| THE HONG KONG FILM AWARD IS TRASH | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
(3/4/1999) The Hong Kong Film Award in order to remind everyone of the annual event has produced a short promotional film. Since last year, counterfeit VCD has affected the Hong Kong film industry. This year's short film would focus on piracy in hopes of public awareness as the business took the opportunity to laugh at itself.
Cha Chuen Yi would direct this year's short film. Yau Suk Ching, Andy Lau Tak Wa, Athena Chu Yun, Ng Kwan Yu, Ng Chun Yu, Chan Kam Hung, Cheung Man Chi, Kong Hei Man and others would participate in the two day shoot.
The scenes shot yesterday included the following: Chingmy Yau Suk Ching and Sunny Chan Kam Hung walked by a gold fish stand and surprisingly discovered a rusty abandoned Hong Kong Film Award in the tank; Pinky Cheung Man Chi and Liz Kong Hei Man went to the Temple to "beat little people" with Hong Kong Film Awards instead of slippers and after that Cheung Man Chi tossed the award like trash and smacked fortune teller outside the temple Chin Kar Lok on the head. Wise Guys Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Sam Lee Chan Sum used the awards as weapons.
Sandra Ng Kwan Yu sold counterfeit VCD on the streets. When Francis Ng Chun Yu screamed, "Cops!" she didn't move at all. On the other hand Lee Lik Chi who was selling Hong Kong Film Award had no business and threw it away in front of Kwan Yu. What a horrible sight!
| CHOW YUN-FAT FEELS LOTS OF STRESS OVER ANNA AND THE KING | ||||||||
| ||||||||
[TS] (3/5/1999) Chow Yun-Fat's third Hollywood film ANNA AND THE KING sees Chow working with Oscar award winner Jodie Foster. Naturally, the pressure Fat-Jai faces is not small. Fat-So told an Apple reporter previously, "My husband, for this film, has really put a lot of effort. Everyday he's learning non-stop. English, dancing, reading the script, learning Thai. Watching him work so hard, I don't know if it's because of the stress, but he mumbles lines from the script while he's asleep at night. Sometimes he mumbles so loud he wakes me up!"
Although ANNA AND THE KING has been shooting for four days in Penang, no one has seen Chow Yun-Fat on set. Kenneth Tsang Gong, who has a role in the film, told NAM YEUNG SEUNG PO in an interview, "Fat-Jai says he does not have any scenes yet. Naturally, you won't see him around!"
Although he has been busy in his hotel room in Penang learning Thai, Chow Yun-Fat took time out yesterday to hold a seafood feast. During the day, Fat-So went out to buy a large amount of seafood. Later, she and Fat -Gor cooked it all up in the kitchen. Judging from the looks on the faces of his guests, Fat-Gor's handiwork was well-received. Fat-Gor also promised to take everyone out again someday to share a feast.
| ANDY LAU TAK WA PRAISES THE BEAUTY OF MICHELLE REIS | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
(3/6/1999) Andy Lau Tak Wa teams up with Michelle Reis (Lee Ka Yun) again since ARMAGEDDON (TIN DEI HUNG SUM) in the Wong Jing directed PRINCE CHARMING (HARK MA WONG JI). Seeing Ka Yun again, he praised Ka Yun for being more and more beautiful.
The production period of PRINCE just happened to be the period when Ka Yun was dating Perry Chan Ping Chi. Even Wa Jai felt that women with the nourishment of love look especially radiant. Lau Tak Wa would have a breakthrough performance in this movie. "In it I play a Mongkok Wise Guy. My performance would be even more exaggerated than before. I hope the audience can accept it."
In PRINCE Lau Tak Wa and Ka Yun play a couple and share a kiss scene. Wa Jai expressed that he has kissed many female leads in his career, like Annie Wu (Ng Sun Kwan) in ISLAND OF GREED (HARK GUM), Gigi Leung Wing Kei in A TRUE MOB STORY (LUNG JOI GONG WU), and Athena Chu Yun in THE CONMAN (DOE HUP 1999). As a professional, Wa Jai felt that kiss scenes should not pose a difficulty for him, even though that it seems he has such scenes in every movie.
Also, the Lau Tak Wa and Lau Ching Wan starred UM JIN (SECRET WAR) reportedly has stopped production due to funding problems. According to China Star's promotional department, the film has halted production mainly because during its production Lau Tak Wa was working on three others films, THE CONMAN, PRINCE CHARMING and FASCINATION AMOUR (OI CHING MONG WAN HO). UM's director Johnnie To Kei Fung has always been serious about his productions. China Star has no financial problem and plans to produce 12 to 15 movies this year, including Zhao Wen Zhou (Chiu Man Cheuk)'s TEET KUEN SIU JI (IRON FIST KID) and two productions that will shoot on location in America and starring Lau Tak Wa, DOE HUP DAI JIN LA SI WAI GA SI (GAMBLING HERO VS. LAS VEGAS) and LAM HUET YUN (BLUE BLOOD PERSON).
Lau Tak Wa has always wanted to win a Best Actor award, unfortunately he was not nominated for this year's Hong Kong Film Award. Even though he was disappointed, Wa Jai remained supportive of the event and even took time to participate in the promotional short film.
Yesterday, Lau Tak Wa took part in the short film on the streets of Wanchai. In the film Wa Jai threw away the award on a street that was filled with statues. After the shoot, however, Wa Jai was unwilling to part with the award and even joked, "If no one wants the award, can I have it?"
As for not being nominated this year, Wa Jai sighed, "It's just not a good year for me. My performance in A TRUE MOB STORY was pretty good. I don't understand why it wasn't nominated. If it is because it is about a Wise Guy, (Sandra) Ng Kwan Yu was nominated. I really hope the jury can give me suggestions on how to make improvements."
| JACKY CHEUNG HOK YAU RELUCTANTLY ENDS HIS CONCERT SERIES | ||||||||
| ||||||||
(ORIENTAL DAILY 3/8/1999) The 30 show run of Jacky Cheung Yau's Yau Gor Yun Concert series has finally came to an atmospheric and reluctant end. Perhaps because it was the last show, Hok Yau just kept on singing until midnight before ending the show. The audience's emotions were high as many stood up and dance and the evening was filled with applause. When the show ended several husand fans rushed the stage and cheered for Hok Yau, who was almost in tears and reluctantly bid farewell to the crowd.
At the celebration Hok Yau excitedly opened a bottle of champagne and cut the cake. Did he want to cry? Hok Yau honestly said, "I am still a person, I kinda didn't want it to end. (Tonight you were especially sentimental, you said on stage that you didn't know when your next concert would be?) Because in the past my concerts were planned in advance. This time I didn't have any special plan. I will worry about it when the time comes, so I didn't think when the next time will be. I want to follow my own instinct. In the past I felt concerts were performances, now I enjoy them more. The comparison is different. This time was the most enjoyable time for me. I am very happy."
Reportedly Hok Yau was upset that organizer Mrs. Chan hired Lee Wai Chun as the special guest and arranged for a lucky drawing. Hok Yau apologized Lee Wai Chun for that. Hok Yau clarified, "I was the one who got Lee Wai Chun. When I saw LEGEND (MAN BO YUN SUN LO) her performance of CARMEN was great. When I looked for someone to sing with I thought of her. Her performance has been very stable throughout the 30 shows. It was a great job for a new comer." As for displeasure with Mrs. Chan, Hok Yau also said, "No way. Even though there were drawings at every show, I still did very bad. I didn't know how to handle my emotions but that wasn't the reason that led me to be upset with Mrs. Chan. This time she has given up a lot."
"When my concerts change the mold, naturally there will be certain acceptance or rejection. I have psychologoically prepared myself to lose the audience, but to the organizers it was a gamble. It was different from the old stable business. Mrs. Chan was willing to take the risk and I couldn't thank her more. How can I be upset at her? This time I couldn't think too much, I chose the road. Even if two more shows are added I wouldn't mind. I like to sing, but I can't dance until I am 45. Only the way can I endure."
| SAM HUI KOON KIT OPENED HIS RETIRED MOUTH | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
(3/8/1999) The Sam Hui Koon Kit musical JUNG HA YE KONG SEUNG KUK (MID SUMMER NIGHT MADNESS) finally finished its 20 show run. Since it was the final show, chief creative supervisor Sam of course had to give the 7,000 fans in the audience a "big surprise" -- he got on stage and led the singing of the theme YUT WONG CHING SUM (ALWAYS LOVE DEEP).
After the show the four lead actors Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Jordan Chan Siu Chun and Miriam Yeung Chin Wa did not return backstage as all four broke into tears. Ekin, the coolest one among them, introduced other cast members. Sam came from the control room to the stage and the audience bursted into applause as they welcomed him with cheers and flowers. Sam embraced everyone on stage and even kissed Leung Wing Kei who was drenched in tears!
He said, "Thank you very much. It's been 9 years since I last stood on this stage (According to Oriental Daily, Sam's last concert was in 93). I feel like I am walking on clouds. Are you all happy? Did the four leads do a good job? You of course hope there would be something extra in the final show, okay, there is still 10 minutes." Then Sam introduced his behind the scenes crew and added, "Thanks to the outside for saying that I lost a house on this show, but it was he who lost a house and sold a plane to support me Lam Kin Ming."
When Sam said something extra, of course he would not disappoint everyone. After 6 years of retirement he finally opened his mouth and led the entire crew in a rendition of the musical's theme YUT WONG CHING SUM. The crowd gave Sam a standing ovation, some even broke into tears.
Perhaps because it was the final show or they were too involved in their characters and story, Chin Wa and Ekin's eyes were already red during the final "farewell" scene. Chin Wa even cried and held onto Ekin even harder than before. During her solo she was on her knees and crying so hard she missed the lyrics. On the other hand, when she and Ekin took a wrong step in their choreography, Chin Wa just cracked up and Ekin had to save her by singing her part too.
Siu Chun said, "Sam is my idol. I once remade his song NGOR OI NEI (I LOVE YOU), the first song I wrote was also titled NGOR OI NEI, thus here and now I have to say to Sam, 'I Love You!'"
Chin Wa said, "Before this show, the letters SAM were strange to me, but now I think I have feelings for him. If my future boyfriend's name is 'Sam', I wouldn't care what he looks like or how he acts!"
Gigi said, "I am very envious of those who had Sam's songs accompany them in their growth. I wasn't so lucky, but luckily I have had the opportunity to work with Sam and learn a lot about life."
Ekin said, "At first when I accepted this role, I wanted to fulfill an elder's dream, but later I discovered that it wasn't just Sam's dream, but our dream as well. Success of this magnitude was due to everyone's sincerity."
After the show the entire cast and crew headed to Tsimshatsui's Shangri La Hotel for a 20 some table celebration. Sam's mother, wife Bo Lam, sons Wai Yun and Wai Guk attended as well. Sam's fans of course snuck in for an autograph and photo with their idol.
As for reports of Sam being the other boss of the show and losing HK$20 million on it, Sam said, "I am the employee, not the investor. I feel that report was somewhat a personal attack. How can they try to hurt our show? I don't know what they had in mind. The audience's eyes are crystal clear. As for whether there will be a loss or not, I really am unsure. From the looks of it the show will lose money, with such a huge production and such a bad market. I am not sorry because my biggest reward this time was friendship, not the box office. (Are you disappointed that your dream ran into such a bad market?) No, I was mentally prepared, I took it as it came."
Boss Lam Kin Ming stressed that Sam did not invest in the show. "I still don't know how much the show lost, but it wouldn't be as much as 20 million."
Originally the organizer planned a tour for the show, but due to the cost of transportation, so far there has not been any appropriate place.
Sherming Yiu Lok-Yi will be releasing a "healthy" pictorial book in about two months. Pinky Cheung Man-Chi at a publicity event for her ATV serial FLAMING BROTHERS (JUNG WAN SEI HOI).
Patrick Tam Yiu-Man at the publicity event for FLAMING BROTHERS. His star is rising as a result of the serial. Kristy Yeung Kung-Yu at the FLAMING BROTHERS' publicity event. It is pretty much a certainty that she will be leaving ATV when her contract expires with them later this year. She plans to try to develop her career in Taiwan.
Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk playing badminton in the remote bit on Josephine Siao's benefit show. Tony Leung Ka-Fai made a surprise appearance during the bit and played a little bit of badminton against Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing.
Lillian Ho Ka-Lei (left) made an appearance at an event for a radio station. A lobby card (right) for the soon-to-be released TEMPTING HEART (SUM DONG).
Amanda Lee Wai-Man shows off a new hairstyle at an event for a radio station. Kwok Siu-Wun will start working on the TVB millennium serial as shooting wraps up on the filming of her current TVB serial FEI SEUNG BO BIU (lit. EXCEPTIONAL BODYGUARDS).
