Post by Yuki on Feb 24, 2007 0:21:18 GMT 7
Chapter 3
Stepping Into My Dream Job
If one works day and night ceaselessly for six years, and all that were done in that period of time was for a specific aim, then you can imagine how much that person has gone through and how happy that person will be on the day his aim is achieved. That person would be me. Six years later, today, I am finally stepping into my dream job, and accepted to film in my first movie debut, 'Moonlight in Tokyo'.
I couldn't help recalling the past days where I had filmed series with no rest till my vision blurred, how I had fainted on the set, how I jumped into the freezing sea at the temperature of below zero degrees, how my nose bled profusely during the August's heat, how I was hung up with wires on my dislocated ankle to act the fighting scene, how I had laid so helplessly to be rescued from the bed of an emergency ward – already greeted by death… One time after another, I had fallen and stood up to start anew in this circle of competition. The lucky part is, I have never been unhappy, because I have always deeply believed in the coming of today, bringing me an incomparable bliss and returning all the worth of what I have gave in.
Standing before the camera, I felt the lights of night Tokyo flickering on my face. The rolling sound of the film causes one to silent his breath with excitement. Behind the cameras, silently sat Hong Kong's most prominent director, producers and crews. The crew adjusted the lighting, position and attire – one call of "Action!", I slowly brought my head upwards to face the king of movies, Leon Lai and began our dialogues in the movie of a touching story…
That scene will forever remain in my memory. The irony is I had always thought that this is the ending of my six years story, but it is in fact a fresh beginning of another story. I felt as though I have returned to six years ago when I first filmed for Gods of Honor, everything is starting anew, I am again like a newborn baby, innocent and fresh. It is like a six years long dream coming true, and now eagerly entering another phase of dream – my dream of life!
I have two aims in my life, one is to be in tongs and walk down the street living a simple, peaceful life, the second is to film some movies – and what I mean here is that it doesn't matter that if I'm pulling some wires or making some deliveries, but it is enough if you just allow me to witness how a good movie is filmed. Both my aims were immediately claimed to be a dilemma by my friends as I have always loved acting so much. As much as I can't understand why one can't act as the side kick cast after playing the lead role, I personally am very willing to be just a country maid who happens to walk pass the side of big stars such as Chow Yun Fatt, etc, with a simple greeting dialogue of "You came back!". However, practically everyone I know stop me from doing so, thus causing me to be quite helpless. Even my husband, Chapman To (I must first clarify that Chapman is a very playful guy at all times), one day he suddenly asked me in a very grave tone, "Do you know what kind of people who film movies are like?" I shook my head saying, "No, I don't." He said, "We are 'big shot' people!" I doubtfully asked, "Are we?" He said, "Yes, that is why such well mannered little child like you will be bullied on the set, if you don't take out your big shot air, people will think that you don't have acting skills. Yet you can act so well, so it will be a waste if people misunderstand so." I was a little dazed after listening to his words and sat under the devil's ride in Japan's amusement park, painfully wondering how I can act out the 'big shot' manner characteristic to prove that I do have acting skills but in vain. However, I am still very grateful for the recognition of my acting from my husband in this movie although I had only filmed about five scenes with him when he told me these words. Also, he is the first to be motivating me with such words after I stepped into the movie circle. Although later the director and Leon Lai also said some praises of similar sort, but both of them were a little late, thus I am still most grateful to Chapman To.
According to my husband's theory, then I can confirm that the whole crew feels that Leon Lai has not much of acting skills. Why? Because even early in the morning, he has already treated everyone to hamburgers, and the 'meanest' moment I have ever witnessed of him is when he was sitting on the field eating his lunchbox, he fiercely took out the mosquito electrifier to attack the mosquitoes. I really don't know how such not a 'big shot' person became the movie king? Later I realized that 'my husband' Chapman To also portrayed his less acting skill side of person because he patiently joined Leon's party and explained to me the technical difference from filming a series to filming a movie. When I was nominated for the Golden Horse Award, I actually intended to ask for further explanation from Chapman regarding his 'no big shot manner equals no acting skills' theory, but my mouth was immediately sealed by his bribe of red packet when we met. To ensure that I will receive another red packet next year, I thus decided to forget about my question.
Basically, even I myself felt that it was a little impossible to be nominated for the 'Best Newcomer' award for 'Moonlight in Tokyo'. Firstly, it is already a qualification question for people who have been in the entertainment circle for quite some years like Jay Chow and I. Regarding this, I have already further analyzed: One who is professional in rearing pigs, if he should become a pig butcher one day, he is also considered a newbie because pigs won't stretch their neck for him to chop just because he was professional in rearing pigs. Thus, with such theory, it is then concluded that despite having being in the singing circle, or acting in series, or selling movie tickets in the cinema, one is fairly considered a newbie should he come to act in a movie one day.
Another thing is, I only appeared trivially in the movie, thus is barely enough to be listed in the nomination list, least of all to actually win the award – logically speaking anyway. However, Tony Leung Chiu Wai in 'A Fei Zheng Chuan' (Days of being Wild) and Zhou Xun in 'Jing Ke Ci Qin Wang' (The Emperor and the Assassin) both also appeared very little yet were memorable enough for audience. Thus, I too will not waste the support the audience has given me, especially when I, who have acted for some while, have always chosen roles based on quality, not quantity. A role that has a good chance to express, a good director, a good collaborating actor, a good producer all comes before the amount of appearance in a movie. For efficiency, I will usually measure: "Result" is equals to "Effort" divided by "Time". To calculate so, then 'Moonlight in Tokyo' is indeed my biggest movie already.
It is not because I have gotten a few awards that I will speak the following 'mocking' words. In actual fact, I have never seen anyone who has shot to success by just getting an award or two. Every kind of profession depends on our efforts; our day and night hard work will bring us to reap the success one day. Even if we fail, it is not the consequence of a short period. Thus, being such an acting addict as myself, I will only allow film to live within me, and not daze for awards.
On the awards night, I only listened up to when they presented to Jay Chow before going home as it was so unlucky that I had to get up at five the next morning for filming! Otherwise, I would have really loved to stay back to witness Zhou Xun and Tony Leung Ka Fai whom I admired so much obtaining their awards. Eventually, the most memorable moment of the entire night must be when my manager and I, together with Felix Chong, Alan Mak and his girlfriend – all the five of us squeezed into a two seater car, while waiting to walk down the red carpet. At that moment, we were so squashed we couldn't help imagining some illusions. If we were seen and photographed by reporters, we wonder if we would be reported to be smuggling or selling human, etc, it will definitely make headlines. Later, we couldn't help but took a photo in memory of our most humiliating moment. Alan Mak must have silently scolded me for altering my manager's car into such a condition, and wanting to take back his praises for me during filming. I was silently scolding Alan Mak for not informing me that he will be bringing two extra persons, but did not voice anything because he created the role 'Ah Chu' for me. I have once asked Alan Mak, why he only filmed men's movies and not women's movies, he replied saying because he does not really understand woman thus can't write such a script and also Hong Kong does not have many good actresses (movie). And between the two reasons he reckoned the latter was harder to solve and advised me to work hard and not waste my talent. I will always remember his words and work hard to film more movies, to repay him for not following Chapman To calling me 'Ah Chu' (different words but the similar pronunciation of pig in Chinese).
Stepping Into My Dream Job
If one works day and night ceaselessly for six years, and all that were done in that period of time was for a specific aim, then you can imagine how much that person has gone through and how happy that person will be on the day his aim is achieved. That person would be me. Six years later, today, I am finally stepping into my dream job, and accepted to film in my first movie debut, 'Moonlight in Tokyo'.
I couldn't help recalling the past days where I had filmed series with no rest till my vision blurred, how I had fainted on the set, how I jumped into the freezing sea at the temperature of below zero degrees, how my nose bled profusely during the August's heat, how I was hung up with wires on my dislocated ankle to act the fighting scene, how I had laid so helplessly to be rescued from the bed of an emergency ward – already greeted by death… One time after another, I had fallen and stood up to start anew in this circle of competition. The lucky part is, I have never been unhappy, because I have always deeply believed in the coming of today, bringing me an incomparable bliss and returning all the worth of what I have gave in.
Standing before the camera, I felt the lights of night Tokyo flickering on my face. The rolling sound of the film causes one to silent his breath with excitement. Behind the cameras, silently sat Hong Kong's most prominent director, producers and crews. The crew adjusted the lighting, position and attire – one call of "Action!", I slowly brought my head upwards to face the king of movies, Leon Lai and began our dialogues in the movie of a touching story…
That scene will forever remain in my memory. The irony is I had always thought that this is the ending of my six years story, but it is in fact a fresh beginning of another story. I felt as though I have returned to six years ago when I first filmed for Gods of Honor, everything is starting anew, I am again like a newborn baby, innocent and fresh. It is like a six years long dream coming true, and now eagerly entering another phase of dream – my dream of life!
I have two aims in my life, one is to be in tongs and walk down the street living a simple, peaceful life, the second is to film some movies – and what I mean here is that it doesn't matter that if I'm pulling some wires or making some deliveries, but it is enough if you just allow me to witness how a good movie is filmed. Both my aims were immediately claimed to be a dilemma by my friends as I have always loved acting so much. As much as I can't understand why one can't act as the side kick cast after playing the lead role, I personally am very willing to be just a country maid who happens to walk pass the side of big stars such as Chow Yun Fatt, etc, with a simple greeting dialogue of "You came back!". However, practically everyone I know stop me from doing so, thus causing me to be quite helpless. Even my husband, Chapman To (I must first clarify that Chapman is a very playful guy at all times), one day he suddenly asked me in a very grave tone, "Do you know what kind of people who film movies are like?" I shook my head saying, "No, I don't." He said, "We are 'big shot' people!" I doubtfully asked, "Are we?" He said, "Yes, that is why such well mannered little child like you will be bullied on the set, if you don't take out your big shot air, people will think that you don't have acting skills. Yet you can act so well, so it will be a waste if people misunderstand so." I was a little dazed after listening to his words and sat under the devil's ride in Japan's amusement park, painfully wondering how I can act out the 'big shot' manner characteristic to prove that I do have acting skills but in vain. However, I am still very grateful for the recognition of my acting from my husband in this movie although I had only filmed about five scenes with him when he told me these words. Also, he is the first to be motivating me with such words after I stepped into the movie circle. Although later the director and Leon Lai also said some praises of similar sort, but both of them were a little late, thus I am still most grateful to Chapman To.
According to my husband's theory, then I can confirm that the whole crew feels that Leon Lai has not much of acting skills. Why? Because even early in the morning, he has already treated everyone to hamburgers, and the 'meanest' moment I have ever witnessed of him is when he was sitting on the field eating his lunchbox, he fiercely took out the mosquito electrifier to attack the mosquitoes. I really don't know how such not a 'big shot' person became the movie king? Later I realized that 'my husband' Chapman To also portrayed his less acting skill side of person because he patiently joined Leon's party and explained to me the technical difference from filming a series to filming a movie. When I was nominated for the Golden Horse Award, I actually intended to ask for further explanation from Chapman regarding his 'no big shot manner equals no acting skills' theory, but my mouth was immediately sealed by his bribe of red packet when we met. To ensure that I will receive another red packet next year, I thus decided to forget about my question.
Basically, even I myself felt that it was a little impossible to be nominated for the 'Best Newcomer' award for 'Moonlight in Tokyo'. Firstly, it is already a qualification question for people who have been in the entertainment circle for quite some years like Jay Chow and I. Regarding this, I have already further analyzed: One who is professional in rearing pigs, if he should become a pig butcher one day, he is also considered a newbie because pigs won't stretch their neck for him to chop just because he was professional in rearing pigs. Thus, with such theory, it is then concluded that despite having being in the singing circle, or acting in series, or selling movie tickets in the cinema, one is fairly considered a newbie should he come to act in a movie one day.
Another thing is, I only appeared trivially in the movie, thus is barely enough to be listed in the nomination list, least of all to actually win the award – logically speaking anyway. However, Tony Leung Chiu Wai in 'A Fei Zheng Chuan' (Days of being Wild) and Zhou Xun in 'Jing Ke Ci Qin Wang' (The Emperor and the Assassin) both also appeared very little yet were memorable enough for audience. Thus, I too will not waste the support the audience has given me, especially when I, who have acted for some while, have always chosen roles based on quality, not quantity. A role that has a good chance to express, a good director, a good collaborating actor, a good producer all comes before the amount of appearance in a movie. For efficiency, I will usually measure: "Result" is equals to "Effort" divided by "Time". To calculate so, then 'Moonlight in Tokyo' is indeed my biggest movie already.
It is not because I have gotten a few awards that I will speak the following 'mocking' words. In actual fact, I have never seen anyone who has shot to success by just getting an award or two. Every kind of profession depends on our efforts; our day and night hard work will bring us to reap the success one day. Even if we fail, it is not the consequence of a short period. Thus, being such an acting addict as myself, I will only allow film to live within me, and not daze for awards.
On the awards night, I only listened up to when they presented to Jay Chow before going home as it was so unlucky that I had to get up at five the next morning for filming! Otherwise, I would have really loved to stay back to witness Zhou Xun and Tony Leung Ka Fai whom I admired so much obtaining their awards. Eventually, the most memorable moment of the entire night must be when my manager and I, together with Felix Chong, Alan Mak and his girlfriend – all the five of us squeezed into a two seater car, while waiting to walk down the red carpet. At that moment, we were so squashed we couldn't help imagining some illusions. If we were seen and photographed by reporters, we wonder if we would be reported to be smuggling or selling human, etc, it will definitely make headlines. Later, we couldn't help but took a photo in memory of our most humiliating moment. Alan Mak must have silently scolded me for altering my manager's car into such a condition, and wanting to take back his praises for me during filming. I was silently scolding Alan Mak for not informing me that he will be bringing two extra persons, but did not voice anything because he created the role 'Ah Chu' for me. I have once asked Alan Mak, why he only filmed men's movies and not women's movies, he replied saying because he does not really understand woman thus can't write such a script and also Hong Kong does not have many good actresses (movie). And between the two reasons he reckoned the latter was harder to solve and advised me to work hard and not waste my talent. I will always remember his words and work hard to film more movies, to repay him for not following Chapman To calling me 'Ah Chu' (different words but the similar pronunciation of pig in Chinese).
