Movie Box Review

The Shu Qi, Liu Ye starred, Andrew Lau Wai Keung directed romance A BEAUTIFUL LIFE (BUT JOI YEUNG NEI GU DAN) two nights ago held its premiere at the Convention Center. Lead actor Liu Ye due to work could not attend, but Jacky Cheung Hok Yau who performed a song for the film appeared in support. Other guests included Shawn Yue Man Lok, Hanjin Tan (Chen Woon Yun), boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok and Dr. and Mrs. Charles Kao. Earlier Shu Qi's calligraphy of the film title raised 200,000. Two nights ago Shu Qi presented the 500,000 raised from the entire event for the Charles Kao charity foundation.

Shu Qi two nights ago joked that in the film she constantly cried because she was crying from her displeasure at director Lau Wai Keung. She also praised that Liu Ye was a great actor, they had chemistry and rhythm. Lau Wai Keung said that this time he was not very demanding, only a little merciless. If the leads could not touch him how could they touch the viewers? Thus some scenes had to be shot again. He knew that the film was hard on actors and they should hate him. Shu Qi joked that under Lau Wai Keung's guidance she was very amazing now.

Shu Qi wore four inch high heels but was limping. She explained that she injured her waist earlier when she worked on Carol Lai Miu Shuet's new film in Guangzhou. In the story she had to turn around and sit down, but she forgot to warm up. "At the time I was fine, after a few days I had pain. Later when I have time I will see a doctor." Hok Yau and Lau Wai Keung were interviewed, Shu Qi immediately said, "Idol!" Would Lau Wai Keung ask Hok Yau to make a movie? Lau Wai Keung joked that Hok Yau was very busy and he was very selective. Hok Yau joked, "How selective could you be!" Shu Qi joked that they were very mean with each other when they conversed. Was Hok Yau unable to catch Director Lau's eyes? He joked, "From little to middle to big, I shot Hok Yau's first film WHERE'S OFFICE TUBA (PIK LIK DAI LA BA) in 85 or 6, then AS TEARS GO BY (WONG GOK KAR MOON) won him an award, we also made CURRY AND PEPPER (GA LEI LAT JIU)." Shu Qi joked that she never heard of them because she was not born yet, but she said that the director and Hok Yau privately were actually very intimate.

Would Lau Wai Keung pair Hok Yau and Shu Qi together in a movie? He said that they already worked together on Hok Yau's concert short film. Shu Qi said that she wanted to make it more detailed, but Hok Yau still had over 50 shows to perform. Lau Wai Keung said, "Next year or the year after, Hok Yau is so busy." Hok Yau said that this time he performed a song for the film because the director showed him a scene that touched him very much, so he agreed. Lau Wai Keung joked, "I forced him into singing." Shu Qi joked, "The director really did." Lau Wai Keung pointed out that Hok Yau after recording told him to give his opinion. He joked, "How would I dare to give my opinion, Song God, thank you very much for your help." Hok Yau said that he immediately had a lot of thoughts about the song. After another recording, he also said that he was very interested in the film. Thus he stayed in home and came to support it.

Jacky Cheung Hok Yau after completing the fifth show of his concert series two nights ago took a two day break before continuing on with the remaining 15 shows. During this break, Hok Yau after the show two nights ago announced good news. He urged friends to give rice instead of floral arrangements, through the St. James' Settlement People's Food Bank for the needy in Hong Kong. Now over 7,000 kg of rice was already raised. Friends who donated included Andy Lau Tak Wa, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi, Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Tong Hok Tak, Julian Cheung Chi Lam and Anita Yuen Wing Yi, Joey Yung Cho Yi and others.

When Hok Yau appeared he tripped on the bags of rice on the stage. Hok Yau sat on the bag and joked, "After the concert my legs are inevitably wobbly, haha." Later, manager Chan Suk Fun and Director Andrew Lau Wai Keung who produced the concert music film and animation cut a cake to celebrate the successful performance.

Hok Yau was unable to attend the Hong Kong Film Award due to his concert. Hok Yau said that he never thought that he would be a Best Actor nominee. Because the character in the film was very light, he was surprised to be nominated and joked that he treated it like he won twice.

He also did not forget to congratulate Best Actor Nicholas Tse Ting Fung. Were the results what he expected? He said that he did not have any expectation so he did not think about it before. However he has seen Lau Ka Ling's award winning film and thought that the film revolved around the male character. Ka Ling and the other actress Li Bingbing did not have a lot of screen time, but Ka Ling performed very well. Did he feel bad for his co-star Tang Wei? Hok Yau said, "No, because every nominee are of a certain caliber. You might as well say no matter who won you had to feel bad for the others." Ting Fung defeated four elders. Hok Yau said learning has no order, not to mention that Nick Cheung Ka Fai already won Best Actor two years ago and Chow Yun Fat was a Best Actor frequent guest. Would Hok Yau see Best Actor as a goal? He honestly said, "You can be only if you put in an effort, I really haven't so I don't deserve the award."

The 30th Hong Kong Film Awards will take place on April 17. Yesterday a press conference was held to announce the nominees. DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (DIK YUN KIT ji TUNG TIN DAI GOK) received the most nominations with 13. Carina Lau Ka Ling was nominated for Best Actress with the film along with Tang Wei, Miriam Yeung Chin Wa, Josie Ho Chiu Yi and Fiona Sit Hoi Kei. On the other hand Andy Lau Tak Wa was not nominated for Best Actor with the film, but the Best Actor competition remained fierce as CONFUCIUS' Chow Yun Fat would compete with Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung.

The Hong Kong Film Award held a press conference yesterday. Attending guests included the Hong Kong Film Award Association chair Gordon Chan Ka Seung, Cheung Ka Fai, Paw Hee Ching and Dante Lam Chiu Yin. This year is the Hong Kong Film Award's 30th anniversary, the event

designed a series of special effects to open the ceremony. A light show will coordinate with firework in the shape of 30 in Victoria Harbor. This year's award ceremony received 5.98 million in film development fund sponsorships; ATV, Now TV and Hong Kong Radio 2 will broadcast the event live.

Always the center of attention, the Best Actor and Best Actress competitions continue to be fierce this year. Best Actor in particular includes nominees like CONFUCIUS' Chow Yun Fat, CROSSING HENNESSY's Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, BRUCE LEE MY BROTHER's Tony Leung Ka Fai and STOOL PIGEON's Nick Cheung Ka Fai and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung. Currently working

in the Mainland Gat Gor was happy and excited to learn about the nomination. Fat Gor was already nominated for Asian Film Award Best Actor with LET THE BULLETS FLY, which one was he more confident about? He honestly said it was very hard to say. He has not thought about winning an award in a long time because he has not received a Hong Kong Film Award nominations for years, but he would be happy if he would win and happy for others if he would not. Fat Gor would like to participate if he would not be in the Mainland. Speaking of CONFUCIUS, he pointed out that the character was harder to play because he had to play him from middle to old age, the dialogues were in formal Putonghua and he was a historical figure with different image and opinions in everyone's hearts. During the shoot he had a lot of pressure. He had to thank Chui Bo Chu, Yee Chung Man and Peter Pau Tak Fun for this nomination.

Cheung Ka Fai was very happy to learn about his nomination at the press conference. He said that two years ago director Dante Lee Chiu Yin did not receive a Best Director nomination with BEAST STALKER (JING YUN), which he minded a lot. This year he was very happy for the director. He pointed out that that Hong Kong Mainland film co-productions had to meet the market demand, which made maintaining personal style difficult. In recent years he attended many film festivals but as a human he would play favorites. The music of the Hong Kong Film Award was extra intimate. Speaking of his strong competition, Ka Fai said that everyone was strong. He had confidence in himself, if he said that he would win for sure then he would be too arrogant. He would already be happy for anyone from STOOL PIGEON who won, whether it would be him or Ting Fung. Earlier he was afraid that he has won before and he would not win again, but he believed the Hong Kong Film Award was fair. During the first round voting, he voted for himself and Kwai Lun-Mei for Best Actress. Teddy Robin Kwan had quite a major part in GALLANTS (DA LUI TOI) but was only nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Ka Fai said that this was the film company's calculation and measurement, he thought Teddy Robin was a Lead Actor. Tse Ting Fung said that he would face it in peace because if he was too confident he would give himself pressure, which instead was not good. He thought that this was not his credit, completely because of a good director, good actors, everything together I was able to play such a good character.

In addition, Lam Chiu Yin was very happy for finally receiving a nomination. Yet earlier Ka Fai won so many awards, which already filled the void in his heart. This time STOOL PIGEON had great response and he was very happy that Ting Fung, Ka Fai and Uncle Chi were all nominated. Was he confident about the award? He joked that he was confident about walking the red carpet. When asked whether Ting Fung or Ka Fai would win, he honestly said that it was very hard to pick. The best would be dual Best Actors. Yet Ka Fai has always won so many awards earlier, giving one to Ting Fung would be good too.