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| Ivana Wong was born into a classical music family. Seeing his parents' lifetime of dedication, she would like to salute them with classical music. |
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Kevin Chu jokes that the Hand Over fireworks were to welcome his return courtesy of singtao.com |
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| Michelle Yim and Shek Sau have great chemistry from numerous collaborations |
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| Both Alex Lam and Ivana Wong have upcoming music projects |
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Kevin Chu courtesy of mingpao.com |
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong
Hand Over, the film LOOK UP (YUT YEUNG DIK TIN HUNG) will open on June
23rd. The film would be a joint release of four Hong Kong film
companies Sil-Metropole, Emperor Motion Pictures, Media Asia and One
Cool Film. Sil-Metropole Organization produced it. Yesterday the
film held a press conference. The cast and the crew attended and
promoted the film, including chiefs of release companies Sil-Metropole
Organization, Emperor Motion Pictures, Media Asia Film Production,
and One Cool Film Production, producer John Chong Ching, four new
directors Daniel Chan Yee-Hang, Tim Poon Chi Yin, Hau Chor Fung, and
Yip Ching Hang, stars Ivana Wong Yuen Chi, Shek Sau, Kevin Chu Kam Yin,
Michelle Yim (Mai Suet), Stephanie Che Yuen Yuen, Anna Ng Yuen Yi,
Aaron Chow Chi Kwan, Alex Lam Tak Shun, Ben Yuen Fu Wa, Tsui Ho
Cheong, Bobular Wong Sing Yui, Wong Yik Ho, Terry Zou (Chow Man
Ching), Lai Chun, Buber Mak Wing Nam, Angie Sham Yat Ka, Kochun Tse ,
and Kumer So. Everyone wished that the Hong Kong film industry would
produce talent in every generation!
At the press conference, the soul figure of planning LOOK UP,
Sil-Metropole Organization chief Chan Yat Kei shared the original
intent of four film companies teaming up to release the film. "This
year would be the 25th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Hand Over. We are
very honored to present our most sincere salute to the Hong Kong's
return to the Motherland with this film. The idea of the film came
from 2017 when we led nine Hong Kong film companies for the short film
production project, BEAUTIFUL HONG KONG. Actually, Sil-Metropole has
always kept the excellent tradition of cultivating talent for the
industry. Over the years we have always provided the opportunity and
the platform for young people who intended on joining the film
industry. Through short film competition films, with different
subjects and production methods, Hong Kong's society appearance and
regional cultural characteristics are shown in an all-round and multiple
perspective way, better pass on the excellent tradition and style of
Hong Kong film and tap more outstanding film talents for the
prosperity and development of Hong Kong film. It is very gratifying
that after two short film competitions, we finally successfully put
the concept of short film on the big screen, among them director Yip
Ching Hang and the first year's Best Actor Wong Sing Yui also
participated in the shooting of LOOK UP. The various efforts we
have made have only one purpose - to make Hong Kong films continue to
thrive and to have talents from generation to generation. On the
occasion of the 25th anniversary of our return, I hope our film can
bring you a refreshing feeling, and let us reminisce about the ups and
downs of the past 25 years, and work together to create a better
tomorrow."
Another soul character of this project, producer Chong Ching
said that the four directors have four personalities and four styles.
After they are familiar with the first one, they move on to the second
one and grind together again. They work hard, but all the actors
deserve the most thanks. Because each actor, without saying a word
after listening to the story or how many scenes they would be in,
agree without hesitation to support the new director force. This is
also the spirit of Hong Kong movies. This time in making four stories
to move people, he pointed out that from the creative process, he
deeply realized the dedication and enthusiasm of the directors. The
film can move everyone a little, which is the result of their hard
work. The four co-directors are also grateful for the opportunity
given by the film company, and said they have benefited a lot from
their elder Chong Ching. The actors of the four segments of LOOK UP
also introduced their roles and talked about the filming at the
beginning of the year under the outbreak of the epidemic. They praised
the team for showing the flexible spirit of Hong Kong people, working
together to complete the filming as scheduled, and it can be released
in the Hand Over period. They are also very happy that yesterday
coincided with the relaxation of the theater occupancy rate to 85%.
They hope that the theater can resume normal seating when it is
released in June, so that more audiences can come to the theater to
enjoy LOOK UP together.
In his first Hand Over film, Chu Kam Yin in the film played
a brave young man who worked hard to fulfill his dreams and had to
connect four stories. Playing the role from university graduation to
his 40s, he said that because he still has not reached middle age he
spent a lot of time on studying the character. In the four segments
his favorite was the Chinese Opera Dream character. He played a numb
and heartless manager who was a social worker for awhile. Since he
has been in the business for some time was he numb? He said, "I
haven't been in the business for too long yet, I would always remind
myself." Speaking of his experience with the Hand Over, he said that
at 8 or 9 he returned to Hong Kong from Canada with his family. It
was July 1st, 1997. Papa even joked that the fireworks in Hong Kong
was to welcome their return, so he had a deep impression.
Michelle Yim (Mai Suet) and Shek Sau in the Chinese Opera
Dream segment played a couple again. Shek Sau said that this was
already their fourth pairing but they still were just a couple, unable
to go further to marriage. Mai Sue said that after working together
many times they already had great chemistry. Shek Sau said, "We
cultivated our relationship for 30 years in the film, but as a married
a couple we would have to wait for the next one."
In addition, Mai Suet pointed out that this crossover of
Cantonese opera and electronic music would be very chill, the producer
would even create Chinese, English, Mandarin and other versions.
Ivana Wong Yuen Chi and Alex Lam Tak Shun spoke to the media
together. They performed in different segments. Wong Yuen Chi said
that she played a social worker in "90 Degree Angle World", the first
time that she played a social worker. She thought it was a lot of fun,
especially when working with a group of outstanding actors. Aaron
Chow Chi Kwan's performance made her really wanted to protect him.
She has not tried a production method like this time. The director
would focus on communicating with actors, after setting goals the
actors were left to achieve them and given a lot of freedom. It was
the most memorable to her.
Speaking of the 25th anniversary of the Hand Over, Wong Yuen
Chi said that the most memorable was the experience of chasing her
dream. "Because the film was about chasing dreams, I felt closer and
closer to the dream. All along I learned a lot, I really wanted to
make art, at the same time also performed a lot of popular music jobs.
Earlier I worked on a decorative art exhibit. Next month I would
perform a classical music concert. Because I grew up in a classical
music family, I wanted to salute my parents through this."
Alex said that his character was a musician who returned from
Spain to chase his dream, just like him in real life when he came to
Hong Kong to chase his music dream in 2010. Thus he was able to get
into his character very quickly. In the story he performed, he
represented electronic music and Mai Suet and Shek Sau represented
Cantonese Opera in a crossover. Would he be interested in a crossover
with Cantonese Opera in real life? He said, "I made several songs
already, I would sing a duet with Sister Mai Suet and add in
Cantonese Opera elements."