Dear friends, I found a message (no. 1243) by Angela and other messages by Rain (no. 1248 - 1249 - 1250) on Leslieinn guestbook and since they were in Chinese, I asked my friend Wing to translate them for me. Since I think they're worthy, they're from Mainland Chinese newspapers and HK media only think how to defame Leslie, I decided to upload translations on my Pillow for all no-Chinese fans. Hope you'll like them!

Cheung Kwok Wing's first film as director "Stealing Heart" aims at Cannes

From Today's News in Tianjin - March 9, 2002

Recently the media one after another report that Cheung Kwok Wing is going to shoot his new film "Stealing Heart" in Tsingdao soon. Reporters learnt that Cheung has an emergency meeting in Beijing yesterday to find out who has exposed the schedule and to emphasize keeping secrecy of  the early preparation works. Lastly, Cheung requested to collect back the final version of the script which has been distributed to the producer, the script team and the major actors. At the same time, he cancelled the scheduled trip to choose shooting sites in Tsingdao. The team has to wait for further decision.

From our sources, this first time Cheung in control as director, he is very demanding on precision and quality of the script and the casting of the actors. To avoid making known of his story and let the others to guess and make a fuss, he has fixed a very strict rule to keep things secret, his schedules are strictly blocked from knowledge, even himself is not equipped with mobile phone. At the moment, Cheung let everybody off saying that he's enjoying his weekend, and left the script team with his closest assistant. 

Because of Cheung's tough attitude and the repeated advice of the script team, when reporters attempted to contact several actors in the film by the mobile, either nobody answers or the mobile is turned off. A reflection of Cheung's serious attitude in this matter.

Since there are still some outstanding questions concerning the investment and the co-operation format of "Stealing Heart", it has taken long time but the approval document for the film (from the Chinese Government) is still pending. This is the main reason that Cheung worries about letting out information about the film. According to resources, "Stealing Heart" is going to submit its final script to get approval as soon as possible in order to start shooting according to schedule. 

"Stealing Heart" has got a strong acting team. Leading actor will be Cheung Kwok Wing, the confirmed team including Ning Jing ("Shanghai Grand" lead actress), Wu Jun ("Lan Yu" lead actor), Lu Li Ping. With Cheung's status in the international movie scene, people in the industry are confident that this would be a strong competitor to the Grand Prize at next summer's Cannes Film Festival. 

Cheung Kwok Wing withdrew script angrily

The author learnt that after his interview with media via the phone in Beijing, Cheung immediately called an emergency meeting to check out in forensic details the disclosure of his schedule and to strengthen emphasis the secrecy of the early preparations. Lastly, he withdrew the script which has already distributed to producer, actors, and the working team.

"Yesterday, when Cheung received my phone call, he was very surprised. He seriously checked my identity and asked the source from where I got info. There is nothing I can do but be vague. From my understanding, after the phone call, Cheung immediately let off the team for the weekend and left the script team with his close assistant.

In the meantime, there are still outstanding issues between investor and the partner in China, that's why they still have problem getting approval document. This is the main concern of Cheung not to disclose anything in the early stages".

Source: Zhang Jiang Daily

Wish to change role as Director, Cheung become student of Jiang Wen

News from BJ march 9: Cheung Kwok Wing admitted he doesn't want to age on the screen, and would like to be a director and become a student of Jiang Wen. From sources, he is now 46, he is always concerned his appearance, he admitted he fear the audience to see him becoming old, this is the major motive he would like to be a director.

He has set up "Dream League". A narcissistic and confident person is straight forward, "I have acted in more than 70 movies, how come I don't know how to direct?" But he is someone always striving for perfection, so he come up to Beijing to learn from Jiang Wen.

"He is very competent both as an actor and a director" they had a long talk - and made a decision - they will co-operate in the next film. Cheung said once he is a director, he would like to win a best film award because that represent teamwork. Cheung feel an actor is only a pawn. Only the director is the soul of the film.

Targeting "Cannes Film Festival", Cheung changes his role to direct "Stealing Heart"

Targeting next summer's "Cannes", famous actor with more than 70 movies behind him, Cheung Kwok Wing is going to have his debut film as director, "Stealing Heart" is going to begin shooting in Tsing Dao in May.

Aged 46, Cheung expressed that he has been an actor for a long time, to be a director is his biggest ambition. Although he is very experience on stage and he is very familiar to the job as director, but for the perfection of his first film, Cheung made a special trip to learn from Jiang Wen.

Being in Beijing in the meantime, the script of "Stealing Heart' has been revised 3 times, now still under revision, he is working on the final version of it.

From our understanding, the acting team is very strong, including Cheung himself, Ning Jing, Wu Jun, Lu Lei Ping are confirmed. The script team under the lead of Cheung will be going to Tsingdao today to select the setting.

The movie "Stealing Heart" will be a love story happened in the 40s of the 20^th century. Pianist Cheung fell in love with daughter (Ning) of a rich family who was arranged an engagement with Wu Jun by her parents. This was a love and death story of 3 persons. With a strong team plus the status of Cheung in the movie industry, people from the industry believe this would be a strong competitor to next summer's Cannes Film Festival. Cheung is very honest. He mentioned that he would like to aim at best film award once he become a director.

Source: Zhang Jiang Daily

(I suspected this is the report which prompt Cheung immediately to call off his trip to Tsing Dao and terribly irritated by the disclosure of his schedule)

More interesting messages on Leslie Inn guestbook: no. 1286 - 1329

Cheung Kwok Wing realized his director ambition, in severe acting competition with Wu Jun in the new film

Having paid a visit and learnt from Jiang Wen, Cheung Kwok Wing disclosed he would like to transform gradually from actor to the director's role. Immediately he's going to have his new film to explore human relationships, playing by himself, Ning Jing and Wu Jun, a love story between 2 men and a woman.

It is learnt that there is nothing about homosexual. In the story Cheung and Wu love the same woman. Cheung is a wild and free pianist by living, Wu is a successful business man. Ning is married to Wu but do not have mutual love. The story is from Cheung, script by He Ji Ping, scheduled to be shot in Tsingdao by mid-May.

Reporters contacted Wu immediately after learning his role in the film. He got to acquaint Cheung in HK. After 'Lan Yu' was screened Cheung found him, praised him and said they could have some cooperation some day. The opportunity certainly come up quickly. Asked if he is confident with Cheung as director, he said, "Of course, he has acted in so many films, and co-operated with many excellent directors, he is definitely very experienced." He expressed in his role in the film there are lots of opportunities for him to explore feelings. Regarding if there is pressure to act against Cheung and Ning, he said honestly, "No. First, I'm not bad. Secondly, sparks are only possible with excellent actors and to raise level of acting techniques. Besides, in a film, it might not be good to have somebody better than others, rather it's most important to have the harmony cooperation." Estimated it will take 2 months for the shooting, will follow the procedures as required for movies of Mainland China.

news from Nanfang City Daily Net from Guangzhou

In yesteryears attracting many fans with his song 'Sideview', now switching from in front of to the back of the camera, Cheung Kwok Wing is letting his fans to learn his 'Sideview' charm

Famous actor Cheung Kwok Wing's first debut film 'Stealing Heart' is confirmed by Beijing Precious Stone Film Company that it's going to be shot in Tsingdao by first of May this year.

Aged 46, Cheung set up his "Dream League" company in HK, starting to focus on film production behind the screen. To build up for his debut film, he invited his good friend He Ji Ping to join his team. He was professional scriptwriter with Beijing People's Art (society?), created quality production like 'The first restaurant', later settled in HK. 'Stealing Heart' is story happening in 40s of the 20^th century, a hopeless love story in a Chinese city. A woman married to her cousin was loved passionately by a pianist, a story which extended for eight years. This story is originated by Cheung, now approaching the final stage of refinement.

Virgo is always seeking perfection. Cheung is no exception. He came to Beijing secretly earlier this month and for this film met Jiang Wen and investor Shi Xue. Cheung and Jiang had a long discussion, finished two bottles of red wine, frankly admitting actor is just the pawn, while the director is the soul of a film. He stayed a week in Beijing, fix the acting team, he plays the role of pianist, Ning Jing as married woman, Wu as the successful businessman, Si Qin Gao Wa as mother of the married woman. Besides Shum Din Ha and others will join the team too.

Cheung commented in Beijing: "The coming 5 years will see the most prosperous time of Chinese movies, Chinese movie environment will be my blessed area." He expressed frankly that in 'Farewell my Concubine' built up his confidence, in 'A time to remember' explored new horizons, left him with the most unforgettable artistic image. "First time as director, just catch up with the best time, Mainland China is relaxing the restriction policies to private investments in films, letting me to realize my dream much quickly." It is learnt that his 'Stealing heart' will be in category of Chinese film, it's subject to go through all normal procedures of approvals by the Chinese authorities.

many thanks to Wing and Susanna

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