musically, she was already very happy being able t sing his song. She also revealed that Jay often played magic tricks on the set and attracted the crew to watch. The director also praised Jay's great action scene performance. Jay expressed that he was not an action star and felt that he could not possibly be more outstanding than Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit). As for the wager of Hollywood fame, he said that would depend on Heaven. He never thought about working in Hollywood. Instead Chiling would be more suitable than him with her fluent English.

[2009.12.25] TEDDY CHAN CRIES OVER BOX OFFICE SUCCESS

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As of December 23, the film BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (SUP YUET WAI SING)'s Mainland box office already reached 113 million. Its producer Peter Chan Ho Sun and director Teddy Chan Tak Sum who were leading actors to the Taipei premiere press conference were very pleased to hear the news. The team has already scheduled a celebration in Beijing on the 29th. Chan Tak Sum was asked the difficulties during the shoot. When he talked about his off screen team he choked up on numerous occasions and even shed tears.

When actors like Tony Leung Ka Fai, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Chris Li Yuchun, Fan Bingbing and others learned about the box office success, they were high to the extreme and spoke from their hearts. Chi Wai complained, "Actually ten years ago I was the first male lead, now I can't even play the second male lead." Although during the shoot he received additional scenes, the resulting film did not use any of it. Hu Jun joked, "Tsang Chi Wai performed too poorly and dragged me down with him, making Chan Ho Sun cut my scene too." Reporters asked him about the love triangle between Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Carina Lau Ka Ling. He said, "Great, obviously they are quite popular."