[2011.12.02] GE YOU SIGNS WITH EMPEROR

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Mainland Best Actor Ge You yesterday attended a press conference to officially sing with Emperor for three major productions in five years.  Emperor invested 500 million RMB on Ge You to plan and create movies, but he mercilessly joked that Emperor artists' Mandarin was not authentic enough.

Ge You yesterday attended the press conference in Happy Valley, announced the Emperor collaboration and signed the contract.  Big boss Albert Yeung Sau Sing led many of the company's artists like Twins, William Chan Wai Ting, Ken Hung Cheuk Lap and Sherman Chung Shu Man in support.  Ge You also announced that in the next five years he will plan film projects that he will star in and make three movies.  Reportedly the total investment amount reached 500 million RMB.

Ge You reiterated that he still was handling scripts.  As for the subjects, he responded, "I don't even know whether they are ancient, modern or contemporary yet."  Would he like to direct?  Ge You admitted, "Ten years ago someone has already asked me to direct, but for now I still haven't had the idea.  After being an actor for such a long time I feel being a director is too much trouble!"  He also mentioned that before the event he chatted with a male Emperor artist and discovered that with his accent he would have difficulty playing someone from Beijing.  He said, "He would be more suitable to play someone from Hong Kong who went to work in Beijing."  As for which artist he would like to work with, he admitted that if he had the chance he would like to work with Nicholas Tse Ting Fung.  As for the salary, he stressed that it was satisfactory but the most important was the large creative space.  He also said, "Yeung Sau Sing has been my friend for many years, I feel he is both familiar and pleasant."  On the other hand, Emperor boss Yeung Sau Sing said that he was deeply pleased to be able to sign Ge You but declined to discuss the salary.  He said, "We have been good friends for many years, being able to sign him truly is rare."  Yeung Sau Sing also said that this time he will provide him with a lot of freedom.  This time Ge You would be responsible for the film projects.

Yeung Sau Sing said, "Only they know about the Mainland taste, like I don't understand the jokes in IF YOU ARE THE ONE 2 either."  He also stated that Ge You was the top actor in three lands on both sides of the strait.  He said, "Last Christmas he alone made 1.5 billion at the box office.  This year he hasn't made any movie.  I am worried about him having to make three movies in five years.  However he can decide whether they will be costume or modern."  As for signing others, Yeung Sau Sing said that many are under negotiation.  For example Jiang Wen is already a steady collaboration partner.  Emperor also has a part in Feng Xiaogang's movies.  It will also work with Chen Kaige's large production.  As for signing actresses, Yeung Sau Sing thought that the film industry remained male artist dominated so he has not had such a thought.  He said, "The Mainland is actor driven, few female Mainland stars can carry the box office.  It's the same way in Hong Kong, with Wa Jai (Andy Lau), Wai Jai (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and (Nicholas) Tse Ting Fung.  Few actresses can carry the entire film."  As for Ge You's accusation that some Emperor male artists' Mandarin was not Beijing enough, Yeung Sau Sing took the chance to reveal that he just talked with Kenny Kwan Chi Bun and criticized his poor Mandarin.  Would he hire someone to instruct?  He replied, "I will ask Mani (Fok Man Hei) to take care of it."

Kenny admitted that his accent was not Beijing enough, thus making local series would be hard.  However he said, "Ordinary communication isn't a problem.  We will improve our Beijing accent in hopes of being able to work with Ge You."  Steven Cheung Chi Hung said that he believed he would have to live there be able to practice his Beijing accent.  He said, "We ask Mani to get more Mainland series for us."  Twins' Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin admitted that Ge You was very highly positioned and very nice.  "If I will be able to work with him, I will be willing to sweep the floor and empty the trash."  Speaking of her less than fluent Mandarin, Ah Sa said, "Hong Kong artists indeed can improve more.  In the past I wanted to provide my own voice for my Mandarin roles, but because the approval required Beijing accent in the end I couldn't."