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New Yeung Gors meet: Richie Yam Yin Chai and Louis Koo Tin Lok |
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With his popularity on the rise in both Hong Kong and Taiwan, Louis Koo Tin Lok might go even further in 99 because he is planning to produce a experimental romantic short film. He will star and direct as well.
Koo Tin Lok will be busy with TVB series production DETECTIVE INVESTIGATION FILES 4
at the beginning of next year.(SORRY PEOPLE , the whole cast in this series was changed ,
so expect something new from it.Michael To Tai Yu is definitely not there.)
However, he actually has planned from early
on to work with friends next year and star and direct in a romantic
experimental short film. When it is released it will be shown for
free at Hong Kong's Cultural Center.
When asked for the secret of his success, Koo Tin Lok said success required opportunity and luck, not just by fulfilling qualifications. However his own secret is hard work.
Although his star is on the rise, Koo Tin Lok's salary has not increased since the first TROUBLESOME NIGHT (YUM YEUNG LO). For TROUBLESOME NIGHT 5 (YUM YEUNG LO 5 YUT GEIN FAT CHOI), he insisted that his salary would remain the same because the film's producer Nam Yin is his benefactor. However, while the entire crew was working in the Phillipines, Koo Tin Lok had to go to the Philippines for one day a week.
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Gigi Leung Wing Kei; Eric Kot Man Fai; Click for larger: Gigi Leung Wing Kei; |
Jimmy Heung Wa Sing, Lee Kwok Hing, Raymond Wong Pak Ming and Joe Ma Wai Ho's Mandarin BIG theater circuit officially opened today. Its first shot will be JOBLESS KING (SUT YIP WONG DAI) starring the ever popular Gallen Law Ka Leung the new girl next door of the music industry Gigi Leung Wing Kei.
Days ago Wong Pak Ming expressed that the circuit has 15 theaters under its belt, but at the premiere of JOBLESS KING on the 30th, Heung Wa Sing expressed that 3 more theaters have joined.
With such a weak film market and rampant piracy, why would Mr. Heung still jump into the theater business? Mr. Heung jokingly said, "If no one makes movies, where will counterfeits come from?"
After some discussion with Lee Kwok Hing, he has decided that for certain films the circuit might even lower admission to HK$20 to attract an audience. He again joked that if JOBLESS' box office would be only around 1 million, he would close the circuit.
Mr. Heung sighed that 15 years ago when he made DOUBLE TROUBLE (DAI SIU BUT LEUNG), the film ended up with a HK$11 million at the box office; and after that 15 of his movies broke the 30 million market. He never would have guessed that today the box office figures would be so weak! Now a film could only sell for 500,000 to 800,000 in the Taiwan market. He saw piracy as one of the most pressing problem of the industry and has already thought of a way to resolve the problem. However he would not resort to force.
He said, "Chow Yun Fat thought that the Hong Kong market was too small and went to Hollywood. Jackie Chan did the same. Box office guarantees like Andy Lau Tak Wa and Stephen Chau Sing Chi in order to maintain their price tag are only making one movie a year. I have already asked these attractive actors to make more movies. Maybe with 8 movies a year, 4 will be popular and can gradually bring the Hong Kong market back."
Having already broken into Hollywood, Fat Jai and Jackie Chan will be expensive. Can he afford their pay? Mr. Heung said, "If they are willing, I am able. I have talked to Fat Jai about that and he agreed, but Fat Jai said that he would no longer make HK$10 million production and would only consider big scale productions." He has also talked with Jackie Chan about SEMI-GOD AND SEMI-DEVIL (TIN LUNG BAT BO) but nothing has been set yet.(I hope they'll consider this , as I love this drama series produce by TVB)
Gigi Leung also attended the premiere. Gigi fell ill while promoting in Taiwan and was hospitalized for a high fever. When she returned to Hong Kong she rushed through the production of TEMPTING HEART (SUM DUNG) and caught the flu after working night and day. However, she revealed plans to marry 5 years later. Right now She hoped to further her study in music and design and is busy with the musical MAD SUMMER NIGHT MADNESS (Sam Hui's Production).
Click for larger: Kristy Yeung Kung Yu
Known as "The Most Beautiful Miss Asia", Kristy Yeung Kung Yu caught the world's attention with the film THE STORMRIDERS . Many film and ad producers had her in mind for their projects, including the Hollywood Film THE KING AND I starring Chow Yun Fat and Jodie Foster which had approached her for a screen test (The crew of The King and I will come to our very own Malaysia for filming) . Even Japanese film producers are interested in her. Originally these are all great opportunities for Yeung Kung Yu to break out of the Hong Kong market, unfortunately they were all destroyed by ATV, the company made her the star she is today. ATV without her knowledge turned down all of the offers on her behalf, claiming that she "would like to concentrate on television series". Upon finding out, Yeung Kung Yu was both sad and disappointed.
Days ago on an activity for the Performing Artist Guild Yeung Kung Yu ran into a crew member who was involved with casting. When the crew member expressed regret that she was not able to participate in a screen test, she had no idea what he was talking about. Finally she found that ATV has turned down the offer on her behalf.
She said angrily, "Even though it was just a screen test, it was still a good opportunity. ATV during the last contract extension agreed to let me go for sure when there is work outside. I thought ATV would want the best for its artists, but they say one thing and do another. It was really hurtful for me." Yeung Kung Yu's contract will end in September and ATV has talked to her about another extension. At first due to ATV being her benefactor she would consider a contract renewal first, but now she has to reconsider. (That's too bad......GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE , Yeung)
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At the premiere: Hsu Chi; with Sam Lee Chan Sam, Chan Wing Yin, and Leo Koo Kui Kei; Hsu Chi and Koo Kui Kei; |
In order to be at the premiere of WHEN I LOOK UPON THE STARS (TIN SHU DEI LUEN) Hsu Chi flew back from Toronto. Due to jet lag, she spent New Year's Eve in bed asleep.
Hsu was in Toronto to take part in Leon Lai's concert there. She said, "Once I got on the stage, the crowd started clapping. The reaction was very big, I liked having that direct connection with the audience."
That may be so but she has not even thought about become a music star. She says, "Because they say the way I sing isn't that good."
When asked who "they" were and if Leon was part of "them," Hsu Chi replied, "No. Just people on the crew said that."
Hsu Chi is Leon Lai's rumoured girlfriend. Luckily, Leon's fans weren't jealous. "I didn't feel that Lai Ming's fan didn't like me. Fans nowadays can identify for themselves." Hsu Chi said, "We aren't dating." She feels that rumours are very annoying forcing her to waste time and energy explaining and clarifying things.Has she considered starring in a musical? Hsu Chi said, "Let's wait until my Cantonese gets better."
(But I just love her accent....its so cute...isn't it ? Anyone out there agree with Kelly here?)
In 1998, Hsu Chi had the best box office of any female star. As 1999 dawns, she hopes that she can continue to act in good movies and that the industry will improve and everyone can work. She says with some disdain, "Pirated VCDs are sold all over the place. It really is out of hand."
Hsu Chi and Jackie Chan are currently working on GLASS BOTTLE. Chan has complimented Hsu on being very intelligent and willing to learn. Hsu thanks Big Brother Jackie for his kind words, she says, "Actually, the whole group treats me very well. They all adore me. They spare me from having to be in the very complicated action scenes."
In other news, Hsu's co-star in TIN SHU DEI LUEN, Leo Koo Gui-Gei has an opportunity to star in a Japanese film. Koo reports that Japanese people think that he is cartoonish.People have also said that he looks like KINDAICHI from the cartoons.(Though I thought he's good in drawing comics , but never knew he look like one)
Hong Kong recently is hit with a Japanese storm as artists rushed out of Hong Kong and headed to Japan one after another. After Takeshi Kaneshiro and Kelly Chan Wai Lam, Leo Koo Kui Kei has a chance to work on a Japanese film. The film will star either Nakayama Miho (Jung San Mei Wai), Yamaguchi Tomoko (San Hau Ji Ji) or Matsu Takako (Lung Chung Ji).
Leo Koo , Hsu Chi, Sam Lee Chan Sam and others attended the premiere of their film WHEN I LOOK UPON THE STARS (TIN SHUET DEI LUEN). Leo Koo revealed that he was in negotiation with a Japanese producer. If all went well, Gei Jai would get a chance to work a top Japanese star.
Reportedly the lead would either be Jung San Mei Wai, San Hau Ji Ji or Lung Chung Ji; but in terms of compatibility, Lung Chung Ji was higher chances. If all is successful, the film would begin production in Hong Kong and Japan around April or May.
When asked if he would be competition for Takeshi Kaneshiro , Gei Jai laughed, "I am no competition for Ah Mo (Takeshi), on top of that my Japanese right now is very limited. Luckily for the film in question I won't be playing a Japanese. The movie is still in negotiations, so it's too early to talk about these questions. If I have a chance however I won't let it go."
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Kelly Chan Wai Lam with Kyoko Fukada; Don't Be A Crybaby starring Kyoko Fukada; Kelly Chan Wai Lam; with Stephen Fung Tak Lun at the Hong Kong Time Square's New Year Countdown; Fung Tak Lun, Chan Wai Lam, and William So Wing Hong; |
The Kelly Chan Wai Lam and newly crowned Japanese star Kyoko Fukada (Sum Tin Gung Ji) starred Japanese television series DON'T BE A CRYBABY (GWAI JI CHAI GA) will premiere on cable in Hong Kong on January 24th. It will cost an expensive HK$25 per episode!
Since cable's announcement of the January 26th premiere of the Takashi Sorimachi (FAN TING LUNG SI) and Esumi Makiko (GONG GOK JUNG GEI JI)'s OVERTIME, this will be yet another fast premiere for another Fuji TV show. CRYBABY will premiere in Japan on the 12th, and a week later Hong Kong viewers will be able to see it fresh out of the oven.
Cable's public relations department reveals that the reasons Fuji sold the rights to cable for 7 figures were that Japan Fuji TV has been fully behind cable's anti piracy campaign, cable has made a name for them, Chan Wai Lam being a popular Hong Kong artist will garner a lot of Hong Kong viewer's attention, and Kyoko Fukada's popularity rise in Hong Kong. Fuji will provide 8 to 10 new series a season as an experiment. If it is successful in fighting piracy and received good results, next season Fuji can provide even more new series for cable to broadcast at the same time.
TO ALL HONG KONG RESIDENCE : Also, OVERTIME's first episode will be a free preview for the viewers. It will be shown on January 16 at 7:30 PM and 8:45 PM on Pay Per View Channel 84 to attract an audience. Will CRYBABY follow suit? Cable said the chances are high.
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Carman Lee and Louis Koo; Maggie Cheung and Andy Lau | |
Wong Kar Wai's AS TEARS GO BY (WONG GOK KA MOON) was one of the classic films of the 80s and turned Andy Lau Tak Wa and Maggie Cheung Man Yuk into an classic onscreen couple and pushed to their careers to a new level. Now Wong Jing is planning to remake this classic with Louis Koo Tin Lok and Carman Lee Yeuk Tung. How will it turn out?
Wong Jing expressed, "The company has signed Koo Tin Lok to several movies, but which one of them will they be has not been set yet!"
"Will there be a NEW AS TEARS GO BY?"
Wong Jing refused to answer directly. "I will only say that Goo Jai's deal includes a major movie! I will tell you after a week!"
"Why did you consider to remake this movie?"
Wong Jing laughed. "I said I will talk about it next week when everything is set!"
Koo Tin Lok said, "The company (TVB) and Wong Jing have already reached an agreement. I don't know about it yet. I will mainly make movies for his company, but I still don't know which one they will be. If it will really be AS TEARS GO BY, of course I will be interested because it is a classic. However the company did not mention that movie! It only said the genre will be like A MOMENT OF ROMANCE (TIN YEUK YAU CHING). I hope Brother Jing help my development in the film industry!"
Jordan Chan Siu Chun promoted in Taiwan by participating in the throwing of a wedding bouquet. He received that he almost lost his life when he worked on television series LUNG TONG (DRAGON HALL) when the car he and Carrie Ng Ka Lai was in got into an accident;
Andy Lau Tak Wa plays a trick on Yoyo Mung Ka Wai; Wa Jai is surrounded by fans;
Hilary Tsui Ho Ying attended her boyfriend Eason Chan Yik Shun's concert; Nicholas Tse Ting Fung was a special guest;
Sherry Chang Wei Mei (middle) returns to Taiwan for a cross year concert
Faye Wong's daughter Dou Jing Tung sat at Chan Ka Ying's laps to watch her mother's concert
Theresa Lee Yi Hung and her boyfriend attended a show at the Hong Kong Colliseum;
Carina Lau Ka Ling (second right) brought her mahjong pals (left) Alvina Kong Yun Yin, Seung San Si Nap and Suki Kwan Sau Mei (right) attended Faye Wong (middle)'s concert
Nicholas Tse Fung and Lillian Ho Ka Lei went to the Faye Wong concert
Even Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing was there for the final night
On the set of DUT GAING SUN YUN LUI: with the assistance of the Jackie Chan Stuntman Association, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung fearlessly performs his own stunts;Grace Yip Pui Man with Nicholas
Everything here is provided by them and the translator , I only know him as SANNEY , thanks....
