[2010.03.23] FUNG WAI YUEN ASKS EKIN CHENG TO DIRECT

Hong Kong Golden Stream chair Fung Wai Yuen, Hong Kong director Pang Ho Cheung, Damien Lau Chung Yan and Ng See Yuen yesterday attended a Chinawood Hong Kong film development fund contract signing ceremony. The fund is a collaboration between the Mainland Wuxi Chinawood film industry and the Hong Kong Golden Stream Media Group. The fund's total investment will reach 1 billion RMB and expect to finish at least ten films within five years.

Hong Kong Golden Stream chair Fung Wai Yuen said, "If the films will receive Mainland approval, the fund will provide 15 million RMB for film at least. All of China, including Hong Kong film professionals, can apply." He revealed that the first two films to apply for financing were the Dior Cheng Yi Kin starred CHING MONG GEI OI GOR NGOR (PLEASE FORGET LOVING ME) and the Lo Seung Yan directed LUEN OI LAT MUI LOLA (FALL FOR SPICE GIRL LOLA). Both films are expected to start production in May with over 30 million RMB budget. Fung Wai Yuen also revealed interest in the Mainland version CHINESE GHOST STORY (SIN NUI YAU WON). Earlier Ekin was contacted. Hopefully he would direct or work behind the scene. As for the cast, he said no decision has been made yet.

Pang Ho Cheung expressed that the Hong Kong government fund allocation was harder. He said, "I understand that the fund comes from taxpayers, but the rules are truly too numerous. Actually many Hong Kong film professionals want to enter the Mainland market, but approval for the fund that the government is assisting the film industry with is harder."