[2010.02.19] 72 BOX OFFICE COMEBACK SADDENS RAYMOND WONG

ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL TOO (FA TIN HEI SI 2010) two nights ago held its Lunar New Year dinner event. Boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming attended with Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei and others. ALL'S after a week in release went from originally leading to trailing 72 TENANTS OF PROSPERITY (72 GA JO HAT) by over 3 million, Wong Pak Ming two nights ago congratulated his opponent on the good performance with a depressed look. Although its box office was behind 72, ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL TOO's performance was decent as now it has already passed 10 million at the box office. Two nights ago the film company presented gold made roses to Wong Pak Ming, Goo Jai, Cheng Chung Kei and Kwan Yu, as well as "Fortune and Longevity" gold longevity peaches" to Lee Heung Kam and Ha Chun Chau.

Speaking of being overtaken at the box office, Wong Pak Ming said with a little disappointment, "Congratulations to it." He pointed out that this year's Lunar New Year box office was better than last year's, the overall atmosphere was great and something to be happy about. Was he confident after catching up in the end? He said, "We will see what happens." He expressed that he already saw 72 and felt that the entire film was very cheerful. As for falling over 3 million behind, Wong Pak Ming pointed out that both performed well and profit for everyone was the most important. Yet in terms of promotion and buzz 72 definitely was the best. He pointed out that if ALL'S was promoted on television like 72 it would at least have to spend over 10 million on promotion. He felt that 72 had an advantage there.

Wong Pak Ming pointed out that ALL'S Mainland box office was decent. In comparison to last year's ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) it rose 70%. When asked if he felt 72 was the edge due to its cast size, Wong Pak Ming felt that mainly their promotional strategy had the edge. Jacky Cheung Hok Yau earlier expressed that next year he could make a Lunar New Year film for Wong Pak Ming. Wong Pak Ming of course would like to ask Hok Yau as earlier he has worked with Hok Yau as well. 72 after its good performance yesterday published in its new newspaper ad the slogan "Competing Against Me?", which seemed to target ALL'S. Wong Pak Ming expressed that he did not mind and pointed out that the move might stir up audience's passion to go to the movies and have more to talk about. He expressed that ALL'S would not have any special promotion.

Ng Kwan Yu spent the Lunar New Year holidays with her family in Thailand. After returning to Hong Kong she learned that 72 TENANTS OF PROSPERITY overtook ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL TOO 2010 at the box office. Kwan Yu admitted that she was surprised as she did not expect it to catch up so quickly. She joked, "They have hypnotic promotions, countless sponsors and countless wallpaper, next year we have to find more sponsors too."

Reporters pointed out that boss Wong Pak Ming looked depressed. Kwan Yu said, "No big deal, as long as you understand what's going on then it's fine. It is truly too fast too, exceeding my expectation." When asked what she felt she lost on, she joked, "Hypnosis and wallpaper." As for Eric Tsang Chi Wai's new promotional poster yesterday with the slogan "Competing Against Me?" as an obvious stab at ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL TOO, Kwan Yu joked, "Let me publish a poster too, Chi Wai very early on already said that he beat us by 3 million. With such an accurate number, he already did the calculation before the opening." Did she feel 72 TENANTS OF PROSPERITY fix the numbers? Kwan Yu immediately said, "I didn't say that, I completely didn't think about that." She felt that most importantly both sides were well. If both films had over 10 million at the box office then that would be the best. They fended over foreign film invasion.

Reporters said that she could book a cinema to watch with her daughter. Kwan Yu joked that she did not have the money, she only had enough for a dozen or so seats. This year's Valentine's Day was exactly on the Lunar New Year's Day. She and Peter Chan Ho Sun spent it in Thailand. That night they left their daughter at the hotel and dined as a couple at a restaurant. Kwan Yu said, "We had candle lit dinner, facing Bangkok's most beautiful scenery we watched the sunset. He gave me red roses that were as big as the table......haha. I exaggerated, actually it was just a bunch."

Kwan Yu honestly said that they have not had candle lit dinner in five or six years. Did Chan Ho Sun propose? She said no, but their daughter got jealous when she saw that she got flowers. She thought that another gift would be by the bed but in the end it was not. She said, "Chan Ho Sun said that originally he wanted to give me a ring, but the jewelers were off." She expressed that she was at work during past Valentine's Day. This year it happened to be the Lunar New Year holiday so Chan Ho Sun got her flowers. Kwan Yu joked that it absolutely would not happen every ten years, the next time would be 38 years later.

Koo Tin Lok pointed out that he was already very happy that Hong Kong films performed well. Since the run has not ended yet, they did not know the final result. Reporters pointed out that they were "arrogant" back then. Goo Jai said, "No, we only told the truth. Today this is the truth too." Did Cheng Chung Kei book a cinema to watch the film with Charlene Choi Chuek Yin? He awkwardly laughed and said, "How can you book the whole place just for two people? Don't keep other people from the movie." Goo Jai joked, "Why is your face so red?" Cheng Chung Kei pointed out that actually he did not know whether Ah Sa saw it. Reporters joked that Ah Sa did not watch it because she knew he performed well. He said, "She knows. (Are you embarrassed?) No. (Your face is red!) It's from the cold."

Cheng Chung Kei expressed that Ah Sa did not pay him a Lunar New Year visit and vice versa. Instead Goo Jai did as the two men had melon seeds and "chatted". Did he wish Ah Sa's family a Happy New Year? He expressed that he did it over the phone. As for Valentine's Day, he was

at home as well. Reporters told him to make a heart shaped turnip cake for Ah Sa. He said, "It's so lame. Then next year I will make a heart shape, thanks for the reminder. (You have to wait 38 years before Lunar New Year's Day will be on Valentine's Day again.) I can give her a heart

shaped turnip cake on non Lunar New Year's Day too." He pointed out that earlier Kwan Yu exposed his gift of a camera, now he had to come up with another gift to make up for it perhaps at the Lantern Festival.