Movie Box Review

Elanne Kong

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

CHILD'S EYE (TUNG NGAN) received good reviews after its Venice Film Festival premiere. The leads Rainie Yang (Yeung Sing Lam) and Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam were convincing with their terrified looks in the film. The 3D effects also added the terror of the film as if the movie was reaching at the audience.

Ghost film expert directors Pang Brothers added 3D elements in their horror film and strengthened the horror level of CHILD'S EYE, making the audience that was "trapped" at the movies paranoid and feeling "there is always one around"!

As Hong Kong's first 3D horror film, whether the horror effects were enough naturally became the topic of attention. "Sacrifices" Yeung Sing Lam and Kong Yeuk Lam in the film were kept in terror. Although personally they were very close, acting wise they held a "scared look" duel. They along with Ciwi Lam Si Man had a lot of opportunities to demonstrate their skills, as they were exhausted and crying from being scared. Yeung Sing Lam gave up her cute image to play a brave and depressed character. Kong Yeuk Lam and Ciwi had to sacrifice their beauty for their roles.

Early in the film, Kong Yeuk Lam saw something strange and was attacked. Although at the time she was acting with air, her scared look was still convincing. After the 3D effects, the hand seemed to reach out of the screen. Not only Kong Yeuk Lam was fainted from fright, the

audience would be screaming too! Later a monster attacked Yeung Sing Lam, who gave a "speechless from fright" look. The 3D monster looked very real, no wonder the self admitted chicken kept screaming at the premiere.

The film also had other horror scenes. For example Jones Xu (Tsui Ching Hei)'s possession scene was shocking. The underworld also appeared in the film, with plenty of paper offering flowing in the air. The layers were clear and absolutely did not waste the 3D technology.

The Oxide Pang Shun directed 3D film CHILD'S EYE (TUNG NGAN) was invited to take part in the Venice Film Festival. He led two lead actresses Rainie Yang (Yeung Sing Lam) and Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam to the global premiere there.

Because it was the ladies' first Venice Film Festival, they were particularly excited on the red carpet. After arriving at the cinema they put on their 3D glasses to enjoy CHILD'S EYE for the first time. They nervously held hands and even screamed out loud. Rainie said, "I already know how my scenes go, but I was still so scared that I screamed. It's so embarrassing. Luckily Ah Ling was watching with me." Kong Yeuk Lam said, "I like to watch ghost films, but with the 3D glasses it's especially intense. This time watching while holding Rainie's hand was very intimate, even screaming was especially enjoyable. I consider it cheering for the film!"

Rainie revealed that her most memorable scene was when she picked up a puppy to investigate the ghost whereabouts and ran into a monster. "At the time I kept holding on to the dog, when I breathed I had to be very careful. I was afraid that he would find me, he very quickly found me and I was really scared. I wanted to cry but I couldn't, now looking back I still have that feeling of not being able to breathe." Kong Yeuk Lam's most memorable scene was when she was possessed and led Rainie into a paper offering world. "In the film (Jo) Kuk Cho Lam possessed me. I remember after special effect make up I didn't dare to look at the mirror because I thought I looked very horrifying. I was all green, my face was cracked, the entire feeling was very 'ghost like'." Luckily during the shoot they did not run into anything strange, but Kong Yeuk Lam's assistant saw a woman in white in a mirror in the elevator. In order to keep from scaring Kong Yeuk Lam during the shoot, she was not told until they returned to Hong Kong.

The Oxide Pang Shun directed, Rainie Yang (Yeung Sing Lam), Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam starred 3D ghost film CHILD'S EYE (TUNG NGAN) became the first 3D Chinese film to be invited to participate in the Venice Film Festival. Known for his ghost films, Pang Shun made the first Hong Kong 3D ghost film CHILD'S EYE to be shot with 3D cameras and post production. It was quite a major challenge. "Bringing together elements like ghosts, monsters and murder suspects with 3D effects, the movie conceivably can put the audience right in the middle of it and elevate the horror level."

Kong Yeuk Lam stated that only with his first 3D film did he realize how accurate the marks had to be. The slightest misstep would make the focus inaccurate. Yeung Sing Lam admitted that she was easily frightened. She only took the ghost film because she liked the script, which her family and friends all found to be incredible!

Director Oxide Pang Shun and film company executive Lam Siu Keung two nights ago appeared at the airport to head to Venice and promote the Universe film CHILD'S EYE (TUNG NGAN). Pang Shun said, "Because the film was sent away for special effects, I haven't seen the completed version. (When will you return?) In about six days. (Back in such a hurry?) Because film festivals rarely invite 3D films to participate, I have hope in this trip. I also want to have some exchanges with directors there!" Pang Shun also said that film company boss Daneil Lam Siu Ming and his brother Lam Siu Keung often invested in films. Thus he and brother Danny Pang Fat thanked the Lam Brothers very much.

courtesy of takungpao.com

The Pang Brothers' first 3D camera shot and post production 3D ghost film CHILD'S EYE (TUNG NGAN) was invited to participate in a non competition portion of the Venice Film Festival. On September 2, director Oxide Pang Shun led the actresses Rainie Yang (Yeung Sing Lam) and Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam to Venice to attend the September 4 3D version global premiere.

Yeung Sing Lam and Elanne became good friends from their first collaboration. Love, friendship, work, nothing was off topic for them. Yeung Sing Lam even helped Elanne clean up her room while shooting in Thailand because she could not tolerate it anymore. Elanne also cooked for the first time for Yeung Sing Lam. Yeung Sing Lam said when she first met Elanne, she thought she was very cute girl who was very polite and quiet. However two or three days after work started, Elanne's true nature flowed out. She was a girl who was energetic like a guy. Their personalities were very close, as they both were girls who would not think too much and would not hesitate. Although they were in two different places, they maintained contact and cherished their connection very much.

Elanne stated that when Yeung Sing Lam came to her room, she could not help but fold her clothing and pick up after her. Thus she thought Yeung was quite lady. She also returned the favor and cooked for Yeung Sing Lam, as she told her, "The first time I cooked it was for Yeung Sing Lam." Yeung Sing Lam excitedly came to Elanne's room and was curious about what they were eating, but actually Elanne only put all the vegetable into a pot for a hot pot casserole. However they had a great time chatting. When the movie wrapped, they embraced each other and could not stop crying because they were willing to part.

A fatal explosion took place in Bangkok. Elannie Kong Yuek Lam two nights ago worked on Pang Fat's new film FAIRY TALE KILLER (SOK MING TUNG WA), which ended yesterday morning at 7AM. Originally she planned to go straight to bed at the hotel. Soon text messages from her

family and friends woke her as everyone was worried about her safety over the Bangkok explosion.

Yesterday Elanne said, "Mommy was the most nervous, as she urged me not to go out aside for work. Now I am the only actor left, I feel so grey." Co-stars James and Gary returned to Hong Kong before the explosion and thought the explosion was severe enough to send text message to see how she was. Because she did not reply, they went to the company to "ask for help".

Elanne yesterday was still in Bangkok, waiting director Pang Fat's notice to see whether additional shoot was needed. The soonest she would return to Hong Kong would be tomorrow. Without anything to do, yesterday she went with local workers to the city center for lunch and shopping. "They said today (yesterday) is the Thailand Buddha's birthday, it is a major event. No one would cause trouble today. Thus I was very at ease when I was out. The streets were very quiet. I only saw a black plastic bag of unknown origin on the street and I immediately went the other way. Safety comes first."

Elanne posted that she was safe online to keep her fans from worrying. "Because we shot in a remote country area, at first no one knew what happened. When we saw the headline we were surprised. We are one of 3,000 Hong Kong people who are stuck in danger, but we are fine. Don't worry!"

Despite the explosion, Hong Kong film professionals are still working on location in Thailand. They were used to seeing situations and fearlessly continued on.

Thai Chinese Pang Brothers were not afraid of the explosion. Currently Pang Fat is still working on the "lucky shot" for FAIRY TALE KILLER's production start. He said, "I am used to it, I know it's nothing. Maybe today is the Buddha's birthday, they are all song and dances over there. (What about brother Pang Shun?) He earlier was shooting THE DETECTIVE 2 (B+ JING TAM) over there. Two days ago he just returned to Hong Kong. We are locals, we know where we can go. Heaven looks after lucky people."

Ken Low Wai Kwong earlier worked on FAIRY TALE KILLER. The Thai local pointed out that after the explosion the city was quiet. "Many tourists went shopping. I went to the city myself. (Were you worried about your safety?) No, maybe it's just because of the election. (Any family over there?) My brother, he doesn't live near where it happened. Just avoid the place where it happened then you are fine!"

Model Kelly Fu Ka Lei also worked on FAIRY TALE KILLER. Two days ago as she was about to return to Hong Kong, the explosion took place in Bangkok. When it happened she was only a block away in the shopping district.

"At the time I was shopping, preparing to buy a gift for a friend's birthday. Suddenly I heard boom, even the ground was shaking! Then many people ran to the streets. The people on the streets were like the lead in RUN LOLA RUN, they just kept running! Luckily I didn't go to the supermarket for snacks, if not it would've been big trouble."

Kelly said that after the explosion chaos ensued, people thought the red shirts were rioting again. Thus she immediately took a taxi back to the hotel to pack and leave. Kelly thought she has been very unlucky. "Several months ago when I went to Thailand for an ad I already ran into

the red shirts, several weeks ago during the shoot my eyes got some strange illness. As I was leaving trouble still happened. (Would you consider getting blessing from the White Dragon King?) I heard he's in the hospital!"

The Danny Pang Fat directed film FAIRY TALE KILLER (SOK MING TUNG WA) yesterday held its production start ceremony in Thailand. Attendees included Elanne Kong Yuek Lam, Lau Ching Wan, Joey Man Yi Man, and Mainland actor Wang Baoqiang. The film company selected a lucky time for the worship ceremony to take place and invited Thai priests for the ceremony. In the film Lau Ching Wan and Man Yi Man play a couple. Yesterday they worked on a scene in which they saw Kong Yuek Lam and Wang Baoqiang on the streets and mistook them for beggars. Ching Wan gave them 20 bucks.

Ching Wan expressed that this time he plays a cop who is investigating serial murders but actually is a "slanted shoulder" (irresponsible) cop. In one scene Kong Yuek Lam had to bite him. Ching Wan said, "It's just a bite! It's no big deal!" This is also Ching Wan's first collaboration with Pang Fat. At first he thought he was very serious, actually he was very happy and had a childlike innocence. The shoot has also been very comfortable, the facilities were complete. His wife earlier also visited the set. Earlier the entire team all succumbed to eye infection. Ching Wan said that his eyes have always been sensitive and required eye drops even with a little more dust. Luckily his eyes were only red and were fine after eye drops, but others had to be hospitalized.

Kong Yuek Lam's character suffers from severe autism. Wang Baoqiang plays her boyfriend. She also has been busy with a TVB series in which she plays a happy and energetic Ming Dynasty princess, a role that is very different from this film's character. Because she plays

someone with autism, she has no dialogue and can only make expressions. She works on each scene until she mentally breaks down, she also has to hit herself in the head. She also goes crazy, hits and bites Ching Wan. Sometimes she works until she wails and she is afraid that she cannot

leave the character. The worst part is the team wants her to face the wall for several hours to gather her emotions. Because she wears white, other people pass by and think they see a ghost. They often use a flashlight on her. The director also prohibits her to go out and eat so she is focused on the character. She also says that this character is very similar to the 15 year old who killed his mother and sister in Hong Kong. She feels that Hong Kong has many mental patients. How does she relieve stress? She says, "Luckily the TVB series has (Michael) Tse Tin Wa and (Sammul) Chan Kin Fung to play with me, later I will take half a month to visit Taiwan or India."

Kong Yuek Lam also said that on her first day in Thailand she was locked in her hotel for half a hour. Luckily later she was able to open the door and she immediately asked her assistant to keep her company. Speaking of the film CHILD'S EYE (TUNG NGAN) being selected for the Venice Film Festival, she was very excited about the chance to go the event. Meanwhile, working with Ching Wan for the first time Pang Fat stated that as soon as the cameras rolled he knew Ching Wan was "good". Kong Yuek Lam also has improved a lot. As for CHILD'S EYE's Venice Film Festival participation, he expressed that he did not know whether he or his brother

would go. Lately he has been busy with writing a love story.