From MingPao Weekly no. 1738 - March 2, 2002
Obsessed to be a director, want to be in control
Cheung Kwok Wing - Now I can command wind and rain
Cheung Kwok Wing is burnished by water. He is also fortified by fire. He was a nobody when I knew him, he worked persistently with 8 years' long wait. At that time I was glad he being naïve, probably only naïve people can tolerate all that without losing faith. Then he became famous, successful both in pop songs and in movies. At that time I found him very lovely, same naiveness, same straight-forwardness, hypocrisy is one thing you can never find within Cheung Kwok Wing. Now he has reached a supreme position, he learns to protect himself a little, but to friends, he keeps his forever truthfulness. This forever young handsome guy has a great ambition, he wants to win honours for the HK film industry, his accumulated toughness now explodes, a man with determination, he is now burning like red-hot fire. -- by Eunice Lam
"This time we don’t talk about singing. I am going to direct my first film soon." Cheung Kwok Wing is very excited and full of confidence. "I acted in more than 70 films, how can I not know how to direct?" This time of last year, he indicated he would like to direct a film, within twelve months' time, he has worked as he said, found investors, got a story, and selected a team both in front of and behind the camera.
A new image for Shum Din Ha
Name of the film is not confirmed yet. It's tentatively called 'Project L'. His company is named 'Dream League'. Art direction is Au Ting Ping. Editing is Cheung Suk Ping, Costume is Emi Wada (Wow, the lady responsible for the famous Japanese film 'Disturbance', excellent.). Music by Michael Galasso. Photography is Li Ping Bin from Taiwan, he shot the latest 'Trembling heart' with Sylvia Cheung and 'Mambo Girl' with Huo Xiao Yin, he's excellent in art of lighting and beauty, both his colour and angle is very good. Script is He Ji Ping. "My story took place in Tsing Dao (the famous resort island in Shan Dong province of China) between the 40s and 50s, she comes from northern China, my film will be shot with Mandarin dialogue taken on the spot, both the area and language is familiar to her." He thinks all these experts in each field are most suitable to him.
There are only two actors from HK, himself and Shum Din Ha. "Fei Fei (Shum's nickname) will not be the jolly one anymore, I'm going to change her completely, not a comedian, she will be in a tragic role in this story, I'm confident she can handle it alright. As a human being, who haven't encountered some sad events? Fei Fei is very busy. But I can adjust the sessions to accommodate her, she is a very reliable person and she is happy to act in my film." His expression is very confident and in command. He has really matured well, he doesn’t work within his 'brother group', but only select the person most suitable to a specific position. Here comes the leader quality.
To acquaint Jiang Wen
The only thing that hurt him is the investors are not from Hong Kong, but Japanese and Mainland Chinese. "When a certain HK investor sat down to meet me, he gave me the impression that 'this is only a business'. I'm not talking about a business, I would like to shoot a quality film. I have contributed so much to the pop songs and movies, I have got honours, winning fame for Hong Kong, why can't they support me a little? It's really discouraging." "Are you upset about it?" I asked. "I am upset." he is very frank. "Should my first film be invested by Hong Kong people, it'll be most ideal."
Luckily he is capable to work around it and got overseas capital. He went to acquaint Jiang Wen, as a great hero respecting his peers: "Everybody knows Cheung Kwok Wing is proud of himself, I initiated to know him, because I find him brilllant both as an actor or a director. The first time we met, we finished two bottles of red wine and we shared a lot of understandings. But he will not be in this film, most probably we will work together in the next project."
"You know I have helped Cheung Zi Leung's 'Creativity League' to shoot 'The Kid', to interact with a child, to be his father, what I got was only one dollar contract, no earning at all, er, others got nominations in the film awards, but none for me!" "Was your performance not good enough?" "Cheung Kwok Wing always know how to act, how come he's not good enough?" this guy, he'll explode at the first stimulus, he won't be diplomatic.
Then he suggested photos with him standing, with the Baroque Ceiling of the Peninsula Hotel as his backdrop. "Probably I'm the only one to match this classic, elegant, magnificent scenario." Cheung Kwok Wing stood up, setting different poses with ease and confidence, there's no angle that his face is not a beauty, it's just unbearable. I said reluctantly, "How disgusting, whatever the angle, you're good-looking". He accepted with delight, gracefully and naturally, it's hopeless with him. He mentions his strength with such open candidness, you would only feel he's cute, but you won't feel any self-important air with him.
Among the movie photographers, he likes Christopher Doyle, he's willing to try out. I said, "But in 'Tempress Moon', he got too many extreme close-ups, excluding foreheads, focusing only the eyes, chins, like a passage overdone with exclamations, not only losing the point, but stings!" Cheung Kwok Wing immediately responded, "That's not his fault. That's the director's request. The reason I'm so obsessed to be a director, it's because the actor is only a pawn, it's the director who controls everything. I have ambitions. My biggest dream is not to get a best director award, but the best film, because it will mean I can perfect a team's work, it's not the work of one man."
There's no need for exaggerated expressions
Cheung Kwok Wing always emphasizes on team work. His anti-smoking advertising film 'Ashes to ashes', the whole team was happy, they all respect him, adding credit on him, giving him great pleasure. A month ago he helped Anita Mui to shoot MTV for her song "Fong Wah Chu Tai", with style and creativity, pleasantly delightful. His shots are simple, neat and beautiful. Like a child, he repeatedly shows it for us to see. "Even a difficult artist like Mui listened to me perfectly, the whole team co-operated happily. I'm not a tyrant type director, I'm nice to everybody, let everybody feel happy. Anita is punctual to my shooting sessions, she won't be late. A director is in the process to make a statement through the camera."
He has intermittently lived in Vancouver for 4 years, the longest continued stay is nine months. "That was a period of seclusion, reflection, clarification of thoughts and the direction for the future. I concluded that I belong to showbiz, and showbiz belongs to me."
He thought for a moment. "As an actor, the life on screen is limited, but there is no such limit behind the screen. When a man ages, not good-looking anymore on the screen, why still popping up in disgrace?" "Do you mind getting old on the screen?" I asked. "Yes I do." His response was swift, "At teen years, due to demand, shooting all those teenager films, they counted on the face's value, but in this industry, pretty faces come and go. Look at my past record, you can see I'm idealistic. I believe an actor should be a combination of male and female qualities, forever changing and versatile. But the HK market wants only instant chic, instant chic with trend, instant chic from an identical mould, that's not my ideal."
The photographer said, "Gorgor, you're so rich now, you don’t need to pursue anything anymore." "No, a man will not have nothing to pursue," Cheung Kwok Wing is serious."We judge a man if he's got ambition, if he's got character. The money factor cannot add any credit. There is nothing worse than a total loss to a man's character."
Some artists are borne with charisma. Cheung Kwok Wing can see through this thoroughly, "Yes, charisma is something borne to be, but you have to irrigate it constantly to prevent it from disappearing. Some artists are full of charisma in the beginning, but it's lost after a certain period. It's not enough to depend on the face or talent, but you have got to have ambition as well." Yes, man should have ambition. Ambition flourishes the person. A man will shine and flourish as well. Cheung Kwok Wing strengthens his point, "I would like to contribute an advice to all actors, less is more, it's not necessary to exaggerate every emotions to the face likens an exhibition." Its implications? Let those in the industry to chew on. Cheung Kwok Wing is relentless to talk boldly and take responsibility of his words. It is all because he is not cunning and he never cheats. Whatever he says, he has nothing to fear.
An appeal on behalf of the HK showbiz stars
He began to pick on the media. "People like me you can't condemn and nail down to death. Try me. Why do our media vilify our own people like hell but adore the Japanese and Korean stars madly, giving the impression that there are no similar stars in the local scene. Aren’t you Chinese? Don’t you have any sense of nationality? I'm much respected overseas. In Japan there is no question that I'm an artist. Legendary people can be found in a lot of places. Why don’t you treasure your own, instead of condemning him like hell? I hope the media can establish a better relationship with the stars, why they have to let it appear that there is no star system locally, but it's only possible with foreigners?"
As a director, meeting different actors from different countries to select a suitable person is just natural. Just because he went to see the Korean star, the HK media asked if he felt excited about it, making him laugh. All in all, Cheung Kwok Wing is a bona fide big star, though Song Seung Hun (Korean star) is popular now, in the end he's a TV serial star with a bit of fame, Korean people haven’t treated him as superstar yet, instead the HK media pushed up the status of Japanese and Korean stars up to the sky and got extremely excited seeing them. Cheung Kwok Wing begs to differ. He feels there are lots of good young actors like Cecilia Cheung, Nicholas Tse. It does not please anybody to appeal on behalf of HK stars, but Cheung Kwok Wing does not care but just speak out exactly what's in his mind.
Now with the eyes of a director he is observing even more than his role as an actor. "As a director you can't give yourself much allowance. You can't say this is only my first film. If you can't do well, you don’t know when you can have a second chance. I'll give all that I have, I'll give my heart out." Scorching fires are burning up his heart, his mind is fully-blown with his ideals and ambitions, like a full-loaded rocket, he's going explode with a touch. Luckily he's got investor to his second film, again overseas, still not a HK investment. "'Farewell Concubine', 'Happy together', 'In the mood for love', HK films could win awards overseas. Talking about Hollywood, I've got chance ten years ago, I've nearly gone there. Now I can be in command of wind and rain here, why should I make a fresh start in Hollywood when I'm already in my forties? I prefer to stay here and win awards for the local industry."
Been invited to "Cats"
I remember when he was at the top with pop songs he was invited by Broadway to act in "Cats", he was very excited to tell me this. I said, "There are over a hundred cats. Which cat will you play? Behind the make-up, who can recognize Cheung Kwok Wing? Unless you sing the theme song" but the theme song belongs to a female cat, and there is only one really good song anyway.
"Now I'm taking the role as director without any reservations, I'll be relaxed, because many people are helping me without reservations. We don’t talk about whether it is art or not, the first priority whether you are capable to rouse interest in audience to follow your story. I believe a director should have a wide side. A nice gentle person doesn’t have the sparks. Of course, like falling in love, besides the sparks you also need an ever-lasting flowing stream, free from fear and complain. Whatever happens, the attitude towards life all depends on yourself, whether life is good or bad to you, it's up to you to decide."
How can I tell Cheung Kwok Wing? He's a tough romantic. A friend who always brings you surprising happiness, a person who never allows you to typecast him, an idol whose fans will never feel bored to adore, because he's the one who knows how to enrich life without any reservations.
P.S.:
Lam: "It's six o'clock. You have to go. You've got a business meeting coming up."
Cheung: "I forgot to tell you one thing. I've asked Cheung Suk Ping, 'You as a veteran in filmmaking, do you believe that I can be a director?' Cheung said, 'Yes, you've got tremendous energy just then. It's very positive energy.' I admire him dearly. I'm an arrogant person. It's not easy for me to admire another person."
many many thanks to Wing