[2010.09.02] ANDY LAU COMPETES FOR BEST ACTOR WITH AN ORDINARY FRAME OF MIND

Andy Lau Tak Wa and Li Bingbing yesterday attended the Madame Tussaud Hong Kong's DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (DIK YUN KIT ji TUNG TIN DAI GOK) theme display unveiling ceremony at the Peak. Wa Jai appeared hand in hand with Bingbing. The event arranged for children to play their characters in the film. Wa Jai already had a wax figure at the venue. Because wax figures could not have fake beard a suit was selected. Bingbing's wax figure was on display for the first time there. It was shipped from Shanghai. She stated that the wax figure looked was with the 2007 Huabiao award evening wear. Because it was her first film award, it was very meaningful. They also posed intimately with wax figures on stage. Wa Jai was asked whether Bingbing's wax figure resembled her, he felt that it looked more like a foreigner.

Wa Jai and Bingbing's DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME was the only Chinese films in competition at the 67th Venice Film Festival. Wa Jai stated that he will head to Venice tomorrow and plan to stay for five days. Was he confident about the Best Actor competition? Wa Jai said, "Normal frame of mind." Was he nervous? He said, "I am nervous for Tsui Hark."

Wa Jai stated that after 20 to 30 years in the business, he did not expect to work with Tsui Hark for the first time. He joked, "Maybe my acting wasn't great before, or my destiny hasn't arrived yet." He said that he had chances to work with Tsui Hark, but he was afraid of the heat so at the time he did not want to work in costume. Li Bingbing praised Wa Jai's fighting to be great in the film and joked that she was also great at hitting Wa Jai. Wa Jai joked, "Right, during the shoot she hit my face twice when she pulled out her face. From then on I asked everyone to duck when they saw Bingbing drawing her sword." Bingbing was sorry and afraid that he would be mad from getting hit.

When Joey Yung Cho Yi responded to the Philippines hostage case, Lam Yi Lai made fun of her as a "little singer". Wa Jai noticed and said, "Let them, you can't do anything about what people say." Wa Jai honestly said that he would support Joey because the comment was unnecessary. Did he feel Lam Yi Lai demeaned Joey? Wa Jai said, "Maybe she wants to be more familiar, like people calling me Wa Jai. She added the word Jai. Why doesn't Joey changed it to Joey Jai." The "fans" immediately screamed Wa Jai and Wa Jai joked, "Ha, do you feel I was demeaned. I don't think so. I am very happy."

Wa Jai recently worked with Gong Li on the new film WHAT WOMEN WANT. He said that the film was completed a month ago. Did he and Gong Li exchange electricity? He joked that he did not dare because Gong Li was a major actress and was very attractive. During the shoot Gong Li was caught dining with a foreigner. Wa Jai stated that he did not know about it because he was working 12 hour days on the film. When he had time he took time off. As for Gong Li's divorce rumors, Wa Jai also said he did not know and never asked her about it.

Li Bingbing said that she too will head to Venice. She said that she has prepared clothing and jewelry. She said, "Because I am Chinese, the clothing will have Chinese flavor. I hope to spread Chinese culture." Was her evening wear very sexy? She said, "It will be elegant and graceful but maintain a sense of mystery." Would Bingbing like to win Venice Best Actress? She said that she would not think about it but was fully confident in the film. She said that whether she won or not it did not matter. The film took a lot of effort and she would like the film to win. In addition, Bingbing's Huayi contract was rumored to have ended. She honestly said that it was. She has worked with Huayi for ten years and was one of Huayi's earliest artists. They will continue to discuss collaboration formats. She already set up Li Bingbing workshop and will work with Jackie Chan on the new film XINHAI REVOLUTION. She will be a producer on the film.