Movie Box Review

Irene Wan

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Jessica C.

Rose Chan (right), Huang Yi (center) and Sin Kwok Lam

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The 3rd Macau International Film Festival presented its awards yesterday.  Rose Chan Ka Wun in the company of master Sin Kwok Lam and co-star Huang Yi received the Best New Actor award for WOMAN KNIGHT OF MIRROR LAKE.  Huang Yi also received Best Actress for the same time.  Best Actor went to Donnie Yen for THE LOST BLADESMAN (GUAN WON CHEUNG).  Irene Wan Bik Ha with 72 MARTYRS (YING HUNG DIP HUET) won Best Supporting Actress.

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EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DONG SING SAI JAU 2011) two nights ago held its premiere.  Aside from director Jeff Lau Chun Wai, actors Eason Chan Yik Shun, Karen Mok Man Wai, Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To), Huang Yi and Stephy Tang Lai Yun attended.  Speaking of TVB and the five major record labels breaking ice, has Eason received any TVB job?  He said that he still has not received any notice and even jokingly took out his cell phone to call Universal executive to ask.  Then he said that the executive was in the bathroom.  As for TVB awards would still go to contract singers first, he stated in the same manner that he had to call Elaine Lok Yi Ling for an understanding.  Two nights ago TVB's coverage team still did not interview him.

As for Rose Chan Ka Wun in Hengdian was suspected to be the victim of Benny Chan Ho Sun and Joe Ma Tak Chung's molestation.  Did Eason feel bad for her?  He said, "I have no feeling, sudden malfunction."  Mok Man Wai also said that she did not know the details and it was hard to talk about it just from photos.  However she and Eason on the flight have read the related reports but did not discuss the matter.  Huang Yi has worked with Chan Ka Wun on a film.  She said that her impression was she was a little girl, very innocent and cute.  She worked and trained very hard and seriously.  Did she feel bad for her?  She said that she really was uncertain but would call to console her.

Tang Lai Yun next month will work in Hengdian.  Was she worried about her personal safety?  She said, "I am not afraid because this type of incidents are hard to expect.  In addition I would have assistants to keep me company.  I also rarely go out at night.  After dinner I would go back to the hotel.  However I also feel that girls sometimes need to shut the gate, otherwise people would sneak in.  After drinking a lot of matter are beyond control.  (Alex Fong Lik Sun does not have to worry much then?)  He is constantly working in the Mainland too.  (Do you worry about him?)  I do, many pretty girls are there."

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The Jeff Lau Chun directed comedy EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DONG SING SAI JAU 2011) two days ago held its premiere in Beijing.  Key actors Karen Mok Man Wai, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Huang Yi, Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To), Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Sitar Tan Weiwei, William So Wing Hong and others attended.  Lau Chun Wai stated that the new version's warmth portion was in memory of Gor Gor Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing.  The entire cast also gave Cheung Kwok Wing's "true heart person" plaque in the old version to the director.  The melodramatic atmosphere touched Chan Yik Shun, Chung Chun To, Huang Yi and others.

Huang Yi said that her ears benefited from working on this film.  She revealed that Chan Yik Shun even picked up a random lid, placed it on his leg for a drum.  He was quite a genius.  Jaycee Chan (Fong Cho Ming) "led" a mosquito eradication team that even became a sight to behold on the set.  Every night, Fong Cho Ming would lead So Wing Hong and other actors to eradicate bugs and had all kinds of fun doing so.  He even commanded everyone, "More bugs this way, charge!"  Huang Yi was shocked to see how sharp his sense of smell was.

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EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DONG SING SAI JAU 2011)'s actors Karen Mok Man Wai, Huang Yi and Jaycee Chan (Fong Cho Ming) recently appeared in Shanghai to attend the new film press conference and premiere and talk about the production.  Huang Yi pointed out that she had as many as 18 exaggerated and forward costumes, thus this production was not easy at all.  She has never been as daring as wearing one of the "Heavenly Goddess" costume.  She pointed out that the costume was only put together with a few pieces of diamond shaped cloths and was very revealing.  Huang Yi's costumes in the past were very conservative, thus this time she was truly very nervous.

Actually Huang Yi was not afraid that the "Heavenly Goddess" costume was too revealing but she thought that walking around on the set like that and communicating with the director and actors were very strange.  She was also afraid that she was too fat to look good in it.  She even revealed that she brought a bath robe and wine to the set.  The robe was to "cover" her up during breaks and the wine was for courage.  She felt lucky that the "Heavenly Goddess costume" became her weight loss motivation as she successfully lost several kilograms.

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Ten days have passed since Huang Yi and Huo Siyan's "microblog" incident.  Huang Yi has not only taken legal action to protect herself but also focused on work as usual.  Two nights ago Huang Yi attended a certain media group event and officially became its new trendy publication spokesperson.

In her new film EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DUNG SING SAI JAU 2011), Huang Yi had as many as 14 costumes.  She said, "Since I got into the business, it was the first movie in which I had so many costumes.  I was too happy.  I liked to try many things, this time I really had fun."

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William So, Eason Chan, Jeff Lau, Kenny Bee, Huang Yi

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The Jeff Lau Chun Wai directed, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Huang Yi, Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To) and Stephy Tang Lai Yun starred new film EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DUNG SING SAI JAU 2011) yesterday held a press conference in Shenzhen.  Earlier Huo Siyan blasted Huang Yi online.  Yesterday Huang Yi did not appear to be affected and even sang with the cast.  Unfortunately when she accepted flowers she had a wardrobe malfunction.

The event played the film trailer, in which Huang Yi rarely bared her back and her cleavage career line.  Yesterday in a white wig, she joked that director Lau Chun Wai "forced" out a career line.  Was it
Huang Yi's first sexy performance?  She said, "Right, at first I thought it wouldn't be too much, but the 'heavenly goddess costume' was low cut in the front and the back.  The first scene we shot was this scene, I still wasn't used to it.  Finally I had to drink white wine for courage, but I drank too much and fell asleep."  Huang Yi said that after completing the film she lost 10 kilograms.  Now when she walked she had extra self confidence.  As for Huo Siyan's online blast, Huang Yi said, "Lately I have been busy with promotions, I don't want to interrupt my life.  Arguing can't resolve problems.  Anything that I want to say or do the statement has already said it.  I still have to keep living my life."  As for legal action, she said, "If I am out of ideas that I would use the law to protect myself."  When asked whether Huang Yi knew JK in the rumors, her assistant immediately helped out and hoped that the interview would put the film first.  Huang Yi also politely put her hands together and ended the interview.

Eason praised Director Lau.  He said, "With Wong Kar Wai movies no one knows what's going on, but with Director Lau's movies you know what's going on." Director Lau joked that Eason already insulted Director Wong, his future would be dark.  Eason said about publicly stomping on Wong Kar Wai on stage, "It's just a joke.  I hear everyone after making his movies say they don't know what they made.  Does anyone have a sense of humor?"  In addition, the event unveiled a poster and Stephy was missing from it.  She explained, "The director didn't want my character to be unveiled too soon, so I don't mind."

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The film THE WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR LAKE's actors Huang Yi, Rose Chan Ka Wun and others two nights ago attended the film company's celebration.  Chan Ka Wun said that this new film was tougher.  "Because I couldn't speak (character requirement) and had very little make up, I didn't look like me.  The production background wasn't modern so there was no sign language.  I could only act with looks and body language."  With a martial art background Chan Ka Wun said that Huang Yi before the shoot learned kung fu from her.  They spent a lot of time together and had a deeper relationship.  Chan Ka Wun even found an artist to draw Huang Yi's Qiu Jin image for her.

Huang Yi said that earlier she saw the film with Qiu Jin's descendant and both she and the audience were very touched.

Huang Yi said, "This time the production was very commercial and had many fight actions.  The production method was very fresh.  Earlier I studied kung fu with Chan Ka Wun, and I taught her calligraphy."  Huang Yi in the film had a lot of action performance like swordplay and horse riding, leading to many injuries.  However thought that the film was worth all that.  "Action film has a greater sense of accomplishment and
achievement than drama."

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The film THE WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR LAKE after numerous obstacles finally was successfully released in the Mainland.  Lead actress Huang Yi two days ago accompanies Qiu Jin's descendants to watch the film in Shanghai.  Along on hand were director Herman Yau Lai To and producer Sin Kwok Lam.  Huang Yi shed tears as she watched the film.  She said that after watching she felt her blood boiling and hoped the spirit of Qiu Jin would always influence future generations.  Instead she did not pay attention to the box office.  In addition, being accused of being a fake descendant, Qiu Jin's great grand daughter was extremely upset and might take legal action.

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The Mainland actress Huang Yi took her new film WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR LAKE to Shanghai Fudan University for a screening.  The three teachers and students responded enthusiastically.  Students surrounded Huang Yi for autographs.  She said that being from Shanghai, this event was very important to her as she wanted to know young students' opinions of the film.

Many students spoke up at the event and Huang Yi responded with humor one by one.  When asked about her view on marriage, she also responded and stated that she suggested her divorce first.

Huang Yi said, "I feel woman should have the right to choose marriage.  When a woman feels marriage is no longer suitable for her, she should suggest separation.  I want to say, I suggested the divorce first."  Huang Yi encouraged students to face the inequalities between the sexes in society and continue to work hard.

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Rose Chan Ka Wun, Ellen Loo (Lo Hoi Tung) and Jun Kung Shek Leung yesterday attended a phone event.  Rose just finished promoting the film WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR LAKE in the Mainland and returned to Hong Kong.  Although Huang Yi had the heaviest role in the film, every character had a different meaning.  She played a mute girl and required advice from those with experience.  Thus her pressure was huge and her skin even broke out because of it.

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WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR KNIGHT female lead Huang Yi recently promoted the film in many cities.  Yesterday while promoting in Hengzhou Huang Yi appeared with her suit look from the film.  Speaking of Qiu Jin's descendants praising Huang Yi's convincing interpretation, Huang Yi said that she did all her homework before hand and everyday she had to face impossible missions.  She pointed out that Qiu Jin was a jill of all trade and master of all, everyday she had to practice with a variety of weapons and work on wires.  Everyday as soon as she opened her eyes she had to spar with Xiong Xinxin.

Huang Yi was teary eyed when she spoke about Qiu Jin.  She in order not to "vilify" the heroine everyday fought from morning to night.  Later her body was exhausted, she could not even stand firmly or extend her arms.  Sometimes she was unable to respond in time and was injured.  At the time people joked that she lost all of her "heroine look" and looked more like a "bear" from the beating that she took.  Huang Yi said that she was very demanding of herself as well because the character Qiu Jin was not fictional and was an actual person.

WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR LAKE earlier faced suspicions and boycott from Qiu Jin's grand nephew Qiu Jingwu.  The release date was postponed time and after.  Qiu Jingwu stated that Qiu Jin's great grand daughters Lai Qishan and Lai Qixiang were "false descendants and false authorities".  Executive producer Sin Kwok Lam said that Lai Qishan said something that she admired very much.  She said that Qiu Jin belonged to the people of the nation, not just to any one descendant.  Sin Kwok Lam pointed out that Huang Yi in order to play Qiu Jin lowered her own salary.  She truly liked this script and making money was not in her mind at all.

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WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR LAKE yesterday held a Beijing premiere.  Director Herman Yau Lai To and actors Huang Yi, Kevin Cheng Ka Wing, Dennis To Yu-Hang, Rose Chan Ka Wun, Wong Yau Nam, Yan Qing attended in support.  Huang Yi as Qiu Jin and Cheng Ka Wing as her husband in the film had a reverse love story and they explained the relationship in person.  In the video shown, Qiu Jin had the unique characteristics of post 90s, which erupted the passion of the venue.  At the premiere, each actor revealed their fight scenes and production highlight and stated that although the content displayed was exciting, they suffered a lot during the actual shoot.  To Yu-Hang revealed that Xiong Xinxin during a fight scene for realism never wore protection; Huang Yi also revealed that she trained three months in advance for her numerous fight scenes.

From the interview videos, many people said that Qiu Jin in the film was "too forward", in modern times she would have been a "cultured young woman with martial art training and ideals".  Faced with everyone's reviews and responses, Huang Yi and director Yau Lai To said that everything was within grasp.  In the feudal age when wives must order three obediences and four virtues, Qiu Jin fought for the right for education, studied in Japan, had her own career and was financially independent.  She not only was able to create poetry but also was well trained in martial art.  Such a woman naturally would not be outdated even in      modern times.  About such a modern character creation of Qiu Jin, Yau Lai To admitted that this was the  general director of the film from the beginning.  He only wanted to restore Qiu Jin in his heart through the  movie.

Bernice Liu, Kevin Cheng

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Bernice Liu

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Earlier at work Huang Yi was hospitalized for stomach infection.  Two nights ago she attended the film WOMAN KNIGHT OF THE MIRROR LAKE charity premiere with Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Kevin Cheng Ka Wing, Rose Chan Ka Wun, Lau Siu Ming, Dennis To Yu Hang and Sin Kwok Lam.  Others guests included Elaine Lok Yi Ling, Wong Cho Nam, Christine Ng Wing Mei and Bernice Liu Bik Yi.

Huang Yi said that she has recovered a lot.  After the shot and rest she immediately returned to work.  Actually to promote the film she almost worked from morning to night.  When she arrived in Hong Kong on
October 1 she already had some stomach pain but did not have time for treatment.  Earlier she finally succumbed.  "After I got to the hospital, my stomach hurt so much I wanted to die.  Yet because of the holiday no specialty doctor was on duty.  I could only get in line and sleep on the sofa.  Luckily a doctor found me and arranged for a bed.  I never paid attention to it before and thought that I would be fine with a little medication.  If you don't treat your body right, it would show you something."  She will have to go to Beijing and other places to promote.  She said that she already has many medication on hand and was not afraid of further stomach pain.

Chan Ka Wun two nights ago wore million dollar diamond jewelry and joked that she and To Yu-Hang who also had diamond accessory would protect each other.  Thus she would not feel nervous.  Later she will work on two action films, in one of which she will have to put on a male disguise.  She said that she was not afraid that her chest would change shape because it would shrink a little in the winter and would not affect her size too much.  November 8 will be her birthday.  After three birthdays away from Hong Kong she originally wanted to tell everyone that she would only turn 19 this year, but because she will have to work on a film she will not be able to have a birthday party.  She still hoped that she will be able to celebrate it in Hong Kong.